My doodle bit the kennel owner....

[Kate MacKenzy]

I have two male goldendoodles, Bailey was a rescue and given up by his previous owner because he bit one of them after he stole a candy bar that they tried to retreive

Ive had him now 18 months, he just turned 3, hes neutered but has always had issues over food. Hes 98 pounds and since Ive had him I simply adjusted my habits so we dont let food issues with him happen.

Ive only seen him bare his teeth, once to  me, both times when someone has gone towards his face to retrieve something he shouldnt have had.

Otherwise hes just the soppiest, cuddlebum you could want, over excited yes.

 

In any event, the two of them go to daycare about once or twice a week, hes well adjusted with other dogs, boisterous but plays well. They been going there for two years, the owners love them and treat them well.

 

I went to collect them tonight, one of the owners told me that the dogs had been having a scrap and he went to pull Bailey out and Bailey sunk his jaws into his hand.The owner swears he was just in the wrong place and Bailey didnt "go for him" and seemed as shocked as Dave about what he'd done. It was bad enough that Dave had three stitches in his hand.They insisted all was good and dave did get down and cuddled Bailey before I put them both in the car.

Ive got home and am quite traumatized by it. Bailey is too, hes glum and skulking round the house.

Has anyone been in this situation before, can I trust this dog that I know to be docile and loving? Do I accept the kennel owners that he simply got in the way of a scrap?

Its a serious thing and yet I dont want to distance myself from him, but Im sitting here,not knowing how to react to my own dog,its clear he knows hes done something seriously wrong.

Ive called and asked to speak with the kennel owner tomorrow so I can fully take in exactly what happened so I can better understand what I need to do moving forward. Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I am glad someone mentioned the spray bottle--I agree with all the great advice but I would add that the doggie day care owner should know better than to break up a fight with his hands--a spray bottle, squirt gun or hose would be a better idea. You do not want to have a dog bite you even if it is an accident--look how much it has upset everyone! It is better to be on the safe side and keep one's hands out of the way.

On the other hand, what Jennifer described about getting bitten when trying to remove something from the dog--that is NOT an accident and as Jennifer says, training will do wonders. I had a dog like that once before I was a DK educated dog owner and never corrected it--a decision I regretted later. Now my doodles will let me take anything out of their mouths anytime because i have trained them from the start--it works. 

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Kate~ I had a similar problem with two German shorthaired pointers I owned many years ago. I got a nasty bite intended for the other dog. The biter knew she did wrong right away and was upset. Find an expert in dog behavior problems and get this straightened out before someone else gets nipped.Good luck!