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Original poster

My dog bit dd today (not badly - not broken the skin). Help me decide....

41 replies

debbiewebweb · 05/09/2007 21:36

I don't know what to do. Our dog bit our 5 year old daughter today quite probably unprovoked. She fell down in front of him and I assume it woke him and he bit her hand (I was just inches away but didn't see or hear anything until dd started crying). I am of the opinion that a dog that bites someone should be put down - but I was thinking of the type of bite that draws blood - or am I just making excuses! The dog is 11 years old and I could make excuses that he was woken suddenly or his eyesight is failing or he's turning into a grumpy old man. But I have a 2 year old too and if I do nothing and he bites again, only worse, I've only got myself to blame right! I'm not over reacting am I, or am I ???

OP posts:

moljam · 05/09/2007 21:38

if it was me,dog would be on way to new home tonight.

PippiLangstrump · 05/09/2007 21:40

to be put down is a bit exagrated IMO. but difficult to judge when not there and not your dog.
has it done it before? what temperament has he got?

MadLabOwner · 05/09/2007 21:41

Debbie, how awful for you.

I think that this is one of those situations where it is easy to think that you would get rid of a dog if it bit someone, but different when it is actually your dog in your house. If it were someone else's dog and problem, what would you advise them to do?

I would take your dog to the vet to rule out any problem the dog may have - if he has toothache etc it can't be very nice for him and will make him grumpy. Then you can make a decision. Is there anyone else, perhaps a relative, who could rehome him?

Pruners · 05/09/2007 21:44

Message withdrawn

aviatrix · 05/09/2007 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

kid · 05/09/2007 21:48

What breed of dog is it?
Has it ever shown any agression towards the children before?

I would be torn between keeping it and getting it rehomed, wouldn't consider having it put down.

It would all come down to how confident you are that it was a one off. I guess its not really possible to answer that though as you just don't know.

kerioke · 05/09/2007 21:49

we had a very similar problem 2 months ago where our family dog fatally mauled our cat in front of the children.

we did take him tot he vets to rule out any medical reason for the attack.

we decided to weigh things up... he hadnt intended to kill her according to vet else he would have damaged her in a diferent way (and if your dog had intended your daughter damage i am sure he would have), so we decided putting him down wasnt an option.

we considered his age and the fact the family had grown ahead of him and he wasnt really getting the peace and quiet he deserved. we found him a lovely mature home nearby, which he loves and we can still see him whenever we please.

it is a very hard decision for you and i expect you are pretty shaken with the 'what if's' etc, but he does sound like he is getting on and perhaps he was just startled. i hope your dd isnt too traumatised. xxx

magnolia1 · 05/09/2007 21:51

Sorry I am going to get jumped on here, your dog didn't bite if the skin was not broken he nipped and I know to some that is the same but there is a huge difference between a nip and a bite.
If your dog wanted to bite believe me it would do more than brake the skin.
But that does not mean it should be ignored, firstly a vet visit is needed just to rule out any illness with the dog, age probably has something to do with it and possibly eyesight but that still doesn't excuse a nip.

At the moment you can only presume what happened as you have already said.
Its a tough decision and if you decide to keep him then you need to maybe make some changes such as not having him near the children without you there, harder than it sounds though.
I have 2 dogs and I would be really upset if any of my children were nipped (if actually bitten then the dogs would go!) but I would firstly really make sure it was not prevoked, have a vet check up, reconsider the set up at home between the dogs and kids and as a last resort rehome

Original poster

debbiewebweb · 05/09/2007 21:52

To rehome him elsewhere would be my advice to someone else and my preferred option - but we don't know of anyone. Everyone I know that has experience of dogs actually own one (or two) already and/or doesn't want one and I'd need it to be an experienced home to settle my mind. I'm from a long line of dog owners and they've always been gentle, trustworthy family pets but I was bitten quite badly when abroad 15 years ago so i know the damage that can be done. Our dog has snapped a couple of times in his long life, but only when hurt/accidentally stood on... but am I now pushing our luck with him. I think I'll ask around friends and family to see if they know anyone suitable to take him....

OP posts:

Spidermama · 05/09/2007 21:54

I agree with magnolia. A nip is very different from a bite. Like a cuff round the ear is different from a punch in the face.

NotAnOtter · 05/09/2007 21:55

sorry but having seen this a few times i would say put to sleep
to rehome puts someone else at risk

Lauriefairycake · 05/09/2007 22:02

Ok, do you love your dog? Is he part of the pack? have you taught him his place in the family?

If it was my dog I would know that he nipped the baby because he was woken suddenly and that it was an automatic reaction but I would only know that because he is loved, secure and very well trained to know his place in the pack.

If you love him and are willing to spend a bit of time making him secure, retraining him a little then how about taking him to the vet and asking advice and then getting a dog trainer round.

That S and M woman on the tv looks quite good

alycat · 05/09/2007 22:03

You still don't say what type of dog it is? Or much about it's general demeanor.

I have had dogs all my life, and as children we were told to keep away from the sleeping dogs - I know your dd fell accidentally - my brother once made one (a soft friendly dog)jump waking it up for a joke and it bit him in the face, no stitches but it put 1 tooth through his top lip/under his nose - he never went near a sleeping dog again. It wasn't put down, nor should it have been.

Does the dog not have an area it can go away from the children?

At 11 it is getting near the end of its life for some breeds, so what chance does an old dog who has bitten a child have of finding a new home. You will have to inform the rehoming centre (if you use one) that it has nipped (I agree m1) a child.

PippiLangstrump · 05/09/2007 22:05

agree with lauriefairycake.

however you need to be honest and see if the dog has enough spac in the family.

in our house the dog, and the cat, got a lot less attention since dd arrived.
cat is fine and dog is sooo old she is also okay, albeit a bit sad at times. I think a young dog would not have coped well.

Original poster

debbiewebweb · 05/09/2007 22:06

He is going to vets on monday for his booster anyway, I'll ring in the morning and see if there's an appointment tomorrow instead. In a way I feel I'm shirking my responsibility by thinking of rehoming or worse - we chose to have him and he's been with us a long time, but managing the situation at home to ensure the kids are never at risk would be pretty hard I imagine.... but then I think perhaps I'm shirking my parental responsibility if I keep him with us

OP posts:

Loshad · 05/09/2007 22:07

agree with notan otter - if the dog bites children then it's not fair to pass on the risk and dog needs putting to sleep. A nip however I would just be keeping a really watchful eye on, and plenty of dog bossing - ie in your bed, out of your bed, oh look i'm standing on your bed type of stuff.

Drusilla · 05/09/2007 22:09

I agree with Magnolie and Spidermam. A nip from an old dog is a grumpy old man saying "bugger off, you made me jump" - a warning. But also what Lauriefairycake says about him knowing his place in the pack. Are you positive he does? I think rushing out tomorrow and getting him put to sleep is completely ott.

LittleBella · 05/09/2007 22:13

Sorry I'd get rid of him.

I don't think he necessarily needs to be put down, but certainly re-homed to a responsible dog owner who knows he's a grumpy old man and needs to be kept away from irritations. Lots of doggy people are quite happy to give a fractious old dog a good home. Why don't you get in touch wiht the kennel club and ask if they can help with finding an owner?

LittleBella · 05/09/2007 22:15

I don't think you'd be shirking your responsibility in getting him re-homed. As long as you were clear that he is an old grump, I can't see what's wrong with that. If you said "he's a gentle thing and wonderful with childrn", then you'd be shirkin your responsibility!

Original poster

debbiewebweb · 05/09/2007 22:20

sorry everyone - he's a cocker spaniel - he was 12months old when we had him and would try his hand as pack leader when we first had him.
But I spent a lot of time with him teaching him his place and he settled down into a lovely dog. But as I said, he's not one of those dogs that takes a bit of pain with a whimper - it is inevitably with a snap (only accidental bumps/standing on - it doesn't happen often) so its something I have worried may happen as he gets older. We do all the place in the pack stuff - he's not allowed upstairs or on the furniture, or out of the door before I am etc, but I will look at how he is with the kids on that one as maybe I've taken my eye off the ball.

OP posts:

Original poster

debbiewebweb · 05/09/2007 22:22

Yes, littlebella, I hadn't thought of that, someone I once met said they had their name down with the cocker spaniel club waiting to rehome one - I'll look into that.

OP posts:

EmsMum · 05/09/2007 22:32

This is a hard decision... we were lucky that by the time our old dog was beginning to get to grumpy old man stage, DD was old enough to understand and no trouble occurred.

When he died I looked at our breed (dachshund) rescue and there were some lovely old sausages being given lots of love by people who obviously adore them.

www.kennels.co.uk/Gundogs/Cocker%20Spaniel.htm gives some info.

Or the Dog's Trust would be a good source of advice I would think.

binkleandflip · 05/09/2007 22:37

He is old and grumpy - doesnt deserve to die because of that.

We have a very large though docile dog (newfoundland). I trust the dog 99% BUT I also teach my dd healthy respect of her and other dogs' boundaries and space.

Re-home if you feel its necessary - like someone suggested the cocker spaniel club, but please dont take a life on this basis.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 05/09/2007 22:38

I love my border collie, but she would be sleeping her last night in my house quite honestly.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 05/09/2007 22:39

Sorry that means re-homing not destroying a healthy dog.

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