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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:
Megatron · 08/07/2020 17:55

but is equally great with my nieces too. she’s had babies crying around her, toddlers laying all over her

This should never happen. Poor dog.

airbags · 08/07/2020 17:55

@speakout
"I think your sympathies are misplaced OP.
Your dog bites your chid and you are more concerned for your dog???"

No, I think you'll find that she's absolutely gutted at having to say goodbye to a dog that she's had for 10 years as she realises he has to go. She is prioritising her CHILD. Is she not allowed to have any emotion as she has to say goodbye? I'm assuming that you're not really cold and heartless and can recognise that this is upsetting for OP on all levels?

Gogogadgetarms · 08/07/2020 17:56

There was a really long thread not long ago about a German Shepard that did this. I just searched it and it’s been taken down.
The owner called the dogs trust for advice before making any firm decisions.

ZoeCM · 08/07/2020 17:57

@Somethingorotherorother

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.

Do you think people should rehome their dogs after having children? Or no one should have children until their dog has died? (Not being sarcastic, it's hard to put across online!)
Alongcameacat · 08/07/2020 17:57

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.

I grew up with the quietest, gentlest dog and I fully agree with what you said. There is always a risk of being bitten by a dog and that risk is much higher for a child who acts too unpredictably and cannot read the signs of a dog about to snap.

Flutterpieandpinkieshy · 08/07/2020 17:58

Wow.

Seriously...

Dogs are just like us, we have off days where we snap where we shouldn't... Should we be put down for basic instincts?

It was never stated in the original post what the circumstances were around the time of the incident. The OP didn't state whether it was out of the blue or whether the boy was prodding the dog, stood on his paw by accident, pulled his tail or fur ect.

And your calling for the animal to be put to sleep.

Shame on you.

RyanBergarasTeeth · 08/07/2020 17:58

The op knew that one, border collies dont make family pets they are energetic working dogs by nature. And two she knew the dog had health problems and disliked children and still took the chance. Although i am not blaming the op for this but its also not the dog at fault either. The warnings were there from the start.

Gogogadgetarms · 08/07/2020 17:58

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/3944399-gsd-just-tried-to-bite-ds-4

There’s some really good advice on here OP.

PollyPelargonium52 · 08/07/2020 17:58

I have read by a dog behaviourist that children and dogs should not be in the same room until the child is aged 8. It isn't approved of.

diddl · 08/07/2020 18:00

"Do you think people should rehome their dogs after having children?"

Well it would be a pretty good idea if they know that their dog is wary of kids!

namechange30000 · 08/07/2020 18:01

I have a border collie, she's the loveliest dog.

I don't leave her alone with my kids.

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 08/07/2020 18:03

Been there OP. Our rescue dog attacked another dog. I was heartbroken, but we had no choice. The Dog’s Trust wouldn’t take her either.

Hard as it is, you can’t deny reality. Flowers

RyanBergarasTeeth · 08/07/2020 18:08

*I have a border collie, she's the loveliest dog.

I don't leave her alone with my kids.*

This. My border collie was lovely but she was very powerful and energetic and absolutely not allowed around children unsupervised or in close proximity to very young children.

MingeofDeath · 08/07/2020 18:17

Did your toddler do anything to the dog beforehand? What is your child like with the dog usually? As someone has said already, few dogs attack out of the blue. Unfortunately dogs aren't allowed to defend themselves in our society. Children under 5 and dogs are not a good mix as children move differently at that age so it is diificult for dogs to "read" them as they do an older child.

Timekeeper1 · 08/07/2020 18:24

He's a border collie as well which will turn a lot of people off him

Op I don't understand this comment. Border collies are beautiful dogs, normally placid and quite popular family pets. If you said it was a pitbull or rottweiler or something, I'd understand, but a border collie?

Brenna24 · 08/07/2020 18:28

My last dog was a border collie who was terrified of children. I got him when he was 4 and I was at least home number 5. He had snapped at a toddler in his last home. By the time he got to me he was a real mess, couldn't even be trusted not to bite adults and utterly hated children, even though he had lived with 2 toddlers in his last home. He also snapped if his space was invaded by our other dog. I can absolutely see h doing that to a household child member of he felt crowded before I got him. He died at 14 years old, 2 years before I had my DD. I totally get how hard this is, OP, but he must be so stressed living with a toddler of he is wary of children. It would be kinder for him to be in a home with no kids or to be PTS and I don't say that lightly. My old dog would have been constantly on edge with a baby then toddler in the house and, while he probably would have accepted a baby if I had one, he would never have been happy and it would only have been a matter of time. If you decide to re-home, go to a really good rescue. I can highly recommend Lily's Border collie rescue. My friend has fostered and rehomed from them and they are very good with collies. It would be worth speaking to them to see if they have a foster space suitable. But ultimately it is not feasible to keep your dog yourself. Well done for recognising this. I hope your husband is home now and you have had a chance to calm down. I would also strongly recommend muzzle training the dog now. A size 5 Baskerville should fit him fine.y dog never went out without one on and he only went off leash right out in the wilds where I could see for miles around. Start by putting treats in it and allowing him to stick his nose in to get them. Once he is comfortable doing that, start fastening it, giving him more treats and them take it straight off again and work up from there.

Roselilly36 · 08/07/2020 19:03

Please don’t have your dog PTS, 10 is young, when you decide to get a dog it should be for life, I took my responsibility seriously, it is possible to keep children & dogs separated, I did it.

Megatron · 08/07/2020 19:08

@Roselilly36

Please don’t have your dog PTS, 10 is young, when you decide to get a dog it should be for life, I took my responsibility seriously, it is possible to keep children & dogs separated, I did it.
Well good for you, that's great. The OP doesn't need someone to tell her what they did just to make her feel even more shit. She's clearly devastated at what happened and trying to stick the boot in by suggesting she didn't take her responsibility seriously is hardly helpful.
SpillTheTeaa · 08/07/2020 19:12

Oh no. It could still be a possibility for your mum to have him couldn't it? If the grandchildren only visit the dog could be kept away for that time.

PrincessForADay · 08/07/2020 19:14

What have you decided to do?

Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2020 19:16

@MargotB7

I wonder if all the posters who want it PTS wish the same on human's that do wrong to be be PTS.

The dog should live it's days out with loving adults who don't let small children near it.

No because dogs aren't humans. How is this a controversial point?! You can love dogs and think they're lovely pets and adorable and still think that they're not worth even the slightest risk to a toddler and that in a contest between a dog's life and a child's the child's should win every time and 1000 times over.
GlummyMcGlummerson · 08/07/2020 19:16

I'm actually flabbergasted that people think it's just fine to keep a dangerous dog in the house with a child because the dog was there first. Sadly the time has come to decide what your priority is. Don't be that parent who swept a biting incident under the carpet for the dog to do something worse.

Serena1977 · 08/07/2020 19:19

I was bitten by the family dog when I was 9, the dog was 2. She was a alsatian cross. I put my nose to hers when she was asleep, she woke and bit me on the face.

My parents said it was my fault and nothing happened to the dog. She died was she was 13. She was a very jealous and possessive dog and only had a good relationship with my Dad.

Even though it was my fault, I am really sad about how my parents dealt with the incident.

GlummyMcGlummerson · 08/07/2020 19:19

Dogs are just like us, we have off days where we snap where we shouldn't... Should we be put down for basic instincts?

If I bit my child's face because I was having f a down day they'd be taken off me. Rightly so

There really is nothing worse than OTT "dog people"

MargotB7 · 08/07/2020 19:25

No because dogs aren't humans. How is this a controversial point?! You can love dogs and think they're lovely pets and adorable and still think that they're not worth even the slightest risk to a toddler and that in a contest between a dog's life and a child's the child's should win every time and 1000 times over.

Well I obviously didn't mean that a dog's life over a child's. So you are just twisting what I said.

It just bugs me that some of you are saying put the dog to sleep without considering other options. There are humans that do much more awful things but they are forgiven.

I did not say the child's life was not important. I re homed a dog when I was pregnant because she wasn't trustworthy. The new owners knew why.

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