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
sleeping on me
hugging his pillow
what happened
Liam was alone for several hours
was a dark rainy day
was a dark rainy day
when we returned he was in a deep sleep
no twitchy body movements
or rapid eye openings
really comatose
really comatose
I leaned my face in for my hello kiss, touching his shoulder for balance
and he bit me
and he bit me
on the lips
I was startled
I was startled
he was as well
He curled up and tucked his head into his chest
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
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
 |
what do we do when bit?
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:
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
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.
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
hit them
medicate them
return them to shelters
and worse
.and worse
I wanted to help stop assumptions and give hope
Don't worry Liam
we love you
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
