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The doghouse

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

Original poster

My cocker just snapped at my 4yr old.

50 replies

AlwaysSunshine81 · 13/03/2019 19:18

My daughter was in the lounge and my cocker was in lounge just as I was sorting the bath out (lounge and bathroom on same floor) and I heard him snap. She started crying and I ran in and she cried. She has 2 little bruises on her arm and said it was his foot that did it. She then said she touched his back and that’s when he did it. I don’t really know what to do?

OP posts:
NatureGal · 13/03/2019 19:47

@blacksax, the majority of family dogs do not snap or bite for no reason. There is usually provocation and young children sadly often do provoke dogs by poking, touching and invading space. You cannot train children but you can teach them to respect the dog and follow the simple rule of not leaving them unsupervised, ever. The OP asked what to do and people are simple replying no is suggesting otherwise.

Katterinaballerina · 13/03/2019 19:49

If you have a dog that loves food and isn’t chewer this is awesome.

Lickimat

You can put a little tuna, soft cheese, dog safe peanut butter, soup (!) on it and it occupies them completely.

If they are a chewer you can use a filled kong, kong ball, anco root block with stuff smeared on. It really occupies them.

I’d suggest a crate (door open) with one of these ^ popped in that your DD knows to stay away from or if that’s not possible a corner with a blanket or bed that your DD stays away from. It’s quite possible that she was down on the floor with the dog and leant or stood on it to get up. If the dog gets a favoured place to lie and your DD stays away from it there’s much less chance of this kind of accident.

Ellapaella · 13/03/2019 19:50

Not the dog or the child's fault. Fault can only lie with the person who left a small child alone with a dog, sorry OP, not having a go but it is that simple. I have a 4 year old and a Labrador who is soft as anything but I still wouldn't leave her alone with ds. A 4 year old doesn't always understand the dog doesn't want fussing over or to be played with etc etc.

Tavannach · 13/03/2019 19:50

Now I am wondering if he is better off with someone else

I can’t always walk him everyday.

Your instincts are right. It's time to re-home your dog. Apart from the risk to your child it's absolutely not fair to keep a dog which doesn't have at least two walks a day.

adaline · 13/03/2019 19:51

eg , no getting on the sofa, not going first through door ways, getting its food after the humans

Oh come on, can we stop pedalling this outdated nonsense now?

Katterinaballerina · 13/03/2019 19:51

‘two walks a day‘ Hmm

adaline · 13/03/2019 19:51

it's absolutely not fair to keep a dog which doesn't have at least two walks a day.

Not all dogs need two walks a day. Lots are perfectly happy with one as long as they have other stimulation too.

Ellapaella · 13/03/2019 19:55

A cocker though? I would have thought they need at least one good walk/run round each day with a chance to sprint after a ball or have a good sniff and explore around off lead on top of a bit of training or other stimulation.

Original poster
AlwaysSunshine81 · 13/03/2019 19:56

He is quite happy if he doesn’t get one walk a day, he is a lazy cocker and always has been.

OP posts:
Ellapaella · 13/03/2019 19:57

Sorry two walks not one! I haven't had a cocker so don't know but they were one of the breeds we researched when we were getting a dog and they seems to have similar requirements as labradors in terms of walks/exercise.

Original poster
AlwaysSunshine81 · 13/03/2019 19:57

He is a show cocker, doesn’t run for balls, never has done! Doesn’t like getting his paws wet

OP posts:
ColeHawlins · 13/03/2019 19:58

My nephew was 'nipped' by a dog (as you call it) when he was a child. He has the tip of his finger missing to prove it.

If flesh was lost, it wasn't a nip @ideasofmarch

Original poster
AlwaysSunshine81 · 13/03/2019 19:59

Just ordered a lickimat

OP posts:
adaline · 13/03/2019 20:02

I think to a point they do adapt to what you give them. My beagle only gets one walk a day - but we do plenty with him at home too. Several training sessions, games of "find it" in the garden so he has to use his nose, plus things like fetch, tuggy, and teaching him the names of his toys. Just little things like that use his brain and tire him out much more than hours of walking or running does.

VelvetPineapple · 13/03/2019 20:13

My dog snapped at my DS twice and grazed his face. Both times DS hadn’t even touched her, he just got too close. We were shocked because in the past he’d pulled her ears and tail (obviously we stopped him) and she hadn’t even growled, she was very placid.

We saw the vet and the dog turned out to have bladder stones and UTI which the vet said would have caused significant pain 24/7. She was obviously in agony and couldn’t be bothered. Since she recovered she’s never bitten again, not even when there was the odd tail pulling incident.

If your LO hurt the dog then it’s justified in snapping. It didn’t bite, it just told her to get off. Get it checked out by the vet and try to avoid leaving the child and dog alone. Also teach your child to be careful with dogs and not hurt them because they will bite!

VelvetPineapple · 13/03/2019 20:16

it's absolutely not fair to keep a dog which doesn't have at least two walks a day

Nonsense. I have a Chihuahua and she’s a house dog. It’s difficult to even persuade her to stay out when we’re sitting in the garden, she likes to be indoors. She goes out for her business then rushes back in. We only have walks at weekends.

Tartanwallpaper · 13/03/2019 20:22

Meh, didn't know it was outdated. I do it anyway I learned it at training classes maybe 10 or 15 years ago so probably is! Can't hurt to not let them barge you out of the way for the door can it.

Arnoldthecat · 13/03/2019 20:44

Never leave any young child alone with any dog. If it goes wrong they could be maimed for life or worse.

Devonliz88 · 14/03/2019 12:16

It annoys me so much that it becomes the fault of the dog. Surely, intelligence would tell you that the dog is giving a warning. Dogs are loyal and it is more usual for them to protect not attack. Its so easy to give up on the dog but maybe it would be better off not living with you!

Devonliz88 · 14/03/2019 12:17

Maybe you could get rid of the 4 yr old!!

Original poster
AlwaysSunshine81 · 14/03/2019 13:02

Devon I am not saying it was my dogs fault, my daughter leant on him or whatever she did!

Also I live in a townhouse so my lounge is on a Separate floor so I am always up and down the stairs and the dog follows me

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 14/03/2019 13:02

“I don't know of any family with a dog that takes the dog room to room with them to avoid the kids and the dog being alone. That's simply not practical”

It’s as easy as saying - dog, come, when you leave the room.

OP, if you feel like he’s bored and wanting more attention - could you not get him to do more with you? Stuff you’re doing anyway, he should be pretty trainable, so things like emptying the washing machine, picking up toys and putting them into a basket should be fairly easy to teach.

Nesssie · 14/03/2019 15:22

It's time to re-home your dog According to MN, everyone should rehome their dog any time anything slightly goes wrong or gets hard.

Devonliz88 · 14/03/2019 16:27

I understand that you have a busy life. And maybe you do know that you have to change the situation. I have been in a similar situation in the past and had to give my dog up, it made me so sad but if the dog is not happy and you obviously are not happy, I sense some real sadness that you are having

Devonliz88 · 14/03/2019 16:30

....to post this. I am sorry if I was harsh and thank you for not jumping at me with your reply. You will know & probably already do, what you have to do. X

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