Woman stunned after sausage dog launches at husband and leaves him with stitches
Published
| Last updated
A man had to have stitches in his face after he was attacked by a sausage dog.
The terrifying incident happened in Victoria, Australia, with the owner shocked as the seven-year-old dachshund set upon her husband.
As a result of the vicious attack, the unnamed man was left needing urgent medical treatment, receiving five stitches.
And now, the dog's owner has put out a plea for help to find him a new home, fearful he could hurt four-year-old or nine-month-old, however, her husband has said he wants to keep him.
Explaining the situation on Facebook, the woman wrote: "First, it was me approaching him on the bed with my husband (who seems to be the dog's 'chosen one').
"Second, it was my husband's face after being picked up running out of the laundry and being carried back in.
"He started growling at my hubby and my hubby put his hand on his mouth."
She went on: "I want him gone, rehomed (we have him on Dachshund Rescue Australia on private sale) but I am being strangely shut down by my husband, who has a very strong bond with him.
"I am worried everyday for the safety of my children, I am being told I am overreacting."
The owner said the dog had never shown any signs of aggression before, and has spoken to an animal behaviour expert to find answers.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Tim Montgomery, from Sydney, said there could be a few reasons why the dog lashed out at her husband.
With it being so out of character, he urged her to look at the circumstances surrounding the attack before ditching the animal.
"Put yourself in the dog's paws - how must he be feeling in order to respond with these behaviours? " he explained. "That feeling is the problem, the behaviour is simply the strategy this dog has adopted to cope with the feeling.
"I agree focusing on the feeling is the right place to start - a behaviour like biting is a last resort for most dogs when they're feeling very worried, vulnerable or uncomfortable."
Dr Montgomery said owners shouldn't try and cover a dog's face when they growl.
He told the publication: "While dogs can't use words they do speak to us all the time. Educating families on dog body language is critical for managing these situations well.
"Many people feel they should punish a growl because it's a 'bad' behaviour however a dog has only a few limited ways to tell us they need space and a growl is one of them.
"Contrary to popular belief we should reward a growl by giving the dog what they want - and that's usually space."
Dr Montgomery also said that while he understood the owner's concerns, he tries to work with the animals and wouldn't usually advise them to get rid of their pet.
And he said that only in extreme circumstances, where other methods have been exhausted, would he suggest having the animal put down.
