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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 has bitten my DS

114 replies

georgie262 · 30/09/2019 18:38

My dog who is usually wonderful with my children has just bitten my 8 year old DS hard on the stomach. The situation was my son was stood up giving me a high five because he'd just got his spellings right and the dog bit him as he went in to high five me. He's not broken the skin but it's hard enough to leave a mark. I also have two younger children. I don't know what to do because I'm in shock. My DS is in tears because he thinks we'll have to get rid of the dog. But the bite floored him. I don't really know where else to go for advice except to call my vet in the morning???

OP posts:

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JeffreyJefferson · 30/09/2019 22:46

wouldn’t risk it happening again

Astillbe · 30/09/2019 22:48

Some slight over reactions! The dog (killer cockerpoo ) has never been aggressive before and that bite is more of a nip.

Personally I'd see the dog trainer as you said and not leave the children alone with the dog until you work out if it was just a one off.

I certainly wouldn't rehome or pts (seriously, wtf?) a family pet over one bite/nip.

Pinkyyy · 30/09/2019 22:54

I certainly wouldn't rehome or pts (seriously, wtf?) a family pet over one bite/nip.

So how many does it take? Two? Three? Or would you wait until the child is hospitalised? If anything other than your beloved dog bit your child, would you allow it near them again? Or would it be fine because it was only once. Would you allow anyone/anything else to like in your house if there was a chance of it harming your children? Absolutely not.People don't take things like this seriously, and only live to regret it. Why leave it until it's too late before you act, when the warning signs are clearly there.

loveskaka · 30/09/2019 22:54

I am a serious dog lover, think everyone should have a dog......BUT I would not keep a dog that left a mark like that on my child. It looks pretty bad!

emojisarentwords · 30/09/2019 23:00

I cannot believe some of the responses on this thread. Why are you still on mumsnet? The dogs teeth have broken your child's skin, your child needs urgent medical attention to prevent disease/infection. And you need to call the vet ASAP tomorrow morning.

Geronimo8 · 30/09/2019 23:20

It sounds like resource guarding and I hope you get the help of s behaviourist.

JJSS123 · 30/09/2019 23:30

If that was my dog and my son, the dog would of been dead.

Gingaaarghpussy · 30/09/2019 23:59

Doesn't matter what breed of dog. Mine was a mutt, which your's is. Have you the money to change your dogs behaviour towards someone who is supposedly more important?

Motorina · 01/10/2019 00:10

I’m really sorry this has happened. What a difficult and stressful situation for everyone involved. Now your son’s seen the doctor I’d suggest a stiff cup of tea and a night’s sleep before making any decisions.

M0reGinPlease · 01/10/2019 06:58

Some of the responses on this thread are everything that is wrong with dog owners.

I hope your son is okay OP and that you do the right thing with your dog.

Astillbe · 01/10/2019 07:05

@Pinkyyy

Do you have a dog, have you ever had a dog?

Maneandfeathers · 01/10/2019 07:12

Some slight over reactions! The dog (killer cockerpoo hmm) has never been aggressive before and that bite is more of a nip.

My friend had her lip torn off by a chihuahua. It doesn’t matter what size the dog is.

My bets are that this dog has shown signs of aggression before, or at the very least being incredibly uncomfortable, but it hasn’t been picked up on.
Dogs don’t go from friendly happy dogs to a ‘nip’ without some sort of behaviour prior to this.

The main reason dogs bite is that owners are useless at reading their own pets.

StillMedusa · 01/10/2019 07:15

Pinkyy has form for appearing on threads and giving unpleasant 'advice' OP (also advises smacking children... wonder if she had her kids pts !?) so I wouldn't take any notice.

Glad your son is ok-ish and I'd get a behaviourist in to see if you can identify the trigger...it sounds like the dog was startled and guarding you, but that can be worked on.

Pinkyyy · 01/10/2019 07:20

@StillMedusa excuse me but that's extremely rude. Would you like me to follow you around posts and dismiss your opinions? Just because my advice isn't what you'd say, doesn't mean it's unpleasant. A lot of people on this thread have said the same as me.

Yes I have children and no I don't have pets. Have had them in the past and there are multiple reasons why I can't/won't have pets now.

Sugartits87 · 01/10/2019 07:28

So many families have dogs. No animal can ever be 100% trusted even if they are well trained and have a good history with kids. It's about managing the two together. My dog gets super excited and jumps up and nips when he first sees us occasionally - after school and work etc. So the answer is to not allow ds near him until he's calmed down a bit. If I had genuine concerns that I had an aggressive dog in my house I would look to rehome but a one off incident? Not so sure. Just lots of corrective training and don't leave them alone together.

There are a lot of dog haters on MN OP.

Booboostwo · 01/10/2019 07:33

What is wrong with you OP? You’ve received nothing but advice and help, no need to flounce.

loveskaka · 01/10/2019 07:35

That's not a nip 🤦🏼‍♀️

BlahBlahBlahh · 01/10/2019 07:37

My dog gets super excited and jumps up and nips when he first sees us occasionally - after school and work etc. So the answer is to not allow ds near him until he's calmed down a bit. If I had genuine concerns that I had an aggressive dog in my house I would look to rehome but a one off incident? Not so sure. Just lots of corrective training and don't leave them alone together.

So your dog is not actually very well trained. No dog should 'nip' in excitement. And the fact you don't allow your son around your dog until he has calmed down says a lot really. My big Alsatian gets excited but doesn't bloody nip nor have any other dogs I've ever owned.

Your dog bit your son. If my dog bit my son he would be gone. I don't care if it was a one off incident. The fact he done it would be enough reason to put my child's safety first.

Booboostwo · 01/10/2019 07:37

There are many opinions n this but I would imagine not many people on this thread work with aggressive dogs. I have been a volunteer dog trainer for the past 25 years, I don’t work with aggressive dogs but know some signs which mean the owner should contact a behaviourist as a matter of urgency. One is the type of bite, this is a level 3 bite which is serious and not to be dismissed. Another is the cause of the bite, resource guarding issues can make a dog very dangerous. I had a resource guarding dog who guarded me from my other dog and I got bitten twice by accident - it’s a very serious problem that can escalate.

Motorina · 01/10/2019 07:53

Georgie, the bite scale that Booboostwo is talking about it at apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf. It looks more like level 2 to me, but it’s hard to judge from a photo, hence sending you to the source so you can make up your own mind.

How are things this morning?

Pinkyyy · 01/10/2019 07:56

Thank you for that source @Motorina.

The main thing I take away from it, is that there are 3 stages between what this dog has done, and death. That is not to be taken lightly, however extreme it may appear.

Wiltshirelass2019 · 01/10/2019 07:57

Never have a dog around children I’m afraid. Even the most lovely dogs can snap x

Moondust001 · 01/10/2019 08:02

There's a hell of a lot of experts on this thread. The first rule of an expert is not to forms opinions and pass judgement on situations that you know nothing about. Too many people here working to their own agenda, including some who clearly hate dogs anyway.

Get some real expert opinions and don't listen to the over-reactions and "experts" on here.

yearinyearout · 01/10/2019 08:05

never have a dog around children I'm afraid

Half the population wouldn't have dogs if that was the case!

Pinkyyy · 01/10/2019 08:07

Actually I'm quite certain there are some experts on this thread. If I'm not mistaken, then @Veterinari is one and has given her advice.

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