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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

Our dog bit ds in the face and drew blood

309 replies

Differentusernametoday · 22/08/2022 13:19

please be kind, I am really shaken and need some support.

We have an 11 month old springer. We have a few issues with him, mostly anxiety related, and are waiting to see a behaviourist. I don’t trust him because he has growled at us before, and has bitten my hand and snapped at me, although to be fair both times I feel we’re partly my fault. This afternoon, he was on the sofa bed put down for guests - ds2saw him and told him to get off, apparently dog growled at him, ds tried to move him and dog bit his face and has drawn blood. Currently waiting in a&e now. Ds2 is devastated and knows he should not have tried to move him when he had already growled, and blames himself. I feel like I have reached the end of the road and I can’t live with a dog I don’t trust, but it will break ds3’s heart if we rehome him, but in some ways it will be a huge weight lifted. What would you do?

OP posts:
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7
FallOutPloy · 22/08/2022 15:13

Honestly, I would have the dog pts. It's not the worth the risk to your own family, and it's not worth the risk passing him on (unless you can actually find him a home on a working farm or similar)

You need to be very clear with all your children that this wasn't your son's fault- it was an accident waiting to happen.

Viviennemary · 22/08/2022 15:13

This dog is simply not safe. A bite is s bite. Not safe.

Hoppinggreen · 22/08/2022 15:13

RobertsRadio · 22/08/2022 15:05

The dog should be put to sleep. Don't try to pass on the problem so someone else's child gets bitten.

Which is why people are saying an adult only dog experienced home

FlorettaB · 22/08/2022 15:16

The dog needs to be rehomed to someone without children who has experience of spaniels.

’We have a few issues with him, mostly anxiety related’

A calmer, adult household would be less stressful for the dog.

PrettyIndigo · 22/08/2022 15:16

To be honest the a&E staff will have to inform your health visitor/ social services, and they will tell you that you need to get rid of the dog asap anyway. Sometimes depending on the circumstances they wont let your DC home until the dog is gone.

FlorettaB · 22/08/2022 15:17

’Who in all conscience would rehome a dog knowing it had attacked a child?’

Someone without children?

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 22/08/2022 15:19

This dog needs a one-way walk to the vet.

End of.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 22/08/2022 15:20

PrettyIndigo · 22/08/2022 15:16

To be honest the a&E staff will have to inform your health visitor/ social services, and they will tell you that you need to get rid of the dog asap anyway. Sometimes depending on the circumstances they wont let your DC home until the dog is gone.

I'm an A&E doctor and this is not routine in any dept I have ever worked. The HV gets an automatic report of any injury but not until the next working day.

Obviously, if we felt a child was in imminent danger for any reason, we would inform SS/the police, but I can't imagine doing so in the OP's scenario, as it's clear that she already appreciates the seriousness of what has happened.

Christonabike37 · 22/08/2022 15:20

I honestly think he needs putting to sleep. A young dog acting like this with no cause is really not good. I'm a dog lover, against bsl, I have a reactive rottweiller who we've piled tonnes of money and time into. She's reactive because she was attacked. But even if she ever snapped at DS she'd be put down.

You can't rehome a dog that has bitten a child. And you can't keep it.

PritiPatelsMaker · 22/08/2022 15:20

I think that you've done the right thing in contacting the breeder.

PinkButtercups · 22/08/2022 15:21

Wouldn't even think twice about rehoming it tbh.

nancyclancy123 · 22/08/2022 15:22

I hope your ds is ok. If it were my dog it would be gone by now and before this incident.
Yes dogs need to be respected but your dc shouldn’t have to pussyfoot around it. And with all the behaviour training and advice etc, would you ever really be able to trust it?

PrettyIndigo · 22/08/2022 15:24

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow thanks for the info. My friends toddler was recently bitten in the face, which required a visit to A&E. Social services were straight on the phone to discuss next steps to make sure the child would be safe, I assumed that would be protocol everywhere:) also I know another child who was attacked more severely, and the child was not allowed home with the dog

Oysterbabe · 22/08/2022 15:24

I'd PTS. Aggressive dogs are given too many chances. Maybe you'll find a suitable child free home but that won't help a clueless toddler getting in his face at the park when a parent turns their back for a minute. If they aren't safe around children then they aren't safe full stop.

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/08/2022 15:28

Hoppinggreen · 22/08/2022 15:10

The dog didn’t show bite inhibition though. I once surprised my dog and he bit but didnt break the skin. Actually drawing blood and medical help being needed means that while this dog didn’t go into a sustained attack it meant to injure
That means it need to be in a child free home

Show quote history

This. It needs to go to a child free home with people, who can rehabilitate the dog.

fyn · 22/08/2022 15:28

Here to also recommend Spaniel Aid. Our springer came from them and they are absolutely wonderful.

LoveKingGary · 22/08/2022 15:28

It's sad, but the dog needs PTS. I cannot really understand entertaining any other possibility with a clear conscience.

MissyB1 · 22/08/2022 15:30

KangarooKenny · 22/08/2022 15:03

Not the dog’s fault, the child shouldn’t have done that, but I’m afraid the dog does need rehoming with the new owner in full knowledge of what has gone before.

This 👆 100%
It wasn’t the dogs fault, the adults and 13 year old are to blame. Your ds showed a lack of respect for the dog and totally ignored the clear warning the dog gave. What did he think would happen?! The dog interpreted his behaviour as a threat and an attack. Why hadn’t you warned your kids?

That poor dog needs to go to people who respect dogs and know how to behave around them.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 22/08/2022 15:34

The dog needs to be rehomed in an adult home with an experienced owner. I've rehomed a dog which had bitten someone else before, it's hard work but he's an absolute sweetie now but I still would never trust him around strangers or children.

Rapunzel91 · 22/08/2022 15:37

Someone in my DPs family has a springer and I don’t like going to their house as the dog has form of being snappy, ‘moody’ and has previously bitten people. They won’t out the dog down but they keep her in a quiet room when they have people over for both people and dogs sake.
I would never keep a dog that has bitten a child, whatever the reason is I would never feel safe around it again and you cannot always been in the same room as children and dog

Haffiana · 22/08/2022 15:37

Christ. The dog nutters on MN are unbelievable. "It wasn't the dogs fault".

It DOESN'T MATTER WHOSE FAULT IT WAS. A dog can kill a child and if it thinks it has the right to bite when asked to get off a sofa, then it needs getting rid of.

VacayingInTheHamptons · 22/08/2022 15:39

MissyB1 · 22/08/2022 15:30

This 👆 100%
It wasn’t the dogs fault, the adults and 13 year old are to blame. Your ds showed a lack of respect for the dog and totally ignored the clear warning the dog gave. What did he think would happen?! The dog interpreted his behaviour as a threat and an attack. Why hadn’t you warned your kids?

That poor dog needs to go to people who respect dogs and know how to behave around them.

Show quote history

I agree. There should have been separation of the dog and children until you had seen the behaviourist and either solved the problem or been told it was something that couldn’t be solved. You knew there was an issue so it was irresponsible of you to continue to let the dog and children be in contact when the children couldn’t be trusted to take note of the dogs warning.

Its a shame for the children and the dog as if you were responsible, it could have potentially been solved and the child could have not been injured and the dog remained in the home. Under the circumstances, you are not a responsible enough person to keep the kids and dog safe. Rehome it responsibly. Don’t get another pet.

KangFang · 22/08/2022 15:40

Oh the dog would be gone out of my house.
Can't believe you are hesitating about this.

Hermione101 · 22/08/2022 15:40

You're sitting in A&E with your son who was bitten in the face by a dog, why are you even asking what you should do?

HorseInTheHouse · 22/08/2022 15:41

We briefly had a lurcher when I was little. He was a rescue but a puppy when we got him. He was devoted to my mother but as he grew older he started growling and snarling at me and my brother. He was straight back to the rescue. He never had the chance to bite one of us, but my parents could see he was going to. He wasn't a suitable dog for a home with children.

Since your dog is aggressive and anxious with adults as well as children, I'd question whether he is a suitable pet for anyone. Euthanasia might be the best solution. There is no shortage of lovely, friendly dogs in the world.