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Original poster

Am I doing the right thing after a dog bite

12 replies

Lab2425 · 22/10/2025 08:11

Sorry this is a long one…Just looking for a little reassurance that I am doing the right thing. We have a 4/nearly 5 year old bulldog who we have had since she was a puppy. Recently brought home our LO who is now 4 months. Dog has always been trained right from the start, we were quite focused with training her as she is a big girl and know how bulldogs can be. When baby came home she seemed totally fine and never really seemed that interested in her.

Cut to end of August (baby been home 2 months) and she was on the sofa, I’ve gone to stroke her like ive done a hundred times and she bit my arm. No broken skin but teeth marks and a huge bruise. Me and partner obviously very shaken by it and proceed to strip her training right back to basics. She is a playful girl with lots of energy but the fact she made contact really scared us. Things had been going well and I was slowly introducing more time with baby and dog together in the same room (very much controlled).

We had bite number 2 yesterday, unprovoked from what i can see replaying the situation in my head. My mum was in the kitchen, dog has gone over to her presumably for a stroke/attention, my mums put her hand down to stroke her and she’s bitten her hand. Bite accompanied by a really angry growl and puncture wounds to her finger. I can’t get the noise out of my head and thinking if that was my daughter. Granted not right now but in a few months time when she’s crawling touching everything???

my partner and I know she can’t stay but I’m so scared that no where will take her now she has a bite history and will tell us to put her to sleep. All I’ve done for the past 12 hours is cry. We’ve reached out to a bulldog charity in the hopes they might be able to help and waiting for places like dogs trust etc to open so we can call them and ask about options.

if they tell us they can’t take her due to her bite history I feel like we don’t have much choice but to put her sleep and I’m distraught. I can’t even look at her without bursting in to tears. We got her when we weren’t even sure if we wanted children now I fell solely responsible for how things have turned out.

anyone been in a similar situation or any words of advice to help me get through this?

OP posts:
CatsorDogsrule · 22/10/2025 08:20

You don't mention having got a vet check, in case this behaviour is due to pain.

Nonetheless, no, you can't keep her with a child in the house, and I wouldn't want to risk her in public either unless muzzle trained and leashed.

Sorry it has come to this. You must be heartbroken. I hope your mum got medical attention too, as antibiotics will be necessary.

AphroditesSeashell · 22/10/2025 08:26

Vet check to ensure nothing health related is causing it. Assuming nothing is discovered, then PTS. Why put another family at risk with rehoming?

I adore my dog but I wouldn't think twice about euthanasia in these circumstances.

Original poster
Lab2425 · 22/10/2025 08:50

CatsorDogsrule · 22/10/2025 08:20

You don't mention having got a vet check, in case this behaviour is due to pain.

Nonetheless, no, you can't keep her with a child in the house, and I wouldn't want to risk her in public either unless muzzle trained and leashed.

Sorry it has come to this. You must be heartbroken. I hope your mum got medical attention too, as antibiotics will be necessary.

Yes sorry should have said that, vet is calling us back this afternoon to discuss and get her in to be checked over! I don’t think she is in any pain but will definitely have her looked at before any final decisions are made

OP posts:
Rictasmorticia · 22/10/2025 09:48

I just wanted to send some love to you. I know how heartbreaking this is, but you are definitely doing the right thing. ❤️

thisishowloween · 22/10/2025 10:10

You’re doing the right thing. I’m sorry, it’s so difficult.

crankyhousewife · 22/10/2025 15:59

PTS may not be the only option. It is a possibility that it could be rehomed to a home without children.

We took on a dog who’d bitten his owner but the rescue centre were very careful with choosing who he could go to. Yes he has a bite history but we know why he bit, we know his triggers, we know he can’t be around children but we manage him. He’s a very loving dog.

your dog might still get his happy ending.

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 22/10/2025 16:07

If the vet rules out a physical cause then putting the dog to sleep is the right thing to do, by him, and for any future possible victims. My mum did this when our family dog bit me as a child, I was heartbroken but realised later that it was 100% the only right thing to do.

Danioyellow · 22/10/2025 16:13

The concerning thing is that there’s no obvious trigger for the attacks (assuming the vet doesn’t discover anything). It’s not like you can advise the new owners to keep away during feeding or away from toys as it’s food aggressive/resource guarding. The dogs attacking its own family unprovoked, I wouldn’t like to take responsibility of rehoming even if the new owners have actually been warned of the biting. I’d still feel responsible if the dog did cause some serious damage. Hopefully the vet can find some sort of explanation and solution

Monvelo · 22/10/2025 16:13

crankyhousewife · 22/10/2025 15:59

PTS may not be the only option. It is a possibility that it could be rehomed to a home without children.

We took on a dog who’d bitten his owner but the rescue centre were very careful with choosing who he could go to. Yes he has a bite history but we know why he bit, we know his triggers, we know he can’t be around children but we manage him. He’s a very loving dog.

your dog might still get his happy ending.

Sorry but I don't agree with this for this situation. It doesn't sound like this dog would be safe. Sorry op it's devastating but the right thing to do is PTS.

crankyhousewife · 22/10/2025 16:16

I’m not saying it’s the right thing for this dog as I’m not qualified to say it is or it isn’t. I just wanted to say that with the right support from behaviourists there may be another option.

Dodgethis · 22/10/2025 16:21

crankyhousewife · 22/10/2025 16:16

I’m not saying it’s the right thing for this dog as I’m not qualified to say it is or it isn’t. I just wanted to say that with the right support from behaviourists there may be another option.

Not in the house with a tiny baby.

crankyhousewife · 22/10/2025 16:23

That’s why I said a home without children if you had read what I said

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