:( Dog bit 3yo. What to do now?

[NeverWinsMNComps]

I'll try not to make this too long. About 6 months ago someone at DH's work died, leaving a dog in need of a home. Being a bit of a softy, DH took him in with the intention of helping him to find a permanent home (if he didn't fall in love with him first). The dog's owner had rescued him from a bad start in life and we knew he suffers with fear aggression around dogs and must be walked on a lead. We didn't fancy his chances in a kennel/pound and thought he would end up PTS.

But since he's always lived with children and been fine, we took him in and have been continuing to socialize, train and work on his doggie issues. He's always supervised when the kids are home, and he's been wonderful with them.

Tonight he was sleeping on the floor near me and my youngest tripped up and fell onto him. He made a yelp/bark noise and ran away upstairs. DD was crying and I thought she was just startled--but after a minute I realized she was bleeding from a puncture at her temple

She calmed fairly quickly (her sister took it a lot worse than she did!) and we cleaned her up. Tomorrow I'll take her to the GP and probably get antibiotics for it. After about an hour the dog came back downstairs and I checked him over to make sure he was ok too. We tried not to make too big a deal out of it, and explained that it was an accident and that he snapped because it hurt and scared him when DD fell on him. She's been stroking him and saying he's "nice doggie", so at least she's not terrified of him.

But what on earth do we do now? Although I don't think the dog meant to bite, it happened right there in front of me. Even with supervision, how can I guarantee that it won't happen again? And yet having bitten other dogs and a child, I can't see him having a snowballs chance in hell at a rescue... Any advice?

I think it's hard when you see your dog being aggressive to other dogs. You see teeth and growling and behaviour you can't control and it shows you what your dog is capable of. When I first saw it with my rescue it made me re-evaluate his interactions with me and especially with the DCs and visiting DCs even though he's never shown the slightest aggressive tendency with any of us.

I also worried about my DCs' relationship with the dog following a rather unfortunate incident with our cat when she ended up in his jaws. The girls were very traumatised and for a while found it difficult to return to their previous 'cuddly' relationship with him. In a way though it was a useful reminder to them that first and foremost he is a dog rather than an overgrown teddy bear

Remember too, that heads are terrible for bleeding profusely. When I was two I (apparently) was streaming blood from my head. My Mum thought I was terribly injured and shoved me into the shower to see the source of my injury.

I had a tiny 3mm cut on my forehead

Thanks for your responses. The next morning DD's head was sporting a tiny (maybe 2mm) cut and she was perfectly happy frolicking with the dog. Older sis was ok too. However, the plot thickens...

I came home from work today to find my neighbor at my door, and she told me that my dog has been going nuts every time I leave the house for about two weeks. Her daughter mentioned it last week and I assumed it was because we were looking after a pair of guinea pigs and he was unsettled by having prey animals in the house. But apparently it's still going on.

In the middle of the conversation, she mentioned that her unspayed alsatian has been in season--but that it shouldn't make a difference as the bitch is only allowed outside to wee.

Our dog was only neutered in October. Is it possible that he's been unsettled by the dog in heat next door? Since I've been home from work, he's been in and out of the dog flap and pacing the house constantly...

My mums dog was speyed and still goes nuts for next doors bitches when theyre in season, not the extent of barking but its definetly possible that its unsettling him

Glad your DD was not badlyl hurt, and that they are still happy with doggy!

For once i agree - this sounds like she fell on him awkwardly and really hurt him and it was a retaliatory snap. It;s totally different to actively trying to bite a child.

I remember this happening to me when I was small - I trod on the dog and he snapped my ankle. Deservedly bloody so as well.

As long as it was a small nip and not a vicous bite I would work on keeping them apart for the time being, and making sure dog has his own space that DC can't get into at all.

Of, definitely possible that it's unsettling him.

My terrier had been neutered for about two years when a foster bitch we had came into season, it definitely effected him and his behaviour. He was nice to her for a start He was always constantly wound up and excited. My own whippet came into season just after the foster bitch finished, it was not a good time for my dog It got so bad at one point I considered shipping him out somewhere to give him a break, so yes, that would probably have an impact on your dog.

The howling may or may not be related. The snap could have been because he is on edge anyway. It would still be sensible to look into these issues because it is entirely possible that the bitch being in season is completely unrelated.

Separation anxiety (dogs howling when you are not there) is a common issue and easy enough to solve with consistent training. Making sure your dog has safe spaces to hide away from a wobbly toddler is very sensible and should be done anyway.

It's nice to see a thread where both the OP and the posters are being sensible and not condemning the dog to death for defending itself out of fear.

Agree with almost all the other posters. Glad your DD is okay, must have been frightening for you. I am usually of the no second chances with biting brigade BUT this is different, as thers point out, he was asleep and something fairly big landed on him, he reacted. The fact it was a graze, which could have been caused by landing on his teeth anyway, and the fact he ran away is a good sign he is cetainly not aggressive. I would think that it is unrelated to the next door dog being in season but that this could cause him to be on edge generally. I would get him vet checked and ask for their proffessional opinion. Good Luck!

I'm so pleased to read a thread full of calm, sensible advice. I clicked on the thread title expecting to read lots of posts saying to have th edit put to sleep and I was all ready to argue.

I've put in a call to the behaviourist and made a vet appointment for Monday to see if we can work out what's going on with him.

I know separation anxiety is quite common, and doggy is a bit of a nervous nelly in any case. What worries me is the sudden change in behaviour over the past two weeks. Up to that point the neighbors hadn't heard a peep for 6 months, and suddenly he's barking when we leave. His demeanor is different when we get back home too--normally he'd bark once on hearing the key in the door and then come up wagging. Now we get barking, jumping, scrambling and going nuts when we come in. Its like somebody slipped red bull into his drinking water! DH has taken him out for extended walkies to wear him out and I'm going shopping for a thundershirt in the meantime, to see if it helps calm him down when he's in the house.

How is he being with DD now?

Hope everything gets sorted for you- it's not nice knowing that there is something bothering your family pet.

If it were me then I'd completely ignore. Given the circumstances the dog's reaction is hardly surprising. My dog growls and snaps at my 7 year old son just for petting her (albeit when she's trying to sleep). You know the saying "let sleeping dogs lie........."