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?

Also OP's dog shouldn't be too hard to re-home via a breed rescue. They would probably look for an adult only home or one with older calm teens who know not to play fight infront of dog, as a precaution but the dog is not "aggressive" or one that no-one will want. Op has raised no other issues with dog bar this one instance, where most dogs would react.

Training should be your first step, then rehoming. A healthy dog should never be put to sleep. Most dogs are incredibly receptive to training and any "bad" (it's not bad to them, just instinct) can be curbed with training.

Blue, Ddog growls when sitting with his head in my lap and I move he is a docile drip of a creature.

I don't think dogs biting is ever OK, but my worry here is from the POV of rehoming.

Your son got a terrible shock and hopefully might think twice before tipping over any more chairs/tables.
Keep him and dog seperate and get some intensive training/residential training asap.

Your son got a terrible shock and hopefully might think twice before tipping over any more chairs/tables.

OP's DS has additional needs with anger issues. Do ye not think it might be more complex than "think twice"????

It's definitely way more complex than " think twice". It's ok. I get that some people just don't understand what it's like to have a kid with additional needs. You have to walk in someone's shoes sometimes to fully understand it.
I've been watching the dogs behavior intensely this weekend and it's clear that he gets quite excited and paces around a lot whenever the kids are playing loudly or rowdily, even if they are nowhere him. He has plenty of safe places to go around the house to escape but doesn't. We've put him away when things get too lairy but I'm not sure that's a viable long-term solution. I'm not sure we could train this out of him?

Oh and I would never PTS for those saying that's not a solution

OP I really feel for you but I think you know what you need to do. He responded aggressively to a situation that wasn't directly affecting him and your son ended up in A & E. Provoked or not he attacked your child. A dog living with children, especially one with additional needs, has to be able to deal with these situations or if not atleast avoid them. Next time it could be one your children's friends round playing making too much noise that stirs the dog.

Oh and I would never PTS for those saying that's not a solution

Really?

From your OP...

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

Your dog is still a baby, naturally he'll get excited by the kids playing & being rowdy.

I think it depends on you. How much time & energy do you have to train your dog? Between walks, general attention & training, dogs, especially young ones, need a lot of your time & attention if they're to be behaved & happy.

Do you have the time & energy for that?

Your DS is only little, 7 year olds aren't known for their calmness & logic before you add in any SN. So hopefully your DS will be able to find some techniques to help him cope with his feelings/anger & generally mature too.

I think in the long run it'll be fine, it just depends if you can cope with being extra vigilant in the meantime.

How do you think your DS would feel about the dog being rehomed?

Op - Id also advise rehoming via breed rescue; even with the vets recent (unhelpful) comments, with dogs reaction to the kids noise etc you've mentioned, his stress levels will be high and so more of a risk of bite or similar behaviour. A decent rescue will ensure they go to a home without kids and where behaviour can be safely and calmly managed.

Ophelia - I know many many dogs that have been rehomed despite a history of biting, I've fostered some myself, being child free it's not such an issue as I can manage the behaviour / situation to avoid the dog being in a position where it feels that biting is the only option. Decent rescues will work very hard to ensure the best possible outcome for the dogs in their care and any future families the dogs may go to, where everyone's safety is considered

Gardengeek - maybe talk to your new neighbours about your worries and how you can ensure the safety of all pets; whether fences need to be higher etc.

I agree with a pp, huskies really aren't suitable as a pet, should only go to homes with LOTS of knowledge / experience who are going to work them as they were bred for and not expect them to be happy with a stroll round the park on lead because recall is poor and wonder why they are then so utterly hyped up with uncontrollable prey drive! Certainly never as a first dog!