My dog has bit my daughter...kindof long*

[Insanityprofanity]

I am so bloody pissed at my dog right now. Stupid bloody animal!
Went up Dfil this eve,i have horses there so go up all the time to sort those. Normally my 3 doggys stay at home as younger dog gets stressed and panicky when travelling but hates staying home alone.
Tonight though... i decided as a one off to take all dogs up with me so they can let off some steam without being attatched to a lead. I live in middle of a well built up area,Dfil lives in countryside with open garden/fields. My dogs are restricted to lead walks at home and occasionally i have taken them with me before until young dog (d3) decided to get stressy in cars.
So as we were sorting horse food and hay our DD10 was playing with dogs.never jad a problem here. Middle dog (d2) is known for being temperamental but never with us and never ever with our 3kids.
As all 3 dogs were playing d2 has snapped at d3,no reason there at all. My DD has gone to pull d2 off d3 and without realising d3 has bit her right wrist and upper left arm. DH managed to seperate both dogs and with the realisation there was a load of blood my DD has gone into full blown panic/shock/hyperventilation thinking it was her. It wasnt. It was infact d2 ear as d3 had nipped it in retaliation.
DD has nasty bruising to her arms and significant bite marks although no actual cuts/open wounds.
Now obviousley the option for me here is have d2 pts. d3 has never acted this way and was playing happily until d2 went for her and carried on trying to play after all the commotion.
Would i be wrong to try and find d2 another more suitable home for d2? And what about d3? This is unlike d2 but i also have a 9mnth old baby who will be in the stages of wanting to play alot the second he can i am a very careful mum and dog owner and teach my kids that all dogs need their space and and dont allow my kids to get rough or heavy handed with our dogs thus making this situation unusual and i am sooo worried it could be him. Im also aware that it couldve been DD face,she was lucky but i cannot keep d2 with us in the hopes that it wont happen again. I dont want to risk it.
Im unsure of d3 reaction but just seemed like a typical reaction. d3 has been around baby alot and has shown no aggression at all whereas i was unsure with d2 as she cam be grumpy in the way of wanting to be left alone so ive always told kids to leave her be when playing and its always been fine till now.
Weve had all dogs from pups and are all well trained too.
d3 is 8
d2 is 6
d1 is 4
All are vaccinated/spayed etc and get walked twice a day sometimes three times.

I suppose advice would be good right now.
Pts or new home away from playful kids and other playful dogs.

Also.... d1 hates commotion and happily wandered off to leave a stinking pile of shit by the back door....

Sorry for long post..

Yes it does seem as though DD got caught up in their fight. I have explained to her already that should it happen again she is to stay away. I think im more shocked as this was out of the blue. The dogs have been with me many times before,but i stopped taking them as dog3 started to get stressed in the car and under vet advice (and common sense really) it was advisable to leave her at home with the other dogs.
If i dont need to rehome any dogs..or pts..i wont. We love them.. they are very precious to us. It just worries me that it may be my baby who gets caught up in it. I can easily explain to my DD but not to a baby.
Im all for leaving all dogs at home amd sticking to the usual late night lead walks from.now on.
I am also able to keep stressy dog2 away from baby. The dogs have been taught to stay away anyway so i suppose it would be a case of keeping baby away from stressy dog2.
All dogs are now fast asleep cramped in one small bed despite there being 3beds of different sizes and have no issues...

I really don't know why you'd have any of them pts sounds like you have a grumpy dog and your DC was only bitten for foolishly intervening on a scuffle. I would rehome d2 and maybe d3. It all sounds a bit chaotic and your kids welfare should come first.

Only having late night walks isn't socialising them though.

I couldn't keep a dog that bit my child.

Keep dog and child separate and/or muzzle the dog? Basket muzzle or Ancol mesh muzzle. Both allow drinking, the mesh one is soft so nicer for lying down.

Sorry that this happened, I don't think you should get any pts as previous posters have said. You took your dogs knowing that one ( I'm not sure which) gets stressed, leave them at home next time

I couldn't keep a dog that bit my child.

Fair enough. Make sure you teach your child not to intervene in dog fights, then. . The dogs are biting indiscriminately at that point, not deliberately biting the human.

I agree with Cake and other PP. No need to rehome or put to sleep.

Are the dogs generally only exercised on lead? My dog would be going absolutely loopy if he didn't get a really good run every day so I'm not surprised your dogs are snappy with each other.

I'm slightly puzzled as to why you think your dog(s) should be pts for this as it's very clear that the dog wasn't attacking your child but I'm also puzzled as to why you want to keep three dogs when you can't give them what they need . I also live in a city but make sure my dog gets a good run even if it means going a little further afield. If you don't have time to do that then maybe they need an owner that can

Sounds confusing ! In you OP you said dog 3 bit your daughter, but dog 2 started the dog fight. Then later you say dog 2 bit her?

Which dog bit your dd? Which dog are you thinking if rehoming?

I couldn't keep a dog that bit a human.

At least keep it musseled

Has the dog that bit your DD ever nipped or bitten other people

I wouldn't PTS because of that, to be honest. I would suggest to dd that she doesn't try to separate fighting dogs in the future though.

Lesson learnt for your kid! But i agree you have too many dogs to safely handle them. I think you should rehome whichever dogs are most stressed out by what sounds like a chaotic lifestyle.

It sounds like a chaotic and stressful situation. As others have said, I would never put my hand between 2 dogs having a go at each other and I'm sorry your DD learnt the hard way.

We also have 3 dogs and have very occasional flash points like this but don't have young kids or a baby.

Putting a dog to sleep for something like this does sound like a gross over reaction but rehoming might be an idea for everyone's benefit (dogs included).

I'm also worried about how much off lead exercise your dogs get?

The dog didn't bite your DD though - your dog bit the other dog and your DD got herself in the crossfire. You don't need to PTS but you do need to find a better exercise solution for your dogs, and educate your DD more about how to behave around them.

I think part of the confusion is that you have reversed the MN convention in numbering your dogs, with d1 being the youngest in your list.

It does sound as if they need more supervision when all 3 are together and one is temperamental and one is stressed from being in the car. While dealing with the horses your attention was elsewhere. That could easily happen again.

I would chat to a behaviourists or vet and get tips on how to manage them with their particular combination of stresses. To give you some tips and put your mind at rest.

Honestly, I don't think you should dismiss people's comments about how many people and animals are in the family - it is part of the context and does affect the dogs. They will have been aware of the new baby and the dynamic of the family, you being more pre-occupied with the baby etc.

I certainly wouldn't be thinking 'pts' after this incident, and not without seeking an expert outside view. It is stressing you out, understandably, so get some help.

I wouldn't pts or emergency rehome. I'd look out for a new home for any one or two of the dogs, to reduce the stress, chaos, busyness of the house. That isn't a criticism, just an observation, and perhaps a comment on my own capacity rather than yours.

If you have a friend, family member thinking of getting a dog, ask them to have one of yours. Otherwise, wait and watch and keep on training all the dogs and children! Could DD take one of the dogs on for special training- flyball or agility? That might help the dynamics a bit.

Hope you got some sleep in the end.

Massive over reaction , the dog didn't bite your child ,your child got in the way of a dog fight . The only reason I would rehome one of the dogs is if they get into more fights but frankly it sounds like the dogs probably don't get enough exercise on a daily basis on leads and all being off lead and having a good time has bought a bit of stress into the situation . I was bitten earlier this year when I intervened in an altercation my dog was having with a bulldog , I've no idea which one bit me but I don't look at my dog any differently than I did before . My sister had to have stitches when she split her 2 dogs up mid fight , it's the risk you take. The only action you need to take is to train your children better . Hope your daughter is ok.

So sad DD got caught in the crossfire. As that is whats gone on here from your description.

Sad lesson learnt. I can see that even in the buddiest of ddogs there isalways the possibility of skuffles involving teeth and nips .

It really was a shame that your dd hadnt been clear in her education never to get involved and for some reason thought she could manage thats quite something for a 10yo.

Shows a real lack of understanding on her part.

r the immediate plan I would inly act right now to ensure safety all round and watch the dogs closely forflash points between them . How is their dynamic now?

If you cant put an immediate and absolute safety plan in place then the risk ddog will have to go, temporarily at least until problem is resolved.

I would be worried about managing it safely if I had 9 mth old loose cannon! who is also so dependent on being with you at a time you need to devote separate time to the ddogs you all love so much to straighten things out and its only when stuff goes wrong we realise we have too much to handle!

Its clearly not good enough that your ddogs have nowhere to run free and now have to stay at home aswell when you spend all that time tending to the horses.

Make safe whilst you get to the bottom of this. Even if you have to muzzle all ddogs in the interim, but exercise them well too.

From what you've written, including your updates: Dog2 started the fight, and Dog2 'accidentally' bit your daughter trying to bite Dog3 as your daughter was trying to break up the fight ...

I think Dog2 is too temperamental to be keeping, especially if you have a baby.

And I agree with other posters that your child should not have gotten between the dogs. Still not her fault, though. Yours.

I don't think any vet would agree to have a dog put to sleep for this tbh and you are being ridiculous. Your DD was, I'm sorry but it is true, STUPID enough to stick her hand between two fighting dogs and you are surprised she got bitten. The dog wasn't going for her and certainly doesn't deserve to be put down for it. Have you never had to separate two fighting kids and gotten stepped on/kicked/slapped by accident? You get in the middle of a fight, you risk getting hurt. She was at fault here. Add to that, that the dogs are clearly under exercised and over excited as you say you never let them have a run off the lead usually. It's a recipe for disaster op. Your dogs need proper daily exercise and the chance to blow off steam, not a lead walk. Your DD needs to be taught how to safely handle them and the dogs need obedience training. A single shout from you or her should have broken that up instantly. My two dogs have some serious scraps but I have never had to intervene physically since Ddog1 was a puppy. Once you raise your voice neither of them should dare to continue. Sorry Op but I think you are being really unfair here.

Agree with PP that this was redirected aggression and not aimed towards your DD.

Why was she breaking up the fight rather than the responsible adult? I'm assuming that there was one and you aren't considering killing your dog because of your own failure to responsibly supervise their interactions?