When an injured dog bites a child...?

[lougle]

First off, I am aware that I bear responsibility for this incident and, in hindsight, underestimated how hurt the dog was. I'm posting to try and unravel my thoughts to make a clear, fair and rational decision.

Last night: The dog had been running around in the garden, happily, all day. Lots of children (my own 3 plus 2-3 from a neighbour coming in and out). No issues. He looked exhausted in the evening, but at night time I noticed he was lame on his right front paw. He tends to sleep under the covers and as I straightened my leg he yelped and stood up.

This morning: He was obviously lame on the paw. He was resistant to putting any weight on it at first, but bore weight more as the morning progressed and was able to run when he wanted to, although was lying down for much of the morning (out of character).

1.30 pm - The doorbell rang. Child from next door. The dog jumped at the door (typical) but not his usual jump. I said to the child 'he's hurt his paw today, if he jumps just say no.' We're trying (successfully) to reduce his jumping and he's responded well to training.

As the child walked in (calmly), the dog jumped at her then suddenly grabbed her arm and started biting her. She was trying to push him off while turning away (no hysteria) and started crying. I was simultaneously trying to remove him from her arm.

Once I'd got him away and in a room with the door shut, I saw that her arm had clear teeth marks, already blue and turning purple. He had bitten her through a thick sweatshirt and I'm certain that he would have broken the skin were it not for that. He wasn't 'nipping', he was biting.

I took her straight back to her parents, explained what had happened and my thoughts that he must have put pressure on his lame paw when he jumped on her and somehow thought that she was hurting him. I apologised profusely and said that once she was calmed, if she still wanted to play I would shut him in a room to allow her no risk of contact.

What do I do? One part of me thinks 'dog bit = get rid'. Another part says 'injured dog = stupid owner, not the dog's fault'.

Clearly I underestimated his injury, but what's the right thing to do now?

take dog to vet to exclude anything else and go from there.
you were very lucky (but you know that)

does your dog know this neighbour's child?

is it possible she had hurt him even accidentally?

but yes, please get him some vet treatment asap

The dog knows the child. She's round here frequently.

No way she could have hurt him - she only took two steps into the house. I was right beside her. He jumped at her, then bit her.

Pain does cause 'aggression' and dogs absolutely create associations between people and pain.

I'd keep an eye on him, but if it's completely out of character I would just chalk it down to pain and be more careful.

What did the parents say?

Can you use a muzzle when children around?

Im not sure whayt I would do, he did it as he was in pain but it would make me nervous. I would discuss with parents and vet

You can't blame the dog and no need to panic, but must get him seen at the vets, not fair to leave him in pain. Best to keep him somewhere quiet while he's in pain away from the kids.

sorry, i meant yesterday, that the child might have been someway responsible or at least the dog associated her with what happened?

I'm at the vet waiting for a space. He's lying underneath the chairs. He's obviously not right.

I think even if it was a bite though pain I wouldn't let the dog near children anymore as a precaution if you keep him.

Although he may have done it in pain your very lucky it was an arm though a thick jumper otherwise you could have parents on your hands going though the proceedings to get him pts and filing for damages.

I'm back from the vets. She muzzled him, then examined him. No obvious injury so possibly soft tissue damage. Pain killers.

hope he's ok after a more peaceful/painfree night, lougle

hope your neighbour is ok too

Injury or no injury I really don't think I personally could ever feel the same way about my dog if she did this, she would have to go.

The child didn't even hurt him, and he bit her hard enough to go through a sweater.

If I was the neighbour I would expect him to be muzzled from now on.

You will need to muzzle him from now on around children. Once they bite that usually indicates a high likelihood of it happening again and it happens so quickly. Don't worry, no-one was hurt this time. But you will have to prevent it happening again. You could keep dog and children separate with a baby gate too. Speak to a dog behavourist too. But I would say don;t take any chances with him.

should have said my dd was bitten when she was little and no jumper - so lots of blood and scars - on the arm. The dog went on to bite other people. Happened so quickly you couldn't predict it or stop it. So muzzle/separation is the only way to be sure.

Ok so you have an explanation for aggression but this was multiple bites with the potential to break the skin had the child not been wearing the clothing. So the severity is high. For that reason this dog is more dangerous than one which would bite once and retreat in a similar scenario.

That doesn't mean this dog is too dangerous to keep. It means you need top take this seriously and get a qualified (APBC member) behaviourist to visit and assess the situation at home to help you decide whether any ongoing risk is manageable or unreasonably high.

I'd put money on this dog having been quietly stressed by children over a long period of time in the run up to this incident, I'm afraid. Being able to determine whether this is the case and if so whether you can manage this risk adequately is well worth spending £100 on a behaviourist. Check the APBC site for your nearest. Good luck.

DunelmDoris has it spot on - I'd also seek out an APBC member for a consultation as soon as the dog is well again. I think a dog lashing out in pain is absolutely forgivable. But it seems from your description that the dog has exceedingly poor bite inhibition, and that's what I'd want a good behaviourist to assess and offer guidance on.

I just thought I'd update this thread. The painkillers helped and the paw got better very quickly.

However, the changes in behaviour and personality remained. Two days ago he tried to leap at a delivery person through our front gate (my DM was looking after the children), but fortunately it is tall enough to prevent him getting over. Then, yesterday, one of the children opened the door as a food shop arrived and he ran straight down the driveway and leaped at the delivery man, snapping at his high-vis vest. The man managed to dodge him and DH got control, but it was a near miss.

Today, I telephoned several rescues, all claiming to be no-kill rescues, but they all said that they wouldn't be able to help because a) he can't cope with other dogs and b) he has bitten a child.

I took him for a vet check up and the vet felt that it is likely that his facial twitches, which they think is epilepsy, worsening and his change in personality are linked and that his (possible) paw injury was just an additional factor. Her advice was PTS before he got worse. He was PTS very quietly and quickly.

I am heartbroken. He was a fantastic dog in so many ways, but he was increasingly nervy and it was too much risk to try and contain that risk with young children, even if we could have afforded a behaviourist (which we couldn't).

The children are heartbroken, we all are, but not as much as if he had maimed someone.

I'm sorry lougle.

Oh that's awful, you poor thing. So he did have something going on to cause the aggression then. You did what you could and you didn't allow things to get worse, for him or anyone else. It must be very strange without him

Oh I am so terribly sorry. I was about to post a positive story (My Granny's dog, when injured, bit me as a small child, but never bit again, it was completely my fault he snapped). However, it is now clear from your last post that your poor dog had a brain issue. I have known other dogs with similar behaviour due to epilepsy in one case, and a genetic condition in an another. You have absolutely done the kindest thing for the dog, and anyone at risk from him. A tragic end for him, but at least you know that it was a medical issue and not anything you could have done something about. .

I am so, so sorry. I've only just seen this and came on here to offer advice and support, but I see it wouldn't have helped.
FWIW I think you did the right thing for both your family and your dog.

So sorry lougle, devastating for everyone. Best decision for your much loved dog who may have become very unwell, but so very sad.

My boy