What do you do when a dog bites a child?

[Xtina]

I have two dogs and just now, one of them bit my child. I was sitting right next to them while my one-year-old son was running around playing and as far as I could tell, he didn't do anything to her, but she growled and snapped at him and bit him on the face next to the eye. No broken skin or anything, but he was knocked down, got scared, was obviously hurt, and then he started yelling "no no" to the dog as she ran and sat on her dog bed. My husband came downstairs and I told him what happened and he says both dogs have to go. It kills me. But I know he's right. The other one has done this sort of thing before, and I was counting my lucky stars that he hasn't bitten my child, but honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if he did the same thing. My older dog is 10 and the one who bit the baby is 3. I got her from a rescue, and I could send her back, but I've never wanted to do that...I believe that when you adopt a dog it's for life, and I never wanted to be the kind of person who gets rid of my dogs because I had a child. I suppose one solution besides rehoming them is to make them outdoor dogs. So I'm on here seeking advice on the issue. Should I put my dogs who I've had their whole lives as indoor dogs outside, should I give them to the rescue where I got the one, should I post an ad trying to find someone who will take them? Is this bad enough to justify euthanizing them? Is there another option that I'm missing? Please advise me.

 

[duck walk]

oh boy...if they did it once, they will do it again and it is not worth the risk exposing your child to serious harm or disfigurement...and you can not pass that problem on to someone else...there are too many good dogs waiting for homes to put a child biter out there for someone else to deal with...what happens when your child decides to take off across the yard and the dog is there and attacks? In my world, that dog would be euthanized...it is your call but that is a disaster looking for a place to land...

 

[Xtina]

I'm going to add that he could have been chasing her and she's a fearful dog. She could have felt threatened, so this might have not been an "out of the blue" bite.

 

[hikerchick]

I wouldn't euthanize them; but they need to be in a home without small children. Some dogs do well with kids, some don't.

 

[Southernbelle]

It's a boundry that's been crossed once and it does make them more prone to do it again. I know it's heartbreaking, but I have made that decision before, too. I chose to give up dogs that have bitten. In my case, I found new homes for the dogs in childless homes with full disclosure on why I was finding the dog a new home. I'm sorry you're faced with this now.

 

[klen]

dogs would be gone in my house. I have a 3 year old son and an almost 1 year old daughter. If my dog so much as growled at my kid, I'd rehome with no small children or owner surrender at the shelter.

the fact that your dog snapped and then went to lay on it's bed says a lot to me. Your dog shouldn't feel that high in the pack. Your children should be above your dogs in the pack. They haven't been taught that and that's going to cause more problems in the future.

My honest opinion is that you need to rehome to avoid a major situation in the future.

 

[theoldchick]

This is an emotional situation in which two dogs who have been beloved family members are now trying to discipline what they consider rude behavior within their pack. In the dog's world snapping at a rambunctious puppy is the proper way to correct unacceptable behavior.

I can almost hear the dog saying, "Bad Baby! Stop running around! Sit! Stay! And for the air's sake stop pooping in your pants!"

Some dogs, like some people, just don't like the rowdiness of children. And in this situation somebody must assume the leadership role within this pack. Your dogs must learn the kids come first. And your kids must learn to respect the dog. Don't allow the dogs to interact with the kids unless the canines are wearing a leash. Give your dogs a room of their own and make sure the kids do not bother them in this room. Put a lock on the door if needed. Teach the kids the proper way to behave around the dogs or any animal.

This situation will escalate if somebody doesn't intervene with proper training. If you don't have the time (and with a one year old I can see why!) the easiest answer would be to rehome these dogs. Otherwise expect to make changes within your home to give the dogs the space they need and somehow keep the kids safe. Some dogs are natural babysitters and some are not. Adjusting to children is not easy for some dogs yet these pets can make perfect companions for older folks without youngsters running about.

 

[vebyrd36]

Fargo

LMy heart goes out to you. I to had to make that decision last Friday. My DH had gotten me a police trained white German shepherd to bred to my wolf. We had been looking for a very long time. I am very particular concerning my dogs. Even though they are huge they must have a very good temperment. I noticed 2 wks ago Luger was acting different so I had the vet come out. He told me that he did not know what the problem was but, to put him by himself for a week or two. So he was by himself and doing good. My sis came down to my house to care for my baby puppies in the play pen well she heard this awfull terrifying screaming coming from Mackies and mutlies yard. She runs out the back door into Mackies yard to find that lugar had torn through the steal wire into their pen and had torn mutly into many pieces. My sister was horrified to finally got Luger out of Mackies yard and into the main yard. Well the problem was he was between her and the house and she was cornered. So she gets her cell phone out of her pocket and calls me in a voice that sent chills down my back. She said Luger is going to kill me and I can't stop him. Let me say I was as mad as I have ever been. Luckly I was just a mile away, I ran 80 miles hour to get home. As I rounded the corner of my house just stepping through the gate all I say was teeth and feet in the air, he hit my sending my 9mm flying. I get up and land a soilid kick to his jaw. I screamed for Fargo my really big German shepherd who was in the house Fargo ran through the screen door on the back door. I tell him
To attack. Fargo gave me the time I needed to get to my sis. Then I called Fargo off to my side and I had to put Luger down. So as I write this I await the test results. What we do know is no rabies. Personally I think genetics such as two small of a skull to accommodate the brain. We shall see.

 

[RoeDylanda]

As the not-so-proud owner of a surgically reconstructed tear duct after being bitten by my family's own doberman, I urge you to get rid of the dog. Our dog (a street mutt rescue) had snapped at a couple of people, always when she was afraid, so my folks kept giving her "one more chance." That is, until the evening she and I were both sitting at my mom's feet and she looked across at me and snapped at my face-- without a sound, and without me making a move towards her. My mother saw the whole thing and was too slow to stop her. she was 1/4 of an inch from taking the sight in that eye.

I was seven, and the surgery was long and complicated, as was the post-op recovery. Please do not take this chance with your children, and please be *very* clear with whoever takes the dog that it went for the child's face. Any dog that will go for the face cannot be trusted, especially around babies.

I'm sorry, and good luck to you.

 

[Xtina]

I'm not taking the chance. Both dogs are gone. The question is how? My husband says it's too dangerous to give her to anybody since she's shown fearful aggression almost all her life. I've emailed the rescue because I signed a contract saying I would when I adopted her if anything like this ever came up.