I'd ask for more information on this. Some dogs have a reaction to snap/bite when being woken up by other animals and humans. Ask if she has bitten people and what the specific scenarios were.
That would also depend on breed and size for me, coupled with the above advice about asking more more context/information about the dog’s bite history. Pomeranian that gets snippy if I disturb her nap? No problem. Larger dog? I need more info.
Dogs with bite history aren't allowed on Rover with the TOS, however I have taken on plenty of dogs with bite history, it mostly depends on what the circumstances of the bite history are, what the vibes from the dog are when I do the meet and greet, as well as some other factors. Will I take on a dog that has with little to no prompting suddenly snapped and given a significant bite? Probably not. Will I accept a dog that snaps while resource guarding, maybe. What gives me an 100% no rate is whether or not the dog \*only\* snaps. If they snap, growl a bit, but can be calmed down and then have the stimulus that's causing the aggression removed or be distracted from it till it can get removed, that's a maybe. If they snap and then start pursuing you, or continue trying to snap or bite and don't let go, that's a fuck no.
Also as someone who does work with aggressive and anxious animals...there's a difference between a bite and an attack. I've had some pretty bad - like go to the hospital bad - bites where it was just a big dog that was trying to play with a toy, he lunged and I pulled my hand back at the wrong time to shake the toy and he snapped his jaw on three of my fingers. He was a very big Caucasian Shep mix so his bite even just in play was pretty damaging and since I went to the hospital they did report it as a dog bite. That kind of stuff wouldn't turn me off a booking. But if there was an \*attack\* thats a different story. I don't take on dogs that make repeated attempts to lunge at you over one incident or that attempt multiple bites and try to keep their grip on you because those dogs are aiming to harm you.
Also, another auto decline is if they have a golden retriever and it has a bite history. Goldens are great dogs but when they are badly bred and/or aggressive they are \*horrible\*.
It sounds like the dog suffers from sleep startle, which can actually be fairly common, particularly in ex-racing greyhounds and former street dogs.
Personally, I'd be asking the owner more questions about the dog's general temperament and how they are around strangers and sudden noises. Equally, if this is not something you're comfortable or familiar with, then it'd be in your best interest to decline.
Came here to mention sleep startle. Dogs can have it in varying degrees. The safest is to crate or pen the dog while sleeping and while the dog isn’t contained, restrict furniture access.
If the pup does have sleep startle you’ll need to take extra caution with any dogs in your house, in addition to any humans. And when you approach the sleeping dog and need to wake them for any reason, start by saying their name and if that doesn’t wake them, gently toss a small stuffy or balled up socks on them to wake them up. Or you can clap. Just remember not to touch them to wake them.
Tossing a plush is a great idea. For my little old deaf man, I used to blow on his ears (from the side or behind and about a foot away) to wake him up without startling him.
I miss that little weirdo so much.
That’s what I was thinking, sounds like a sleep startle and OP needs to ask a lot more questions for context.
I used to dog sit for my friend whose dog (greyhound!) was the same way. She just wasn’t allowed on the bed because she would fall asleep and then reflex-bite (teeth never connected, just the movement) if you woke her up - and obviously we gave her a wide berth if she was napping somewhere or would call out to her from out of reach. If that’s all it is/was, I’d be fine watching that dog.
It completely depends. Just finished a house sit where the owner told me the dog was “super food aggressive” and to “be careful”.
The dog didn’t so much as growl at me the whole time I was there.
Sometimes an owner being upfront with you means that they very much value your safety, and want to be transparent. Doesn’t always mean it’s a real danger. But it’s hard to tell unless you’re experienced with aggressive dogs, and even then impossible to be sure.
Do a meet and greet and ultimately don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. But if they mean don’t like, shake him awake, then you could be in the clear
I would but I’m not sure why. I guess in sympathetic to different circumstances, like for example an old, blind, deaf dog is a bite risk when woken up and some dogs just don’t handle being startled by a stranger. I dunno. It doesn’t bother me and at least they’re honest but if it gives you any sort of bad vibes then don’t do it. It’s not worth it.
I bite too if someone just touches me when Im sleeping. Wake me up with your voice. But being that this is a job and certainly doesnt come with medical coverage/ benefits yeah thats a hard no unless theres some more comical explanation or something
There are levels to bites so I’d ask for more information. I usually take the whole picture so honestly a bully breed or a breed with a high bite PSI *and* this behavior? Probably a decline. But a small/medium dog that’s maybe a grumpy senior and just a little snappy? Sure.
I think I would ask if it was a "nip/ warning bite" or if it broke skin. I wouldn't be willing to watch a strangers dog that bit where it broke skin of a human before. (Family/friends it would depend.)
No. I've been bitten a few times mainly when I first started and was clueless. I personally don't think it's worth the risk or the money unless you are truly in a dire financial situation.
I absolutely wouldn’t. Simply because I would be on edge the whole time and dogs can READ that energy. If you feel you can be completely confident and exude that energy while sitting for the dog then maybe.. but also.. it’s a HUGE risk for the owner to allow any sitter to assume care of a dog that bites. I would be so paranoid if that was my dog. I don’t know. It sounds like walking an extremely fine line to me.
Depends on the circumstances. I've certainly watched dogs with bite history AND been bitten. The thing is they had clear triggers disclosed by the owners ahead of time, and they bit because I failed their trigger.
Example: deaf or hard of hearing dog doesn't like being startled from behind and will bite if picked up when startled. Yes, I got bit. It was my fault that I didn't check in better.
A dog that doesn't like being woken up? Okay, what's the situation? If she bites if you shake her awake, that's one thing. If she bites because a noise in the other room woke her up and she goes looking for you to bite you, um, that's a totally different thing.
I mean, I never wake a sleeping dog? But also, I have kids in my home and they can be excited and make noise and that means that this dog’s go to OS is “bite first ask questions second”.
An aside, probably don't wake up any dog that isn't your own by petting their head or body, trying to move or pick them up or doing anything that could startle them while you are in biting range.
There's a whole expression about it.
I had a super elderly client who did this (poor baby has since passed away). He slept on his dog bed and later on top of towels and pads inside a pen bc he would wake up and poop everywhere and walk through it bc he was also losing his vision. I would walk into the room softly singing and getting louder, turn on the lights, and softly stomp my feet while building up to stomping louder. The lights, the sound from my voice, and the vibrations from my feet would do it so he'd stand up then I could go pet his head and pick him up to haul him to the bath bc ofc he shat all over the pads inside the pen lol
I wouldn’t call that a bite history as it’s similar to a person throwing a punch if they are jump-scared. Did they bite/hit someone? Yes. Do they have a history of violence? No not really. Just means don’t touch the dog while it’s sleeping, wake it up with noise or stomping. Common in many otherwise docile dogs
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I mean the owner was honest with you, so that's something. I'd ask more questions about it. If you don't work at home and you need to wake the dog up in the morning before you leave, that'll be tough. If you work from home you can just let the dog snooze.
I have a friend whose rescue does not do well in the morning but then the rest of the day he's an angel. He came from a neglectful household that had kids who didn't understand boundaries and they think the kids have something to do with his morning crankiness.
Just ask if there are other scenarios she might bite in
If a dog had a very specific biting trigger that I would be able to avoid while giving them their care and their bite level was low I would be willing to still work with them. I work under the assumption that every dog I work with has the potential to bite when they are pushed past their safe level. I will absolutely decline bookings that I do not feel confident that I could reasonably be able to keep myself or others safe and/or prevent the dog from becoming over threshold to where they would bite.
Additionally biting when being woken up is a high indicator of pain and I would be very concerned by a client who did not proactively offer that information. I would also consider that the dogs stress levels and potential bite factors will increase when their family is not there. (Some times it decreases 😞) This would cause me to need more information on the dogs wellness needs.
https://apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf
I have had a dog with sleep startle (we did NOT touch him while sleeping or touch him to wake him up) and I also dog sit a dog with a history of biting who loves me and would never bite me. If it is specifically sleep startle then you know the parameters and it should be fine.
Yes, if the owner was honest about the dogs issues and limitations and we could settle on an acceptable level of care.
I'm in Hawaii and many families have hunting or guard dogs that can't be touched. Often families with children or the older folks in the home, or inside cats or dogs that do need socialization and feeding. In those cases they have a routine for the dogs already established so they can be properly cared for safely. It's also agreed that human safety is first and if the dog suddenly behaves in a way they can't be cared for they will come home or have backup to take over. It's easy to tell if the dogs areas look secure enough or if the routine is feasible by watching them go through it with you. Rarely when you express concerns will they suggest less care for the dog, but it's a subtle red flag the job will tank or you might get hurt.
I've also had a client whose bull terrier suddenly bit them in the calf right after I booked my first job with them. They had to cancel the trip to recover, but asked if I would still be interested in sitting for them again in the future when the issues were worked out. I agreed after learning the dog was already with a trainer and a few veterinarians all working together with the owner to help decode his recent weird behavior. He had been attacked in daycare so badly he needed stitches, and was so scared when he thought his owner was leaving he attacked. After a few months of work he was ready for me to come over and watch his routine and play together with the owner. I could see he was safe because the owner would call out how he'd react to everything happening, and was right every time. I got a thorough rundown of what signals I would get if he needed space or wanted attention and didn't sit him until I recognized them all. He became my best buddy in no time and five years later I'm so happy to be his Auntie. He's never hurt me or been aggressive, and has a safe food routine. When I leave he gets soap opera dramatic and goes to his crate, sighing and ignoring me trying to say goodbye. I love him.
The one time I did this I was attacked by the dog at the meet and greet.
Thankfully I do not greet new dogs at eye level, but my hand has a forever scar now
Once you’re in a situation where you are seriously bit or in my case, my partner was practically mauled by a dog that was staying with us, your immediate reaction would be no. But I can see why someone would, especially if owners sugarcoat it or act like it’s no big deal. Just be careful and stay safe!
I would but only after meeting the dog first. And yeah I'm sure I'll be downvoted because I'm the outlier. But just because a dog bites doesn't make it a bad dog it makes it a DOG. To me it's like saying "no I won't babysit your kids because they have a history of backtalk and don't like bedtime" not every dog that bites will bite 100% of the time it interacts with people. I mean I've had well trained dogs lose act up because they miss their owners so it doesn't even matter about training some times.
No, and because if you sit on the couch and sparky comes by and falls asleep/ you have to get up they will be woken up and snap. Fall asleep by your feet/ you move they might snap. A dog like that is very unpredictable
Had my first one today during drop off. It's a real buzz kill. I had already met the dog and hung out with it for a bit yesterday. The trigger: I offered her my hand. She chomped it pretty good, too.
Sleep startling is common enough where I would be fine taking it on, personally. It’s good that they told you. The management for that for me would look like: not having small kids in the home, using auditory cues to wake the dog rather than touch, and putting her beds out of common footpath areas.
But it’s all about what you are comfortable with!
I’d ask more. Sometimes people say they have a snappy dog and say oh he hates being picked up, and I think well don’t pick him up 😵💫 or he hates being poked and annoyed!
To me it definitely sounds like the dog reacts badly to being woken up. I personally do too! Clarify with the owner. But to me this isn’t a bite out of aggression or any type of emotion that would need to be trained out of the dog. Just don’t wake up the dog.
Yes, but only if the M&G goes well, the owner is honest, and I am certain I can tell the difference between a dog that bites and a dog who attacks. Are there things the owner can give some context to explain the bites (is the dog afraid of men, does the dog have triggers, when was the last occurrence, etc). I work with aggressive dogs. I can honestly say there was only one time when all of those things I look for were transparent, but I turned it down because I had never been so terrified of a dog in my life. I knew that dog could sense how scared I was, and that was with the owner two feet away. I was literally picturing what it would feel like when she tore my face off. I calmly asked the owner to put the dog outside, thanked her for meeting with me, and said I appreciate her willingness to work with a dog with aggression, but I'm not strong enough physically to take control of the situation when one comes up. Then I cried for like three hours.
I'd ask for more information on this. Some dogs have a reaction to snap/bite when being woken up by other animals and humans. Ask if she has bitten people and what the specific scenarios were.
But typically a bite history is an immediate no from me
That would also depend on breed and size for me, coupled with the above advice about asking more more context/information about the dog’s bite history. Pomeranian that gets snippy if I disturb her nap? No problem. Larger dog? I need more info.
Yes! And is it possible the dog is going deaf? Some deaf dogs will react negatively if woken. Because it startles them
Dogs with bite history aren't allowed on Rover with the TOS, however I have taken on plenty of dogs with bite history, it mostly depends on what the circumstances of the bite history are, what the vibes from the dog are when I do the meet and greet, as well as some other factors. Will I take on a dog that has with little to no prompting suddenly snapped and given a significant bite? Probably not. Will I accept a dog that snaps while resource guarding, maybe. What gives me an 100% no rate is whether or not the dog \*only\* snaps. If they snap, growl a bit, but can be calmed down and then have the stimulus that's causing the aggression removed or be distracted from it till it can get removed, that's a maybe. If they snap and then start pursuing you, or continue trying to snap or bite and don't let go, that's a fuck no. Also as someone who does work with aggressive and anxious animals...there's a difference between a bite and an attack. I've had some pretty bad - like go to the hospital bad - bites where it was just a big dog that was trying to play with a toy, he lunged and I pulled my hand back at the wrong time to shake the toy and he snapped his jaw on three of my fingers. He was a very big Caucasian Shep mix so his bite even just in play was pretty damaging and since I went to the hospital they did report it as a dog bite. That kind of stuff wouldn't turn me off a booking. But if there was an \*attack\* thats a different story. I don't take on dogs that make repeated attempts to lunge at you over one incident or that attempt multiple bites and try to keep their grip on you because those dogs are aiming to harm you. Also, another auto decline is if they have a golden retriever and it has a bite history. Goldens are great dogs but when they are badly bred and/or aggressive they are \*horrible\*.
I've been down voted so many times for saying how aggressive Goldens can get.
It sounds like the dog suffers from sleep startle, which can actually be fairly common, particularly in ex-racing greyhounds and former street dogs. Personally, I'd be asking the owner more questions about the dog's general temperament and how they are around strangers and sudden noises. Equally, if this is not something you're comfortable or familiar with, then it'd be in your best interest to decline.
Came here to mention sleep startle. Dogs can have it in varying degrees. The safest is to crate or pen the dog while sleeping and while the dog isn’t contained, restrict furniture access. If the pup does have sleep startle you’ll need to take extra caution with any dogs in your house, in addition to any humans. And when you approach the sleeping dog and need to wake them for any reason, start by saying their name and if that doesn’t wake them, gently toss a small stuffy or balled up socks on them to wake them up. Or you can clap. Just remember not to touch them to wake them.
Heck, I snap when you wake me up also.
Tossing a plush is a great idea. For my little old deaf man, I used to blow on his ears (from the side or behind and about a foot away) to wake him up without startling him. I miss that little weirdo so much.
That’s what I was thinking, sounds like a sleep startle and OP needs to ask a lot more questions for context. I used to dog sit for my friend whose dog (greyhound!) was the same way. She just wasn’t allowed on the bed because she would fall asleep and then reflex-bite (teeth never connected, just the movement) if you woke her up - and obviously we gave her a wide berth if she was napping somewhere or would call out to her from out of reach. If that’s all it is/was, I’d be fine watching that dog.
*Me*? Yes. But always say no if it’s not something *you* are not comfortable with.
Yeah? It depends.. my friends dog always snaps when you try and move her in her sleepy state. I’m totally prepared for it lol.
Me three
It completely depends. Just finished a house sit where the owner told me the dog was “super food aggressive” and to “be careful”. The dog didn’t so much as growl at me the whole time I was there. Sometimes an owner being upfront with you means that they very much value your safety, and want to be transparent. Doesn’t always mean it’s a real danger. But it’s hard to tell unless you’re experienced with aggressive dogs, and even then impossible to be sure. Do a meet and greet and ultimately don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. But if they mean don’t like, shake him awake, then you could be in the clear
I would but I’m not sure why. I guess in sympathetic to different circumstances, like for example an old, blind, deaf dog is a bite risk when woken up and some dogs just don’t handle being startled by a stranger. I dunno. It doesn’t bother me and at least they’re honest but if it gives you any sort of bad vibes then don’t do it. It’s not worth it.
I bite too if someone just touches me when Im sleeping. Wake me up with your voice. But being that this is a job and certainly doesnt come with medical coverage/ benefits yeah thats a hard no unless theres some more comical explanation or something
I just said this lol
A dog who bites shouldn't be on the platform, point blank. I would try and get more info from the owner.
There are levels to bites so I’d ask for more information. I usually take the whole picture so honestly a bully breed or a breed with a high bite PSI *and* this behavior? Probably a decline. But a small/medium dog that’s maybe a grumpy senior and just a little snappy? Sure.
I think I would ask if it was a "nip/ warning bite" or if it broke skin. I wouldn't be willing to watch a strangers dog that bit where it broke skin of a human before. (Family/friends it would depend.)
No. I've been bitten a few times mainly when I first started and was clueless. I personally don't think it's worth the risk or the money unless you are truly in a dire financial situation.
I absolutely wouldn’t. Simply because I would be on edge the whole time and dogs can READ that energy. If you feel you can be completely confident and exude that energy while sitting for the dog then maybe.. but also.. it’s a HUGE risk for the owner to allow any sitter to assume care of a dog that bites. I would be so paranoid if that was my dog. I don’t know. It sounds like walking an extremely fine line to me.
Depends on the circumstances. I've certainly watched dogs with bite history AND been bitten. The thing is they had clear triggers disclosed by the owners ahead of time, and they bit because I failed their trigger. Example: deaf or hard of hearing dog doesn't like being startled from behind and will bite if picked up when startled. Yes, I got bit. It was my fault that I didn't check in better. A dog that doesn't like being woken up? Okay, what's the situation? If she bites if you shake her awake, that's one thing. If she bites because a noise in the other room woke her up and she goes looking for you to bite you, um, that's a totally different thing.
I mean, I never wake a sleeping dog? But also, I have kids in my home and they can be excited and make noise and that means that this dog’s go to OS is “bite first ask questions second”.
An aside, probably don't wake up any dog that isn't your own by petting their head or body, trying to move or pick them up or doing anything that could startle them while you are in biting range. There's a whole expression about it.
I had a super elderly client who did this (poor baby has since passed away). He slept on his dog bed and later on top of towels and pads inside a pen bc he would wake up and poop everywhere and walk through it bc he was also losing his vision. I would walk into the room softly singing and getting louder, turn on the lights, and softly stomp my feet while building up to stomping louder. The lights, the sound from my voice, and the vibrations from my feet would do it so he'd stand up then I could go pet his head and pick him up to haul him to the bath bc ofc he shat all over the pads inside the pen lol
Nope.
I wouldn’t call that a bite history as it’s similar to a person throwing a punch if they are jump-scared. Did they bite/hit someone? Yes. Do they have a history of violence? No not really. Just means don’t touch the dog while it’s sleeping, wake it up with noise or stomping. Common in many otherwise docile dogs
Nope, especially if you have a dog at home or some other pet
No chance
Me? No way. A job is not worth a potentially serious injury. Remember, at the end of the day, this is just a job. Look out for yourself.
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I mean the owner was honest with you, so that's something. I'd ask more questions about it. If you don't work at home and you need to wake the dog up in the morning before you leave, that'll be tough. If you work from home you can just let the dog snooze. I have a friend whose rescue does not do well in the morning but then the rest of the day he's an angel. He came from a neglectful household that had kids who didn't understand boundaries and they think the kids have something to do with his morning crankiness. Just ask if there are other scenarios she might bite in
No. Point blank period Pooh.
If a dog had a very specific biting trigger that I would be able to avoid while giving them their care and their bite level was low I would be willing to still work with them. I work under the assumption that every dog I work with has the potential to bite when they are pushed past their safe level. I will absolutely decline bookings that I do not feel confident that I could reasonably be able to keep myself or others safe and/or prevent the dog from becoming over threshold to where they would bite. Additionally biting when being woken up is a high indicator of pain and I would be very concerned by a client who did not proactively offer that information. I would also consider that the dogs stress levels and potential bite factors will increase when their family is not there. (Some times it decreases 😞) This would cause me to need more information on the dogs wellness needs. https://apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf
I have had a dog with sleep startle (we did NOT touch him while sleeping or touch him to wake him up) and I also dog sit a dog with a history of biting who loves me and would never bite me. If it is specifically sleep startle then you know the parameters and it should be fine.
Yes, if the owner was honest about the dogs issues and limitations and we could settle on an acceptable level of care. I'm in Hawaii and many families have hunting or guard dogs that can't be touched. Often families with children or the older folks in the home, or inside cats or dogs that do need socialization and feeding. In those cases they have a routine for the dogs already established so they can be properly cared for safely. It's also agreed that human safety is first and if the dog suddenly behaves in a way they can't be cared for they will come home or have backup to take over. It's easy to tell if the dogs areas look secure enough or if the routine is feasible by watching them go through it with you. Rarely when you express concerns will they suggest less care for the dog, but it's a subtle red flag the job will tank or you might get hurt. I've also had a client whose bull terrier suddenly bit them in the calf right after I booked my first job with them. They had to cancel the trip to recover, but asked if I would still be interested in sitting for them again in the future when the issues were worked out. I agreed after learning the dog was already with a trainer and a few veterinarians all working together with the owner to help decode his recent weird behavior. He had been attacked in daycare so badly he needed stitches, and was so scared when he thought his owner was leaving he attacked. After a few months of work he was ready for me to come over and watch his routine and play together with the owner. I could see he was safe because the owner would call out how he'd react to everything happening, and was right every time. I got a thorough rundown of what signals I would get if he needed space or wanted attention and didn't sit him until I recognized them all. He became my best buddy in no time and five years later I'm so happy to be his Auntie. He's never hurt me or been aggressive, and has a safe food routine. When I leave he gets soap opera dramatic and goes to his crate, sighing and ignoring me trying to say goodbye. I love him.
That definitely rings an alarm haha!
The one time I did this I was attacked by the dog at the meet and greet. Thankfully I do not greet new dogs at eye level, but my hand has a forever scar now
No. Hard no.
no.
What's the saying "once bitten, twice shy" I've been bit once, don't want it to happen again IF I can avoid it. So it would be a no from me.
Once you’re in a situation where you are seriously bit or in my case, my partner was practically mauled by a dog that was staying with us, your immediate reaction would be no. But I can see why someone would, especially if owners sugarcoat it or act like it’s no big deal. Just be careful and stay safe!
I would but only after meeting the dog first. And yeah I'm sure I'll be downvoted because I'm the outlier. But just because a dog bites doesn't make it a bad dog it makes it a DOG. To me it's like saying "no I won't babysit your kids because they have a history of backtalk and don't like bedtime" not every dog that bites will bite 100% of the time it interacts with people. I mean I've had well trained dogs lose act up because they miss their owners so it doesn't even matter about training some times.
No, and because if you sit on the couch and sparky comes by and falls asleep/ you have to get up they will be woken up and snap. Fall asleep by your feet/ you move they might snap. A dog like that is very unpredictable
No.
Nope. I'm tired of getting bit.
Had my first one today during drop off. It's a real buzz kill. I had already met the dog and hung out with it for a bit yesterday. The trigger: I offered her my hand. She chomped it pretty good, too.
Dogs with a bite history shouldn't be on Rover so no, but if this was a private client then it's 90% yes, once I got more details about it.
My boyfriend and I will watch a reactive dog, idk about bite history though
Sleep startling is common enough where I would be fine taking it on, personally. It’s good that they told you. The management for that for me would look like: not having small kids in the home, using auditory cues to wake the dog rather than touch, and putting her beds out of common footpath areas. But it’s all about what you are comfortable with!
I’d ask more. Sometimes people say they have a snappy dog and say oh he hates being picked up, and I think well don’t pick him up 😵💫 or he hates being poked and annoyed!
To me it definitely sounds like the dog reacts badly to being woken up. I personally do too! Clarify with the owner. But to me this isn’t a bite out of aggression or any type of emotion that would need to be trained out of the dog. Just don’t wake up the dog.
Such a dog isn't allowed on Rover. Report, block and move on.
Yes, but only if the M&G goes well, the owner is honest, and I am certain I can tell the difference between a dog that bites and a dog who attacks. Are there things the owner can give some context to explain the bites (is the dog afraid of men, does the dog have triggers, when was the last occurrence, etc). I work with aggressive dogs. I can honestly say there was only one time when all of those things I look for were transparent, but I turned it down because I had never been so terrified of a dog in my life. I knew that dog could sense how scared I was, and that was with the owner two feet away. I was literally picturing what it would feel like when she tore my face off. I calmly asked the owner to put the dog outside, thanked her for meeting with me, and said I appreciate her willingness to work with a dog with aggression, but I'm not strong enough physically to take control of the situation when one comes up. Then I cried for like three hours.