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Original poster

Heartbroken my dog bit my toddler

210 replies

Motherofmonsters · 08/07/2020 15:58

I'm so upset, I know what I need to do but it's so hard.

Ive had him for 10years and he is the soppiest dog in the world, if you're an adult. He's always been wary of children so I've kept them apart and they were getting on so much better.

But today he bit my DS on the face when he was behind him as we were leaving the house. Nothing serious but he has a couple marks by his mouth.

I'm so absolutely gutted

OP posts:
Brendabigbaps · 08/07/2020 16:00

That’s an awful situation
💐

Redred2429 · 08/07/2020 16:01

Hi op I'm so sorry that is such a hard thing to have to make decisions on

Aquamarine1029 · 08/07/2020 16:02

I'm so sorry. You must be reeling. Sadly, the dog can never be around your child again, it's a risk you simply can't take. The next time could end in tragedy.

TheGirlWhoLived · 08/07/2020 16:03

Do you have family or friends the dog could go and stay with and you could visit? I don’t think it warrants putting him down if he’s fine with adults

Somethingorotherorother · 08/07/2020 16:03

This is why I am 100% against having dogs and children in the same households.

I truly believe there is not a single dog that can be genuinely, absolutely trusted with a small child. I do not think there are any dogs that would never under any circumstances bite or swipe at a child.

Dogs can be brilliant pets. They do not belong in houses with small children.

iVampire · 08/07/2020 16:04

Do you have family or good friends who could take in the dog? Either permanently, or at least whilst you work out how to find a new forever home?

ShouldWeChangeTheBulb · 08/07/2020 16:06

The same thing happened to us OP. The dog was re-homed in an adult only home. It was 2 years ago and the children still ask if we could ‘give him another chance’.

LaurieFairyCake · 08/07/2020 16:06

You poor thing Thanks

Hopefully you will continue to keep them apart as much as possible

Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2020 16:06

Do you have family or friends the dog could go and stay with and you could visit? I don’t think it warrants putting him down if he’s fine with adults

And then they have to take responsibility for keeping him away from small children forever more, knowing that one slip-up could result in the death of a child? The dog has to be put down. It will be sad and hard but a dog's life isn't worth even the slightest risk to a child's life.

Takingontheworld · 08/07/2020 16:06

I worry that this thread will not end for you OP.

You already know what has to be done, and I'm terribly sorry Flowers

But there are going to be alot of people coming on to flame you for having a dog and child in the first place. This wasn't your fault. You just have to do the right thing now.

Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2020 16:08

Hopefully you will continue to keep them apart as much as possible

Hopefully the dog will be put down which should ensure that pretty effectively! Are you actually, seriously suggesting the dog could stay in the house with the child and just kept apart 'as possible'?

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 08/07/2020 16:10

Loads of people have dogs and children in the same household 🤔

jellybeanz1212 · 08/07/2020 16:11

Surely you will rebound not PTS

jellybeanz1212 · 08/07/2020 16:12

Rehome

Mistymonday · 08/07/2020 16:15

Rehome in adult only space, no need to pts, that is just awful.

LycraLovingLass · 08/07/2020 16:15

How sad, I feel for you OP. I am guessing you will rehome the dog.

Was there any reason that you can put your finger on? Not that it changes anything of course but might help to know?

Roselilly36 · 08/07/2020 16:16

I hope your toddler is ok. Our dog was 7 when we started having our family, he was always kept separate to the children, he was a truly lovely dog, and never gave me any reason to doubt him, but I wouldn’t take a chance. It worked out fine we had our dog till he was PTS at 13. It can work.

Original poster
Motherofmonsters · 08/07/2020 16:17

Sadly I won't be able to re-home him as he's older and has other issues which mean no one would want him. He's a border collie as well which will turn a lot of people off him

My mum thought about having him but then there's all the grandchildren that come visit.

I know I would get flamed but DH is at work and it's all I can think about

OP posts:
Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2020 16:17

How could you rehome the dog and take the risk that it's someone else's toddler he kills? How could you guarantee that the dog will never encounter another small child again? I am genuinely flabbergasted that people think that would be an acceptable risk. As OP describes it the bite was unprovoked and unexpected. The next provoked and unexpected incident could end in the death of a child and I don't think just ensuring it's not OP's child is good enough.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 08/07/2020 16:18

I don’t think this thread is going to go well OP. When you say you know what you need to do, do you mean rehome or PTS? Lots of people on here will advise you to put the dog to sleep, but if you have someone who is able to take the dog temporarily (as a previous poster suggested) I would consult your vet and a rescue before you make that decision. There are people out there who would adopt a dog that has nipped a child (I’m not trying to minimise how horrible it must have been for you and your child, but it does sound like it was a nip as opposed to a bite), he might not necessarily have to be put down.

I’m very sorry. It’s an awful situation.

DestinationFkd · 08/07/2020 16:18

Consider a muzzle for your dog rather than re-home him.

madcatladyforever · 08/07/2020 16:18

That's awful, I have a cat who is not child safe so it's not just dogs. My cat will sink her fangs into any child that comes close. She hates them.
Luckily there are no children in my close.
When my niece and nephew stay she has to go into a cattery for a few days.
Animals and small children are not a great combination.

lmustnotstackmybike · 08/07/2020 16:19

Feel so sorry for you OP. I hope your toddler and the dog are both ok. I have an old dog and young children too, and if this happened (and you never think it will) I would be devastated too, and furious if people suggested it was kind of my fault for mixing dogs and children, and that the dog should just be pts immediately.

Whatever your decision please don't beat yourself up about it. The Fb group "Dog training advice and support" is excellent. I wonder if some training/counter conditioning could be an option if he bit out of fear?

Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2020 16:20

I think you're being really brave, sensible and clear-headed @Motherofmonsters. Please don't get talked out of doing what you know is the only safe thing.

Couchbettato · 08/07/2020 16:25

I think 10 years is a great age for a dog. You can think about all of the positives you've had whilst understanding all the negatives you're preventing.

It's no quality of life for any one if every one is on edge about the dog being around toddlers and it's no quality of life for the dog to be so restricted in his golden years.

Dogs don't usually bite without reason but that reason may also be a medical reason that at his age the vet may also not wish to treat.

I think PTS is the most humane thing to do in this instance. It would break me too, but it's not only fair on people but on the dog. It's not a punishment to the dog, it is preventing him from losing the quality of life he has been used to.

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