Need to rehome my dog - don't know how

[neuroticmumof3]

I've got a 15 mth old staffie/sharpay cross bitch. I've had her for about 6 months now, she was an abandoned dog found by DS and taken in by us. Unfortunately things really aren't working out. Although she's mostly sweet natured she has snapped at DD (4) several times and last weekend snapped at her face twice, not breaking the skin, but leaving marks. DD was not doing anything inappropriate or aggressive towards the dog at the time. As a result of this I really don't think I can keep her anymore, I'm scared she'll hurt DD. I don't know what to do.

Have you taken her to the vet to check if she is well?

And then ask for a referral to a behaviourist to see if her issues can be sorted out.

IMO just passing the problem onto someone else without at least doing the very basic checks to see if she is physically well is not on. Rescues all around the country are bursting at the seams.

It sounds very scary for you. There's some useful information from Sophia Yin here and here about preventing dog bites, include about how to interact with dogs. Young children are most likely to get bitten when they approach a dog that is stationary (especially lying down), so one thing to teach is that DD shouldn't approach the dog - if she wants to pet him, she should call him to her. This is something you could probably resolve with a behaviourist, and close supervision (including separating dog and DD sometimes); rehoming isn't the only option.

If you do decide to rehome, unfortunately it is not easy to find a new home for a staffie type dog. You might need to be prepared to hang on to her for a bit while you wait for a space to come up in a rescue.

I wouldn't take any chances with a dog of this breeding with children, especially when you do not know her previous history. The fact that she has shown intolerance to your children would be reason enough to get rid. By all means have her checked out by a behaviourist/ vet BUT it is no guarantee she won't bite/ attack in the future.
I just wouldn't take any chances at all. I do think in some cases it is kinder to put a dog to sleep rather than let it fall into the wrong hands (and she would be a typical breed cross for certain hideous people to be attracted to) or maul a child.
I feel for you but your children come first. I think you probably know that you cannot keep her BUT please, please be responsible in what happens to this bitch, it's not her fault she has this streak. I'm not one for jumping the gun and putting healthy dogs to sleep but realistically, where could she go to have a safe and happy life ? There are few and far between people responsible enough to take on a a dog with a questionable personality.
If I were you, I'd take her to your vets & get her checked out, see how she interacts with the staff and ask your vet for advice.
I wish you luck, can you keep us posted ?

Daisy and Redwing have it spot on.

Vet and behaviourist before you jump straight into rehoming her.

The fact she didn't break the skin means that this is a warning snap. This is good. Now it's time to listen to her warnings and change what is making her uncomfortable. Had she wanted to hurt the child it would have happened by now.

Keep them separted using stairgates etc. until you get to the bottom of things. There will be a reason for her behaviour and it will be fixable.

I had a reactive dog. Also with no history. He's now the better behaved of the two dogs I have. I'm not saying it's easy OP, or it will fix over night, it won't, but believe me it is well worth the effort. Things can be made safer until then with stairgates and vigilant supervision.

And tillyboo what breeding exactly? The Nanny Dog breeding? No, you shouldn't have one of those breeds around your kids. That would be silly

Sadly a staffy x, even a young one, stands little to no chance of being rehomed in the current climate, especially not one who has been given up for those reasons

OP, your vet should be your first port of call. Even the sweetest tempered dog can be a bit snappy if they have something wrong with them, which may not be apparent - I'm thinking particularly of toothache/dental problems or an ear infection. These can be excruciating and not easily visible to you.

In the mean time, please reinforce with your children good "dog manners", so no hassling, poking, prodding and ensuring your dog has a safe place to go where she can rest undisturbed.

Your vet can probably recommend a behaviourist and it's worth doing some work with them if this is indicated.

Having her PTS isn't necessary - even if she does need to be rehomed at a later date there are many adult only homes who adopt (we are a good example ) as one of ours is nervous and timid around children he doesn't know.

If you do decide to rehome her, please, please work with a reputable rescue - they can ensure the dog is given every possible chance at being carefully rehomed in the right environment, with the support and backup needed. One of the benefits of rehoming via a rescue is that usually a careful assessment is made of the dog's character, and good rescues will provide lifelong support and behavioural advice every step of the way.

The fact that she is a Staffie X doesn't mean she is any more dangerous than any other dog - quite the reverse. Staffies are known as the "nanny dog", and I've met some absolutely lovely ones.

X posted with Dooin.

Please be really really careful if you do decide to rehome her, only use a reputable rescue - Shar pei's are a common breed for using as bait dogs and crossed with a staffy she'd be really desirable in certain circles, you really don't want to risk her getting in the wrong hands.

Our daughter was bitten on the face, the dog took a large chunk out of her eyebrow. We did the vet and behaviourist thing too before it got to that stage. The dog was a rescue too and my dd was stroking the dog under full supervision of 3 adults. Every time I look at my beautiful dd I can see our mistake and our foolishness forever on her face
I would keep your child and the dog totally seperate, never let them be together and rehome asap.

I would agree that you should rehome your dog asap or pts, if no other option.

It is not ok for the dog to growl and snap at your dd, no matter what the reason. Contrary to what people are saying here, if a dog is uncomfortable, that does not translate into aggressive behaviour. The dog has the option of walking away or yelping to show discomfort

Our pup just had a ear infection after a day out swimming. I realised it because when I held him, he went yoooowwww. I felt around his ear and he went eew, eew and then looked at me with sad eyes. Note, no grrrr or snap or bite.

This might be his nature or might be training or a combination. But I do know that if a dog growled and snapped at a child they would be rehomed. It is not worth the risk of dd or one of her friends or a young cousin getting bitten.

XPosted with butterfly. I am so sorry about your dd

Dogs DO show agression when in pain.

The greater the pain, the more likely it is to progress from yelping to agression.

It is important, for the welfare of the dog to establish whether illness or injury is present.

Daisy, I agree with you that a dog in great pain could be aggressive to its owners. Not necessarily the case, but it could be.

But except for extreme circumstances, a dog snapping at a child is a huge no-no, with major red flags. I don't care if the child went close to the dog or walked on the dog's bed or petted it when it was grumpy. The dog needs to know that it should walk away or yelp for help, it cannot be aggressive towards a child.

The child shouldn't need to tippytoe around a dog, in normal day-to-day life. If the animal is so temperamental, it is not suited for a household with young children.

I am sorry neuroticmumof3 my last post was unhelpful and insensitive. I should have taken the time to answer your query in a sympathetic way, like the other respondents.

I hope you find a solution soon. Best of luck!

sorry, wrong thread!

I'm not sure what i would do in the op's situation, just wanted to add that it is nothing to do with the dog's breeding. Our sadly departed Staffie found children a bit much, when he had had enough he would go and lie down behind the sofa or go upstairs.

I know there is the whole Nanny Dog thing. Bit why is it that every single time you hear off a dog biting a toddlers face off on the news it's 9 times out of 10 a Staffie. Nanny Dog my arse. My kids aren't allowed near them.

Bigus....my mother was walking her doberman and the pair of them were savaged by a labrador

doesn't make the news though cos it's not what Middle England wants to hear.

I also know children that have been very badly hurt by both a Lab and a Golden Retriever but as Catsmamma says - it's not what anyone wants to hear.

Sadly more prejudice, people spreadingthis sort of rubbish about Staffies make it harder for the poor homeless gentle ones.

How's it going neuroticmum?

Nanny breed my arse !! How many children have been attacked by Bull Terriers. Have a look at this website if you need further proof that they CAN BE one of the most dangerous of breeds www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/

And take a look at the poor lad who took in the Shar Pei !!!!! Totally unprovoked attack, he's lucky to be alive.

This dog has snapped several times at the OP's dd, what utter tosh to suggest behavioural work. It's a ticking time bomb ... and for all you 'do-gooders' who say 'Ah, the poor doggy didn't mean it' ... What will you say when it rips a ruddy great hole in the little girls face OR worse !!
I was a Vet nurse & have had dogs all my life so don't tell me I'm jumping the gun in urging this lady to remove the dog from her house !!!!!

Irresponsible breeding has a lot to answer for and I am glad that someone has agreed with me that this poor bitch is typically what these evil people are looking for in terms of baiting & dog fighting. I would rather have her pts than face a life of pain, agony & fear. What say you now ????

Oh & funny how those who protest that staffies have a bad press, aren't dangerous, blah, blah ... have them or are fans of them.

I am a Springer Spaniel devotee BUT if my dogs ever bit or made to attack a child, that would be it, no matter how my heart would break. My uncle had a SS who attacked his niece out of the blue. He didn't like being asked to get off the sofa so he savaged the hand that fed him.

All I have to say to that, Tilly, is thank goodness you were a vet nurse.

And yes isn't it funny that experienced staffy owners understand their temprements? To think they could have saved themselves the bother of owning, experiencing, knowing and loving a SBT just picking up the Daily Fail to learn all about them instead

OP I am sorry your thread has been hi jacked with the usual anti Staffy hysterical bull shit.

There are posters on here who can and will advise on what to do next, even if you decide you cannot keep the dog. Myself and Scuttle being but a couple. Please PM either of us for further advise or rescue sugestions if you can't face coming back to the thread.

Baiting and fighting are not the same thing, if dogs used for fighting were as naturally aggressive as some people think they are - there'd be no need to use bait dogs. Kittens and rabbits are commonly used as bait as well...

There was a study a few years ago that showed that the top 3 most likely to bite dogs are daschunds, chihuahuas and jack russels - it was something ridiculous like 20% of all daschunds had bitten someone.

Yes the potential damage from a staffy attacking is greater, but you're much more likely to be attacked by a daschund.

I hate, hate, hate this dog hating hysteria.

Staffies are lovely dogs. They are not child savaging monsters by definition.

To decide that a dog is dangerous purely on the basis of its breed is as insane as saying that all Africans are likely to eat you alive. It is hysterical, scare mongering nonsense fueled by the ignorant and bigoted.

And I too am very glad that Tilly is no longer a vet nurse.