My dog has bitten my DS

[georgie262]

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???

[Sugartits87]

@BlahBlahBlahh no, my dog has never bitten my son....I think you're confusing me with the op.

You're quite correct, my dog isn't very well trained. He is still only a year old and despite attending training lessons he seems quite resistant to learning. Despite this he is never vicious or aggressive, just daft. So the obvious solution is to manage the situation to keep everyone safe is to manage things in other ways.

But trust MN to turn it into a 'my dog is better behaved than your dog' superiority fest 😂

[Voiletgold]

Sorry to hear that this has happened. Really hard to know what to do for the best, I would be so upset and unsure. I think the first step before making any quick decisions is to get in a professional behaviourist to assess situation and advise on what's best to do.

[Astillbe]

@Pinkyyy

As you've confirmed you don't have a dog, are not any sort of "expert" and clearly over react I do not think your "advice" is helpful.

[Branleuse]

your dog needs some serious training about his possessiveness and territorialness of you, otherwise the next time your dog thinks your son is overstepping the mark, he could do a lot more damage.
I did read that the dogs that killed that poor woman recently, was over an argument with her teenager, who the dog went to protect. This isnt a safe behaviour.

[OmniversalsTapdancingTadpole]

Hi georgie262 if you are in the Brighton/Wothing/Horsham area this canine behaviourist is exellent, she has helped a lot of dog owners address issues with their pets.

[Pinkyyy]

@Astillbe and who left you in charge of what advice is and isn't useful? I've been around dogs for most of my life. I've had dogs from the moment they were born, from my own dog, to the moment they died.

The fact is that the OP's dog had bitten her child. Not 'nipped' him. The thread is literally called "my dog has BITTEN my child". This is a matter of great seriousness and the people dismissing it as nothing major are the ones giving the bad advice. Not the people, like me, who are saying that this needs immediate and urgent attention.

[Wiltshirelass2019]

yearinyearout unfortunately most people are very naive when it comes to dogs. I love dogs but I also have a healthy respect for them, therefore would never risk them around a child. There are thousands of dog attacks in the UK every year, unfortunately some lead to fatalities like we saw last week with that poor lady being mauled to death by her two well behaved dogs.

[Astillbe]

@Pinkyyy

I have also had dogs all my life, mu children have been brought up with dogs. My previous dog bit twice (not my children) but both times were a reaction to an adult doing something they shouldn't. I still trusted him with my dd's and he was never aggressive towards them. People generally know their own dogs and can make their own informed decisions.

My current dog (a cocker) has nipped my older dd once, over 2 years ago, but is certainly not an aggressive dog and we have trained the guarding (of certain toys) out.

Any dog may nip/bite in certain situations. There are many breeds of dog I would not own because I would not be able to stop them if for any reason they did become aggressive and attack someone.

The comment re that bite being 3 stages from death is just ridiculous. I have never heard of a cocker, a poodle or a cockerpoo killing anyone.

[Pinkyyy]

@Astillbe don't be silly. You can't ever fully trust that you know what an animal is going to do/is capable of doing. There are too many innocent children harmed and even killed because families 'trust' their dog. If a dog drew blood from my child then it would be rehomed, no exceptions.

[meccacos2]

I would be putting the dog down.

I had a dog who bit me a couple of times. On the face and on the ear. Drew blood both times. It started as warning nips. It didn’t stop.

My partner refused to put the dog down. After we broke up and he (eventually) took custody of the dog, I found out the dog attacked a friend of his.

This dog was pure evil. He used to attack his brother (same parents - different puppy litter).

This wasn’t a training thing. He was a bad dog.

One time it took weeks for my wounds to heal. The dog actually damaged cartilage.

If I had children and a bad dog like that, I would put the dog down.

[Astillbe]

@Pinkyyy

We clearly disagree and I'm assuming the op won't be coming back to this thread anyway.

[Pinkyyy]

@Astillbe I doubt it too. I realise we're on different sides of the fence but I sincerely hope the OP takes some kind of action.

[Tavannach]

Poking a dog that's already bitten with a stick seems crazy.
What happens when the dog bites the youngest child? Will you give them a stick?

[georgie262]

@Booboostwo who’s flouncing? Not me- I thanked everyone for their advice further up the thread. I’ve taken everything very seriously. There’s nothing wrong with me. Can you read?

[georgie262]

@Tavannach it was a joke in response to pinkyy’s ‘What is your plan then? ‘ I am taking it seriously. The children don’t have sticks

[georgie262]

@OmniversalsTapdancingTadpole I’m up North but thank you for the suggestion

[georgie262]

@Pinkyyy I’ll tell you what’s rude - the ‘my guess is you’re doing sweet f all’ that’s rude so yes you have been unpleasant and rude. I asked for advice, I took on board all the advice. I know what my next steps are I don’t owe you an explanation. I thanked everyone for their advice. If you think you weren’t unpleasant then you have some serious social issues.

[Booboostwo]

You sound delightful OP. I'm really glad I took the time to contribute to your thread.

[Dandelion1993]

The dog needs a new home.

It's been startled by the situation once and what's to say that it won't happen again and be worse?

[Pinkyyy]

You've got a serious attitude problem. I offered sincere advice, as did others and then when you said you had a plan I asked what it was. Did I say you owed an explanation? No. You were free not to answer but you decided to be snide, so I did the same. You're biting people's heads off for no reason.

[Sicario]

We had a lovely dog who started biting. I'm afraid it's not worth the risk. The dog was re-homed to a child-free setting.

[georgie262]

@Booboostwo no don’t try and twist things you accused me of flouncing before you offered any advice when I had only thanked people for all advice whether it was what I might have wanted to hear or not. My children’s safety is paramount to me not my dog. I am not naive when it comes to my dog.

[Astillbe]

@georgie262

I know you are anyway but just ignore the more hysterical posts. As I said my cocker bit my dd (aged 10 at the time) and has never done it again. It was a reaction to a certain thing she did.

My previous dog (border collie) bit twice in 14 years. If I'd had him pts or gave him away the first or second time that would have been a complete over reaction. He adored my dd's and them him, never ever showed any aggression towards them. Shock, horror, I even used to leave my dd's alone in a room with him.

I also agree @Pinkyyy is rude.

[Grannybags]

How is your son this morning? I was bitten as a child and it has made me really fearful around dogs.

[Pinkyyy]

Call me rude all you like but I'd rather be rude and potentially save a child than just say nothing because it's polite. I was bitten by a dog as a child and I was hospitalised. That too was a 'lovely dog' and was said to have acted out of character. Well guess what, it bit again.