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

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

The doghouse

My dog bit my child, not dogs fault.

254 replies

CollyWombles · 24/06/2018 21:20

She is okay first off, cut her lip a little and just under her eye, gave her a terrible fright. She is 13 and for some unfathomable reason, blew on his ear.

My dog is a rescue. I got him when he was 10, he is now 13. He has never been a huge fan of the children, however he has never bit any of them. The children have all been brought up to be respectful towards dogs and respectful to him in the three years he has been with us. I cannot think why she took the notion to do that.

My stance is that he bit for a reason. It wasn't unprovoked. My husband however, wants my dog put to sleep. My daughter does not want the dog in the house.

I adore my dog, he isn't everyone's cup of tea, he had it rough and I think how he has come on is amazing. I don't think he deserves to lose his home, or his life for biting for a reason.

In the same breath, my children come before any dog and it feels like I can't win no matter what I do. I'm either a bad parent or a bad dog owner. Please help me work out what is the right thing to do for my dog and also for my family.

OP posts:

Report

Thesearepearls · 24/06/2018 22:52

I've offered to have the dog - sight unseen :) Call me a softy but I couldn't bear the idea of the dog being killed.

It might be on condition the OP never again offers to adopt a dog. Or in fact have a dog.

peppaswig · 24/06/2018 22:54

All these people who would have bollocked the child...if she had been blinded, would you still have bollocked her?

If it had been the 8yo who had been bitten, would you have bollocked them? What if the 8yo were blinded? Still a bollocking?

Serious question as I'm interested as to where the line is.

Thesearepearls · 24/06/2018 22:56

You clearly dont have a dog. Blinded? WTF?

Probably you should pass this thread along and go and find something less boring to do instead.

LexieLulu · 24/06/2018 22:58

When you adopted the dog did they not tell you she wasn't suitable to be with children.

I would not get the dog put down, but I would have her checked over by the vet to ensure she hasn't got anything wrong with her/reasons to be in pain and not wanting attention.

I would be very angry with your DD, but I would also talk to you kids and ask them what they want? Explain the dog does not like that attention and if they won't leave the dog alone or treat it calmly, you will need to rehome

TTCI · 24/06/2018 22:59

Please don't put him to sleep! He doesn't understand that blowing in his face isn't malicious he's just reacting it's not his fault. Hate it when people say to put to sleep straight away like don't you care your advising to end a life? Any compassion here? So glad I'm not like that.

Thecrabbypatty · 24/06/2018 22:59

OP, if you can look yourself in the eye every morning and know you put a healthy, happy dog to sleep for this then that is up to you. Personally I would be telling your child off for provoking the dog and lesson learnt the hard way. Personally I couldn't do that. Dogs get crabby as they age. Tell your kids to keep a bit of distance and have respect for other creatures lives or rehome. If it was u previked it would be another story but personally I couldn't live with myself if I put a dog down in these circumstances.

peppaswig · 24/06/2018 23:01

You clearly dont have a dog. Blinded? WTF?

The child was bitten "just below the eye". So could have very easily been blinded. I clearly don't have a dog? You clearly don't have a brain.

user1471456357 · 24/06/2018 23:01

Haven’t read all the thread, but wanted to add, have a look at the dog bite scale by Ian Dunbar, sorry can’t link. It helped me make the very difficult decision to have my dog pts, although it was a confirmed spinal problem that made it inevitable in the end.

Frequency · 24/06/2018 23:05

But she wasn't blinded, was she? And that was because the dog did not intend to cause serious harm. Had it wanted to, it would have done so. It didn't, it restrained itself.

And yeah, if an eight year old blew in my dogs face and the dog snapped, I'd bollock the eight year old. If a three year old blew in my dogs face, I'd bollock the three year old too. Although, I keep my dog away from other people's kids as much as possible. The amount of children not taught respect for animals is mind blowing.

We've had our dog since my youngest was eighteen months old. He underwent serious behavioural training for fear aggression and guarding behavior when he first came to us. He landed in the rescue I was working in for biting a child and breaking the skin. We worked on some of his issues in the rescue and then he came home with me for further training. I decided he couldn't be rehomed because for every one issue I helped him with, he threw another three at me. He would always need management and the chances of finding him a home experienced enough to help him were slim. The eighteen month old was never bitten. She understood from day one to give the dog space. She's 11 now and the dog is 13. They have the strongest bond.

Despite his past and his issues the only person my dog has ever bitten is my ex and that's because he would do stupid shit like OP's teenager and wind him up. He's snapped at me if I've had to administer uncomfortable meds or correct his behaviour when he's aroused and didn't have the right tools close by but he's never left more than a bruise.

Thesearepearls · 24/06/2018 23:07

Plenty of brains here thank you very much. Also much compassion. It is really pretty difficult for a dog to blind a child - just think about eye-sockets and dog jaws. You're totally barking

I have messaged the OP and offered to have the dog. I would rather have this dog (sight unseen) than have it killed.

But as I say there would be a condition that the OP should not have a dog in the future. It's not fair to dogs and its not fair to the suckers (me, in this instance) prepared to rehome the OP's fuck-ups.

Pebblespony · 24/06/2018 23:11

I love my dog but if he did this he'd be out the door. I'd try to rehome if I could but he would not be staying in the house. At the very least, he'd be demoted to an outdoor dog.

annandale · 24/06/2018 23:12

Am really surprised to find that many posters consider MN to be a site hostile to dogs.

As I really am hostile to dogs, MN seems the home of utterly batshit dog worship to me.

I would keep the kids and the dog separate and sleep on it, and discuss with your dp during a joint visit to the vet tomorrow.

peppaswig · 24/06/2018 23:13

If a three year old blew in my dogs face, I'd bollock the three year old too.

People like you should just stick to keeping animals.

TTCI · 24/06/2018 23:15

@DistanceCall we are also animals so not sure what point you're trying to make with that statement? you have clearly not been raised to respect and understand animals which makes me think you're probably ignorant.

@CollyWombles I really feel for you as it's a difficult situation. I don't think putting him to sleep would be fair as I've said but also rejoining him he will wonder where you have gone. Maybe see how everyone feels in a weeks time and an informed decision can be made. Hope you are ok

Thecrabbypatty · 24/06/2018 23:15

Some people are over reactive, heartless shit bags. Don't be one of those OP, and bravo to the poster who offered to rehome!! I would if I could. Seriously, you are the one who knows your dog best OP, and you are the one that will have to live with yourself.

CollyWombles · 24/06/2018 23:19

@Thesearepearls if you read my post you will see I do not want him pts. Do not tell me not to adopt another dog or that I am not the right kind of person. My dog has got through a lot of behavioural problems with me and I adore him.

The decision has been made and he will not be getting put to sleep. It is not happening. My husband is not the Children’s father either.

I have had a long chat with the rescue on the phone and my dog nipped. It was a warning. My DD blew in his ear when he was dozing. She got nipped. She has learned the hard way never to do that again.

My DH and her would like him to go back to the rescue who have a foster home for him. I am going to sleep on it as yes, I do agree, as clearly shown tonight that kids do stupid things, even when they know better and I have to take that into consideration.

Thank you for the opinions it will all help in coming to a decision whether he stays or goes to the rescue.

OP posts:

Branleuse · 24/06/2018 23:19

I actually agree he should be on probation for a while where you are on your guard more. Your daughter has learnt a lesson and I kind of agree that it wasn't an attack, it was a snap. He was probably startled and he's an old boy

UnderTheDesk · 24/06/2018 23:20

Not the dog’s fault at all, and your Dd will learn that actions have consequences. Please don’t put her to sleep.

Fabricwitch · 24/06/2018 23:20

Do not put the poor dog down! I can't believe people are suggesting this, and so casually!
She's 13 and will hopefully have learned a lesson from this.
I would bring the dog to the vet to check his ears are ok. Then talk to a dog behavioural specialist, try to get the dogs and kids to bond. If there's still a problem then you might need to try to re-home it.

theunsure · 24/06/2018 23:21

I’d not have the dog put down for that, your daughter was an idiot and deserves what she got tbh. She is more than old enough to know how to behave around animals. If I had done that as a teenager my mother would have been more likely to rehome me.

But rehoming the dog would be worse than putting down, so if you can’t keep him don’t pass him on-that is far more cruel than putting down. The poor thing has had enough trauma. Better off dead is often true of rescue animals unfortunately.

CollyWombles · 24/06/2018 23:22

Ahem, once again, in my first post I clearly say my husband wants to have the dog pts. not me. I posted for opinions in the hope I could provide arguments against that action.

OP posts:

UnderTheDesk · 24/06/2018 23:23

X-post I’m glad that your husband has agrrrd not to have her pts at least. I hope that you can work out how to keep her.

Thesearepearls · 24/06/2018 23:27

OP thanks for letting us know that your dog will not be PTS. As I say, I would be prepared to have him.

CollyWombles · 24/06/2018 23:29

If my dog is not staying with us, he will go back to the rescue, I trust them and have a good relationship with them, they will do the best they can for him.

However I am hopeful that after a night of sleep, we will keep him.

OP posts:

Thecrabbypatty · 24/06/2018 23:30

Hurrah!!! Well done OP!! Our dogs rely on us to love them, keep them safe and advocate for their wellbeing. They put their trust entirely in our hands. Don't abuse their trust. Lessons learnt all round I feel. Thank god for common sense! X

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