Page 3 | Lovely rescue dog, but

ThisIsntDanicaBritannica · 2021-12-08T20:54:23+00:00

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!

Skeumorph · 09/12/2021 18:09

Err they don't need photos. There is no question here - he goes back - he should have already gone back. I hope you have made that 100% clear.

This is absolutely a dog who should NOT be in a home with children. He isn't safe. You know this 100%. There is no need to 'assess' anything!

Leonberger · 09/12/2021 18:10

Personally I think it’s seriously unacceptable to rehome any dog who has bitten a human in the face, regardless of the reason.

It’s sad for you OP but you are 100% right to give him back.

Skeumorph · 09/12/2021 18:12

@ThisIsntDanicaBritannica

Have talked more with the rescue. They’ve asked for photos for the behaviourist they are talking to, there’s just three little bumps on her nose, I’ve sent them, just waiting for their reply. Always a risk with a rescue as they really are an unknown quantity and you only have limited information about the dogs history. He may have had a bad experience with a teen previously and my daughter just spooked him, we’ll never know. I’m very grateful she has very minimal injuries. I’m sure it will effect her though, she is a sensitive soul. I hope they feel he can be safely rehomed.

And why on earth is it even relevant that there are 'only' 3 bumps on her nose?

That's luck. The dog aimed to bite her face, properly. That's the key point. You KNOW that - it wasn't a warning.

Luck said 3 bumps.

A second later pulling back - what then? an eye lost?

Sounds like you are really hoping that they encourage you to work with the dog.

wishuponastar1988 · 09/12/2021 18:14

@LovesFoxesAndFoxgloves

Please do more research on Staffordshire bull terrier types. They are so aggressive, usually after appearing docile or playful. Countless stories about the damage these dogs inflict. Not to be trusted.

Your poor daughter. I hope she's ok.

What an absolutely ridiculous comment.

Lou98 · 09/12/2021 18:16

@LovesFoxesAndFoxgloves

Please do more research on Staffordshire bull terrier types. They are so aggressive, usually after appearing docile or playful. Countless stories about the damage these dogs inflict. Not to be trusted.

Your poor daughter. I hope she's ok.

This is the biggest load of BS - perhaps you should go do your own proper research (not stories in the media)

icedcoffees · 09/12/2021 18:18

I do think he may have been putting my daughter ‘in her place’ - both me and my husband are usually on the sofa but my daughter rarely is.

Dogs have no desire to put you in your place - they know full well that they're dogs and you're humans. It's far more likely that your daughter was bothering him (and ignoring warning signals), or that she caught him somewhere and hurt him by accident, causing him to react.

It may also explain why he tried to swipe her dinner right off her plate earlier that day. Of course he may just be a greedy boy.

Dogs are opportunist creatures. If you leave food unattended, most dogs will take their chances - it's nothing to do with putting you in your place - they just like food!

userxx · 09/12/2021 18:22

@LovesFoxesAndFoxgloves

Please do more research on Staffordshire bull terrier types. They are so aggressive, usually after appearing docile or playful. Countless stories about the damage these dogs inflict. Not to be trusted.

Your poor daughter. I hope she's ok.

What a load of utter bollocks. I've met more aggressive labs than staffs.

Lifeisaminestrone · 09/12/2021 18:27

I’d be furious with the rescue for not taking him back immediately.

If they don’t take him tomorrow, I’d give them an ultimatum- they try and rehome or you will take him to the vets to be pts.

There was an horrific recent incident where a child was killed by a dog.

People love dogs (me included) but they should never put children or adults at risk. Both you and the rescue are trying to excuse his behaviour. It’s not acceptable your daughter and grandchild have to come first.

I don’t mean to sound mean to you - you obviously love the dog and sound like a kind person but you need this dog removed from house immediately.

Hoppinggreen · 09/12/2021 18:34

@ThisIsntDanicaBritannica

Just a quick update, I’ve talked to the rescue, they are discussing with a behaviourist and getting back to me. I do think he may have been putting my daughter ‘in her place’ - both me and my husband are usually on the sofa but my daughter rarely is. It may also explain why he tried to swipe her dinner right off her plate earlier that day. Of course he may just be a greedy boy. Obviously he needs to be in an adult only home ASAP. So sad as he is lovely. I think he’ll thrive with adults. But so sad for him, and my daughter, she adores him. 😭

Did the Rescue suggest he was “putting her in her place”? If so it explains a lot as they have no idea what they are talking about It’s a shame OP but you are right, he does have to go

Grumpyosaurus · 09/12/2021 19:19

Dogs can and do put each other in their place quite forcefully. They can also get protective over space around humans - but OP's DD was moving away when the dog went for her, which means that this dog is either in pain or is reactive. If he'd shown no signs of pain or tenderness previously, reactivity is the likeliest explanation.

In your shoes, OP, I wouldn't keep him. In the reacue's shoes, I'd think hard about rehoming. A fifteen year old is almost an adult, and this dog, it seems, did not offer any warnings before the bite. Most dogs will put their ears back, then grumble, then lift a lip, then growl, then air-snap, all before they nip or bite. To go from cuddle => bite with no warning makes this a dog I wouldn't want in my house.

ButteredOwl · 09/12/2021 19:25

@userxx I agree more with @LovesFoxesAndFoxgloves ... I'm sure labs can be aggressive I've but it's always- and I mean always - bull type breeds who are in the news for biting and mauling people. Can't remember the last time someone made the news for being killed by their golden retriever or chocolate lab ..

Chunkymenrock · 09/12/2021 19:28

Hugging and kissing dogs can be very stressful for them. They're trapped and can't get away. But, I agree, contact the rescue. Sorry to hear this op. So sad.

userxx · 09/12/2021 19:54

[quote ButteredOwl]**@userxx* I agree more with @LovesFoxesAndFoxgloves* ... I'm sure labs can be aggressive I've but it's always- and I mean always - bull type breeds who are in the news for biting and mauling people. Can't remember the last time someone made the news for being killed by their golden retriever or chocolate lab .. [/quote]

Doesn't have quite the same impact though does it? Doesn't grip people with fear seeing an overweight lab who has just ripped the face off the decorator. Much better to use images of oversized bull breeds which are absolutely nothing like staffs.

Leonberger · 09/12/2021 20:00

Also, this dog has bitten a person who is fifteen. Hardly a child making jerky movements and loud noises.

Why would this dog be any safer in a home with adults as opposed to a 15 year old doing the exact same as her parents

Original poster

ThisIsntDanicaBritannica · 09/12/2021 20:04

Believe me I am in no way wanting to work on this a issue - the risk is unacceptable and I knew in seconds after the bite he could not stay in my home.
I am a huge fan of staffies, my husband and daughter have grown up with them. This is the first negative experience we have ever had with the breed.
I’m fuming that the rescue have currently taken 5 hours and have not yet replied after looking at the photos.
My daughter and I are currently in our bedrooms while my husband is downstairs with the dog. I have n idea what I’m going to do when my husband leaves for work at 5.30am.
Seriously considering phoning the rescuing and crying down the hone at them.

OP posts:

Lou98 · 09/12/2021 20:12

@ButteredOwl that's because the media love to stereotype these dogs (just as posters on here do without doing research). If you were to research it you would actually know that labs are the most common dog bite in the UK (yet people love promoting them as great family dogs🙄)

You would also note that whenever a dog in the media has bitten, it's referred to as a "staffie cross" - it could be staffie x lab which is an extremely common breed but they never mention what the cross is, therefore, the dog goes down as a staff. It's actually extremely rare for the dogs that have attacked to be a full staffie

Lou98 · 09/12/2021 20:14

@ThisIsntDanicaBritannica they don't sound like a great rescue at all! Is the rescue close to you? I think in your position I would be taking the dog down there tomorrow and making it clear you can't have it anymore. They should be taking it much more seriously than they are

Grumpyosaurus · 09/12/2021 20:20

Anyone have a source for labs biting the most in the UK?

The bites to us (dogs as well as people) that have caused bleeding have been from a staff-type, a mastiff and a rottie-cross (I knew the dog, and it's breeding, and the other half wasn't lab). There are some arsehole OOC labs locally, but they've bitten anyone that I know of.

Grumpyosaurus · 09/12/2021 20:21

*they've never
They just bark and menace and are allowed to roam.

Ellen888 · 09/12/2021 20:23

Contact the rescue and ask them to take him back.

userxx · 09/12/2021 20:33

@Grumpyosaurus

Anyone have a source for labs biting the most in the UK?

The bites to us (dogs as well as people) that have caused bleeding have been from a staff-type, a mastiff and a rottie-cross (I knew the dog, and it's breeding, and the other half wasn't lab). There are some arsehole OOC labs locally, but they've bitten anyone that I know of.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3717873/Labradors-worst-dogs-biting-responsible-highest-number-personal-injury-claims.html

Here you go.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 09/12/2021 20:33

@ThisIsntDanicaBritannica I fostered a dog for a rescue once, not a bull breed, and he bit me several times. They said he could be nippy, they didn't say he would just launch at you out of the blue.

He then trapped me in my kitchen. Everytime I went to open the baby gate, he leapt at me teeth bared.

The rescue asked me to keep him for another "few" weeks whilst they sorted something. I had to really bug them to actually take him back. You will probably need to do the same.

Incidentally my rescue staffy x saved me the first time the foster dog latched onto me and got him off me!

I love staffys but your trust in this dog is gone now. You can't keep him. And as much as I do love them, I'm not sure a rescue should be re-homing any dog that bites for apparently no reason.

Ellen888 · 09/12/2021 20:33

@Grumpyosaurus

Anyone have a source for labs biting the most in the UK?

The bites to us (dogs as well as people) that have caused bleeding have been from a staff-type, a mastiff and a rottie-cross (I knew the dog, and it's breeding, and the other half wasn't lab). There are some arsehole OOC labs locally, but they've bitten anyone that I know of.

www.doglistener.tv/2016/08/breed-most-likely-to-bite/#:~:text=And%20the%20breed%20most%20likely%20to%20bite%20is%E2%80%A6.,lovable%20breed%20has%20long%20been%20a%20family%20favourite.

icedcoffees · 09/12/2021 20:34

@Grumpyosaurus

Anyone have a source for labs biting the most in the UK?

The bites to us (dogs as well as people) that have caused bleeding have been from a staff-type, a mastiff and a rottie-cross (I knew the dog, and it's breeding, and the other half wasn't lab). There are some arsehole OOC labs locally, but they've bitten anyone that I know of.

I can find lots of newspaper articles, but no link to the actual study.

But labs can deliver very nasty bites:

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-takes-down-mirrors-home-20333269

As an example. A 9yo girl was left needing 230 stitches in the face after being bitten by one.

Lou98 · 09/12/2021 20:38

@Grumpyosaurus Kennel Club UK have the stats and labs as number 1 for bites. Animal friends insurance have also stated that the majority of their personal injury claims for dog bites have been from labs.