Lovely rescue dog, but

[ThisIsntDanicaBritannica]

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!

I think that threads like this should be required reading for people who complain that most Rescue centres won’t rehome to families with children.
In most cases it’s due to safety not because they are dog hoarding weirdos

This has certainly hammered home for me the unpredictability of animals, as obvious as that may sound. Yes I was aware dogs can be unpredictable, but all the information I had not only from the rescue but from my own observations with him, his temperament - it was a complete and utter shock. Just goes to show you.
The rescue have contacted me early this morning and say they will of course take him back into their care, asked me a few questions about him, and while he hasn’t shown other signs of aggression, it does appear to be an unprovoked attack. They will get him checked over to rule out any physical ailments / pain. Poor boy and poor us.
I’ve kept my daughter safe and obviously she’s at school now. I’m doing my best to be normal for the dog, the last thing I want is for him to feel stressed, both for his welfare and for safety while he’s still here.
Dh buggered off to work. There are economic and practical pressures there though, but I just want to shout please don’t leave me alone here! I am an emotional car crash at times though, especially now.

I’m sorry OP
I’m sure this is very hard but you have done the right thing

And while if I had the choice to be mauled by a Yorkshire terrier or a Staffordshire/ bull breed, I’d pick the Yorkie all day long, I don’t believe staffies and bull breeds are bad / aggressive dogs. We have had lovely staffies, my husband family have has Staffies since he was a boy, and this is the one bad experience, it may have been due to something we are unaware of, he may have had a bad experience with teens and got spooked, but I do not believe it’s down to any innate aggression attributable to his breed.
I totally understand people being wary of larger staffie crosses who are muscular - crikey if it goes wrong, well, it could be devastating.

OP can you say what paperwork you signed when you took on the dog?
Is the dog now legally yours, or does it belong to the recue and you are just looking after it?

Did they agree to take the dog back if there were any problems'?

Did they do a home check?

The reason I ask these questions is that, if the dog is legally yours, you stop posting here and take the dog straight to the vet to be eusthanised.
This needs stopping now.

The day my friend's Labrador bit their 10 year-old child on the face was the day he took his last walk to the vets. The dog had never misbehaved before.
It broke my friend's heart and it was years before she had another dog again.

The child (now an adult) needed stitches and still has the scars.

Cross-posted - glad you've got it sorted OP

I have never been in your shoes and it must be crushing, OP. But the dog can not be around kids, end of -- you've done the right thing.

I’m sorry, I totally understand that you are devastated.

Poor pup. Sad all round.