My dog has bitten DD. Help

rottielove · 2021-04-28T16:06:49+00:00

He's never been aggressive to people before, let alone DD. I left them alone for two minute when I went to answer the door, I come back and DD is hysterical as she has been bitten on her arm. I don't think the dog meant it as no skin has been broken and he's a Rottweiler so if he really wanted to hurt her he could have. But like I say he is normally so good with him, I didn't think twice about leaving them for afew seconds. DD is 6, dog is 10., could it be dementia? Not sure where to go from here.

Happenchance · 28/04/2021 17:14

Has DD been able to describe what she was doing and what the dog was doing before he bit her?

Can you keep them completely separate for the time being? Now that he's bitten once he will be more likely to bite again, until the adrenaline has left his system.

murbblurb · 28/04/2021 17:16

You know what you have to do. And I'd say that if it was a Jack Russel, although that would probably be too small to kill a six year old.

Theobear88 · 28/04/2021 17:17

If it were my child, the dog would have to go. No question. I agree with the @murbblurb, I would say the same about a smaller dog too

NeedATan · 28/04/2021 17:22

Was the child 'annoying' the dog? What were the circumstances? That is very important.

Whitepots · 28/04/2021 17:23

I've been there, unfortunately.

Ddog bit my daughter when he was 8 months old. I had the benefit of seeing what had happened, and DD seemingly did nothing that would 'justify' such a reaction. It wasn't a puppy bite, and it broke the skin.

I booked the dog in for a vet check the following day, to rule out anything medical. Didn't believe there would be and was just going through the motions really. They diagnosed a painful joint problem. He had reacted in pain.

Definitely worth getting your dog checked out by a vet in my opinion.

Whitepots · 28/04/2021 17:25

PS. I know how awful it feels, and in a way having a reason - though not good for the dog - was the best possible outcome for us.

Hope you are all bearing up as well as you can, particularly your DD.

Strokethefurrywall · 28/04/2021 17:26

I hope your daughter is ok, it must be a hell of a shock.
As my dogs get elderly, I’m keeping a close eye on them and the kids (9&7) (dogs are 12 & 10)
Any sign that’s out of character and they’ll be straight to the vet to see if there’s something up.

Aggression doesn’t all of a sudden spring from nowhere in a dog that you’ve had since they were a pup, but my main concern would be that they were in pain or sick and if so I would have to PTS.

Original poster

rottielove · 28/04/2021 17:44

My dd was playing on the sofa. Dog was also on sofa but was sleeping. Thanks. I have booked him in to be seen by vet to rule out any medical problem. I am going to get my bf to put the stair gate back up in the kitchen. Will not leave them again. I have had him since a pup.

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NeverDropYourMoonCup · 28/04/2021 17:51

@rottielove

My dd was playing on the sofa. Dog was also on sofa but was sleeping. Thanks. I have booked him in to be seen by vet to rule out any medical problem. I am going to get my bf to put the stair gate back up in the kitchen. Will not leave them again. I have had him since a pup.

Could she have fallen on him or in some way woke him up/hurt him whilst sleeping deeply?

Whitepots · 28/04/2021 17:56

Yes, if he was asleep and perhaps startled awake, is it possible he reacted before realising where and with whom he was?

LadyWhistledownsQuill · 28/04/2021 18:06

It sounds likely that the dog was startled awake, and put his jaws around her before he realised what was happening - but stopped himself before biting down. In other words, he showed good bite inhibition. Dogs that snap when awoken sharply from deep sleep are really common - hence the phrase "let sleeping dogs lie"

A vet check for pain would be wise, though I'd say that in a great variety of situations.

What is the dog normally like with your daughter?

It sounds like the whole family need to be more aware of not disturbing the dog when sleeping, and being respectful of personal space.

By the way @murbblurb is one of MNs more enthusiastic dog haters, who wants all dogs on a lead at all times and would put down a dog for so much as growling. Best ignored.

NeedATan · 28/04/2021 18:26

It sounds like your DD could by accident have startled the dog who reacted before realising what was going on.

Mol1628 · 28/04/2021 18:36

My dog startles awake and lashes out. Never to bite but snarls and snaps as she comes to then realised and immediately stops.

Consequently, She sleeps on her own bed never on the sofa when the children are around and I never leave them alone together.

Sounds like this could be what happened here?

Original poster

rottielove · 28/04/2021 18:48

@Mol1628

My dog startles awake and lashes out. Never to bite but snarls and snaps as she comes to then realised and immediately stops.

Consequently, She sleeps on her own bed never on the sofa when the children are around and I never leave them alone together.

Sounds like this could be what happened here?

I think so. I need to make sure he sleeps on his bed from now on so it can't happen again. Dd is fine but has a nasty bruise. Such a shock. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions

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sunflowersandbuttercups · 28/04/2021 18:54

Unfortunately, this is why you never leave small children unattended around dogs.

If the dog was sleeping, I suspect your DD startled him and he bit in shock. Like you say, if he wanted to hurt her, he would have done. Many dogs will lash out if they're disturbed in their sleep - the phrase "let sleeping dogs lie" exists for a reason.

I don't think this is a reason to rehome your dog but I do think you need to be much more vigilant going forward. You can never leave them alone together - always take one of them with you if you need to leave the room.

Hoppinggreen · 28/04/2021 18:59

If he bit her but didn’t break the skin he has bite inhibition and even if she startled or hurt him he probably didn’t mean to hurt here.
Obviously you need to be very cautious and not leave them alone again but I wouldn’t be panicking too much. Good idea about a vet check too.

Moondust001 · 28/04/2021 19:00

Regardless of the type of dog or its temperament or history, you never leave a six year old child alone with it. And it not only doesn't take seconds to answer a door, but you couldn't possibly have known in advance how long it would take. This is on you, but the dog will probably bear the consequences.

Original poster

rottielove · 28/04/2021 19:04

@Moondust001

Regardless of the type of dog or its temperament or history, you never leave a six year old child alone with it. And it not only doesn't take seconds to answer a door, but you couldn't possibly have known in advance how long it would take. This is on you, but the dog will probably bear the consequences.

I grew up with the dog sleeping under my cot at night. I don't routinely leave them alone, I was only answering the door for a parcel. It was an accident. Dd will be fine. Dog is ok. Wont let it happen again.

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Skyliner001 · 28/04/2021 19:24

I suspect that your daughter did something to the dog, learn from this and don't leave them together by themselves again.

Skyliner001 · 28/04/2021 19:29

Yeah, And the fact he didn't break the skin suggests that it was an accident.

murbblurb · 29/04/2021 10:41

A story or two for @LadyWhistledownsQuill who is the usual MN dealer in absolutes, and has poor reading skills. ( Or may be just a nasty piece of work but let's give the benefit of the doubt)

Apart from my partner who has had two attacks from the same out of control dog, for the crime of passing by... I was in a and e one night waiting to be seen. Next to me was a woman yelling down the phone to someone in New Zealand, so it was impossible not to hear. Her husband was being treated for ripped up hands from the family dog who had just gone for him - for the second time. He was looking at months of treatment and she was kicking herself for not having had the dog destroyed the first time.

Hopefully the ops kid won't pay the same penalty. I wish everyone with out of control dogs what they deserve. And the best to all who keep their dogs under control, don't leave them to bark and take the shit home. It is what you signed up for.

Hoppinggreen · 29/04/2021 11:02

@murbblurb

A story or two for *@LadyWhistledownsQuill* who is the usual MN dealer in absolutes, and has poor reading skills. ( Or may be just a nasty piece of work but let's give the benefit of the doubt)

Apart from my partner who has had two attacks from the same out of control dog, for the crime of passing by... I was in a and e one night waiting to be seen. Next to me was a woman yelling down the phone to someone in New Zealand, so it was impossible not to hear. Her husband was being treated for ripped up hands from the family dog who had just gone for him - for the second time. He was looking at months of treatment and she was kicking herself for not having had the dog destroyed the first time.

Hopefully the ops kid won't pay the same penalty. I wish everyone with out of control dogs what they deserve. And the best to all who keep their dogs under control, don't leave them to bark and take the shit home. It is what you signed up for.

You’ve got ishoos

Aprilshowersandhail · 29/04/2021 11:10

We had our Rotty pts last year. She beat cancer in 2019 and made a fantastic come back..
2020 saw her having slight personality changes... Then 3 aggressive episodes.. She had never been the most 'best behaviour' ddog, hated other ddogs and we did put her out if adult guests came. Fine with small dc. But 3 nasty incidents...
We spoke to the vet who considered a brain tumour could be the cause. Common in the breed and after cancer...
After incident 3 we made the decision to pts. No humans were hurt but she properly threatened me.
I agree ddog and dd in the same sofa was a misjudged moment in your part.. In your shoes I would be more vigilant and put it behind you both.

Floralnomad · 29/04/2021 11:11

I totally agreed with everything said by @LadyWhistledownsQuill , I think you are on the wrong forum @murbblurb ,

Original poster

rottielove · 29/04/2021 11:42

I'll never understand why dog haters people who aren't terribly keen on dogs cone to a dog forum..

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