Re: [PyrNet-L] CHAT: Pyr that bit

["Patti Brunkala" <menditar@grrtech.com>]

> > The Pyr saw the strange girl
> > who is 8, from across the room and charged over a
> > slippery glazed tile floor.  He connected with her
> > face causing about 80 stitches  mostly in the upper
> > lip which he split up to the nose.  He also bit her
> > in the buttocks and she fled.   He did not continue
> > to pursue.
> > 
First of all, I'd like to say that we should not try to give the dog an
alibi (sp) by saying the slippery floor could be a cause - because the dog
continued and bit the child again after the original bite to the face.   To
me that says the dog knew what he was doing.

> If the child inside the house
> was considered to be a "child" of the dog's in the dog's "eyes" then the
> dog was right to respond in the manner he did.  Especially if this dog
> has a high gaurding instinct.  For example:  you would not expect a pyr
> to be out with a flock and have a wolf enter into it's territory and
> just stand there and bark while the wolf gets closer to the flock. 

Actually, I would expect a pyr to bark first, before charging.  And then to
attempt to "run off" the predator first, before attacking.   There are
steps that a good LGD should follow in order, I believe, which are: 1) mark
& bark to let any near aware of his presence, 2) bark & posture & warn if
predator is in sight, 3) chase predator off, and finally, as a last resort,
4) attack.  A good LGD should also be able to tell the difference between a
threat and not a threat.  You don't want your LGD's to be chasing and
killing deer, which I've heard of happen too.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, of the LGD breeds, Pyrs rated less likely to bite a
human, less likely to injure livestock, and somewhat less aggressive to
other dogs than the other LGD breeds.  Pyrs should only use aggressive
attacks as a last resort.

Another thought - a member of the household (even if it was a child, she
should still be respected), opened the door to the intruder.  The intruder
did not push her way in by herself.  If a member of the dogs household
opens the door to someone, that should give the dog a sign that this person
is not an uninvited intruder.  My dogs would still be barking, but the
stance definately changes at the point of the door being opened by a
household member.

Trying to figure out the dogs behavior is a difficult call.  But I think
placing the dog in anothers hands would be a serious (and potentially very
legally damaging) mistake.  If the dog did bite again, I think it woud be
very difficult to convince a judge that the dog was justified both times. 
My choice would be one of the other choices, either keep the dog, neuter
him immediately, and start working with him, or euthanize him.  Although
the affects of neutering would not be immediate at his age of 4, it
couldn't hurt and would more than likely help in the long run.

Well, here's hoping that I haven't started a hot debate on this list too! 
<g>  Although please, keep the comments coming.  This is a very important
issue and could (probably has) happen to others.

Patti Brunkala
menditar@grrtech.com
Oregon