Should dogs automatically be rehoused if they go for a child?

[nothercules]

no matter what the background is? What do you think?

Forgot to add I rehoused her, didn't put her down.

I shall rise above the insults to come back and say that it is the worry that the dog will hurt or maim or even kill a child.
I have had some behavioural training, I went to the States a few years ago and did a study for my final year dissertation on dog bites and baiscally who gets bitten.

It worries the hell out of me to let a dog that has bitten a child out of the surgery, even if to a very experienced behaviourist.
You see, the sucess is to have a dog that never bites again.. but if the behaviour therapy fails, this could end up with another bitten child, or worse.
Sorry, but that is how I sleep at night, I am not a hard or dispassionate person at all, and have wept at these sorts of decsions when I have had to do it. But I have slept at night... and I don't think I could if I felt that I had been instrumental in potentially having a child fatality on my hands.

The old couple who live in the cottage away from any children is a lovely haven, and it would be fantastic if that place existed for every dog who exhibits challenging behaviour.
But I always worry that children get into people's gardens etc- or out on walks they meet some kids etc.

I don't make these sorts of decsions lightly and happily have only had to do it a few times in my career.
Maybe I have spoken out of hand, i usually spend a good deal longer with the owners and discuss the whole situation at length and last night I did only read the first few posts and I would certainly listen to the situation and hear how the dog was otherwise.
But if an owner is so unsure about herdog then it would worry the hell out of me to rehome the dog i am afraid.

Well I have to say Incognito, that as you have had a lot more training & knowledge than me, I would imagine you know what you are talking about. I didn't actually see a vet when I got rid of my dog, I thought it would be ok to rehome her. I do hope she hasn't bitten anyone!

Thanks for all the posts. I have spoken to several people since and have been able to put things into perspective now. My op was late at night when I was feeling very down and tired about the whole thing.

We are keeping him but see what happened as wake up call to us. We got complacent and left a toddler alone with a dog and a large bone which we'd just lovingly given to him.

It isnt the dog's fault but ours. We will watch them at all times together which we should have done before anyway.

As for friends coming round, we've explained to ds that if they do, then the dog stays separately in the house.

No bones either.

oh, UCM, so you know what?
I am going to have my posts deleted, I just think i was a bit hasty- it was my kneejerk response to be honest.
If your dog is doing well, then be pleased and ignore me! I am sure that there are a good number of dogs that fall into the category of having a good life afterwards- and hoepfully yours is one.
It may well be that nothing else happens and your dog is fine.
I dont really want to upset anyone- it was just that if people come to me, I do spend alot of time going into the situation, but am terrified of sending a dog home when we know it has transgressed already and may well do again.
I feel that I am being viewed as uncaring- and believe me, that just does not stick.
The internet is a strange place, it always seems less complicated than real life at first and then stuff just blows up and i should learn not to just post and be dammned

nothercules, do get some advice though.
Try your vet, and if he or she is of the landscape gardner category, then try another one- but try to get referred to a behaviourist.
And good luck