Just because he's a dog doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to self defense, right?

Question

Okay, so this happened when I was twelve or so, but just recently I remembered about it and was curious to see what other opinions were.

I have a golden retriever (Lucky). When he was about one year old, he had this fetish with tearing up pillows when we weren't home. He's a very sweet dog, though. But one time he tore up this doll thing that my mom had sitting in her room (it wasn't sentimental, just something she liked), and she totally blew up. She brought the half-chewed toy downstairs and waved it in his face saying, "Bad!" and then slapped him on the muzzle. Now, normally, this wouldn't bother me because it's his normal punishment for doing something bad. But then she kept smacking him on the nose, harder and harder, until she had backed him into a corner with no way out. By this time she was really screaming at him, and he was shaking like crazy. (I was watching in horror from the steps, and I swear, I had never seen him so scared.) I kept screaming at my mom to stop, but she refused.

Lucky's snout curled into a snarl once or twice, warning her to stop. She didn't. And so, out of self defense, he bit her hand when she went in to slap him in the face for the umpteenth time. Now, granted, this wasn't a full on attack or anything, and she wasn't bleeding like crazy, either. My mom screamed at him harder, and by this point I couldn't stand it, so I called his name and let him come upstairs with me, listening to my mom still yelling after him. I closed the door and tried my best to make him feel safe.

Now what I want to know is, can you really blame Lucky for biting her hand? (It wasn't even go-to-the-doctor bad) I don't think it was, but I want to know what you guys think.

PS. Just in case you're wondering, he's stopped the pillow thing because he has another dog to play with now. And he really is sweet, so he's never done anything like that except for that one time.

Answer 1

It absolutely sounds like poor old lucky had no choice, but to defend himself. No animal should be hit, especially in the face. This is how a good dog can be turned mean. I pray that it was a 1 time thing, and it dosn't happen again. Give Lucky lots of hugs and kisses. Tearing things up is very common in dogs when they are left alone it's a sign of seperation disorder, they are just like us and get lonely sometimes. Not his fault just doggy nature. If it does become too much of a prob see the vets who can refer you to a dog psychiatrist.

Answer 2

No one should have to put up with abuse like that, be it animal or human and I can't blame Lucky for what he did. I just hope your right and it never happens again.