My dog has bitten my toddler - new home needed urgently or PTS within 2 weeks

[lil88]

P is a former rescue lurcher dog is 7 years old and has been with us for over 3 years and been in and out of foster homes before we had her. It was not until we had her for a few months that we found out one of the reasons she was given up for fostering was because she has bitten a toddler climbing into her bed. She also has nervous aggression with other dogs which was only apparent after a few months with us and still suffers from separation anxiety. To cut a long story short, My husband and I were fortunate to have a baby nearly 18 months after we had homed P. With a young baby to cope with we knew it would be difficult to give P the attention she needed and also we had some concerns about the risk of P biting the baby at some stage and therefore had her up for rehoming at EXXX where she came from. However we have not had any one interested and despite our attempts to enquire with other rehoming centres, we have drawn a blank as they have either told us, to return her to EXXX, she was a difficult dog to rehome, or they had a long waiting list. Further EXXX has not come up with an appropriate foster home for her nor will take P back. Our baby is now a 23 months old strong minded child and she and P always compete for our attention. Indeed our LO can be rough with P who has generally responded with baring her teeth at our LO or run away from her. We have tried to tell our LO to be gentle with P otherwise she would be bitten but she does not listen. Things came to a head on Sunday, when my LO was bitten on the wrist by P after when our LO had patted her quite strongly and lost her balance and fell on P. This took place at the doorway of my kitchen. This incident has not fazed our LO and I only fear that matters will escalate. I am afraid that our LO's safety is our priorty and although P is not to blame for the incident due to the nature of our LO, we can not risk any future incidents which could end up with a worse result for my LO. We have decided that if P can not be taken in by one of the dog charities, we will arrange for her to be put to sleep in 2 weeks time. So can anyone provide a kennel or foster home or home P. We are based in Worcestershire.
This has also been posted in Lurcherlink appeals for help

I've not said to pts and the op seems to want to rehome. I think the pts is more of a threat in the hope someone will take dog? Tho I don't know.

Rescue and not fraud ad. Sorry but typing one handed while nursing baby

Mama
I agree with you that a dog should tolerate a child climbing in his bed, or taking his bone without snapping, but I don't think that dog owners should allow their children to do these things.

And if the dog does not like this, and this was obviously the case, then the only option is to separate the dog from the child.

The organisation that rehomed the dog is at fault - OP shouldn't have found out the dog had bitten a child - months after she took it - she should have been told.

Op I'd try to keep the dog if possible, but appreciate your position.

Mme your child has it's own bed? You have your own bed? My dogs have their own bed in a separate room. My dogs (and cats!!) live downstairs, they are not allowed upstairs, they certainly would not be allowed on my (or my child's when it arrives) bed. They're not allowed on any furniture. When my lo arrives and they are old enough to wander, they will not be allowed in the dogs room and certainly not in the dogs (or cats) bed. They should be allowed to go somewhere safe and quiet should they chose. Most of the time I hope well alone together downstairs as we are now but I will also not take risks. Both dogs have always been superb with any children but always have the bed option.

hereigo I totally agree re this thread enlightening me to the mindset of the ignorant fuckers who try and tell me there dog is lovely, which is jumping all over me and my dc and in particular my ds2 who I have to hold as he's terrified and autistic. Since fucking when did a dogs needs trump a child? Those posters who said OP is a shit parent need to re assess their thinking. A shit parent puts an animal before their child. Dogs are dogs, they are not children/human

at hereigo

Mama
Where has the OP been told she is a shit parent? Most of us have said that she should keep the dog separate from the child. And that a child of that age cannot possibly be expected to understand the consequences of her actions, and alter he behaviour.

Horsey
Not sure what you mean. Yes, my dog has her own bed, as do all the other members of the family. The children have been taught that when the dog is in her bed, that she is not to be disturbed.

not that she sleeps there, as she prefers snuggling up on my bed

And I agree with Sarge.

My dog is white, fluffy and about as dangerous and threatening as a My Little Pony.

I still keep a very close eye on her when we are out, and ensure that she does not run up to little children (which is extremely hard for her to follow because she adores kids).

I know that there are children who are frightened of dogs, even ridiculously cute small dogs.

Anyone who does not do that, would be just as likely to get flamed on MN as a person rehoming a dog irresponsibly.

MmeLindor - I have just read the entire thread and she has been accused of being a shit parent. I read it.

It would be an ignorant fucker that called her a shit parent, not all posters on here did that, therefore not all are ignorant fuckers..

blah blah blah op.People like you make me sick.Your kid needs to be trained not to treat an animal like that! But I suppose with your tone & what you have suggested,she will unfortunately grow up with similar views as you.Just do the decent thing and find the poor dog a good home and do us all a favour and do not ever get another dog!

No change in the doghouse then?

OP - only read your opening post. No sane person keeps a dog that bites children is my view.

' A shit parent puts an animal before their child'

You mean the kind of parent who finds out after a few months that the dog they adopted has bitten a toddler in a previous home? And a year later has a baby? And over 23 months later are allowing the dog to be around their child.

Some of you need to distinguish between explanations of why the dog behaves as it does and excuses. Understanding that it's an anxious dog that's frightened by everything - being left alone, other dogs, the unpredictable actions of a toddler - and reacts with aggression isn't about putting the dog's welfare above the child's. It's about recognising the fact that this dog was always going to end up lashing out at that child. For the last 23 months the OP has been playing russian roulette with her child's safety - not because the dog is inherently 'bad' or 'dangerous', but because it is freaked out by life and when it is startled or feels threatened it was always going to snap.

As a qualified pet behaviour counsellor and someone who has worked in various rescue centres for a total of 20 years, I usually stay away from this topic. However, I have read this and OP, I think you are being very harshly treated.

I am always amazed at the naivety on here. "No kill rescues" as they are called on here are a terrible idea. The only way they could be justified is if the tap is turned off at the other end; breeding of unwanted puppies. I have seen dogs languish in kennels for years, leading a miserable existence with no hope of being re-homed (realistically). Requirements might be 'experienced owners needed with no children, no other pets, no visitors, own land/very large garden. Cannot be exercised off lead (currently), no contact with other dogs etc.' There are many dogs like this in rescue centres. Such homes are vanishingly rare. And when they do appear, why would they want to take such a dog when they could have a wonderful time with a sociable dog, long walks with friends etc.?

At the other end, having worked in a Local Authority stray dog kennel, we had to select dogs to PTS because they had done their time (7 days) without being claimed and had no chance of being moved to a re-homing centre as they had no space. D'you see my point? I will never forget those days, taking delightful, friendly, sociable, often young and healthy dogs to the vets. those of you promoting rescue centres with non-destruction policies need to get out there and look at the grim realities of this country's dog population.

To get back to the OP; there are thousands of lurchers in rescue, many of which are confident and sociable, without homes. I am not surprised you are struggling to find one to take her. It is devastatingly sad for your family and the dog but I applaud you for taking responsibility. To those of you giving OP a hard time; you are doing dogs no favours. There is a fate worse than death for dogs, I've seen it. If only more owners took responsibility for their dogs and didn't leave it for rescue centre staff to do (or fail to do) days/weeks/months or years down the line.

Most people will not/cannot train their dog so the constant pleas for people to do that on here (especially when it involves children and aggressive (for whatever reason) dogs) are a waste of keyboard use. OP will have thought of that and discounted it, I guarantee it. It obviously is not an option for her. I have a young family and two nervous aggressive border collies; I know how bloody hard and relentless it is.

^couldn't agree more^

Well I don't think there's any doubt you can't keep the dog. However, I think it is extremely wrong to kill it because a) you didn't bother to take steps to ensure this situation didn't occur in the first place and b) you don't want/can't be bothered to take steps to ensure that your child is safe until you can find a suitable home.

OP you knew the dog was nervous around your child and yet you still didn't prevent your child from harrassing the dog. Your child got bitten. Entirely your own fault and now you can't be bothered with the dog.

It's easy, keep the dog seperated with stairgate when the child is around. Just keep the dog out of any room where the child is. It's not difficult, is it?

I have 4 DC, including a baby and if I didn't already have a dog with 'issues' which prevent me from bringing another dog into the house, I would take this dog in tomorrow and be absolutely certain that it would never bite my DC. That is part of the problem, most of the people who will be willing or able to take on a dog that needs some work or time will already have a dog like it and so it can take time to find a new home.

Well said midori1999