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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

Lovely rescue dog, but

109 replies

ThisIsntDanicaBritannica · 08/12/2021 20:54

We’ve had him around a month, very dog reactive so we have to be careful with walks etc. But tonight he nipped my 15year old daughter on the face. He drew blood, but only just. She had been cuddling with him on the sofa, all fine, nothing me and my husband haven’t done with him, I was stood about a foot away. My daughter sat up away from him, still stroking him with one hand. He reared backwards and went for her face. His top teeth caught her nose and his bottom teeth caught her lip. It wasn’t an accident by a giddy dog in play, I would understand that. I can’t see the provocation, but then, I’m not in his doggy head. She’d already moved away from him so it doesn’t really seem like a ‘get back, I’ve had enough’ either.
I have a 3 year old grandson who visits. Dd15 is a bit shaken. So am I.

What should I do?
Should I contact his rescue? I’ve kept them up to date with him so far.
I love him so much but I no longer trust him.
Or am I making a mountain out of a molehill? I think Dh thinks I am and to be honest I totally lack perspective where any emotions are concerned!

OP posts:
SomepeopleareTERFSgetoverit · 08/12/2021 20:57

I’d contact the rescue.

lingus · 08/12/2021 21:30

What breed type? Is it a herding reaction eg when the dog saw movement (eg your dd moving away) he bit?

What ever the reason you will need qualified professional help and it could be a long road ahead. I would speak to the rescue asap

Original poster
ThisIsntDanicaBritannica · 08/12/2021 21:34

Not a herding reaction I don’t think, he’s a Staffordshire bull terrier cross. I’ll be talking to the rescue tomorrow.
I don’t think he’d ever hurt me, but I can’t trust him with Dd15. It may be he just doesn’t like children! Obviously the rescue felt he was fine with children or we wouldn’t have adopted him.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisIsntDanicaBritannica · 08/12/2021 21:36

To my utter shock dh doesn’t think I’m overreacting and is taking this as seriously as I am. I’m gutted, this dog is my best mate.

OP posts:
Mollymalone123 · 08/12/2021 21:40

Sorry but you need to contact the rescue- I honestly would want a rescue bull terrier without a proper history and even then - no young children around.they are very strong dogs

Mollymalone123 · 08/12/2021 21:41

Wouldn’t want

nannybeach · 08/12/2021 21:42

Me personally have had rescue dogs,most came with problems. A friend had a rescue staff,she kissed him and he bit her face,she had to have plastic surgery. She did have him put down. Have had my 2 since puppies, but some dogs, especially if you don't know their history,will want to be on the sofa or bed, dominating you. I wouldn't keep the dog, especially with a young grandchild. I love dogs had them since I was a kid,but wouldn't trust this one again

Thatldo · 08/12/2021 21:43

I would give the dog back to the rescue centre as quickly as possible.the dog is completely unsuitable for a family with kids!!

Ingleduh · 08/12/2021 21:43

I love bull terrier breeds an have 2 myself and I'm a massive advocate for them, but there's so much potential for damage with this kind of dog that I'd have to send him back.

nannybeach · 08/12/2021 21:44

You've had him a month,he isn't your best mate

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 08/12/2021 21:45

We have a staffy cross rescue too but I think I would have to return her if she bit (our children are younger). Once the trust is gone you’ll never be able to relax around him, and with a young grandchild around it will always be a source of stress. It’s very sad but he probably needs a home with no children and no visiting children.

As an aside, he might need his eyes and ears and rest of his body checked - possible he didn’t “see” her properly or she touched somewhere sore by accident which he reacted to.

Kanaloa · 08/12/2021 21:46

Oh dear, I wouldn’t be happy with this at all. He bit her on her face. I would understand if she had her hand nipped while playing with grabby toys/tug toys etc, but this wasn’t accidental and has the potential to be really dangerous.

Please be careful with your daughter and the toddler who visits. Dogs and toddlers are a bad mix at the best of times, never mind a dog who bites unprovoked.

Can you take the dog to be checked over at the vet? Possibly had a sore spot that dd touched? Other than that I’d speak to the rescue and ascertain whether this has happened before.

GozerTheGozerian · 08/12/2021 21:48

I would speak to the rescue for definite. But I also think it’s hard after only a month to know and read the dog’s personal stress signals. Cuddling and close physical contact can be stressful for a dog, especially a rescue, so I think it’s always best to let them approach you for fuss and attention not the other way round. At least until you know them much much better, and a month is no time really.

Our rescue dog has had a couple of moments where he’s snapped at me or the kids. And when I’ve really thought about it, it’s been possible to trace back what was stressing him and the signs we missed eg he was asleep and we disturbed him. We’ve learned to read him now, know when he wants to be left alone etc. and haven’t had any other trouble from him.

I get the shock, it’s so worrying especially when you know you’ve brought them into your house. I think it has taken our dog a year or so to feel totally relaxed with us so he may just need time and space.

Have a conversation with the rescue and see what they advise.

Clymene · 08/12/2021 21:49

I'm a lot more tolerant of reactive dogs than a lot of people on here but this isn't good

Indoctro · 08/12/2021 21:50

I have a staffy and used to work for a staffy rescue

Do not allow your grandad child anywhere near the dog and contact the dog rescue immediately they will take him back into foster care and reassess him and it sounds like he can only be homed with adults

Hugging and kissing though isn't something dogs naturally like, so could of been in reaction to this, it can stress some dogs

Anyway regardless of why the dog bit it still has and the rescue need informed so they can get him back in foster and do further work with him.

CharlotteRose90 · 08/12/2021 21:51

It wasn’t an accident and it certainly wasn’t a nip if it drew blood . The dog knew what it was doing . I would be calling the dog place and asking them to have it back. I say that as a dog rescue owner and my dog nipped me twice within first month but never drew blood. It’s been 2 years and he’s not done it since but if it had been my child he’d be gone.

AgathaMystery · 08/12/2021 21:52

I would speak to the rescue tomorrow to say you are en route with him to return him. He isn’t your best mate, he is a pet you have had for 4 weeks.

I am sure it is going to be really difficult for you all but like you say, you have a child in the house who he has attacked and a grandson who he could inflict grievous injuries on.

If you return him now he may be able to be rehomed in an adult only household. Well done for reaching out x

LesLavandes · 08/12/2021 21:52

Please return him to the rescue

Alfixn · 08/12/2021 21:58

I work with dogs and I love staffies, but no way would I keep this dog.
There are some real red flags about the circumstances of this particular bite - no warning, went for her face, drew blood - he meant to hurt her. He's not ok around children.

SnarkyBag · 08/12/2021 22:00

I’m usually not one for a knee jerk “send him back” response and I’ve seen lots of posts before where it’s quite clear why a dog bit (and often because it was put in a stressful position).

I think on this occasion, particularly with the breed you have that I would return him.

As an aside I agree with a PP that many dogs whilst love fuss and strokes do not like cuddles and kisses and it’s not something I’d do with a recur I’ve only had 4 weeks.

I have a lurcher and he’s as needy as they come for wanting to be as close as possible to me but even I who he worships would getting a gentle warning growl for hugging him!

Grimbelina · 08/12/2021 22:00

You have had him for a month. He isn't your best mate. He has just bitten your daughter's face.

I was that child. The next time that dog bit someone they needed 400 stitches. It was an adult not a child. If it had been a child the dog would have killed them.

TopCatsTopHat · 08/12/2021 22:06

You've had the dog one month and you're letting your toddler cuddle up. No way after such a short time can you predict a dogs reaction in such circumstances. You've been far too blasé /naive and are lucky your dd didn't come off worse.
You wouldn't fully know a person after 30ish days what on earth makes you think you would know a dog after such a short time. You should exercise careful caution for at least 6 months for a dog whose history you don't fully know. Babies are unpredictable and can easily trigger reactions with funny noises /movements etc you've been a fool.

Clymene · 08/12/2021 22:12

@TopCatsTopHat

You've had the dog one month and you're letting your toddler cuddle up. No way after such a short time can you predict a dogs reaction in such circumstances. You've been far too blasé /naive and are lucky your dd didn't come off worse. You wouldn't fully know a person after 30ish days what on earth makes you think you would know a dog after such a short time. You should exercise careful caution for at least 6 months for a dog whose history you don't fully know. Babies are unpredictable and can easily trigger reactions with funny noises /movements etc you've been a fool.
The OP's daughter is 15.
icedcoffees · 08/12/2021 22:14

You've only had him a month - it can take a minimum of three months before a rescue dog settles and starts to feel properly relaxed in your home. I suspect he is still quite tense and uncertain as he won't have properly relaxed yet.

He's also not your best mate. He's an unknown dog who has bitten your child on the face and drawn blood.

He's not the right fit for your home but that doesn't mean he won't go on to do well in a home with no children. Many rescues have had bad experiences with children (due to lack of parental supervision and children being allowed to pull them about) and it could be that this dog associates children with that kind of approach which he dislikes.

I would also add that cuddling is quite unnatural to many dogs. Some dogs love it and actively seek it out but many just tolerate it, so it could be that he doesn't really want to be hugged and restricted like that.

But either way he needs to go to a home without children.

Lou98 · 08/12/2021 22:16

I have two Staffies and they're the sweetest dogs but the problem with rescues (of any breed) is you don't always know their history.

It doesn't sound like the dog is suitable for a home with children, especially when you will sometimes have a toddler around. I would contact the rescue tomorrow and ask for their advice but in this situation I think it would be best for the dog to be in an adult only home.

It could have been any number of things that made the dog react, there could be something wrong with him that needs a vet check up and your daughter touched him in a sore spot for example or it could be to do with past trauma or he'd perhaps just had enough.

Glad your daughter is okay though and hopefully she isn't too shaken by it!