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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Unfortunately, I have to chime in on this topic as well. I was bitten on my cheek in April by Hank</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> and had to have stitches. I was leaning down to kiss him and kind of fluffed his ears and he growled and lunged at me. He has had ear</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">infections on and off so we attributed it to that and figured he was in pain and didn</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">t want me touching his ears. He is the alpha in our household of 4 dogs, two of which are doxies. He som</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">etimes growls at the others when they are too close to something he wants such as a bone or a hold he</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">s digging, etc. That to me is fairly typical behavior and everyone seems to get along the majority of the time. Yesterday, I leaned down to kiss him goodbye as I was leaving for</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">work and the same thing happened. The room was dark but he was awake and it would have been almost impossible not to see or hear me</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> with all my jingling keys, etc</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">. I was able to pull away quickly and he only nipped me on the side of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">my nose. When I got home he was mop</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ing</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> and rubbing against my leg with a remorseful look on his face. My husband and I are going to take him to the vet to be sure he doesn</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">t have another ear infection or anything that might be causing him pain. If that is ruled out I am not sure what to do next. He came to us as a rescue so we don</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">t know his past or what triggers he might have. I keep wanting to make excuses for his behavior</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> but the bottom line is that I also have to protect my other dogs and family so the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">more I learn about this the better.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Could it be that the way I approach</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ed</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> him is frightening or threatening in some way? </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Melissa</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Slave</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">and personal</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">chew toy</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">to Hank, Desi, Mimsy</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> & Duke (Doxies), Basil & Lucy (ATB)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
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