Love Bites

The sweetest dog on the face of he earth bit me when I leaned in for my usual kiss

He was as shocked as I was and for the next hours and several days grieved for what he had done 

head down

sleeping

staring at me

following me
sleeping on me
hugging his pillow

what happened

Liam was alone for several hours
was a dark rainy day

when we returned he was in a deep sleep

no twitchy body movements

or rapid eye openings
really comatose

I leaned my face in for my hello kiss, touching his shoulder for balance
 and he bit me

on the lips


I was startled

he was as well

He curled up and tucked his head into his chest

I hurt my Mom and I feel awful

dogs do grieve

have remorse

 Liam needed comfort

I petted him.

talked to him

next day

walked him

and allowed endless sniffs on the walk

see link for recent NY Times article

about a dog who bit and what happened 

and an excerpt from it follows

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/opinion/sunday/emotions-animals-humans.html

It would be better to test behavior that is wrong by almost any standard, including that of their own species. The Austrian ethologist Konrad Lorenz gave one of my favorite examples, about his dog, Bully, who broke the fundamental rule never to bite your superior.

Humans don’t need to teach this rule, and indeed Bully had never been punished for it. The dog bit his master’s hand when Dr. Lorenz tried to break up a dogfight. Even though Dr. Lorenz petted him right away, Bully suffered a complete nervous breakdown. For days, he was virtually paralyzed and ignored his food. He would lie on the rug breathing shallowly, occasionally interrupted by a deep sigh. He had violated a natural taboo, which among ancestral canines could have had the worst imaginable consequences, such as expulsion from the pack.

   Grief over Loss

and a now iconic photo of SullyHW Bush

grieving at His Dad's funeral

 http://time.com/5470348/sully-george-bush-service-dog-capitol/

what do we do when bit?

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/my-dog-just-bit-me-now-what-do-i-do?page=2

reasons a dog may bite

Many bite situations occur simply because signals get crossed. Here are some of the more common situations in which owners have reported being bitten and they are often due to owners misreading their dog’s signals. Simply think of how you would respond in some of these cases:

• Disturbing your dog when lying down or sleeping
• Disturbing your dog while eating
• Trying to take an item away from your dog
• Reprimanding your dog using punitive measures
• Redirected behavior
• Touching a painful area
• Kissing your dog on the face or hugging him
• Breaking up a dog fight
• Partaking in vigorous or excited play

and I did the bolded

three

Liam back with me after the bite

Daddy Paul and Liam were at first apprehensive about this story.
 Liam is known as a blogger, a licker, a lover, leaper, sniffer

not a biter

I wanted to share the story because one incident does not define a lifetime of love and goodness. Liam is a good dog.

He reacted to a perceived attack. Spontaneously. He did what dogs do.
I had touched his sensitive shoulder where his tumor had been.
I woke him up from a deep sleep..
He was disoriented. And there was a giant head zooming in.
I did not think.
I am the one who caused it.

People punish dogs who bite

They blame the dog

They isolate them
hit them
medicate them

 return them to shelters
and worse

 .

I wanted to help stop assumptions and give hope

Don't worry Liam
we love you

And have I resumed my affectionate behavior

But not on a sleeping, unsuspecting

vulnerable Liam

never again

I am a good dog

Woof, Woof