My dog has just bit dd2 (I think). What should I do now?

[ShinyAndNew]

Obviously they will be/are closely monitored and never left alone together. Dog is kept behind a gate that dd2 cannot open overnight and they are always supervised during the day.

He was sat behind me on the stool. I heard a growl and dd2 ran off holding her hand. I took the dog out and checked dd2. She is fine. Not a mark on her, so if he did bite it was a warning bite and not a proper bite. Still unacceptable though.

He is a growly/grumbley type dog. He will growl all the way to his bed on a night, but has never displayed anymore aggressive behavior than this. I always just thought it was his way of whinging, like a child would do.

His back is sore atm, with dermatitis, so there is a chance she could have hurt him. I didn't see what exactly happened as they were behind me, but she does have a habit of going up to him and spontaneously hugging him, which could have woken him suddenly. He has just had a long walk so he is tired and was sleeping.

I have left a message for behaviorist and will make an appointment for her to come out. He is at the vets later re his back.

What else should I be doing?

How old is your DD?

She is 2.7. I have dd1 who is 6.

Make sure your dc never go near a sleeping dog. Any dog can be excused for behaving in this way if woken.

Yeah, I know they shouldn't be waking him up. I tell dd2 time and time again "Don't disturb the doggy when he is sleeping". I am calmer now than when I first posted, I got a bit of a shock. I think the behaviorist was perhaps a step too far, but I will make my appointment with her anyway. It can't hurt and I want some pointers on clikcer training for him.

I think he needs a space to sleep that dd2 cannot get to. His bed is in the kitchen but he likes being near the radiators, I will look into getting him an indoor kennel or crate. He doesn't have a 'safe space' as yet that he uses. Plenty of favourite spots, but no safe place, which he should have.

I tend to panic first and think later. She probably did just wake him up, with one of her sudden hugs.

More posts on how this is normal behavior and not a sign of an agressive dog maybe required as DH did not sound happy when I requested that we buy an enclosed dog bed, so he can have safe space and explained why. I get the feeling he has been itching to get rid of this dog since we got him and this might be just the excuse he needs.

I am begining to think he only let me get a dog so that he could upset me/threaten me with getting rid of it. Plus he seriously has no clue about dogs. He told me last night the vet may advise putting the dog to sleep because he is biting his back untill it bleeds . Don't worry Dh is going no where a vet with my dog. The dog has been previously diagnosed with dermititus and probably just needs more cream/shampoo or something.

Now I am less panicked I am not even sure the dog actually bit dd2. I think he may have just snarled and she got a shock. There was not a single mark on her. Not even a bit of redness. When I asked her about it she said he didn't bite.

Shiny, FWIW I think you probably have it spot on, that the dog scared rather than bit your DD (yeah, I know, I'm dog-biased and of course I wasn't there but thats what it SOUNDS like to me).

Bella is a vet nurse, seen it all before, and I'd urge your DH to accept her professional opinion. I can't agree more with the need for a crate to give Scruffs a safe space (though FGS don't use it for 'time out' as he will regard it as a place for punishment and not for pleasure). Once he's established it as his own place and is happy there it'll help you to encourage him into it when, for example, you want to play silly beggars with your DC and don't want him accidentally stepped on/getting the wrong idea about you playing chase or tickle with your DC.

You're doing all the right things, supervising pooch and the DC, stopping DC from startling him, ready to buy a crate and consulting a behaviouralist... huge respect to you, I wish all owners took the same actions.

BTW, your vet will NOT advise PTS because Scruffs is biting his back, he will advise and prescribe to remedy a skin condition! Sorry but Shiny's DH, you're mistaken, NO vet would advocate PTS because a dog had dermititis, thats a terrible thing to say.

I have already told him that. He was annoyed when he first came home, but after seeing that dd2 was not at all nervous of the dog and still happily feeds him treats, which the dog still takes treats very gently from her he is bit happier.

He is practising the clicker training now. And has agreed to take him to the the new training classes the vet pointed me to, as they are on while I'm at work.

The vet made out that the guy was really good and would allow Scruff in his class even though he hasn't been neutered yet (his pre op check is Wed). I was a bit off put when CM was mentioned on his site, but after speaking to him I was reassured that he uses positive training methods and rewards. CM was only mentioned because he is trying to get his own TV show, in similar vein, but with different methods.

I think DH gets a bit obssessed with dogs being PTS because he has never gotten over his mum having his (elderly) dog PTS when he was younger. I keep trying to tell him that vets will no longer PTS healthy dogs, with treatable conditions but he won't listen. He used to tell me all the time that the vet would PTS my little JRT because of her epilepsy, but my vet always stated that he was happy it was not affecting her quality of life, as although her fits could be really bad, the really bad ones were months apart.

I was looking at getting a soft crate and not locking him in it, just letting him use it as a hiding space when he wants to sleep. That way dd2 won't be tempted to suddenly throw herself at him, which is what she does. He doesn't mind when he is awake, but it startles him when he is sleeping. I think this time he was in a deeper sleep. I'm trying to get her to stop doing this all together and working with her to show the correct way to approach him.

You're a star hun!

And although I do meet unscrupulous vets in my line, these are by FAR in the minority and are usually attached to pounds. Thats not saying that a local clinic won't PTS a healthy dog at the owners request, some will , but many more will smile, take the dog and call their nearest rescue (no names, no pack drill, but those vets, I loves ya!).

The rescue I work closely with has several epi dogs, some on high dose meds, some on little or nothing, depending on the frequency and severity of the fits. NEVER has their vet recommended or even suggested PTS!

Just thought I'd let you know, the dog has been to the vets. Although his flea treatment is working on his top half, he has a nest of fleas near his bottom. They are only near his bum which is why we havn't notived him scratching anywhere else. He now has stronger flea treatment which has been applied directly to the nest (I didn't even know fleas made nests).

He may also have a flea allergy, because of his skin condition. If he hasn't stopped biting by Friday, we need to take him back for an anti flammortary injection. Due to the fact that he may have flea allergy we have to be extra vigilant with the flea treatment and make sure the house is vaccuumed and flea sprayed regularly and the flea drops are up to date.

I asked the vet about DHs concern that he maybe PTS and the vet reiterated again that they do not put healthy dogs to sleep. What they do is explain to the owner that it is a treatable condition and if is finances they are worried about point them in the direction of the nearest charitable vets. If the owner won't keep them they take the animal and contact the local Dogs Trust. My vets won't work with the local pound. The rehome cats themselves from their bigger clinic. Smaller animals are normally adopted by vetinary staff.

sounds like dd hurt/scared/woke up your dog

as others have said NEVER let the children go near dog when asleep and when our woofa is on his bed, one in living room, one in kitchen, that is his safe haven and NON ONE is allowed in there apart from woofa

baby 18mths knows this, and has done since she started crawling,several firm no's and she stayed away

also get woofa checked out at vets etc for his back

I agree that you should never let a child wake a sleeping dog especially one who is in pain. Perfectly normal dog behaviour. I wouldnt bother at all with the behaviourist.

Personally, harsh though it sounds, I would blame yourself and make sure the dog is never put in that postion again. Clearly the dog meant no harm this time, or harm would have been done, but that isn' to say the situation couldn't escalate in he future.

If your daughter will not listen when you tell her to leave the dog alone, you need to make sure she doesn't have unsupervised access to the dog, and that means watching like a hawk or keeping the dog and the child seperate, be that with a crate, a stairgate or any other methods.

second to midori. if you have a dog and a toddler neither of them can be expected to behave responsibly. your poor dog is also out of sorts because of his dermatits.

tbh you need to stop thinking about a safe place for the dog and go out and get one or make one today.

What has the vet prescribed for the dermatitis? This can make your dog very miserable and grouchy.

My dog has allergies and has this skin condition and is on a constant low dose of steroids which keep it at bay.

Once, before she went on the steroids, it got infected on her stomach and it must have been on her back aswell, though I couldn't see if it was red because of the fur, but when you touched her back she jumped away.

She got antibiotics and the infection cleared up.

We also use an anti fungal shampoo on her paws called malaseb I think, which helps a bit.

But look into more treatment and managing the skin condition, it may change your dog if the irritation is gone.

But obviously, supervise your dd too.