oh god, pride definitely comes before a fall.  We've been doing so well here then something happened yesterday.

My dogwalker was walking the dogs along a really narrow path close to home and an old lady was walking towards them.  He knows that Lubo gets quite panicky in confined spaces so he put them on a short lead and on his right hand side as the lady walked to the left.  The lady went past and he went to walk on when Lubo (my fear aggressive dog) jumped backwards and jumped up at this woman.  My dogwalker says it was his claw that got her arm as his paw went up her sleeve but the womans daughter (who wasn't there but phoned me up yesterday, rightly furious) says she can tell its a bite.  I've got no idea what to think, its a long thin wound and her jacket wasn't damaged at all.  Either way it doesn't matter as this poor old lady has got a hurt arm, had to have antibioctics and a tetanus jab and her daughter is calling the police.

We're already booked in to see a behaviourist next week coincidentally and for lubo to have a full 'MOT' but I'm just sitting here bawling right now, I feel such a failure.  My ex is leaving next week and I will have the dogs on my own and i'm obviously not doing a great job now what am i going to be like when its just me.  I'm trying so hard but I'm really worried - I love them both so much and I don't want him to get put down - equally i need to get to a point where he is safe to be around.  He will be good for months and months and months and then something will set him off and i never see it coming. 

I feel a complete failure I just want to make everything better. 

i dont know much about these things,but how awful for you.maybe they wont press charges?or if they do,could you promise to keep him in a muzzle,when out,?although it does sound more like a scratch,not a bite.i do wish you well with this.

No-one is going to put your dog down hun.

It's a one off incident (it is isn't it?) if they call the police your dog walker will explain that the dog was on a lead and it was the dogs claw that hurt the lady, he can explain that he is new to walking the dogs but now understands just how panicked the dog gets and will not let it happen again, state that you are seeking a behaviourist, you'll be fine. Your dog may well need to be muzzled in the future though and completely rained in when passing people, you'll be forgiven this once but maybe not if it happens again.

You should be ok for any compensation claim from the lady as antibotics and a tetanus cost her nothing, she needed no hospital stay or has no serious wounds, the police can tell the difference I'm sure from a bite and a scratch, she can't push for the dog to be destroyed in this inst.

Just be really apologetic and tell them you will make sure that it will never happen again, if the police can even be bothered to come out for it that is.............

if the police come round and it goes further do you have insurance?  If your dog hasn't had any recorded aggressive incidents previously your pet insurance should cover you for legal stuff.

It is terrible when these things happen but you need to be looking forwards and see what the behaviourist says to you and take it all on board.  remember you have to be a leader to your dogs and are no use to them if you aren't confident and assertive.  I know it sounds a bit too much like Cesar Milan talk but hang on in there

Your dog walker probably did the only thing he could in the circumstances but, by shortening the lead and moving the dog to the other side of him, he indicated that there was something to be apprehensive about.

> Your dog walker probably did the only thing he could in the circumstances but, by shortening the lead and moving the dog to the other side of him, he indicated that there was something to be apprehensive about.

On the flip side of this, by showing the passer by that the dog is under control, generally makes the passer-by more relaxed & therfore less interesting/threatening to the dog. You can do this without the dog feeling tense or feeling that you are tense and can easily shorten the lead without the dog feeling it, you just take up the slack leaving them less 'lunge' room, it doesn't have to be that you are holding the dog tightly so they can feel it.

Out of intrest what is the breed of your dog?
As Im wondering if its been blown out of proportion as maybe its a big dog?
As people get bitten and scrathched by 'cute' small dogs and no one bats an eyelid, now if my staffs run over or sniff someone its like I have a rabid dog baying for blood when theirn completely friendly and wouldnt hurt a fly (ok they do eat flies lol) but you know what I mean!!
Just wondered.......