Help requested - muzzle order

[Sarah Rix]

Hello,

I am a relatively new member of this forum who is looking for advice from other dog owners about how to handle a recent incident that involved one of my three dogs. I have a GSD mix who dislikes young dogs, and whom I have kept away from young dogs. Recently, I made an error in judgement and let a young dog interact with him over too long a period of time. As a result, my dog charged the young dog. My dog was not on a leash at the time of the incident; the other dog was on a flexi-lead that was too long to meet the bylaw definition of a leash (2m or less). This incident occurred in a park that is not an off-leash park in Toronto, Ontario.

When the incident happened, the other owner was really upset (understandably), packed up her dog without checking him over or letting me check him. She crossed the street to her home, and sent her husband out to let me know that his dog was a $2,500 show dog, and that he would sue me for all of his lost earnings if there was any impact on his dog's social behaviour. He did not mention any physical injury to his dog. From the position I was standing in, I cannot confirm that the dogs did or did not make contact.

The owners of the young dog called Animal Services to register a complaint. They were visited by an Animal Services officer two days later, who said that he found a single puncture wound on the dog. Because all three of my dogs were in the park and off leash at the time of the incident, he issued muzzle orders to all three dogs.

I have filed an appeal of these muzzle orders, and am trying to figure out how to deal with this responsibly. I've made a number of changes since the incident, including not using the park off leash, and enrolling all three of my dogs in additional obedience training. In addition, the offending dog with the dislike of young dogs is being put daily into situations with young dogs and corrected if he reacts to them (he is on both a muzzle and a leash while this is going on). The goal of this work is to try to eliminate his reactiveness to young dogs so that I don't need to always avoid them. He doesn't need to like them, but I need to be sure he will not hurt them.

While I am trying to make these changes, I also admit to not having been a perfect dog owner - in particular, I have regularly had my dogs off leash in our local park. This is a very wide spread practice (I did a rough count, and approximately 95% of the 75 dogs who regularly use the park do so off leash), but does not conform to the bylaw. I have had a complaint lodged with Animal Services about this in the past when one of my dogs got into the children's wading pool, and this incident will form part of the history at the appeal. So my past behaviour may well make this an uphill battle.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through a similar experience, and could offer advice.

Thank you - Sarah

[Corinna]

sounds like you had better keep them on leashes and find another park.

[Cat's Meowm]

Too bad for you that you and puppies were in wrong place at wrong time..Find a new park for sure. Still it seems to me those other people are looking to make you and your pups the scapegoat. If their dog was so valuable, why wasn't it better cared for? If my dog was as valuable as they say theirs is, nothing could have been allowed to happen to it. Sorry for you and your pups.

[Jessika]

Honestly I understand being responsible and having your dog off-leash, but leash-laws are there for a reason. Just because 75% of the pet parents at that particular park have their pets off-leash regularly does not make it right. I strongly suggest at the very leash just leashing your dogs at all times while in public unless in a designated area where it is safe (and legal) to let your pet off-leash.

[lizbud]

I have never had this problem before but think all you could do is
tell a judge (or whoever) all the changes you've made in training and
socializing the dogs & hope for the best. I would however, pick another
venue for the GSD/mix to work out his problem. A controlled enviroment
with a trainer & only certain other younger dogs. Good luck.

[BOBS DAD]

I really do. Unfortuneately, it often takes a very major incident before we do what we should have been doing all along. I do agree that the other owners are most likely over-reacting, but you're in a pickle. I don't your laws and how your appeal will be processed, but I would definitely look into the whole thing if I were you. After versing yourself, I would prepare my case very well. I would bring with me to your hearing any official documents and or proof that you have enrolled in obedience classes, etc. Also, write a letter of apology to the owners of the dog that your dog attacked, admitting no specific guilt, but an ernest sympathic "Sorry". Bring a copy of that to your hearing. Finally, do not take the approach that "everyone" or "almost everyone", 75% or whatever people do the same thing. Judges don't like the old innocent by association plea! Admit you were wrong and prove that you have learned the errors of your ways and have made positive, permanent changes.

And close with, "Your honor... did I mention, your hair looks lovely today"! Good luck!

[BOBS DAD]

Just a little more on that letter I suggested you write. DO NOT ADMIT ANY SPECIFIC GUILT... Again, do not incriminate yourself. Express your sincere sorrow (Because you truly are sorry, and should be), but do not include any specifics. This will all come out in your hearing anyway, no need to be painting an even worse picture. Say you are sorry for the incident and any distress it may have caused their dog or them. For heaven's sake, do not say that you knew you may have left your dog unattended for too long - or else your letter, which you have brought to show that you are sorry could actually be used as evidence against you!

[Scooby4]

Consider yourself "lucky". Getting ordered a muzzle order isn't that bad considering... I'd suggest continuing to follow the muzzle rule but appealing for a specified time limit for future removal.
IMO it doesn't matter the "value" of the dog ANY dog may attack. Monetary value of animals are in the eye of the owner. ANY dog or animal is waaay more valuable than money.
I take my dogs to a walking trail and my dog Shaggy has issues with other dogs. It's an issue I've been working on for a looong time. He's gotten better but definetely NOT a dog to expose to others without supervision and other owner's acknowledgement. He snaps at ANY second.
I have to admit that it IRKS me to no end people allowing their dogs to run off-leash in PUBLIC places. I don't care how well your dog is trained - MINE may NOT be! That is when I have a problem. I am NOW put into a situation where my dog is on a leash but the other dog initiates the contact. NO matter how short/long my leash is, I can NOT control this encounter. That makes me angry because I risk the life of my own dog at my own hands! AND it wasn't my fault!
I hope that puts it into "perspective" of how the other owner may have felt. The fact they have NOT demanded more to be done or that the laws don't extend more makes you a VERY lucky dog owner. I am glad you have made the effort for the additional training and exposure. It is my hope you also realize the danger of not leashing your animal in the future. I say the "muzzle" rule is something you can live with until all training has been completed.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Just adding my two cents.... Obedience is a valuable tool for any dog and I strongly advocate it all the time. However, obedience is not the cure all for a dog that has issues with other dogs. Exactly why does the GSD/mix have issues with "young" dogs? Has one attacked him at one point or annoyed him to the point he felt he needed to put the dog in it's place? Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that your dog "does have issues with younger dogs" and you know it. Knowing your dog has issues means you need to be more responsible and on guard all the time when your dog is in public. This dog should have NEVER been off leash around other dogs. If it needs to run off leash you need to find a place where other dogs do not go. Take a walk in the woods instead of going to the park.

My suggestion is to work with a trained behaviorist if you want to get the GSD/mix to be able to assoiciate with young dogs at some point in his life. Trying to do this on your own is not an easy situation for the normal dog owner to deal with. In the meantime, exercise the dog in a secluded area without other dogs around or muzzle him and keep him on leash and under control at all times in a public area.