Dog really hates toddler DS

[TheHolyGruel]

I have posted about this before. I have two dogs (staffs) and a toddler DS who is 20mo.

My older dog (male) really dislikes my DS. He growls at him constantly and it is just getting worse. We had problems with this dog being dog aggressive but this has been overcome somewhat by walking him on a muzzle and walking the dogs separately. The dog has been checked by a vet, other than a recent worm problem (now sorted) there is nothing wrong.

We sought advice from a dog trainer/rescue person who we had a couple of sessions with. His advice re the toddler/dog situation was to put the dog down, as if something did go wrong then not only would it be a dreadful situation for us, but dreadful for staffies everywhere (another story for the papers etc, another crack in the BSL nonsense defence - I fully believe that BSL is bollocks and that the problem is not because he's a staff, but I'll talk about that in a moment). But I don't feel I can do it. In the meantime, any attempts to unite dog and DS are failing. DS is instructed to offer dog treats, to sit nicely and pet nicely, not to run up to dog, not to touch anything belonging to dog, etc. I make an effort for the dogs to be in the same room as DS as often as possible, but I am becoming worried for DS safety, as dog is really sounding at the end of his rope.

I honestly believe it is because the dog has been usurped from his position of 'first born'. The other dog displays no such issues, and is very fond of DS. The problem dog has always been the established top dog.

DH works away from home sometimes and has his biggest stint of the year coming up next month. He is away for a month, and I am petrified of how I will cope with this situation alone. It is so stressful.

In the first instance, does anyone know of a way in which I could find a foster carer for my dog, initially for this upcoming period, or is this unrealistic? He is fine with dogs smaller than himself and with older children (all children aside from DS it seems, in fact).

Can anyone offer any other advice or solutions? I think ultimately he will need rehoming, but I also know it's not that simple...

Well, from the dogs point of view MrsR I wonder if the internal dialogue goes thus: 'What? Seriously?! You want me to LET GO?! This dog just tried to eat me! I'm not letting it go. Uh uh. Sod you, stupid human. I've got him right where I want him'. Meanwhile, you're there with a car jack trying to prise pooch's chops open.

"He has always been like this with him, even when he was a mild, sitting, lovely little baby."

When do babies start sitting? About 6-8 months? That means the family has had well over a year to arrange training, rehoming or face the fact that it's not possible and the dog will need to be put down. I am a procrastinator too but sometimes action is needed faster and the fact that the dog is still there and the child is still at risk makes it read like Holy is minimising the seriousness of the situation. Hence the "OMG!!!!! No brainer question to which I know the answer! Child v dog! Child wins! Get rid of the dog!" reactions from novices such as myself.

I like dogs, incl. staffies, btw, and know they can be lovely. My friend has a charming soppy rotty/staffie cross. He is bloody enormous though- strong, well-muscled and the fact is that he could do immense damage to a toddler if he had a different temperament. He is much loved and it would be heart-wrenching if he turned nasty to her 2 year old but I know that if he did he would be out of there pretty much immediately because that would be an emergency situation. He would not be growling at her toddler for a year whilst she wrung her hands.

What does your partner think, btw, Holy? I wonder if there is more to this and it is his dog or something?

Ahh ok, so he just didn't want to. Can't say I blame him really, the dog attacked him in his own front garden!

It can certainly sometimes feel like the jaws are locked when you have a big strong dog clamping down on something.

I can get my dog to let go by tapping the back of his head. He turns around and goes 'Wha?!' leaving his mouth agape. Got to love a dopey spaniel

chickens!

I'll be able to post on that thread soon Lemarch, there is always one outside the school, with be-hooded owner and studded leather harness. Dd2 calls him Cuddles. He just sits patiently, waiting for his child to come out of school and, um, well cuddles other children while he waits.

My staff licks my mils feet (chubby feet with long dirty nails), she hates it
My mil is awful but my staff thinks her feet taste delish

There's a wonderful staffie near where I live, when we still had our old mutt (looked like a big cuddly, happy dog) he'd be straining at the leash, snarling, barking and growling, while the staffie would be sat there absolutely unperturbed. Much as I loved our dog, I always felt a twinge of jealousy when I saw that staffie.

SGB its an irresponsible owner who 'dumps' their dog at the local RSPCA to make it someone elses problem, someone elses £. And the sort of owner who thinks they could do that to an animal they made a commitment to, without exploring oppotunities like the OP has and is doing, then they really shouldnt have animals or anything other than a potato to care for and for that reason I wish the dog license was back and some sort of ownership test was introduced to weed out the potential shite owners.

Oh and reminds me , I asked a vet we used when l took our very cross staffie(something stuck in his front pad) if he worried about being bitten - he told me that in 20 odd years of restraining various breeds - dobermans,rotties,gsds,sbts - and doing unspeakable things to them like sticking needles in them, removing glass from pads etc etc he had only ever been bitten once.... by.....wait...for...it

a labrador !

yes the sweetest looking , widely thought as the most safely approachable dog on the planet - and it 'ad 'im.

I think though, in the dogs defence that he wasnt fully on board with the vets plan of sticking a thermometer up his jacksie. .

Lemarch Id contribute to that thread.

Today I tickled my SBTs belly to make her do that cycling thing, and it made me laugh.

Yesterday she sat in my chair as soon as I got up and wouldnt let me sit back down, so I sat on top of her.

On Monday she took a sandwich out of DS2s (8 months old) hand, but left the crusts, she doesnt like them

Have to agree with the majority and the OP that the dog needs to be taken out of the situation ASAP. I'm a vet and I deal with Staffies all the time and the majority are lovely. I have no problem with the breed. If he does have some Pitbull in him then he shouldn't even exist within the law as it stands, it's been illegal to breed with pitbull terriers or that "type" for a long time. This may also be a problem when it comes to rehoming attempts. The other thing which will make him very difficult to rehome is that he has demonstrated not only aggression to young children (how many people have NO contact with young children at all?) but also to other dogs. Rescue centres are overflowing with Staffies without these issues who are difficult to rehome. I think the trainer was right and unless you can find an individual willing to take him on and deal with his issues without endangering children or other animals, the responsible thing to do is to euthanase him, to prevent him having a distressing period in rescue and then being euthanased or falling into the wrong hands.
I'm a dog owner and a dog lover and I appreciate how difficult it must be to be in this situation, but I would never share my home with a dog which made me fear for my children's safety. You are taking sensible precautions and you are still scared for your child, it can't continue.

do yea I have, in the main I've favoured GSP's, but have had much loved rescues, GSD and Lab and a Goldie. Currently I don't have a dog. I don't think I could give it the the time it needed and therefore it wouldn't be fair on the dog or us.

I am not trying to goad, I am just gobsmacked at how many people would put this dogs needs equal to or above the child. The OP has behaved responsively fr what's been said and has said she wishes to rehome preferably. Re training doesn't seem to be an issue and quote frankly the behaviour of the dog isn't something she could have planned for.

So yes I've seen and loved, and lived with and worked with and trained dogs. I not around them now, I have my dc incl a preschooler with ASD and a baby. I live in a compact terrace and it would b irresponsible of me to have one.

Does that answer your question?

Now back to OP, it isnt dramatic to say this situation needs sorting ASAP especially with your dh going away. Is there a vet who would be able to suggest any local people willing to take on dog?

And please note, not once have I made reference to the dogs breed

Great post messtins

We have a dog that we love to bits so I know it's hard to contemplate getting rid of him. However a dog can attack in an instant. My dd got bitten at Christmas by a dog who gave a millisecond of warning growl. Short of us not being in the same house as this dog it could not have been prevented. She was very lucky. It missed the eye - just, but ripped through her nose. She had to have plastic surgery and over 30 stitches in her face. It's just not worth the risk.

Your staffie is obviously well loved and I sympathise. I have a dog too. However, when a staffie bites the damage is considerable and you cannot risk this with a 20m year old. You can't trust a 20month to behave properly at all times around a dog. Yes, the old labrador story - trotted out every time a staffie is mentioned. It's not the point. The point is the terrible damage a staffie could do to a little child. It's not worth the risk. You'd never forgive yourself if something happened OP. Can't quite believe you haven't taken very decisive steps already.

OP I hope you have hidden this thread now. No need for some of these comments

JUST IN CASE ANYONE MISSED IT THE FIRST ELEVENTY MILLION TIMES IT WAS POSTED OP IS LOOKING FOR A RESPONSIBLE RESCUE TO TAKE THE DOG IN

SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THEM NOW AND HAS ALREADY RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM A FEW PLACES

Dooin

People must be reading "I dont know what to do, my SBT has already eaten one person and is now asking me for the salt and pepper for DS, should I let him eat DS raw or cooked?" instead of THE ACTUAL FECKING OP

Clearly you know f all

Clearly you didn't read any the part of the thhreas where the op said she is trying to rehome the dog.

There is absolutely no point screaming get rid of it now
Shall she put it on gumtree for someone looking for a dog to fight to take home, and then treat it disgracefully, send it out in the park to savage children? Then you could shout a bit more about how dangerous staffies are?
Or let it loose on the street?

I think we can assume the reason the op said many times she is looking for a rescue is because her child is a priority.

But please share some of your expert knowledge on dogs.