Dog has bitten my 7 year old

[DharmaBums]

I'm hoping for some advice. My son has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and sensory processing issues along with anger issues. Put simply he's really hard to handle! Yesterday he had a full blown anger episode, smashing things up, screaming at me, etc. in the middle of all my (75lb) English Bulldog bit his hand quite severely and we ended up in ER. My bulldog is pretty chilled out but very protective of me and I think he was probably feeling stressed out with all the noise, etc. my question is what can I do now.,it's going to break my heart to PTS but I don't know whether he will be easy to rehome after biting a child. He's only 2 years old. Any words of wisdom?

Genuine question. If your DS was having such a bad melt down why Didn't you put the dog in another room or his crate?

How often does your son flip out? If it's rare I think you need to move the dog into a different room until you can get your son calmed down. But don't PTS. Your son was acting violently, the dog really isn't at fault here. You could rehome using a bulldog rescue. There would plenty of people willing to take him.

As others have said it's no one's fault but it really doesn't sound like a sustainable situation. Personally I'd contact a reputable rescue (maybe breed specific) and get him rehomed. It's a shit situation, you have my sympathy.

Kursk we're carrying on so yes please.

I would never put this dog to sleep. If it's obvious a meltdown is going to happen or even if it's happening I'd walk the dog out the room somewhere safe.

I would definitely consider rehoming the dog, he sounds fabulous.

Can't believe people are suggesting keeping the dog. It's not fair for your dog or your son to be in this situation and you know this.

You won't be able to control the situation every time your son has a meltdown and there's every chance this will happen again, or worse.

And to the very dense poster who is suggesting that your son has now been taught the consequences of his actions...the whole point of a child with additional needs having a meltdown is that then can't see past their emotions in that particular moment, let alone apply consequence logic.

You son has additional needs, you need to protect him and the dog.

The dog needs rehoming. Its not his fault, he was protecting you, but you cannot risk him attacking your son again if he has another meltdown. You just cant.

Can't believe people are suggesting keeping the dog. It's not fair for your dog or your son to be in this situation and you know this.

This.

It's unfair on everyone to keep the dog now. OP's son is unpredictable due to additional needs and with anger issues in the mix it is just not realistic or safe to suggest that OP tries to manage both at once. Dogs live a long time, and no one can see into the future to work out whether this was an isolated incident or an escalating pattern of behaviour. Unfair on everyone to take a chance if alternative options are available.

Herechickychicky

It's going to take a while so Dont expect overnight changes. Things get better with age so this will calm down over time. First off in the back garden either completely dog proof to prevent escape or use a zip line to ensure that they can't see something and then engage in a chase.

Always on a lead in public maybe with a muzzle too. Always be alert, make sure you see prey before the dog and be prepared to correct the behavior.

If you have cats at home then put up a few baby gates to give the cats some safe space.

Next up training every time the dog goes for something shout no, lead check and break there concentration on the prey.

Our huskies will try to eat anything, they came with us from the UK to the USA. Since moving there prey drive has improved, it's a bigger concern for us though we are not worried about them eating critters, more that whatever they chase could well eat them! (Wolves, bears etc)

Thanks all for your words of wisdom. My sons issues manifest itself in different ways all the time. He certainly didn't have anger issues when we got the dog and his anger has never been directed at the dog, only at me or other family members. We're getting him help. After a long and very emotional night I think we have decided to re-home him. It's breaking my heart but I think there's no other choice. Thanks to those who've given advice and support.

OP sorry you have to do this and hope the rehoming process goes as well as possible.

Kursk so they ate your cats? poor cats!

missmoz

Yes they were our cats, we never had dogs before, so having Huskies as a first dog was a shocking learning curve.

5 years later we have confidently learned to train and manage the Wolfpack

Dog must go.

Vulnerable child vs dog - no contest.

I know it's hard DharmaBums but you'll be doing the right thing. Your poor dog must have been so stressed and frightened to have responded like that and it could have been so much worse. Obviously your child must be your main priority but no responsible owner gives their dog up lightly. You'd be forever worrying about them. Best to let him go while he's young and can learn to live with someone else.

Rehome the dog, next time your child might suffer a much worse injury. It's not fair on the dog to keep him in such a stressful situation either.

'We have 2 huskies with high pray drives, between them they have eaten a couple cats and chickens'

No advice for the OP I'm afraid, as I'm just too shocked to see past this post

Eaten 2 cats ??! ffs ☹️

It's not the dogs fault, but if you can rehome then it might be better for all involved.

You have a duty to that dog, to offer it a safe place in your home where it cannot feel threatened - you're failing to do that. Look at breed specific rescues who can rehome him for you, you owe the dog that.

Thanks Kursk we're doing most of that so it's good to feel we're on the right lines.

OP I'm so sorry. I think you're doing the right thing but it's a dreadful plce to find yourself.

I am horrified by the husky post.

Normally, I am inclined to give a dog the benefit of the doubt if a child is mauling it but this is a bit different, isn't it? What a horrible situation.

Normally I am one of the first to say PTS if a dog has bitten however it must have been a very stressful situation for everyone involved and I can't really blame it.
My dog used to live with an autistic child who had similar and it messed him up to the point he still cowers if I raise my voice anything over normal volume

I would consider rehoming through a reputable rescue who knows the breed and will vet the new home. Please don't stick on gumtree or any of those awful websites.

As for the husky post- that clarifies for me why some breeds should not be pets and especially in the hands of such stupidity. Disgusting.

Yep, the husky post is horrific. To dismiss the eating of two cats as "Oh well, they just have a strong prey drive" is vile.

I think you've made the right decision. It's not fair on the dog to expect it to keep its cool when your son is attacking you or throwing things about the room. I hope you are able to find strategies for your son that work.

We have 2 huskies with high pray drives, between them they have eaten a couple cats and chickens

WTF? Do you actually find this acceptable? Those cats were probably someone's pets 😳 Statements like this never fail to astound me as well as the ignorance of some dog owners. What an awful post! Your dogs DO NOT have the right to eat cats or other animals.