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Original poster

If a dog bites, should it be pts?

272 replies

Snappedandfarted1 · 12/11/2018 21:35

After a discussion with my dog loving friend, I’m curious as to how many of you dog owners would have your pet pts if it bit you or a member of your family? I don’t mean just a nip, I mean a bite which bleeds a fair amount and requires stitches.

To me, that says that a dog cannot be trusted around a human at all and should be pts, but my friends opinion is that unless the bite causes serious damage it should ultimately be ignored. She did agree that an elderly dog should be pts in this situation but not a young or middle aged dog. Hmm

Opinions?

OP posts:
Pissedoffdotcom · 13/11/2018 08:17

You are just showing how little you actually know. When you get a dog as a pup you have to train it not to nip. Nipping is what pups do when they play with each other - watching any litter will show you that! So either the person who trained your dad's £2k dog or your dad did a rubbish job of training the basics.

Alilwolf · 13/11/2018 08:19

I'm guessing you're mistaking chewing on things as opposed to biting? Or I'm hoping. Usually, by the time you get a pup (ideally 12 weeks when working dogs), they are well reared by their Mum and don't nip etc. I think a lot of dog buyers, buy the puppies young (as they're cuter in fairness) but the puppies aren't reared. And that doesn't mean weaned. It means reared. The mother dog, really teaches them how to behave in those first 3 months.

twiglet · 13/11/2018 08:20

Dogs show on average 6-10 different warning signs before they bite. Growling is one of the last so in a lot of cases it's actually failure to read the signs. Stiffening body, raised tail/tucked tail, raised fur, ears back, licking lips, taking a few steps back are all signs that the dog is anxious/not happy way before a growl or lip curl.

Saying unprovoked attack etc it maybe to you but to the dog it might not be they have been trying to show or have been agitated elsewhere.

I don't think a dog should be put down straight away if it bites I think it requires a discussion with the vet and a behaviourist. If after that aggression is still a issue then yes but last resort.

Far too few people know or teach children warning signs. The number of children I see trying to hug dogs, be in their face etc parents say its cute. Actually most dogs hate it.

Alilwolf · 13/11/2018 08:21

So if you get them younger, I guess you have to teach them. Not sure how, but I guess it's done!

agirlhasnonameX · 13/11/2018 08:23

@Alilwolf I'm guessing you're mistaking chewing on things as opposed to biting?
No not confusing and both are normal puppy behaviour and for longer than 12 weeks....I have never known a puppy taken from it's mother at any young age who automatically knows not to bite. Bitches will bite pups as a warning not to bother them, puppy's bite their Dam for attention and they bite each other in play. If it hurts they yelp, but that does not teach a dog not to nip, it's play to them and as dogs will always communicate by mouthing, it's something that needs to be taught by humans.

Pissedoffdotcom · 13/11/2018 08:24

Even a dog at 12 weeks old has the tendency to nip. It's what they do with their littermates. And no, i don't mean chewing on things. That is a whole different issue, again with a variety of causes. When you take a dog into your house for whatever reason you have to do basic training. And keep on reinforcing the basics.

Alilwolf · 13/11/2018 08:26

Well I beg to differ.

Pissedoffdotcom · 13/11/2018 08:28

Never would have thought. Let me guess, a pup who nips at 12 weeks is a wicked dog...

Moominfan · 13/11/2018 08:29

I had a recuse dog that bit. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. Still upsets me now. He was a collie that had never seen the outside world. Was so fat and dirty when I got him you couldn't tell his reed. He was really reactive to other dogs, always had to muzzled. Late night walks to avoid other dogs it was just to much for him. He was very toy and food possessive which is where the biting came in. We had a few incidents then the baby came along. For all his faults in the home he was biddable, well mannered and just an absolute joy. After the third incident we made the choice. If we'd got to him sooner it may have been different but we'll never know. I console myself knowing that atleast we tried whereas a lot of people wouldn't, he was loved and cared for while we had him

agirlhasnonameX · 13/11/2018 08:30

Never would have thought. Let me guess, a pup who nips at 12 weeks is a wicked dog...
Clearly. My 14 week old pup has in fact just bitten my foot in an effort to remove my sock. Better call the vets he's clearly a lunatic....

tabulahrasa · 13/11/2018 08:30

There’s no such thing as an unprovoked dog bite, not knowing the reason for it isn’t the same thing at all as there not being a reason for it.

“ I think a lot of dog buyers, buy the puppies young (as they're cuter in fairness)”

Um, no... 8 weeks is the normal time because it’s the right time in their development to properly socialise them. And it’s not uncommon for puppies to still be mouthing a bit at 6 months.

Yura · 13/11/2018 08:30

it depends on the situation, the kind of bite and also the size of the dog.

  • provoked, or unprovoked. dog was scared, surprised, or happened during rough play. Unprovoked with no pain/health issues -> pts. the rest - loads of training and watch. potentially a muzzle.
  • a nip that caught for example a finger unfortunately, or biting and not letting go. not letting go
immediately-> pts
  • a big dog can do a lot more damage than a small dog. so i would be a lot more severe with a Labrador than a bichon frise (example, these are the digs our family has in the moment)
But in all cases, loads of training and away from others!
Pissedoffdotcom · 13/11/2018 08:33

agirlhasnonameX i'm horrified, to the vet double march with your hellish hound!
He sounds cute can i send him socks to play with?

QueenofmyPrinces · 13/11/2018 08:35

In my line of work I have known plenty of dogs PTS due to biting a child. Sometimes the parents do it off the own back but more often than not it is the health professionals who contact the police and report it because the parents have no plans on doing it themselves.

I can’t understand how anyone could want a dog in the house that has bitten their children but I do know many people would try and justify the bite and not want to report it.

Alilwolf · 13/11/2018 08:37

tabula
A farmer is going to want a well reared pup rather than a cute pup. I wonder why they wait until at least 12 weeks?

I know websites will tell you 8 weeks is fine. Because that is the earliest (not the best time) that they should be leaving their mother. They are cuter at 8 weeks though. *what?

agirlhasnonameX · 13/11/2018 08:38

i'm horrified, to the vet double march with your hellish hound!
He sounds cute can i send him socks to play with?
He has that look of "I'm dangerous and wicked" in his eyes...
Oh please do, I have spent a small fortune on toys when a five pack of socks from Tesco would have been a better bet. All donations welcome Wink

Hisaishi · 13/11/2018 08:38

ali you seem to think that everyone on this thread is some kind of 'aww cute ickle doggy' poodle-owning princess except you.

It's not the case. I've never had a puppy in my life and I've only ever had medium-big dogs, along with growing up with 5-6 different working dogs.

Give it a rest. You're not some font of dog knowledge.

Hisaishi · 13/11/2018 08:41

queen because more often than not, the dog has bitten because the child was being a dick.

That's not the dog's fault, it's the parents' fault.

However, if they're not going to train it or keep it away from the kids, then, yes, it's better it gets put to sleep, for it's own sake.

Alilwolf · 13/11/2018 08:41

Also, to dispel another myth, there are dogs who will just out of nowhere run for and attack people. Zero provocation. I can't believe the stupidity of some dog owners here.

agirlhasnonameX · 13/11/2018 08:44

I can't believe the stupidity of some dog owners here.
Me neither @Alilwolf at least we can agree on that......

FairfaxAikman · 13/11/2018 08:44

Would depend on the circumstances.

For most dogs a bite is a last resort and humans have either missed the warning signs or continued anyway.

When I was growing up the dog's bed was sacrosanct - it had to have a place to retreat to. But now I see so many videos online with kids in dogs beds or doing something else the owner deems cute. Or the dog is "smiling" (appeasement grin) so they think it's enjoying what's going on.
Etc, etc...

In a rare unprovoked attack I'd have a full vet check done first to rule out a medical issue and only if that came back clear would I consider PTS.

tabulahrasa · 13/11/2018 08:45

“A farmer is going to want a well reared pup rather than a cute pup. I wonder why they wait until at least 12 weeks?”

Well the ones I know also take them at 8 weeks...so... I don’t know, why do the ones you know decide to wait until they’ve only 2 weeks of that first socialisation window left?

QueenofmyPrinces · 13/11/2018 08:46

queen because more often than not, the dog has bitten because the child was being a dick. That's not the dog's fault, it's the parents' fault.

And I do get that, but I can’t imaginq how you could ever trust your dog not to do it again even if the children were spoken to and training given to the dog. I just can’t comprehend how parents can put their child’s safety at risk regardless of whose fault the bite was by keeping the dog around.

I’m not a dog owner though so am saying this as an outsiders opinion only.

littlepeas · 13/11/2018 08:47

I think I'd have to. I love my dog, but he is big and lives in a home with children (and is visited by much younger dc than mine too) and I couldn't take the risk. He has never given me a moment's cause for concern, so hopefully I will never have to make that choice, but the dc come before the dog.

PineappleTart · 13/11/2018 08:47

Grew up round a number of dogs, all were what you would call rescues (mainly dumped on us for whatever reason as we could never turn them away). Then we got S, he was a fun little dog but he started nipping at people. But it wasn't while playing, and they became not nips. At the time my little brother was only about 6 and he became a target for the dog. Little brother was never unkind to the dog but it got to the point the dog had to be put down as he would get really reactive. At the time I was heartbroken but as an adult I can see it was the best thing to do.