Posted by Dinah on February 18, 2007, at 11:54:11
In reply to I got bit!, posted by Deneb on February 16, 2007, at 20:26:32
Most likely the dog was perfectly healthy, since it being walked. My son got bit by a family friend's dog when he was quite young. It just raced at him and bit him on the tummy as he walked in the door. He hadn't so much as noticed the dog yet so the attack from nowhere scared him senseless. The doctor wasn't particularly concerned, even though it broke the skin (through his shirt) and caused a nasty bruise. We made sure it didn't get infected.
Such behavior is not at all usual from dogs. My son had had lots of contact with dogs and this encounter didn't cause him to be afraid of them, although it probably reinforced our cautions about approaching strange dogs carefully. I don't think there's any reason to fear dogs in general, but it might be a good idea to visit some friendly dogs if you know anyone who owns them. At our house you'd come to no more harm than being licked to death, even if you were an armed intruder. And at my parent's home, the burglars not only weren't stopped by my collies, but one of them stole one.
Dogs are just as different as people.
poster:Dinah
thread:733399
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070209/msgs/733822.html