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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

I had to rehome my dog today :(

26 replies

BitchTits · 07/08/2014 23:13

My beautiful DD was bit on the face today by our yorkie out of aggression. My DD was on the floor with our dog and she bit under her eye and nose. DD said she was trying to give our dog a cuddle when it happened. I feel terrible and have vowed never to have another dog again. My DD understands why we couldn't keep her after that. The doctor prescribed my daughter with some strong antibiotics but luckily needed no stitches.
The lady who is now the proud owner of our dog is an ex school nurse, who lost her husband a few years back and was quite lonely (with no children) and knows what has happened today. She has taken her home with her tonight and I can't help but feel sad that our dog is gone :(
My daughter is devastated but has said the lady will take good care of her better than she could. It feels strange not having the dog here.

OP posts:
Lilcamper · 07/08/2014 23:55

Dogs in general don't like cuddles, especially forced ones. Cuddling is a very primate behaviour, dogs find it threatening. I think you were a bit quick to give up on your dog, teaching your DD correct behaviour around the dog and never leaving them unsupervised could have worked.

TooOldForGlitter · 08/08/2014 10:15

I agree with the above but its too late anyway. Don't get another dog. Dogs don't have to tolerate cuddles and you probably missed all the warning signals leading up to the bite.

I hope your daughter recovers well.

ender · 08/08/2014 14:27

Sorry for your daughter, hope she recovers OK. When I was an A&E nurse I saw a toddler with part of her nose and lips missing from a dog bite, she'd been left unsupervised with a terrier type dog and was sharing an ice cream with it.
I'm sure you know its not the dog's fault in these situations Sad.

Original poster
BitchTits · 08/08/2014 15:24

We have tried teaching our DD to leave the dog alone and I don't think it was a smart idea getting the dog at this stage. When I went to the doctors for the anti biotics the GP had said if something like this happens again SS will be called because of the risk. The dog had just missed her eye and I couldn't risk that happening again.

OP posts:
JeanetteDanielsBenziger · 08/08/2014 15:25

Poor you, a horrible situation.
I think you have done the right thing though.

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 08/08/2014 15:28

poor dd and poor dog. Hope dd recovers quickly with no ill effects.

How old is dd? if she's old enough to be devastated, surely she as old enough to know not to cuddle the dog and look out for signs of the dog being not in the mood or feeling threatened. personally feels like you gave up far too quickly.

Sounds like the dog has gone to the best place and will be a loved family member.

17leftfeet · 08/08/2014 15:32

I think you've done the right thing -it's not worth taking the chance on a young child and a dog that has bitten

You can't watch them 24-7

Original poster
BitchTits · 08/08/2014 15:37

My DD is 4. Never had a pet until April. We have explained time and time again to stay away from the dog and to leave her alone but I couldn't watch her 24/7. It didn't seem fair leaving DD in her room and the dog in the kitchen at some point during the day. Then the bite happened and I knew we would have to rehome her. Dog shelters were not interested because the dog had bitten my DD. Luckily a family friend had a family relative who was lonely and willing to take her home with her.

OP posts:
Lilcamper · 08/08/2014 17:11

If you only had the dog since April was she just a pup still?

Lilcamper · 08/08/2014 17:13

It is very easy to keep kids and dogs separated using crates and stair gates too Hmm

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 08/08/2014 17:25

Was it an older rescue dog or a 6/7 month old puppy? Not that it really matters now. I'm just curious.

I've two dogs and although my dc are older now it was easy enough to keep them apart when they couldn't be monitored. As p&p says a stair gate or a crate for the dog/puppy.

MrsWolowitz · 08/08/2014 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ender · 08/08/2014 18:39

Mrs Wolowitz, I think the Hmm faces are because there's no "biting my tongue trying not to be nasty" smiley. This situation could so easily have been avoided. People with young children thinking about getting a dog need to know what they should do to keep children safe.

weaselwords · 08/08/2014 19:04

You poor things. You absolutely did the right thing rehoming the dog and I'm sure it will settle well in it's new home. My friend had to do the same thing with her dog recently and it broke her heart too, but you cannot take the risk with your children.

Lilcamper · 08/08/2014 19:10

There isn't a risk with dogs and children providing both are taught to respect each other Hmm

insanityscratching · 08/08/2014 22:23

I'm glad we waited until our youngest was 11 before we got our first dog tbh even if our eldest (now 26) nagged for years to have a dog. It's much easier to teach an 11 year old to respect a dog's boundaries than it is to police little ones.

Hoe your dd is feeling better and your dog has found a new forever home.

SpicyPear · 08/08/2014 23:09

OP I'm not going to launch into one about this as what's done is done. I'm really pleased you won't be getting another dog.

I would just like to point out something as I hear it over and over in these types of situations. You didn't feel it was fair to pop dog in kitchen when you couldn't supervise. Well, the consequence of that is that your daughter has been bitten and you dog has lost its hone and family. Can you see the inconsistency?

Properly supervising and when necessary separating children and animals is the kind and responsible thing to do for dog and child's wellbeing.

D0oinMeCleanin · 08/08/2014 23:15

What Spicy said. Crates are worth their weight in gold too.

If it helps anyone reading the thread, my golden rule with kids/dogs, well any one with dogs is never go to the dog, always call the dog to you.

PeanutPatty · 08/08/2014 23:20

Agree with Spicy and D0in. Perhaps the Yorkie was asleep when the "cuddle" occurred.

I frequently leave my children locked in a different room to the dogs if I need to pop upstairs or to the loo simply to avoid such incidences.

D0oinMeCleanin · 08/08/2014 23:27

The lazy way to do child/dog supervision is to train the dog to follow you when you leave the room.

Whenever I get a foster in and when I first got my own dogs I carried treats in my pocket, if I left the room I'd call the dog to me and feed a treat. After the end of day all dogs follow me as soon as I leave the room. I can't promise you won't end up with a canine audience while you're on the loo mind you Grin

All interactions, especially with young dogs or young children or a mix of both should be heavily supervised and guided. If you're not able to do this, then crate them until you're not busy.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 08/08/2014 23:54

We had our old boy before we had children. They're five and seven now, he's ten, and even now he doesn't really like them. He tolerates them and avoids them and they don't really take much notice of him. He's our shadow though, my first child. Grin

He was sitting beside me the other day enjoying a fuss when dd2 came in and sat beside us. She went to stroke him too and he did that grumbling noise that's almost a growl but not quite. It was definitely a warning sign. Luckily they don't really take much notice of each other.

Makes me sad though that they don't love each other the way dh and I love him. If we ever get around to having another dog which grows up in our house with the children and not knowing any different, perhaps they'll get the chance to appreciate having a dog.

affafantoosh · 09/08/2014 09:29

OP if you don't teach your daughter how to behave around dogs then she is at risk of other dogs doing the same in future. This is not about an aggressive dog - it's about a child behaving in a way a dog finds threatening.

Google the Liam J Perk Foundation and educate yourself and your daughter to prevent this from happening again with a friend's or family member's dog.

ender · 09/08/2014 10:30

affantoosh - I googled the Liam J Perk Foundation, what a sad story, shows how suddenly disaster can happen. Didn't realise there was so much info about children and dogs and have learnt something new about dog warning signs, the "half moon eye". these pictures show "happy" pictures of kids, and really pissed off looking dogs. Also scary picture of a baby feeding a pug.

hercules1 · 09/08/2014 10:38

Sad story and also glad you're not getting another. Dogs and young children should never be left alone - this is possible, just takes a bit of thought. Also as already said dogs don't like being cuddled. My dc know this and have never been allowed to cuddle our dog.

affafantoosh · 09/08/2014 14:02

ender it is an excellent resource and I point parents to it at every opportunity. I applaud the Perks for creating something so wonderful from a terrible tragedy. They must be very special people.

You are not alone in not realising how much information there is out there though. Too many people still believe in the "good family dog" as if that's something you can buy. If people want to keep their children safe from any dog then they need to teach their children how to behave, because dogs are dogs and if they feel frightened then any dog is a bite risk.