Dog bit.. again!

[Nc5683939w9er]

We have got a 16 month old Labrador/German shepherd cross. We rehomed him from 5 months from a family on gumtree. At the time all seemed well, but they didn't tell us much about him and it turns out he hadn't been trained at all (except for toilet training). He's a big dog and it's been a struggle with a now 5 and 2 year old. He drags on the lead despite following training etc and chases our poor cat. Nonetheless we see him as part of the family. A few months ago he snapped at both children and nipped them- both times over food that they had. We now shut him out when they have food but can't 100% guarantee that he won't see them with food. Anyway he's been fine on this front for a while and started to feel like he can stay after all.

Yesterday my youngest fell asleep on me. He had had some sweets which I put behind me in the chair. After about half an hour I decided to take him up to bed, forgetting about the sweets. While I took him up, dog started to steal them. 5 year old saw and walked over and said no.... and he bit him. Will try to attach photo. Slightly broke skin but mostly bruised. I feel sad but feel like he has to go as I'm also 30 weeks pregnant and terrified that he could do it to a baby although it wasn't the worst bite in the world. My partner is not happy, defending dog saying kids shouldn't have tried to take it (he didnt) and it was my fault. Just to add- he is constantly scrounging for food and acts starved despite feeding him the recommended amount by vets- even when he has just eaten, he will still beg for food. What do I do?

[wellhellothereall]

Haven't read the whole thread but I think you need to rehome the dog. The problem with rescue dogs is you don't know their past history. In all honesty if you want another dog get it from a reputable breeder from a puppy.

[00100001]

@Coronapop

"The dog bit a child in its own home. For me that would be enough to PTS, sad but necessary."


The child was left alone Inna room with a dog, that had previously bitten.

This is NOT the dogs fault. This is the OPs fault for leaving the child alone with a dog. It rule 1 if having a dog. No matter how much you can trust a dog, you can't trust a toddler/small child to read any warning signs a dog will give.

If the dog was laying nicely and then randomly attacked a child, that's different. But OP has no real idea what actually happened.

[TheoriginalLEM]

WHY?? did you get this dog when you have young children?

[OnlineAlienator]

Safety of the kids comes first. It was a really dumb idea taking on a rescue dog with young kids but as a pp said 'here we are'. I deal with resource guarding in my dog + kids by only having supervised contact between dog and children, basically. Its draining and hard work but its that or PTS as even rescues wont take him due to his history of biting children.