Our dog bit DS. What next?

[newnamefortoday]

NC for this one. Our JRT bit 4yo DS on the foot at the weekend. Not terrible, but a huge bruise, puncture wound, visit to minor injuries and antibiotics. We’re not sure exactly what happened, dog was in the garden, DS climbed on the gate as he has done dozens of times before but this time the dog bit his foot as he put it through. Just heard a snarl then a scream. Dog knew exactly who it was as the gate is between garden and house, not the road. It would have been much worse had the gate not been between them. We also have a small baby. We are obviously considering dog’s future and keeping him separated for now. He snarled at my mum this week and caught my ankle snapping at me last week. He’s always been a bit of a grumpy terrier but has never bitten before so we’re considering all possibilities. He’s quite old. Lots to think about but with a small baby we can’t take any chances. What would you do next, apart from taking dog to vet to check for pain etc? Would you expect any follow up from SS or HV through the hospital?

I think it would be harsh to rehome or PTS your dog without more investigation. You don’t know exactly what happened, were his eyes checked for example. Because you didn’t see exactly what happened I would suggest you investigate further. I have a JRT and a child also, they can be reactive but there’s normally a reason.

Terriers kill rabbits, squirrels, rats etc by shaking them by the neck. They’ll pounce, probably kill with a first bite but they’ll still shake their “prey” to break its neck and even throw it up in the air. I’m afraid a dog, even a small terrier, could attack and kill a baby in this way. It’s a horrible thought but could be done, which is why no dog should be left alone with a baby.

I am fully aware any dog is capable of killing a baby.
Who the Hell would leave any dog with a baby?

My reaction was.....PTS as a solution ? Really?
There are many options to explore before killing the dog.

The child was climbing over a gate. The op said the dog knew who it was...really the op is a doggy mind reader?
The dog is old and likely has cloudy vision and was probably protecting his territory and was NOT aware it was the child

@Ohtoberoavingagain

I have a retired guide dog and she is incredible and I would never leave her alone with a toddler let alone a baby!

@Scoobydoobydo

The child was climbing over a gate. The op said the dog knew who it was...really the op is a doggy mind reader?

The dog has recently started snarling at people and has also bitten OP. This isn't an isolated incident and OP's priority has to be her child's safety.

Sorry to say this but the dog must go. Imagine if he bit your child’s face. You may think he never would but if he’s like this there is a chance. That chance is too much a risk. Child scarred forever? No question about it. Dog must go.

Yes I agree, the dog needs to go to a new special home with no children ever

Good God, your child has already been attacked and seriously injured. Requiring medical care. You have a baby in the house. Do not pass go, do not collect £200, just get the dog away from the children asap. The dog needs to be PTS. It doesn’t matter whether the aggression is due to terminal illness or behavioural change as the treatment plan is the same. Stop worrying about the why. For goodness sake, yours and your husband’s first responsibility is to protect your children. I cannot believe this thread is still running. And your children still share a home with a dangerous animal. I am a dog owner and I wouldn’t have let the dog and children share the same home after the attack. Agree with a PP that i am usually shocked to read about dog attacks in a domestic environment but having read this I despair. Stop trying to please or placate your DH. Neither of you will be able to live with yourselves if the dog attacks your children again. And it will, eventually. You have one job, keep your kids safe.

Did you go back to the vets?

I can't believe people are suggesting putting a healthy dog to sleep!!! Sickening

@Scoobydoobydo I completely agree with you. People are absolutely bonkers to suggest killing a dog because it nipped a child. I would definitely go back to the vets for a second opinion and rehome to somewhere without young children. Killing a healthy dog is disgusting. We have a JRT and the thought of people thinking he would deserve to be killed for that has turned my stomach. Humans do a lot worse

At last, someone making sense.
Poor pup 💔

@Scoobydoobydo I hope these people suggesting this don't currently or ever own a dog 💔

Just saw the dog is only 9! My friends JRT is currently 18 to put that into perspective. He has had half his life. Please do not kill a healthy dog.

If they do I feel sorry for the dog!
They are without compassion or understanding.
When animals get old, like people they get grumpy.
Of course I'm not suggesting it should stay in the current home, but hopeful there is a loving retirement home waiting for him somewhere that is full of love and understanding

@Scoobydoobydo If I didn't already have a JRT who doesn't like other dogs I'd take him and give him a good home for his final years.

Bless you
❤️❤️🐶🐶❤️😁

How much damage does a dog have to do to a person before it should be put to sleep? Is it stitches? The person being permanently scarred? Needing surgery? Losing a limb or their sight?

I don't know what the answer is but a dog doesn't know it's dead or going to die.

They don't have a sense of future to spend their time worrying about them not experiencing it. They don't know what's happening and aren't spending their last days worrying about who they're leaving behind.

I just don't know why it's more immoral to put a dog down than feed the dog meat or indeed to eat meat yourself. Maybe everyone saying don't put the dog down is vegan and feeds their dogs a vegan diet but if not I'm just not sure I follow the logic.

I’m so sorry op. What a horrible decision to have to make. Hope your ds is ok.
I’ve always owned a dog. I suppose you’ve done the obvious and made sure dog has plenty of exercise and training etc. With young kids you’ll always have a similar situation to the one you described. It’s so sad but you need to pts. I’ve seen firsthand the terrible damage a dog can wreak on a child - life changing injuries. Consider this a lucky warning sign.

can you at leasgt have some tests done to see exactly what hes got and how far along it is

@Augend23 do you own a dog? They are part of your family. Would you kill someone for hurting someone else?

The dog hasn’t “just” attacked a child, it’s also been aggressive to two adults. Not sure who would be willing to take on this dog and surely it’s kinder to let him die in the arms of its owner since it was a puppy. It’s seriously concerning how quickly people prioritise a dog over children - who cannot protect themselves and are forced to share a home with a dangerous dog. I’m a dog owner and I prioritise children, like any sane person would. I love my dog - it’s possible to love my dog but acknowledge that as soon as he posed a danger to humans he would be PTS.

OP, it’s a horrible situation and I hope you do the right thing for your children.

Luckily there are laws in place to protect humans from injury due to dogs. As we’ve seen in this thread the laws really are needed as some dog owners lack basic common sense.

OP you really should check you aren’t already in breach of the dangerous dogs act - here’s an excerpt from the RSPCA website - to me it sounds like you are certainly in breach (my emphasis):

“The Act includes incidents on private property
Since 1991 it has been illegal for dogs to be 'out of control in a public place'. In 2014 the law was amended to include incidents on private property - so inside your home and others' homes, including front and back gardens.
Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:
Injures someone
Makes someone worried that it might injure them “

I don't have a dog but I have had plenty of pets, including one that had to be put down because it attacked a child. It was crap and upsetting but the animal didn't know what was going to happen and it didn't suffer - so it is what it is. I'd rather that than worse damage another time.

I accept the deaths of lots of animals due to the fact I eat meat and there's therefore a category difference between them and humans for me. I have butchered an entire deer before so I am fully at peace with what meat eating entails. I would also support humans being able to ethanase themselves.

I do recognise that people might not want to put an animal to sleep but I'm not sure why it's some moral failing over and above the consumption of animals for food.

You're a disgrace