Question for dog experts....

[jjjtronics]

Well, on Christmas day, a dog bit me, ON MY LEFT BUTT !!! My cousins adored Akbash (Turkish ) 125 pound beast pet. I ran after he bit me on my leg and I got away, but catched me and bit me on my behing until I managed to climb a fence ( like a cat ).
I know you American guys are knowledgeable on this dog matters. The quetion is, what in the heck is wrong ( or right ) with me ???? A have been bitten about 20-25 times, all kind, all sizes, all situations. I am either a mad dog magnet, or I smell like steak !!!
Have you guys seen this luck, or I guess "ability" to be attacked by dogs.
My left butt is now swollen, damn it hurts !!! His fangs are about at least 1 inch long, and he stucked one fully on my rear bumper.
I used to ignore it, and just get medication and keep going, but as I get older, I know someday I will not be able to escape from them, and one of this day I am going to get really hurt. Any ideas, suggestions ?? Yeah yeah, you guys can make fun of me, I don`t mind, but at least throw a couple of good advise lines.

[joe7670]

With those numbers, I'd say it calls for a concealed weapons permit! Or at least pepper spray.

[Destroyer]

I'm far from an expert, but I've raised several guardian type dogs over the years. Pepper spray, the kind that postmen carry, is always a good idea to stop an attack. But usually it's scent and training that will cause a dog to attack. Dogs can smell fear. If they know that you are afraid of them then to them it's an acknowledgement that they are the superior alpha dog and that they have the duty to bite you to show you they are boss. My best advice would just be to stay away from them as much as possible.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Like Destroyer said, dogs can smell fear. And if you are afraid you are most likely to be bitten. Dogs no matter how domesticated they get, are still animals. And animals respond to fear. Domesticated animals respond agressively to it as they feel that if you show fear to them, there is a good reaso nfor them to become aggressive. I've only been bitten once by a dog, and it was by a small terrier that knew me of all things. BUT I opened the door to a friends house and didn't exert confidence like I normally do, and it got me bit. I've walked into other peoples places where they had dogs that they swore would eat anybody alive, and most of the time they will come up to me and be as friendly as can be. It mostly boils down to how you respond around the dog, and if you have any fear of them. I know it's tough, but any fear(even fear you don't show) can be sensed by an animal. And they will react to the hidden fear the most violently most of the time.

[willy]

Exactly what was said above JJ, plus I would add this, when you turn and run it is an instant trigger for the prey drive in dogs to run after and to take down what ever it is.
I have had to deal with this stuff my whole life, had to shoot one German Shepard that attacked me and took me to the ground. Had to hit another one with a outdoor chair while yelling NO at it which caused it to back off.
One of the Officers I worked with had gotten bit twice in a month and everyone called him Milk Bone for years.
Sh!t happens, but what these guys above had said is probably what is happening, along with the circumstances you put yourself in, knowingly or unknowingly.
My current job puts me in situations where I am often going to peoples homes to post tenancy hearing notices, often out in the country in more rural areas. I have learned to look for the tell tale signs like a dog bowl, chain on a tree etc. Also if I just sense something is not right before I step away from my car I will whistle a few times or maybe beep my horn a couple of short beeps and listen before stepping away. That has saved me a couple of times.
If I think there might still be a chance I will have a pepper spray in my hand as I walk up to the door. But with my age and general disposition I will not be a milk bone again and have the dog walk away, if I don't have my pepper spray I will introduce Mr. K9 to my personal friends Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson so fast the Duke would smile

[jjjtronics]

Thank you guys.
I was not afraid at all, and although he was in an attack motion, I tried to play with the dog and actually put my boot in front of him and he bit on it. But when he let go my boot, which is Kevlar tip, he was going to jump to and go for my face, I knew that, so I turned around, and he bit me in my butt, it was all my natural reaction to protect my face. I could hit him with my 5 pound boot and knock the **** out of his neck, but crap, he is my cousins "son", they don`t have kids, so this dogs, they have 4 and also a puppy from them too, are their pride and happiness. They did not even try to punish the dog in any way, not even a word. I understand dogs are dogs, and he was protecting the house, but man, I feel they were more concerned about the dogs well being, than my own. Later, many of my other cousins came with their kids, and the dogs stayed on the loose. They did not even warned others about the incident, and that worries me a lot. I did not hit the dog because I did not want to, I would not kick somebody elses dog or pet, but what hurt me most is that they praised the dog for doing his duties as a guard. W. T .F. !!! If one of my dogs bites somebody, I would be very ashamed, and I will appologize, and I will not leave them loose, and never with little children. Pardon me guys, but thats sick love for a pet. A pet, is a pet, not a killer, not an attacker. They knew this dogs had attacked others because one of the visitors, whos a friend of them, told me that the dog bit him before. And this reunion was planned, not like I just showed up, they invited us for a Christmas dinner.
I will not visit them ever again, and not because the dogs, but because they can`t separate wright from wrong. That dog is a vicious dog, but they can`t see that. I hope they do something before this dog hurts somebody badly.

[joe7670]

That sucks. They are our best friends but gotta draw the line somewhere.

Non commanded bitting/agressive behavior is that line for me.

[reelapeelin]

Dogs, like children, are largely a product of their upbringing...your cousin needs to train his dog to only attack a human on command...I would put the blame and responsibility squarely on him for not having his dog under control...sounds like he might get some perverse pleasure out of having such a dog...

Remember...there are no bad dogs...only bad OWNERS...jmho...

[dboyd351]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

Dogs, like children, are largely a product of their upbringing...your cousin needs to train his dog to only attack a human on command...I would put the blame and responsibility squarely on him for not having his dog under control...sounds like he might get some perverse pleasure out of having such a dog...

Remember...there are no bad dogs...only bad OWNERS...jmho...

Absolutely!!!
Some breeds may be more or less prone to attack, but ultimately the dog's behavoir is a product of his upbringing. Just like there are good, well-behaved kids and others that aren't, the same is true for dogs. The fact that this dog has attacked more than one person and is still not being brought to task speaks volumes.

In many places if a dog is reported for this kind of behavoir several times the authorities will step in and take the dog away from the owner. I'm not suggesting you put yourself in such a situation with your relatives, but maybe someone should make them aware that this is a possibility if the behavoir isn't corrected.

[willy]

You are quite correct JJ in your analysis, I personally would have kicked that dog thru the front door, I would not care if it was the Pope's personal lap dog.
dogs like that are a menace to humans and should not be allowed to have contact with them, especially small children.
What everyone has said here is pretty much correct, I spent a three or four year period training dogs with people involved in something called Shutzhund where dogs are highly obedience and protection trained. Even these people who have many thousands of dollars and thousands of man hours invested in their dog(s) would not allow a dog that is too sharp as they put it near people at all. You see while I agree with the sentiment there are no bad dogs only irresponsible owners and that for many dogs bad socialization and/or cruel treatment is the problem with many dogs i will state quite emphatically that there most definetly are bad dogs. Period.
Some breeds of course are more aggressive by nature and have been bred to be so, a lot of dogs, due to the piss poor breeding practices in this country have bad temperments by genetic disposition.
If you ever go and spend time in Germany you will see the most amazing things, in Germany breeding of any dog is strictly controlled. A board of Vet's and breeders must determine the health of the dogs, whether the lines are too closely connected, the temperament of the dogs.
Any dog that is like your cousins is quickly removed from society as a menace.
The other thing you will see is the most beautiful healthy dogs walking with their owners on the streets on heel with no leash in sight, you will go to a very nice restuarant and be eating dinner and a man and women will come in and sit down with their German Shepard sitting right at their feet. Nothing is even thought of it.Quite amazing.
Anyhow I am reminiscing, sorry, you should advise your family of the danger of the dog, you should advise your family of the danger to the children, you should advise any other family or friends of the same and you should tell them nicely but honestly you and your family will not go there again while the dogs is on the scene. There are bad dogs. And bad owners, you may have a case of either or both, the only thing that matters is that someone acts as an adult and tells them so and acts accordingly.
In my family I have a similar issue with my brother who inspite of what everyone told him has a Pit Bull, he has three kids and the dog has been very good so far, stubborn and not obedient at all but no other issues. But I told him four years ago when he got it I and my kids will not come to his house unless the dog is put away, period. He has complied and there has been no issues to date and it will stay that way because when he at first let the dog out when we were there I literally went to grab my coat, he did the right thing and everything was OK after that.