I arrived today to take care of someone’s dog while they are going away, when I got there and the owner was there the dog seemed to really like me, letting me stroke him and play with him. I have dog sat for others before and have always had dogs myself so I am very experienced with dogs, but this dog does have a history of abuse so is nervy.
I was lighting the fire, he came and sat next to me so I stroked him on his back and he bit me hard on my arm (it was through a jumper and there is still a sore mark 2 hours later now), and is now growling and barking whenever I enter the same room as him.
I contacted the owner and she has told me to let him come to me when he’s ready and that he will hopefully sleep it off. She’s also said he’s never bitten anyone before, but he seems ready to bite me again if I were to get near him.
This is day 1 of a 17 day sit with the owner going abroad for a family wedding, so I understand her wanting the sit to proceed as finding another sitter would be very difficult but he is a fairly big border collie cross and I don’t feel very safe around him.
Any advice?
Comments
How old are you? It’s importante to know you are not under age.
Stick that thing in the fuckin face if it does it again….It’s trying to show you that it’s the alpha, and you gotta put that thing in it’s place.
If you don’t feel safe, then you don’t feel safe. Is there anything you can do to make yourself feel safe and continue the job?
If not, then it’s okay to cancel the job.
, I would make sure he has eaten. Then I would take precautions and Wear safety gear. Does he have a back yard?
Did you correct him at the time?
Give the dog space, for both your sakes. I have experience with abused animals, and they typically only attack if you try to do something to them that triggers their trauma response (i.e. petting them in a certain spot or during certain circumstances) I also wouldn’t be surprised if the dog had a bad history with fire or heat. Best you can do is leave him be and let him calm down, don’t be too active for a bit, just sit quietly and do something relaxing/something that you enjoy. Calm environment = calm dog (works with other animals and children too)
For one, don’t stay there if you don’t have too. If it broke skin go to a doctor (if you don’t want the dog put down/to have a bite record then don’t tell them what dog it was) don’t go near the dog, and make the owner find someone else to take care of it
How big is the dog? Breed?
Don’t try and approach the dog, and don’t turn your back on it. Don’t stare it down. It sounds like fear aggression. The dog’s person is gone, so it probably does not feel safe. Don’t try pulling the dominance game with it as someone suggested, it will not end well.
What were you doing with the dog when it bit you?
I’d be out of there not going to lie.
I’d go get checked out at an emergency room. Definitely get a lawyer and sue. Dog bites are serious business. The dog owner has home owners insurance, that’s who you’d be suing.
Potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake here.
You are supposed to not actually sit on the dog