Shih Tzu that bites

CA POPPY wrote:
I agree, the woman put Maggie in the most vulnerable possible position and you just don't do that with a dog you don't know. I have always done it with our pups and tickled their bellies and taught them it was play time. I tried it once with Poquita's sibling that looked just like her and that little dog went all Cujo on me! My friend who owned her said, "Oh no, we can't hold her that way, either." My bad, and it taught me a lesson. Just because I love all dogs doesn't mean they know that. I would teach the children that Maggie has a right to her personal space and not to allow anyone to invade it. I'll bet she will be fine.

I agree totally, this little dog was put in the most vulnerable position...frankly I would have done the same thing.
Good luck, I really hope this will be a forever home, if it goes back to the shelter it may very well be put to sleep.
Good luck!

Sher

ditto what Susan said

Sometimes people just get careless and forget that they don't know the dog, even if they "know better." I've had new dogs that seemed fine and in the moment, I forgot that they really weren't and I knew that, moved too fast and been offered teeth. It happens. It doesn't make them killers.

Definitely this was a BIG handling error with a new dog. A dog that has just been moved from one home to another or a home to a "shelter" to a home, needs careful handling until trust has developed with the new humans. Under certain circumstances you might have to do things that you haven't really built the trust with that dog to do easily, but in those circumstances you would proceed knowing that you're provoking the dog and take appropriate precautions.

The girls should be talked to and I think a study of dog behavior or maybe a meeting with a trainer or behaviorist would be helpful both with this dog and in their lives moving forward. They may know a lot by instinct, but they would be well served to learn more about body language and safety. Learning that stuff will make it far less likely that they are going to have an issue with this little girl or any other dog, for that matter.

I would have bitten, too....LOL!

Thanks all, I knew I would get some good responces. They really want to keep the dog but would be devastated if she ever injured someone seriously. Perhaps if they just keep a close eye on her for a while it will help them make the right decision. We're all hoping it was just a freakish incident.

I agree, the woman put Maggie in the most vulnerable possible position and you just don't do that with a dog you don't know. I have always done it with our pups and tickled their bellies and taught them it was play time. I tried it once with Poquita's sibling that looked just like her and that little dog went all Cujo on me! My friend who owned her said, "Oh no, we can't hold her that way, either." My bad, and it taught me a lesson. Just because I love all dogs doesn't mean they know that. I would teach the children that Maggie has a right to her personal space and not to allow anyone to invade it. I'll bet she will be fine.

I don't think you can make a judgment based on this incident.

Magggie reaction was not unreasonable based on the circumstances she had no way to back away.

Hmm, rescue dog, new surroundings and your friend picks up the dog turns it on it's back and goes for it's throat?

THAT is exactly how the dog looked at when your friend flipped her over and then went to pull on the collar around the dogs neck. No wonder the dog bit her!

If this dog was really raised with kids give this dog TIME to get used to being ripped from it's owners and all he has ever known and placed into a new strange home with strange people.

I don't let anyone outside my home touch, pick up or do anything to a new rescue dog I have added. Let him get used to your family and start feeling secure that this new place is not going to hurt her and that you are there to protect her, BEFORE you start exposing her to yet other strangers.

Just saying. I see more dogs returned not because of the dog's fault but because most owners do not take the necessary time to introduce a rescue dog to it's new home. Bottom line IMHO, JMHO not knowing 'all' the exact circumstances. I don't think this dog is a biter.

Back any dog in a corner with a baseball bat and they will all try and bite you to save themselves. This poor little pup was on her back and big human going for her throat, give they little pup a break!!:B:B

Maggie is about 18 months old and appears to be mostly Shih Tzu looking with some terrier mixed in

Pictures, we need pictures! Post of picture of the new rescue she sounds way too cute to ever be bad! :C

No one can say whether this was a one time freakish thing or is going to be an ongoing issue.

One thing that IS certain is that the neighbor lady was very wrong to pick Maggie up the way she did. I'm rather surprised that she's dog savvy enough to understand that and yet did it anyway. That's a puzzler. Also, your son wasn't doing his job when he allowed it to happen. So . . . the humans in Maggie's life need to behave better, while also being vigilant about potential issues with Maggie (as they should be with any new dog). Yes, some dogs will put up with something like that w/o missing a beat. But I don't think Maggie's reaction was outside the realm of normal given what the lady did to her.

Dog aggression is a very difficult thing to diagnose and then treat.

If a situation ever screamed out for a professional trainer, this is one!!!