Samantha was bitten by a doodle at Dewey Romp

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha is ball obsessed. She has never taken a ball from another dog - that's not her way. If a dog gets to her ball first, she will just follow that dog until the ball is dropped by the other dog and then she quietly takes it. She is so anti confrontational about anything, including her ball.

We were playing on the beach yesterday at the Dewey Beach romp. A doodle that we know well (family is not a member here of DK) was playing ball with us.  I will call this doodle Jane (this is not her name). Jane would get to the ball first and bring it back. Samantha would get to the ball first and bring it back. This went on for over an hour. This particular time, Samantha got to the ball first and the other doodle wanted it and decided to go after Samantha. We didn't see what actually happened since it happened so fast. I heard Samantha scream and saw Jane's mouth clamped on Samantha's face and her nose and cheek bleeding. Samantha had a slice under her nostrils and a deep puncture wound on her cheek. It did not pierce through her cheek but I could see the tooth mark on the inside of her cheek. There was no warning to this attack - they have been playing ball together for so long no one ever thought this would happen.

My friend who is a trainer keeps an emergency kit in her truck so we washed it off with bottled water right away. When we got back to the hotel, we washed it with antibiotic wash and put antibiotic ointment on it. She was not happy about us touching her cheek but she was so good about it.

I am telling this story for only one reason - anyone who has a doodle that resource guards a ball, toy, food or their human MUST get professional help to make sure that their doodle never does this to another dog or human. Don't think that it is 'cute' how a dog 'protects' their ball, etc. It is not cute, it could be dangerous to another dog, child, human and in the end, to your doodle.

If Jane was going to go after a dog it's a good thing that it was to a dog that her DM knows. I know that this is a good DM. If Jane attacked a dog that was not a friend of her DMs it might have not been such good outcome for Jane. .

Samantha will probably have our vet check her out. I am keeping an eye on her wound but it seems to be healing with my washing it and the antibiotic ointment. Not sure what else the vet could do but stress her and shave her face. If it continues to heal without any signs of infection then I will not add to her stress. Only time will tell.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I will ask my friend what she carries.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This must have been really frightening for Samantha....and YOU.  I'm just glad it wasn't worse, and that she seems to be heeling.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Thanks Jane. We all were shocked. We just didn't see it coming since they have played together so often and had been for most of the day. I guess we all forget that they are dogs and we humans have to be more diligent in watching them - not just ours but those they play with. It is not about the humans just talking and not paying attention. I never worried when doodles play together but I will never take that for granted again.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

One of the reasons that I'm comfortable with the Daycare that my guys go to once in a while is because they always have two or three staff members constantly walking around looking for any body language "concerns".  Even though all dogs are evaluated before they're allowed to attend, they are still "on watch" for potential problems.  I've often wanted to ask them exactly what body language "signs" they look for.  After reading your post, I definitely will have that conversation with them.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Jane,

I'm at work so I don't have access to my home files to post  a document on body language of dogs.  It certainly is an extremey important thing to know and Observe in your dog.

In the meantime, do a search on the internet and you will find many resources, complete with images.  These are extremely important to know, however one word of warning--body languages change so fast sometimes you can't completely rely on them only.  Anyway, it is something every dog owner should study.

Off the top of my head the ASPCA had a good display in Canine Body Language. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, I'll search.  I know all the obvious ones...like tail positions.  I know there are also more subtle ones....and those I'm not sure of.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

What an awful thing to happen and at a romp too where you would think it would be safe.  I do hope Samantha isn't now fearful of other dogs after that experience.  How do you deal with that aspect of what happened.  I will be terrified to let my dog play off leash with other dogs, what is the best thing to do I'm wondering?

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha and Jane played ball again but with all of us DMs watching intently. She showed no fear of Jane after the bite. We didn't leave the beach right away. She still played ball. There were no even close calls after that.

If either one of them seems to be fearful of each other, I would have leashed both of them and went for a long walk until both were walking side by side with loose wagging tails - to show they were both comfortable. That thought is off the top of my laypersons head. I did not have to talk to my trainer to know if that is the right thing to do because our situation didn't warrant it.

When we go to the dog park, I wait outside and look to see what play is going on inside before we enter. Not the breed of dog because my girls play with rotties and pits. Sometimes it is the smaller big dogs that don't know how to play nice. If that is the case, we just don't go in.You have to be diligent in checking out the park and make sure you are comfortable that their are dogs that playing nicely.

If the park is not a place where you are comfortable with, invite some dogs over to play at your house. We have doodles come over for play dates. I have come to meet some of my closest friends that way. I make the coffee and they bring something to eat with it.

Charli seems to wear a 'kick me' sign on her back. She loves to be in the game of chase that is going on but hates to be chased or have her tush sniffed. When she moves away from a dog because she is not comfortable, she moves away with her tail down. That seems to make the other dog want to sniff her more. So she usually just walks around the perimeter of the park by herself looking for a piece of tennis ball to chew on, a good stick or something else to eat. We never stay at the park too long - just long enough to have different smells to enjoy and be some place beside their yard to play in.

 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Thanks for posting this.  I was wondering if Samantha would be fearful or leery playing ball again.  It sounds like it didn't affect her love for the ball, that's great news.

[Dori & Rua]

Hope all turns out well for Sammie.  My DH and I took Rua to the guard park the weekend before last to get some much needed running...the weather had been cold and it was finally sunny).  There were only 6 or so other little dogs on our side, Rua was actually the biggest.  We brought a chuck-it with balls and played.  Rua wanted nothing to do with retreiving and another dog would sometimes run after it.  We were approached by someone who must have been a volunteer and told us no toys..it might create issues if there is a dog that resource guards.  I guess what happened would be the reason why...you just never know.  They are playing along so nicely for so long and then snap...it turns.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I understand that concept but wouldn't that mean the only games they can play is chase or wrestling? Wouldn't that bring out other issues that can start trouble?I guess there is not 1 answer to the dog park except that if your dog cannot play nicely, they don't belong in the dog park!

The bottom line - to me - is that we have to know our dogs and take nothing for granted. There has to be no humans  standing talking amongst themselves - the dog park is not about humans having a coffee clotch. We are there for our dogs to have some fun and exercise.

[Dori & Rua]

Make that Dog Park not guard park!  LOL