New here-and have a concern

R_Couper · 11-08-2011, 07:33 PM

first let me just say that i am very happy i found this forum.
Finally a place where I can talk about my Labradoodle.
Few years ago we dog-sat a labradoodle and my husband and i fell in love with the breed.
In September of 2008, Rusty (back then 3 months old) joined our family.
The most amazing, smart, beautiful, dog we could've asked for. Very friendly. Great with our 2 boys who sometimes can be a bit rough on him, great to our cats, great to strangers, just a dog you would want to have.
Rusty is basically our 3rd kid

However, today, Rusty bit the kid next door. Apparently, the boy came into our backyard with our oldest son and Rusty was out in the backyard. He started barking at the boy, so the boy started to run away and Rusty got him on the leg. Can you say devastated??? He has NEVER showed any signs of aggression or that he would even think about biting someone.
The boy is ok. His mom was very nice about the whole thing and surprised that Rusty would even do such thing.
We offered any help we could provide, along with paying doctor bills if she decides to take him to the doctors, but she was not concerned about it at all.

I am upset. I am hurt. I don’t know what to do. Why would Rusty bite him? According to my son, the boy did not do anything wrong other than wanting to run away. Was Rusty being playful or was there something about the boy he did not like?
Any tips/info would be greatly appreciated.
I also want to add that when Rusty came into the house, he went into our dining room to the corner and sat there. He knew he did something wrong.
Every time i approached him he had his head down and would not look at me.

Rusty turned 3 in June

Ace's Place · 11-09-2011, 09:51 AM

My first thought is that Rusty is/was not feeling well because your description of his daily behavior doesn't suggest any pattern of biting or problem behavior. Just a thought....

Or, was it something to do with the yard. Was he being protective?

Ace's Place · 11-09-2011, 09:53 AM

also....I would perhaps start a new rule that non-family members are not allowed in the backyard when Rusty is there unless you are there also. Just in case Rusty thinks he is supposed to be on alert out there....

Jasper'sMomma · 11-09-2011, 10:02 AM

I agree with that rule! I bet he was being a 'good guard dog' ....

Daisy'sMom · 11-09-2011, 01:01 PM

My first thoughts that came to mind were was he feeling OK? And/or was he somehow feeling threatened? I'm sure you are so upset, hope you're doing OK!

R_Couper · 11-09-2011, 02:56 PM

Thank you for the replies!

Considering the fact that Rusty was in the backyard and that the boy came running in, my husband and I think that he probably felt a bit threatened. My son said that Rusty was barking at the boy and that the boy started running towards our shed, that is when Rusty came after him.
The boy's mother is being very nice about the whole thing. She kinda blames her son for not being more careful or not thinking before he walked into someone's yard.
However, she took her son to the doctors (because of the bite) just to make sure he will be ok and because it was a dog bite, the doctor had to file paperwork. She said that we might be getting a follow-up call or visit because of what happened and that just makes me nervous.

Thanks again for your replies.

Ace's Place · 11-09-2011, 03:20 PM

ugh...labradoodles, as you know, are so good natured. Ace, even at 11 months, has a little "watchdog" mentality in that he does a low quiet woof to let me know if someone is approaching the front door. And he does bark at people he doesn't seem to like. But other than that - friendly. I feel for you - Rusty sounds like a good boy and hopefully this will just end here.

Daisy'sMom · 11-10-2011, 12:21 AM

Hang in there, I'm sure everything will be OK. It's so interesting to me because Daisy is becoming more of a watch dog for us as she gets older and matures and I have noticed that certain people she acts differently around, almost like she can tell who she likes and who she doesn't. She even showed her teeth and started to snarl at an unwelcome Rottweiler that approached us on our driveway recently. The dog belongs to my neighbor and this dog is very trained and a good dog but it was unleashed and charged at us as we were headed out for a walk. Daisy was on the leash, the other dog was not so I have to think she felt threatened somehow. I know I'm talking dog vs. dog here when your concern is another human but I do see how our dogs can act differently in various situations and around differing people. And I agree, from what you describe it sounds like he felt threatened in his own back yard. Keep us posted, hopefully all is just fine.

11-08-2011, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
R_Couper Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 3	New here-and have a concern first let me just say that i am very happy i found this forum. Finally a place where I can talk about my Labradoodle. Few years ago we dog-sat a labradoodle and my husband and i fell in love with the breed. In September of 2008, Rusty (back then 3 months old) joined our family. The most amazing, smart, beautiful, dog we could've asked for. Very friendly. Great with our 2 boys who sometimes can be a bit rough on him, great to our cats, great to strangers, just a dog you would want to have. Rusty is basically our 3rd kid However, today, Rusty bit the kid next door. Apparently, the boy came into our backyard with our oldest son and Rusty was out in the backyard. He started barking at the boy, so the boy started to run away and Rusty got him on the leg. Can you say devastated??? He has NEVER showed any signs of aggression or that he would even think about biting someone. The boy is ok. His mom was very nice about the whole thing and surprised that Rusty would even do such thing. We offered any help we could provide, along with paying doctor bills if she decides to take him to the doctors, but she was not concerned about it at all. I am upset. I am hurt. I don’t know what to do. Why would Rusty bite him? According to my son, the boy did not do anything wrong other than wanting to run away. Was Rusty being playful or was there something about the boy he did not like? Any tips/info would be greatly appreciated. I also want to add that when Rusty came into the house, he went into our dining room to the corner and sat there. He knew he did something wrong. Every time i approached him he had his head down and would not look at me. Rusty turned 3 in June

11-09-2011, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ace's Place Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 124	My first thought is that Rusty is/was not feeling well because your description of his daily behavior doesn't suggest any pattern of biting or problem behavior. Just a thought.... Or, was it something to do with the yard. Was he being protective?

11-09-2011, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ace's Place Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 124	also....I would perhaps start a new rule that non-family members are not allowed in the backyard when Rusty is there unless you are there also. Just in case Rusty thinks he is supposed to be on alert out there....

11-09-2011, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jasper'sMomma Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Frisco, TX (in the DFW metroplex) Posts: 138	I agree with that rule! I bet he was being a 'good guard dog' ....

11-09-2011, 01:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Daisy'sMom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 202	My first thoughts that came to mind were was he feeling OK? And/or was he somehow feeling threatened? I'm sure you are so upset, hope you're doing OK!

11-09-2011, 02:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
R_Couper Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 3	Thank you for the replies! Considering the fact that Rusty was in the backyard and that the boy came running in, my husband and I think that he probably felt a bit threatened. My son said that Rusty was barking at the boy and that the boy started running towards our shed, that is when Rusty came after him. The boy's mother is being very nice about the whole thing. She kinda blames her son for not being more careful or not thinking before he walked into someone's yard. However, she took her son to the doctors (because of the bite) just to make sure he will be ok and because it was a dog bite, the doctor had to file paperwork. She said that we might be getting a follow-up call or visit because of what happened and that just makes me nervous. Thanks again for your replies.

11-09-2011, 03:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ace's Place Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 124	ugh...labradoodles, as you know, are so good natured. Ace, even at 11 months, has a little "watchdog" mentality in that he does a low quiet woof to let me know if someone is approaching the front door. And he does bark at people he doesn't seem to like. But other than that - friendly. I feel for you - Rusty sounds like a good boy and hopefully this will just end here.

11-10-2011, 12:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Daisy'sMom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 202	Hang in there, I'm sure everything will be OK. It's so interesting to me because Daisy is becoming more of a watch dog for us as she gets older and matures and I have noticed that certain people she acts differently around, almost like she can tell who she likes and who she doesn't. She even showed her teeth and started to snarl at an unwelcome Rottweiler that approached us on our driveway recently. The dog belongs to my neighbor and this dog is very trained and a good dog but it was unleashed and charged at us as we were headed out for a walk. Daisy was on the leash, the other dog was not so I have to think she felt threatened somehow. I know I'm talking dog vs. dog here when your concern is another human but I do see how our dogs can act differently in various situations and around differing people. And I agree, from what you describe it sounds like he felt threatened in his own back yard. Keep us posted, hopefully all is just fine.

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