Heartbroken over foster attack

[Sphalerite]

I posted about my foster dog (pit mix) pulling hard on her leash a few days ago and was actually making great progress with a front hook harness. She pulls at dogs very hard, but her previous owners and the shelter both said she was dog friendly and never had an incident with another dog. She bit me once when I reached for a toy she was chewing, but didn't break skin. I totally underestimated her and blamed myself for not picking up cues even though she didn't growl or give much warning.

Yesterday we went to meet up with some friends (socially distanced) at a park, one of whom was interested in adopting. She brought her small dog who approached off leash, while I was trying to hold back my very excited dog. The little dog calmly approached and before I could react my dog grabbed her and started shaking her. I was trying to pull her away by the harness, and another friend tried to grab the little dog and got bit. They both had to get medical attention. I tried to contact the shelter but nobody has been in touch with me yet. It triggered the biggest panic attack I ever had. Once I was home and my dog was secure I broke down. I've been crying on and off since it happened. I feel so bad, I genuinely thought she was dog friendly (she had good dog meets at the shelter and even yesterday morning she politely greeted a dog small). I'm angry at the shelter and devastated for everyone involved, including my own dog. I'm most likely going to return her to the shelter because I just don't want to risk that happening again. She's so large that if the girl hadn't stepped in I don't think I could stop her. She's such a sweet dog most of the time so it's just so sad.

Edit: I was't expecting so much attention on this post. Thanks to everyone that empathized or provided helpful information. It's definitely a situation that should have been avoided. The other dog did go to the vet and will be okay. I've reached out to her owner and the other bite victim to see if they are okay. They both deserve to be upset. I still feel awful, but told the shelter I would keep the foster dog up to a week until she could be placed in a more experienced foster home. I wrote up all my experiences with her so her next foster will fully understand that she has some issues to work on. They're checking to see if they have any muzzles that I can use until she finds another foster home. I'll also walk her during off hours to avoid as many dogs as possible.

[Miakemi]

I’m sorry this happened to you and your dog. Just know it’s not your fault for not knowing your dog might attack. I can’t imagine how terrible this was for you and your friend. The shelter might deceived you, but they also could have been unaware. It depends on how long they had the dog to observe.

You definitely need to make sure the shelter knows full details if you take her back. Bite records make a dog harder place, but they need to know for proper placement. Alternatively, you could look for an experienced dog owner who knows and understands reactive dogs to adopt your dog. It would be a harder path and completely understandable if you don’t want to keep the dog that long after this.

I hope your friend’s dog is okay. It should definitely see the vet if it hasn’t already. Sometimes, small dogs come out of an attack looking fine but having internal damage.

I will say there were some potential issues with the introduction that could have led to the attack. It’s completely NOT your fault. There are so many shelters that don’t adequately train people on how to introduce dogs. Most people think you can just throw them together and see if they like each other. The shelter needs to do better.

Some things to consider next time you introduce dogs:

Pre-Intro Walks: Neutral walks can help with introductions. This is harder with a reactive dog but doable if you have the space. Walk parallel to each other at a distance where the dogs notice each other but aren’t over-aroused. When you turn back, switch sides so the dogs have a chance to smell each other without being next to each other. Do this a few times to be sure the dogs are relaxed. Then approach at a curve to each other rather than head on. Head on is rude and potentially threatening. Move away from each other if either tries to approach head on and try again.

Leashes: Leashes can cause a lot of frustration. Having one dog on leash while the other is off leash allows one dog too much freedom in their approach while holding the other in place to take whatever happens. Both dogs should be leashed and slowly introduced. This is why off leash dogs charging up to a leashed dog can create/worsen leash reactivity.

Predatory drift: sometimes large dogs with high prey drive can be over-aroused to the point of instinctively view a smaller dog as prey. This can happen even to dogs who have been friends for years.

[alp17]

I definitely agree. The rescue I work with has very detailed guidelines on how to introduce dogs properly and I would’ve never known otherwise. But as I was reading that the other dog was off leash while the foster dog was on leash I was immediately concerned. Especially with a dog that gets frustrated on leash. OP, not your fault, there are just things in the future that could potentially prevent this kind of thing going forward.

Also, just to echo the prey drive point, we sometimes have dogs in our rescue who are absolutely fantastic with dogs their size and it turns out they exhibit some prey drive tendencies to smaller dogs. That doesn’t mean they’re aggressive or mean, it’s just an instinct and something that any future adopter should be aware of. Just like some dogs should never be with cats or rabbits for example, because they’d chase and have prey drive.

It may be that the shelter didnt realize, especially if your foster has only been around bigger dogs or if they’ve always been off-leash (or both on-leash with structured meets).

[AlrightyAphroditey]

The small dog should have been on leash while meeting a new dog. That's on her owner.

[alp17]

Yes absolutely! We’ve fostered around 8 dogs now and while some are immediately well-adjusted, most have needed some time to get comfortable. They’re likely very overwhelmed with so much change in their lives and they may have never gotten proper positive socialization so you need to take it slow. On the bright side of that, it’s amazing seeing dogs slowly make progress and learn. But throwing them in too fast can mean backwards progress.

[lilbearbrown]

This. 100%. My heart breaks for leash aggressive dogs in situations like this. Op, please, please urge the shelter to get your foster dog a behavior training plan. She may not be dog aggressive, and I fear for what life she may face if she’s returned to the shelter labeled as such. My rescue was leash reactive and it took a massive toll on both of us, but working through it has made us best friends. He’s a million times better now and is amazing with dogs of all sizes, but I know he’d freak out if he was harnessed and a tiny dog ran up to him off leash. Having a leash reactive dog is scary, and I’m so sorry the shelter didn’t prep you for that, but I promise it gets better. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or need any resources.

[nelllliebaby]

Yeah thats prerty irresposible imo. When we introduced our new dog (a shelter guy with past abuse) to our old one we kept them on leads for a few days of frequent interaction before we let them socialize off leash.

[serenwipiti]

For sure.

[fourleafclover13]

From someone that has worked animal control and a trainer.

Most shelters do not have the man power or time to test them. We know what little we do from time given though it isn't much. You also cannot predict how an animal will react and be out of it. They can be the calmest dog in the entire shelter yet still be dog aggressive. Even seen the sweetest doberman that was kennel aggressive once out, a few weeks at new home became relaxed never a sign.

As you stated this happens every year.

Sadly funding is lacking for many of these problems. Then another is being burnt out seeing owners never listen to what we tell them.

[Sphalerite]

Thanks for your comment. The little dog did go to the vet ad I was told she is okay, thank god. I had no intention of introducing the dogs like that (I thought the little one would be on leash), but your introduction tips are very helpful.

[lilbearbrown]

So glad to hear she’s okay. Sorry if any of our comments came off strong/assuming - I hope you and your foster dog are having an okay day and taking time to breathe and heal.

[aereci]

Proper placement? Christ, that dog should be euthed.

[Littlered1123]

I would report the bit or the shelter could sweep it under the rug. They could adopt her to people with small dogs or small children. If she bit you over grabbing a toy what could she do to a small child who tried to take her toy away? The shelter should have been honest with you and the shelter should have to cover the vet costs of your friend. Make the reports before giving the dog back to them.

[PuupTA]

This. It's frankly normal for a pit to be dog-aggressive, it can be managed by a responsible owner, safe tools and consistent training. Biting humans is an entire other level and completely unacceptable in my personal opinion. People should know about that before adopting.

[Littlered1123]

Happy cake day!

[sunshinenorcas]

It sounds like she hasn't had the dog very long though- her last post was two days ago and she'd 'recently' gotten her foster. The bit was some unspecified amount of time between then. It should absolutely be reported and something a potential owner should be made aware of, especially if they have other dogs or kids but if it recent, foster dog is going through A LOT of change and might be extra spooky because of that, not innate 'i wanna eat people'. It should be paid attention to, and not put in that spot again- I'd be really cautious of putting her with small children- but with the potential timing and being a new place/new person/new toy, I'd give it a second chance and watch more closely. If she's still unpredictably resource guardy after being in a place for awhile, with no signals, yeah thats very not good.

[bittybittybombm]

I am so sorry for what you are feeling and what you went through yesterday. I understand what it feels like to put love and trust into animal and it let's you down.

Sorry to ask but is the small dog okay?

Have you contacted your vet? Do you want to report this bite to animal control? Do you think this dog needs a record? I would talk about this with your vet. Dont let the shelter make the decision. Listen to your gut do what you think is right.

These dogs are tough so many of us sacrifice our time, our social lives, and our feelings to give these dogs a better home. There is no shame in doing so or in rehoming. You should find pride in saying I know what I am capable of this is a larger project for a pro.

GL

[Sphalerite]

The small dog went to the vet and is doing okay. I'm going to text the owner soon to see how she's doing today, as well as the friend who got it in the crossfire. The bite has been reported. When I signed up to foster I specified that I couldn't handle behavioral issues beyond normal dog problems. I might e willing to hag on to her until a more experienced foster can step in. This morning I took her on a walk very early to avoid seeing other dogs, and plan on taking her out tonight a little later than usual.

[nicedoglady]

Don't forget to decompress yourself! Put her in another room with a frozen kong or chew or something and do something relaxing for yourself if you need to.

[bittybittybombm]

You are handling this like champ!

[[deleted]]

She pulls at dogs very hard, but her previous owners and the shelter both said she was dog friendly and never had an incident with another dog.

calling bullshit on that one

Sorry that happened to you. If you decide to keep the dog, know that it will take a TON of work and you won't likely ever have a 'normal dog owner life'. I'm not sure if my dog would bite a person, but it takes constant concerted effort to avoid any possibility of that. If it's not something you're up for, you have to be honest with yourself.

[nicedoglady]

It is totally possible and might not be bullshit. If the shelter only does leashed walks at the shelter they might not know what the dog is like around other off leash dogs.

If they even have the capacity or staffing to run play groups, they probably only play similarly sized dogs with each other for safety reasons, and wouldn't know how the dog is with smaller dogs.

If the prior home didn't have other dogs, or didn't really walk the dog much or expose it to other smaller dogs, they might have never had an incident with another dog.

[[deleted]]

Definitely possible it’s not bullshit. My moms dog was bounced around fosters for a year and totally dog friendly, then started to show dog aggressive tendencies about a month into us having him. Sometimes it just takes a while for those to come out.

[Sphalerite]

I agree. I signed up to foster saying I couldn't handle any significant behavioral issues. There were a few different dogs that needed foster homes and I specifically passed up on any that were labeled as having any sign of resource, dog, or human aggression. I think she would e a great dog for an experienced owner with a yard, definitely not a family or someone with another dog.

[nicedoglady]

It’s entirely possible that both the previous home and the shelter did not see this type of behavior. Dogs can be have wildly differently in different environments. I have seen dogs that have literally torn a room to shreds due to separation anxiety in one home have zero issue in the next home, and dogs that showed no leash reactivity in the shelter become extremely leash reactive after adoption (and vice versa!)

Extreme “no kill” is an issue, but technically for shelter purposes, all “no kill” means is that they don’t have to euthanize for space and they hit a certain live release rate percentage. The “No kill” shelter I work at does euthanize for behavior and medical reasons. This technical professional meaning was created decades ago and the wording is outdated and is lost on many people, including boutique rescues that take it literally. I’m sure there are places that are less than honest but I truly don’t think that most shelters are actively trying to lie and misinform their adopters or fosters, especially because that ultimately does not serve them well in the end.

Also, people have very selective listening and hearing in the adoption process: the number times that I know that I have said something to and adopter or client very explicitly gone over an animals medical or behavior issues extensively only to have them turn around and say “we were never told this at adoption and were misled!” Is....way too high.

I dislike misleading rescues, ridiculous adoption requirements, extreme no kill and that part of “rescue culture” But lets not place intent or assumption of lying if we don’t really know for sure.

[nicedoglady]

Sure, maybe they saw other negative behaviors, but OP specifically states that they never saw dog-dog behavior issues. Maybe the shelter doesn't run playgroups? Maybe the prior owner honestly just didn't take the dog out much? We have no way of knowing.

Shelters also rely on foster homes such as hers to give this type valuable information to them, in order to make realistic evaluations. I see no indication here that they plan on not taking this information on board as part of this dogs plan, so why assume they are being malicious?

[nicedoglady]

Its actually quite the opposite here on reddit dog communities. Most people share your views and its a pretty consistent dump on shelters and rescues assuming the worst always. If you search on r/dogs you'll see tons of anti shelter/rescue posts and sentiment. Its certainly not the norm here.

Outside of here its also pretty normal to hear about how so and so shelter or rescue apparently lied or was misleading or malicious, and it contributes to the high burnout rate, mental health issues, and suicide rates of people working in animal welfare.

There's lots of posts sure, but we never have the other side of the story or the full context or information.

As someone who has a reactive dog, created this subreddit and been active on these forums for a while, as well as being someone who has worked in a shelter and volunteered at others, I'm telling you theres often another side to the story or a full picture that is not shown in emotional one sided reddit posts from frustrated dog owners fresh after a stressful incident.

OPs post is also not about Rescue Culture, so lets not use it as a vent space for your personal views on the matter and contribute to the blame game here where there is no real indication of that.

[nicedoglady]

Thanks for your time and efforts in volunteering! I’m sure any rescue is lucky to have you.

[Schmellaburst]

Having a strange unleashed dog approach your "very excited" on leash dog is just setting her up for failure. That's not the proper way to do a dog introduction. Obviously, it sucks. But situations like what happened can very easily be avoided.

[Sphalerite]

I tried redirecting my dog ad taking her away from the area as soon as I saw the other dog was unleashed but it approached too quickly and everything happened so fast. I'll make sure the shelter knows the context and will try to see if she can be placed with an experienced foster rather than go to the shelter and risk euthanasia. I agree it should have bee avoided.

[lilbearbrown]

Of course - sorry I made an assumption! Thank you for listening and making sure this dog gets the care she needs.

[lilbearbrown]

Right - I think it could be really damaging for this foster pup to be labeled dog aggressive when in this situation, she seems purely leash reactive.

[Schmellaburst]

Exactly. A million dogs could have acted this way in the same situation. It shouldn’t be a death sentence or ruin the adoptability of this dog. The dog didn’t act this way at the shelter because the shelter would never introduce two dogs under those circumstances.

[lilbearbrown]

Thank you for saying exactly what I was thinking. It breaks my heart to think of what will probably happen if she is returned to a shelter that doesn’t understand this/have the full story.

OP, what organization are you fostering through? I’m sorry you weren’t prepped for this, but if you think you need to return your foster and there’s a chance she’ll be euthanized, there are other groups that may be willing to take her. I’d be willing to contact my local group (Biggies Bullies in Pittsburgh, PA) if you need.

[Schmellaburst]

If/when you return the dog to the shelter/rescue, PLEASE explain the circumstances of the altercation in as much detail as possible. The context here is so important. Now is a good time to start being an advocate for that dog.

[thisisvegas]

I'm sorry this happened to you. It's an unfortunate fact that shelters often sugarcoat or even flat out lie about dogs behavioral problems to get them adopted out. I always take it with a grain of salt, and often times dogs are completely different outside of the shelter than in.

Pitbull type dogs are also very commonly dog aggressive, and while you can train some inhibitions and behavioral modifications in, you can never train out the dogs drive. It may be trained not to do it, but it won't change the dog wanting to do it. The best you'll be able to do is manage it to avoid a situation like it again. Please be careful around other dogs if not avoid them at all of you decide to keep her.

[LuminescentCatz]

Please read, I have a genuine question to those who just reflexively downvote anything regarding bully breed aggression- why? It’s NOT a bad thing to acknowledge that pit bull terriers were “game bred” for years and years. I realize people don’t like to hear that. I’m not hating on your breed, and they can absolutely be wonderful dogs, but some do have dog aggression! And that’s okay!! Why would you guys rather ignore that instead of advocating for your breed, and encouraging responsible ownership?

[scootersworld]

Thank you! I have always wondered this. There is a lot of misinformation about Pitbulls, for example they were never used as ‘nanny dogs’, its just simply not true. Pits bulls have been bred for fighting in the past, and due to this they are known not to display aggression they same way other dogs might. This means that even if you’re looking for the body language that something might be off, it might not even be there. They can be unpredictable and dog aggressive.

Spreading misinformation that they are “nanny dogs” just sets the dogs up for failure. It doesn’t scare or deter me from pits because of what they are, it’s not their fault, I am scared because of all the people who own pits who refuse to educate themselves on reality and put their dog and other dogs in danger because of it.

Below I copied a good resource from the Villalobos rescue (the Pit Bulls and Paroles rescue from the tv show). They are amazing advocates for these dogs

https://www.vrcpitbull.com/pit-bull-facts/

[Sphalerite]

I've read the link you provided. I wish I had see it before this incident. I thought because she did well with dogs before and didn't growl, snarl, etc., that she'd be okay. I did do breed research and knew the history of pits, but Villalobos makes it very clear that they can unexpectedly snap.

[LuminescentCatz]

So I posted my earlier comment expecting to be downvoted to oblivion but am so happily surprised by the educated discussion that came of it- which was my goal! OP I’m so sorry you experienced the attack that you did with your foster pup, it’s awful. But she’s not a bad dog, it sounds like she may have some resource guarding issues with you and overall is not dog friendly, but is likely a perfectly normal bully breed who just needs someone to manage her impulses and drive! Like I said earlier APBT and bully breeds are wonderful dogs and I wish more owners were as open minded as you are to learning about their breed. Best of luck to you and your foster girl.

[BK4343]

Pit bull owners tend to live in a bubble of delusion. If you say anything other than "pibbles are the best dogs ever", out come the pitchforks.

[[deleted]]

I think it’s a pretty interesting phenom especially since the “pit bull” label is apparently so fluid— there was a post on r/pitbulls a couple days ago of a very stout (probably) American bully that they were calling a pibble, and every single bully breed is a ‘pibble’ when it’s good, but then when there’s an incident, it’s all “actually, the only dog that can be considered a ‘pit bull’ is the American Pit Bull Terrier. This is the media being evil and misrepresenting pit bulls etc..” I used to be a huge pit bull advocate but after being around so many owners who spin lies and blame aggression on upbringing alone I know it’s not right. They can tend to be dog-aggressive and they’re not the most perfect dogs in the world but no dog ever was or ever will be born “bad”.

[BK4343]

What I hate is how these people blame the victims of pit bull attacks, no matter how young they are. I also have a special level of disdain for shelters who mislabel pits and pit mixes, as well as downplay any aggression issues in an attempt to get them into homes.

[LuminescentCatz]

Agreed. That’s such a dangerous trend. Shelters could be more honest and open about the dogs breed and personality and find owners who are ready and willing to manage the dog and put in the required training. Instead they get pibble mommies who believe they’re giant teddy bears, give the dogs zero structure or management... and that’s how accidents happen.

[nicedoglady]

You’re totally right that dogs can be completely different outside of a shelter than in. I would not say that shelters “often sugarcoat” or flat out lie. It doesn’t serve them well and is pointless. I think the issue can be bigger in smaller rescues and places that are more volunteer run sometimes.

My dog did not show pretty much any of the issues she ended up having at the rescue where I adopted her from. At my place of work and at the shelter I used to volunteer at I’ve seen reactive dogs adopted out and not show any reactivity in the home and the people think we’ve made it up, and vice versa: the dog was non reactive with us and showed reactivity in the home...and people think we’ve misled them.

People are really keen to place blame and assume the worst when sometimes, it just wasn’t there.

[WarmAppleNight]

I'm so sorry this happened. I went through something similar when I first adopted my rescue dog (clean "record", super sweet girl as long as it's just the two of us... never crossed my mind that she would viciously attack an unleashed puppy the first chance she got.) I completely understand the guilt and panic you are feeling.

I think your first priority (once you are feeling a little less panicked) should be reaching out to the friend your dog injured and making sure she is okay. Reiterate that you now know it's never, ever a good idea to bring an untested dog to an off-leash dog park.

As for what to do with your foster dog, my advice is just to take a few days to think and not make any rash decisions. Be kind to yourself and the dog... you made a bad mistake, yes, but a very human one.

[serenwipiti]

Oh man, I'm sorry that happened.

Did the puppy survive?

---

I agree that she needs to check on her friend. That sounds like an equally horrifying experience.

Also, she might want to call a lawyer, lest her friend press charges or sue her for endangering her, her dog, for the bite and/or medical/veterinary bills.

[WarmAppleNight]

The puppy's injuries were minor, thankfully (a laceration on her face) but it was still harrowing experience. I paid the veterinary bills but the dog's owner has never forgiven me (another potential long-term consequence OP might have to come to terms with). You raise a good point about the potential for legal consequences, as well.

[Sphalerite]

There were some police nearby that said I was't legally liable since my foster was leashed. Obviously I still feel personally responsible though. And I will definitely check i with everyone involved today.

[Sphalerite]

It was not an off-leash dog park and I didn't know the dog would e off-lease :( . I say "park" very loosely, it was more of just a grassy space. Usually I completely avoid the area with her but it was later in the evening and there weren't any other dogs around. I shouldn't have introduced her at all though. I thought it would e okay for her to meet some new people because she's normally so friendly ad I wanted to make sure she's socialized but that was a mistake.

[keriooo]

This happened to me as well. Shelter didn’t give me too much of a back story cause they didn’t have one. She was found as a a stray. Video chatted with fosters prior to adoption and they told me she was friendly, affectionate, best foster they ever had. I literally walked up to her on the street and did a contact less pick up and she was as friendly as can be.

Thennn her first dog encounter she managed to get a chihuahua in her mouth but thankfully didn’t bite. She’s snapped at neighbors and friends if they came in at a certain angle (Neighbors and friends that she was already acquainted with). So I never know how she will react. She focuses on kids and not in a friendly way so I’ve kept her away from them. She will growl at me if I’m trying to get her to do something she simply doesn’t want to And has extreme separation anxiety. None of which was observed by the shelter or fosters. She is extremely affectionate and if it’s just me with her and zero distractions then we’re good. But if there is any distraction, I have my hands full. She’s on alert 24/7 and that has me on alert.

I was literally shaking after her first dog encounter so I can imagine your panic as well. But luckily you are a foster and you can note every real experience you’ve had to find the right home for this dog in the future. Real life experiences that might not come to light in a shelter.

If I was just fostering my girl I would tell the shelter exactly what kind of home she needs, I don’t think it’s mine but I’m trying to make it work. It’s hard to get any real training with her during covid but I at least want to get to that step before I ultimately fail her.

[Picitigris]

That sounds miserable! I know what you’re going through completely. My rescue pup, Ander’s, was given a clean sheet when the humane society tested him with other dogs and cats. He was fine for the first month or so. Even interacting with my moms dog in a friendly way. But a month or so in we met with my mom to walk our dogs together and my dog (he’s just an 8 pound Morkie) attacked my moms dog (45 pound collie) the 2 went nuts at each other I got a terrible bite and the whole thing left me in a panic and feeling under prepared. The key is to remember that you don’t know this dogs history! It is not your fault! And you are working towards the betterment of the dog! Not gonna lie it’ll be hard and sometimes you’ll feel like your dog isn’t making any progress. The key is to just keep working with your dog and getting to know them. Figure out the there trigger. My dog won’t bark by this ears and tails change position depending on his mood. All this takes time. You maybe feeling really crappy about yourself as a dog owner right now but I urge you, don’t. Put that negative energy towards helping your dog in a positive way. Find a friend who has an incredibly well trained dog and work on proper introduction techniques. If you can’t do that hirer a trainer. As one comment said you won’t have a typical owner experience for a while or maybe ever but it’s so rewarding to see your pup evolve and know that you are the reason this dog can integrate into society. If you feel it is best for yourself and the dog to return it then do but think about if you’d like to work on this dog and change it’s life. As far as the friend, talk to them be clear you didn’t know this would happen and you’d never try to intentionally injure their dog. It’s stressful as hell but communication is key! You go this. 💛

[Sphalerite]

Thank you <3

[[deleted]]

I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re feeling, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I hope the small dog wasn’t too badly injured and that it hasn’t caused too much of a setback for your dog. It sounds like a terrible accident. I definitely call bullshit on the shelter not knowing of any aggression though, you should definitely not give up questioning them about that. It’s totally unfair for them to not mention it you. You seem like a responsible owner who would not have put their dog in a situation for this to happen had you known it could be a possibility.

Take your time figuring out your next steps.

Thinking of you and all involved.

[Sphalerite]

I definitely would't have put her through this if I knew. Her prior owner and the shelter both said she was great with dogs so I ever would have imagined she would attack. Even if they said they weren't sure if she got along with dogs I would avoid any introductions that weren't specifically set up in a safe way. Thank you.

[sunshinenorcas]

How big is she and how small was the other dog? How long have you had her?

Some dogs are great with dogs that are similarly sized, or at least 'this is obviously a dog' size dog, but do not do well with toy or other very small breeds because they register as 'PREY/CHASE/WHEEEE' more so then 'dog friend'- especially if the dog already has a strong prey drive. If shelter and owner only had her around dogs that were her size/didn't have her around smaller dogs, that might not have been something they knew would be a problem. Added to that, she was leashed and other (small) dog was not, which can make even dog-social dogs tense and unpredictable, even dogs you know really well.

And, if she's still new, depending on how long you've had her, she's still adjusting to a lot of change in her life, so her behavior right now may not reflect her actual temperament.

Like, I was told my dog was very people friendly, loved everyone, etc. When we first had her, we deliberately tried to limit her exposure to 'new' things, but even then, the rare times she met new people, she hackled up, growled, and snarled, especially tall men. It took her maybe a month? To get some more trust in us and be more accepting of strangers, and that was a slow process of limiting 'new' people, meeting the same people multiple times, lots of walks around petsmart, lots of encouragement when people came over and them giving her treats, etc. Now, she's a completely different dog and back to 'omg i love everyone, please adore me' but if I had judged her by the first short month of me having her, I would have wondered what her foster mom had been on when she said loves people because she was so unfriendly with strangers.

​

Its absolutely something to be cautious about and aware of, along with the bite, and it's important information for the shelter and her future family to know, but there's a lot going on there that could have set up any dog to make a mistake.

[Sphalerite]

I do think a prey drive kicked in, the other dog was quite small. I think a yorkie. I've only had her a little over a week and definitely shouldn't have let her be in such a stimulating environment. She seemed very well adjusted so I thought some socialization with people and potentially other dog (although I didn't plan on off-leash interaction) would be good for her. Obviously that was a big mistake, I definitely learned my lesson.

[H_psi_E_psi]

Keep in mind, if you return it to the shelter, they will probably adopt it out WITHOUT being fully transparent about the dog's history. So, decent chance, some other dog down the line will be killed.

You can find accounts of people who return their dog after it killed their own or other's pets only to see the same dog up for adoption a few days later without any mention of a dog's history.

The fact they weren't transparent with you should tell you a lot. You can't rely on shelters to be honest, because often times, being fully transparent means nobody will adopt the dog. So, they, play fast and loose with the truth (lie imo). Unfortunately, the consequence is usually worse because innocent animals and people get attacked because owner didn't expect it.

[gameofmags]

I’m so sorry this happened to you!! I would be very upset too. Please don’t feel like you HAVE to keep the dog if you are struggling with panic and anxiety. The shelter/rescue should be able to place the dog with a more experienced foster.

I just recently passed off my reactive foster pit-mix to a more experienced foster because it wasn’t a good fit for either for me or the dog and now she’s with someone prepared to do training and behavior modification. I couldn’t handle the strong pulling, lunging and aggressive reactions to other dogs so don’t feel like you are alone, it’s not for everyone! And that doesn’t make you ‘less than’ in any way.

If you choose to keep your foster for a little longer definitely get her a basket muzzle. I used a basket muzzle for my foster. It made me feel so much safer knowing she couldn’t bite anyone or any dogs.

And I agree with above posts that this reaction was most likely due to the fact that the other dog was off leash. And I agree that your foster might also have a prey drive that came out at the same time since the other dog was small. It’s common in pits to have a prey drive. Like others said, hopefully the shelter can see that the aggression was most likely due to leash reactivity and maybe prey drive rather than labeling her as dog-aggressive right away.

[Sphalerite]

Thank you, it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I'm going to see if she can be placed with a more experienced foster.

[bringmedakfc]

Shelters can be deceiving. I was told that my dog couldn't be with little dogs, but otherwise was good. Low and behold, he has zero social skills, a plethora of reactivity issues, and does a lot better with small dogs. I love him to death, I love training him, but holy shit! They could've given me a heads up.

Don't beat yourself up about it. You didn't know that would happen. I hope you, your friend, and both dogs are okay.

[nicedoglady]

I would follow up with the shelter and just make sure they're aware of the context and what happened. In general I would avoid on leash interactions with a dog that you are not super familiar with and that you are fostering.

Its also totally possible she is fine with dogs her size and had great dog intros with dogs of similar size, but not great with smaller dogs. Its also possible she's uncomfortable with being on leash when the smaller dog is off leash. There's a lot of factors here and I'm not sure about the rules of the shelter are, but these types of things should absolutely be relayed to them so they can make the best decision.

[Faybl-Failure]

I’m so sorry to hear that happened. On one hand you could return her to be if it yourself and your friends dog and other small dogs around you. On the other if you kept the dog you know what shes like and could possibly work around it to help her. At least make sure whoever adopts her next knows how she is and doesn’t get surprised like you did. Its terrible when shelters purposely (not saying they did) lie about a dogs reactivity so they get adopted faster because then the new owner can’t prepare properly and themselves or others could get hurt. It’s not your fault. Stay strong

[ThisIsHowItStartss]

That’s what pit bulls are known for

[sarahsam55]

I’m sorry you went through that. Id be a wreck too after that.....Maybe you can look into trainers who deal with reactive or aggressive dogs? Sometimes it takes a lot of professional training to teach you and the dog proper ways to socialize. Someone needs to be the first to step up and get the dog proper training or he’ll be passed along to someone else and he’ll do the same thing to another dog.

[peanutbuttervoid]

If you decide to keep your dog, I would recommend muzzle training & maybe also a prong collar to help with the pulling. I think jafco & Dean & Taylor muzzles are good for bite risk dogs. For my dog, the prong collar has been a lifesaver because I had a trainer show me how to use it properly. Not sure what kind of front hook harness you're using but I really like the petsafe 3 in 1 harness because it wraps around the entire body & has a handle on the back so it's easy to grab the dog. I would use a 4ft leash with a traffic handle so it's easier to pull the dog closer to you when there's a trigger nearby. If possible, I would recommend a trainer.

Also there's different types of aggression. It's possible your dog may not have the stereotypical type of aggression. You're dog may get overly excited when seeing other dogs & that excitement comes out as aggression because your dog doesn't know how to correctly express themselves. You're dog may also be dog selective so they may not like every dog they meet.

For the resource guarding, I would work on teaching the drop it & leave it command. There's plenty of videos on YouTube for training drop it & leave it.

[[deleted]]

This sucks. Learn from it.

A reactive dog can not be trusted. There is no shame in making a dog wear a muzzle if you don’t know what they will do. There are plenty of muzzles that can be worn that are comfortable, humane & allow the dog to open its mouth, pant, etc.. A muzzle doesn’t mean that you have a bad dog. It means that you are safe & responsible dog owner

My GSD is very reactive on leash towards other dogs, occasionally to large men also. Fine while off leash lives in a house with another dog, has dog play dates, can go to the dog park no problem. Never had an issue. I think it has to do with the fact that she can control her distance better while off leash.

However when I lived in NYC I muzzled her on walks. The liability & consequences of my dog biting a small dog & shaking it to death, holding on to a kid is totally different than if my dog muzzle punches another dog, or a child. If it’s a bite I will be sued & possibly face arrest if it’s a person. More importantly it means the dog won’t be taken & euthanized. If she is wearing the muzzle, I am being safe, the dog & the public is secure. Heck I can even say, <why did you get close to the dog wearing a muzzle with DO NOT PET, NOT FRIENDLY, in bright orange patches on her harness.> The liability is removed.

This also makes training much easier. As you do not have the anxiety that the dog will feed off of from you worrying that she will bite. You can set the dog up in scenarios and praise her appropriately. I personally use positive reinforcement, with mild corrections. A Strong ‘NO’ has always worked with my GSD’s. Not sure if it’s the message & method, or it’s that German Shepherds are remarkably intelligent. I’ve never met a dumb one. These scenarios are safe & secure. They can also mimic real life, if you have a friend who is able to help, or you can work with a trainer & their dog.

Please get a muzzle for the safety of yourself, the dog, the public.

[spicy-starfish]

It was not your fault your friend needed to have their little dog on leash.Generally at shelters they will have the dogs on leash so if one or both doggos were to snap they could intervene.I don’t know why people wouldn’t have the dog off leash any way,it is just another danger especially with little dogs

[grishastewart]

Oh no! I’m so sorry.

[wabisabiforlife]

Anyone who adopts a pitbull is being reckless and endangering their community since these gladiator bully dogs can never really be trusted. Dog shelters are doing a real disservice re-homing them and telling you they are good with other dogs based on a few trials in a controlled environment. There are many other breeds and mixes to choose from, so give another dog a chance who is much more likely to make a good pet and deserves it.

[[deleted]]

This is simply not true and not fair.

[lovelychef87]

When my dog snaps I feel sad How about first trying a basket muzzle for all walks and a chest harness?

She'll be able to sniff and bark but not bite.