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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To rehome puppy?

395 replies

MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 18:49

Our 6 month old puppy bit our friends 6 year old daughter today.

We were having a meal and gave him his food afterwards. She walked behind him while he was eating and he spun around and bit her, he didn't draw blood but her hand was red.

I am in total shock, he has never done anything like this before, should we rehome him straight away? I'm really confused.

OP posts:
Smeghead · 07/10/2012 18:51

This will not end well.

I would re-post this in the forum about animals ~(will post a link when I find it) as on here all you will get is slagged off for considering getting rid of an innocent animal as it is all your fault he bit her Hmm

IMO if you have trained him and you feel that he isnt safe around young children then yes, rehome him.

Smeghead · 07/10/2012 18:52

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse

foodtech · 07/10/2012 18:52

She's just a puppy and still learning appropriate behaviour. As long as you checked her for it I wouldn't worry. Puppies nip and bite especially where food is concerned. Maybe ensure you do some food related training to try and stop pup being protective of food. FT

foodtech · 07/10/2012 18:53

Sorry he. FT

TeddyBare · 07/10/2012 18:53

I don't think you should re-home because he won't be likely to find a good home easily now.
Feed him away from your / other dc until you have a plan. Does he go to puppy training classes still? Speak to the teacher and see what they can suggest you could try in relation to training. Perhaps you could also contact an animal behaviourist and see what they suggest. It would be a shame to re-home him if this is a resolvable problem.

PeggyCarter · 07/10/2012 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LimeLeafLizard · 07/10/2012 18:54

I agree with Smeghead - this could all go very badly in AIBU.

Dog experts will give better advice.

Charliefox · 07/10/2012 18:54

Out of interest, what breed is the pup?

Original poster
MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 19:04

He's a labrador. I've just reposted in the doghouse

OP posts:
midori1999 · 07/10/2012 19:04

You need to give more information, but it's reasonable to leave dogs to eat in peace. It's also reasonable to expect them not to bite, but no blood was drawn and it's a good thing that a bite occurred without that as it shows the dog has bite inhibition.

There are so many variables here. Is the dog used to children, used to children of that age, could it be unwell or in pain, had the child been bothering the dog, have you given the dog any reason to think it's food will be taken? Etc.

But no, I don't think you should rehome. There are ways of dealing with food aggression.

Original poster
MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 19:07

We have 3 young DC and he has always been great with them, even when they go near his food, we did all the things suggested for food training by the vet.

OP posts:
foodtech · 07/10/2012 19:18

Labradors are greedy dogs and slightly obsessed with food. I would speak to a trainer again and explain to children never to take food off the puppy (even if he steals food) also never remove or tease him with food. If you can ensure he is not in the room when eating this might be best.

What we did when our dogs were puppies and eating was to put food into his bowl when eating so he didn't see us as a threat to the food. Also once they are relaxed and not protective we petted them when eating but again never took bowl away or removed food from them. This may not be the recommended way I'm not sure and sorry if you have tried this. You will hopefully get better advice from others. Don't feel that reforming is the only way though or that you puppy will be aggressive in other ways.

LFCisTarkaDahl · 07/10/2012 19:19

Well they can forget quick so you just do all the food training again.

He was probably surprised by her.

catgirl1976 · 07/10/2012 19:24

Do not re-home

Train the 6 yo not to walk behind dogs when they are eating and take the puppy to some training classes too

McHappyPants2012 · 07/10/2012 19:27

Rehome it to someone knows what they are doing

Original poster
MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 19:29

McHappyPants2012 - Can you explain what do you mean?

OP posts:
PeggyCarter · 07/10/2012 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

McHappyPants2012 · 07/10/2012 19:35

I don't mean it in a Nasty way, but at 6 months the puppy may be teething there could be a few reason why a pup may have bitten.

MissBetseyTrotwood · 07/10/2012 19:36

I agree with the others - this thread needs moving!

FWIW, our dog (not a pup, rehomed to us at 3yo) can be nervous with visiting children. He's never shown aggression but is very circumspect with them. (Our own DC are 4 and 5.)

Original poster
MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 19:36

McHappyPants2012 - he bit her because he was guarding his food

OP posts:
Tailtwister · 07/10/2012 19:37

Our old family dog used to really hate people coming up behind her when she was eating. She used to growl quite ferociously someone did, although we were taught as children to leave her in peace.

I would say that more training is needed here. Is there somewhere you can feed the dog (utility room) where you know she can be left alone to enjoy her food?

There are far more experienced people on here than me, but personally if this was an isolated incident and seeing it happened when she was eating, I would give her the benefit of the doubt.

WithoutCaution · 07/10/2012 19:47

Are you sure that she didn't touch him/the bowl while he was eating?

Do you have the space to give him a temporary quite area where he can't be disturbed while eating - For when your have other children at your house?

Honestly I wouldn't rehome in that situation - He's a puppy and is still learning what is and isn't acceptable. It's very easy to teach a puppy that food guarding is not on. It is also very easy to teach children not to approach/disturb/mess with a dog or puppy while they are eating Smile

If you do decide to rehome him try going though a breed rescue or via his breeders (any descent breeder will take back a puppy they bred at any age and find it a new home). Don't do a private rehome.

Original poster
MarsBars123 · 07/10/2012 19:53

I think she may have tried to push past him. I think he must have been a bit on edge with all the people around his food bowl and her brushing past him from behind was the trigger. I will call the vet and RSPCA tomorrow to get some advice.

I am just really shocked by the incident.

OP posts:
cory · 07/10/2012 19:53

Puppies are like toddlers: they are still learning to behave. It doesn't say anything about what they will grow up into. You wouldn't expect a toddler who bashed a friend over the head with a toy, to grow up into a criminal would you? You would just accept that you had to take whatever steps were necessary to keep other children safe and train him not to do it again.

RobynRidingHood · 07/10/2012 19:56

Snapping, giving a warning, is NOT biting. Don't confuse the two, if the dog wanted to bite, it would have