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?

One way or another, he’ll have to go. We live in farming country so may be able to find a decent home for him.

PTS. I say that as someone who's parents didn't put a dog to sleep after it bit one child. The damage it did to the next person was terrifying. It was an adult and they were seriously injured. If it had been a child they would have died. Please don't consider rehoming either.

If it was just aggression towards the 4yo, I would say to re-home in a family without children, but you also say he's snarled at your mum, so I'm sorry to say I think you need to think about having him PTS before something even worse happens.

He's old, he's had a good life - let him go peacefully surrounded by the people he loves. It's the least you can do for him.

He hasn’t just bitten your ds tho has he
he has bitten you and gone for your mum

he isn’t happy and unless you can guarantee a quiet child free home the last kindness you can give him is being pts surrounded by those he loves

Ah no, that wasn’t clear. The vet didn’t give you any advice?

You pts, your children come 1st. It's sad & unfortunate but rehoming isn't viable either.

@DonttouchthatLarry thats the worry if you rehome, isn’t it? You never know what happens.

He snarled at my mum this week and caught my ankle snapping at me last week.
plus he’s bitten your son. You have a baby in the house too, you should put the dog to sleep, he could kill either one of your children.

I'd try and re-home him to a quieter home. Ideally with someone you know so your DH could still see him. I'd be reluctant to re-home a pet I had all my life to just anyone. He's telling you he's not happy.

From your posts I am reading three incidents? Your mother,you and your son. I would ask your DH what will it take to prioritize his family, a permanent scar? or worse. The dog unfortunately needs to be put to sleep, you can't risk another person.

Any responsible vet or rehoming centre would advise you to PTS.

I rehomed a JRT x when DS1 was tiny after he started snapping at me. There were other issues but I was also pregnant and just could not handle the stress. He went to a permanently child free family but had he bitten me or my child I would have PTS. I completely understand where DH is coming from but imagine how you'd both feel if you rehome and then he really hurts someone else? For a miserable, snappy, older dog, you are literally setting him up to fail by sending him somewhere else. It's far kinder to PTS. Hope your DS isn't too affected.

Re-home don't put to sleep! As a PP has said, someone without kids or on a farm or something who is made aware that the dog has become grumpy.

How old is the dog?

I am an almost fanatical dog lover, long term animal charity volunteer, etc and I am sorry to say that I think that you might need to have your dog PTS.

You say he has always been a bit grumpy. It’s not that uncommon that behaviour becomes more accentuated with age.

He is also possibly feeling that he has dropped in priority due to first one, and then another child ( it is of course perfectly normal and justified that young children require your attention).

I assume that the vet has ruled out eyesight problems, which could make him feel confused and vulnerable.

If it had been one bite I would have suggested trying to re home him. More than that and it will be hard to re home. Worse still he might get passed on to an undesirable home if he is aggressive towards his new owner.

But what quality of life is that for the dog? To be rehomed, without the family he's known all life. He's biting and being aggressive for one reason or another, rehoming him is just going to cause more confusion. PP has said he's old, he's trying to tell her he's not happy.

@LumpyandBumps exactly. What is you regime, he bites someone and this person doesn't follow the proper channels. Gosh that poor dog goodness knows what could become of him.

PTS

I’d never take that risk with my child & wouldn’t rehome as could end up in wrong hands

Note that if you rehome you will have to make absolutely sure they are completely aware that he has bitten adults and children. And that you can't control what they then do with him and what story they tell.
Personally I'd pts to avoid injuring you or your family or anyone else's. As sad as it is you just can't risk it.

Hmm I'm very tolerant of dog behaviour but you obviously can't keep a dog who's bitten your child.

And given he's gone for multiple people who he knows, I think PTS is probably the kindest option.

@SparklingLime the vet’s advice was rehome or pts and that it could be that he’s struggling now we have DS and baby. As I said upthread, DH is very reluctant to do either and it’s going to cause a major incident in my marriage, so I wanted to post here for some reassurance that IANBU before tackling DH. AIBU is not the place for a post like this as it needs people with good knowledge and understanding of dogs.

Can you ask a rescue to take him?

The rescue can ensure 1) he isn’t going to a home with young children or vulnerable people 2) you can be rest assured he is going to a good home.

PTS. He's now been aggressive towards 3 people, including biting your child. I understand your husband has had him since a puppy, but does his son really come below the dog? It's a matter of priority, to me, keeping children safe is more important than aggressive animals.

It would be much kinder to put him to sleep, he is old and its not fair to rehome him but obviously you cannot keep him

Imo your dh needs to accept the buck stops with him. Ime pts means your dh knows nobody else will ever be at risk. A reputable rescue took a family member's ddog and rehomed him. Ddog bit a small dc's face. He was pts. Shame the rescue hadn't listened fully to me when I handed him in. The risk of similar is too great op.

You haven't said how old he is but rehoming be difficult.

And you cannot have a 4 year old and a baby in the house with an unpredictable dog. It's absolute madness that your husband is even contemplating keeping him.

I suspect if you report the incident to the dog warden, they will remove the dog. He's bitten a child in an unprovoked attack.