[we4elves]

I know this is a weird question..but I was wondering...For those of you on this forum who have had your GSD bite someone...

What was the situation?

Looking back do you think there was anything you could have done differently to have prevented this? Other than the obvious (socializing)

Were there signs immediately proceeding the bite that you didn't realize were warnings from the dog..until after the fact?

I started thinking about this because I had a 3 yr old child over yesterday with my GSD and I was watching her like a hawk (yes paranoid) even though mine just shows puppy excitement..But I kept thinking....big teeth..little kid...big teeth...little kid

 

[JakodaCD OA]

I had a fear biter quite a few years ago, that nipped a few people,,it was definately a "nip and back off" out of fear. Of course the ones he nipped, decided to put their hands OVER my fence..I ask you, who in their right mind, would stick their hands over a fence when on the other side was a 125# barking german shepherd? Also had a sign that read "this is not a petting zoo",,but ya know some people just aren't smart.

I doubt there was anything I could have done differently, since I was standing right there as well, and said "Don't put your hands over the fence"...

Socializing was not the key, since this dog was socialized to death, he was a genetic mutant He was a 24/7 project his entire life, and I learned alot on how to manage fear biters.

 

[Lilie]

My parents had a GSD that was very good and very social around everyone except the mail man. The grandkids were in the front yard in the little kiddie pool and the GSD scooted past my mom and bit the mail man (woman). The obvious would be to have had her on a leash.

 

[JustMeLeslie]

That is how we got our male shepherd the previous owner could not handle him. He bit service people. He is extremly protective of his house/property/family. She had to crate him all the time because he was going after people all the time. She socialized him as she always had people coming and going and he still turned out to be a biter. He has not bitten anyone since we got him because we make sure he is controlled if a situation arises. We don't have lots of people over and a fence for him. She just let him run around her house and had people coming and going which was a recipe for disaster in my opinion.

 

[KZoppa]

Zena bit my husband. We had just adopted her and my husband had spent a grand total of two hours with her and decided that fishing was far more important than getting to know the new dog (who was technically mine anyway but fact remains). When he came home the next afternoon and tried to come into our apartment, she went straight for the first thing he stuck through the door which was hit foot. Steel toe boots thank God but still. She's never done it again but she's a territorial and very protective girl. intruders beware. To have prevented it, he could have spent some time with her instead of bringing her home and then going off to fish with his dad.

 

[bellamia]

no not mine, thankfully but Mia has a play date EVERYDAY for the past 1yr with this beautiful male gsd, neutered, her age and he bit his owner 2months ago!right here in my yard, she had to wash off her blood in my sink. wasn't v. deep but still. Now i am no expert but this poor woman is quite afraid of him and is pretty much not an animal person at all!. this lovely boy knows that and she was trying foolishly to take some toy out of his mouth when it happened. He NEVER has bitten me or anyone else, i've had him for a cple of hrs and am not scared of him. he is dominant to mia and she won't play with him anymore and am afraid its a disaster waiting to happen. his is a classic eg of husband travelling, child. at univ. and wife not wanting any pet from the begining but finds herself saddled with him. that was not a fun day!

 

[Shadow's mum]

We are fairly certain Shadow (at 10 nearly 11 months) bit our buglers. We had a few drops of blood on our bench tops and on the outside wall of our house (the window wasn't broken) and more could have been taken. Prevent that? NO way. Personally I would have like more blood, maybe an arm or leg...hmmm....perhaps a head.

 

[KZoppa]

We are fairly certain Shadow (at 10 nearly 11 months) bit our buglers. We had a few drops of blood on our bench tops and on the outside wall of our house (the window wasn't broken) and more could have been taken. Prevent that? NO way. Personally I would have like more blood, maybe an arm or leg...hmmm....perhaps a head.

thats my feeling. We have big dogs because we're big dog people, but also as deterants. I dont play well with others. We've had too much happen involving people breaking in for me to play well with others. I'd rather have the blood all over the place because some idiot broke in and my dogs chewed them to shreds. I'm not exactly a people person...

 

[ChristenHolden]

Bella has niped my mother. She lives next door and came over. I was out back emptying the kitty litter. And when she came around the corner. Bella had ran around the house and came up behind her and niped her on her leg. She brused her but no blood. So after that till our pen is finished being bulit. (Next sat :happyboogie: ) she has to be on a tie out but only when she's out side. She stays in side the rest the time. She also got my brother when he came to the house with out calling and she got him but I'm not sure how bad I think she jus got his pant leg. I've tried to get her used to family and she's ok on a leash if I'm with her. She will even let them touch her. But if she's off leash she barks and gets definsive. We have made it known that if ANY one comes over they must call and let us know so I can eather leash or kennel her. For some reason she won't take to anyone but me and my DH. I have not found a decent trainer witin driving distance. other than being hard to socoiloize she has been a wonderful loving goofball and a great pet.

 

[APBTLove]

Well, if my dog has ever shown aggression he or she never gets a chance to bite, unless the person forces it upon themselves (such as going in my yard without invitation...).

My past male was, I think, a beautiful example of a GSD. Very, very protective when needed, but anyone we introduced him to was fine... He bit a cop who came in the yard. The warning? Well, he's a guardian breed, he was in his yard, and a stranger walked in his yard. He bit her bad enough on the leg that she got two weeks off duty.

He bit me when he was 13, he didn't recognize me and I put my arm over the fence.. warning? He quickly came up the the fence, roared and sunk his teeth in my arm lol

Dutch has bitten by accident, during fights.

Jaeger would bite someone if they forced themselves on him, or of they acted scared. He has never been given the chance though.

 

[Mrs.K]

Nope, none of my dogs have ever bitten any person.

I do know that I have a very protective bitch that would protect me if it came down to it.

 

[vicky2200]

My GSD has never bit anyone, aside from when she was 8weeks old and was frantically licking someones face and her sharp baby tooth scratched him. I cant imagine her ever biting anyone, but I still worry with very small children (4 and under) simply because she is rarely around kids that age. She really loves everyone though, she does fairly well with other dogs also, her biggest problem is that she licks other dogs faces-- even when she just met them, and most dogs dont appreciate that.

My Alaskan husky on the other hand as bit my young cousin(9) 3 times, and his friend (9) one time. She also tried to bite my other young cousin.. Normally this would be UNACCEPTABLE but she has never broke skin. She is just really afraid of kids and Im not sure why. Now, she doesnt go around kids because we are afraid one day she will actually hurt someone and not just nip them. The only kid she does well with is our neighbor, who she spent much of her puppyhood around.

My GSD mix has bit 1 time in the past. He bit a little girl who reached out over his head. He too is very nervous around people. He broke the skin, but it was extremely minor, especially when you consider that he is 145lbs. That was 3+ years ago. Since then he hasnt bitten anyone. We dont let kids touch him and advise all adult visitors to also leave him alone ( however, few actually do) he is way less afraid now that he is older. I think part of his paranoia of people may have to do with the fact that he has epilepsy. He just always has seemed a bit off, Not that I dont love him. He is very sweet to people he knows and trusts and extremely smart. Since he has aged and has been on sedatives for his disease him biting someone has become much less of a worry.

I had a dog when I was younger that actually bit me-- he was a GSD (possibly mix, but not sure.) He was a very sick boy. He had a megaesophagus and got into a fight with another dog and I got bit while trying to break it up. He didnt turn on me, but I got caught in between. Sadly we had to put him to sleep about 4months later due to his illness.

As long as your dog has no signs of agression (even fear based) I see no problem with you letting it socialize with small children (unless it has the tendency to knock them over) But you should always keep an eye. If they have a past history or show signs, I would try socialization classes before putting a child in harms way

 

[WolfCrest]

Jericho has bitten a couple of people. Before I got him I guess the people were "walking" him and he bit their friend pretty good. Now he was 6months old at the time and by walking I mean they were letting him drag them around the block like a sled-dog on the first day of a big race. I guess the guy needed stiches for it and the whole 9 yards. (I didnt know any of this when I got him). When I went to go meet him for the first time he tried to bite me and would have gotten me good if I were any slower. Luckily he got the leash and a quick lesson of its not okay to attack someone. With the owners at the time just sitting there. They didnt attempt to correct him at all. Jericho did get me once in the time since I brought him home. He didnt break skin but easily could have and where he got me would have been bad if he would have intended to do harm. I think he just got too riled up and forgot his manners for a second. He hasnt even tried to do it since and the only time he has had an issue is when the people who live behind me kicked a ball into my yard and thought it was a good idea to just jump over and get it. He didnt bite them but scared the crap out of them by barking and coming full speed strait at them. Needless to say they have since decided that if a ball comes over the fence they'll just wait for me to find it and throw it back over.

It's been a lot of work with this guy though so I think him going from what he was when the old owners had him to how he is now is great. Always room for improvement but at least I can walk him without the feeling I should be standing on a sled. My 2y/o cousin can even walk him (With supervision of course).

 

[doggiedad]

none of my GSD's bit anyone. all of mine have been
trained and socialized. none of mine have been iffy.
now i had a neighbor when i was growing who's dog
bit me several times and my parents never said anything
to the neighbor about their dog biting me.
they told me to stay away from the dog.