My Dog Bit Me--What Should I Do?--UPDATE

[kaf7878]

I'm sure this thread will get heated but here goes.

We got our dog as a puppy from the shelter. It is "american bulldog" mix but looks pit bullish also. Dog is now 11 months. She has been a pretty decent dog but has been very mouthy from the start. Always wants to chew on hands, etc.

She also gets nippy/bares teeth when we do something she doesn't like: baths, kenneling, etc.

We have done dog training, talked to our vet, read books but nothing really seems to stop the mouthiness. She actually has been getting more aggressive with time.

Well today was the last straw--she was playing int he backyard and I went out there to get an old bone off the ground and she flat out growled and bit me--broke skin, and everything. I have two young children and I am no longer comfortable having this dog around.

My question is: what do I do? Do I return the dog to the shelter? Take it to the vet? What? As I said, keeping this dog is just not going to happen. I've had numerous dogs thoughout my life and never one that would bite me for real.

 

[Mermaid02]

Since you have had her as a puppy and seem to have done everything right- I would probably ask the vet their advice. I would be prepared to have her put down though- if she bit YOU she will bite anyone.

 

[torinsmom]

The shelter will most likely euthanize the dog if it bit you unprovoked. I was in the same situation when DS was around 2. We got a dog from the classifieds. We were told that she was gentle, loved kids, etc. Well, from the start she would grow at DS and we kept them separated, hoping she was just nervous in her new surroundings. Then one day, I bent down to rub her and she bit me hard on the chest, breaking the skin and all. I was really upset and knew she had to go. We took her to the shelter, because we didn;t want to chance giving her away and being liable if she bit someone else. The shelter told me that when a dog has bitten unprovoked, they have to euthanize it. I felt really sad, but felt like I had no choice.

Marsha

 

[kaf7878]

Ugh! I am just so sad and my kids are so sad. I don't want to be responsible for euthanizing a dog but I just can't think of any other options.

 

[Rebelmom67]

You have two young kids. The way I see it, it's the kids or the dog. The dog has to go. Sorry you are having to go through this.

 

[Christine]

You can look into specific training against aggression. Sometimes there are reasons that a dog will act aggressive and you can do behavior modification to try to curb it. Other times there is just something wrong with the dog (but at 11 months old this is probably not the case--this can happen in an older dog who is not aging gracefully). I would speak to your vet.

Really, there could be things you are doing at home (that you don't realize) that can exacerbate this type of behavior in a dog that might be prone to it. I would try some specialized training before I put the dog somewhere else.

 

[MinnieMe87]

Ugh! I am just so sad and my kids are so sad. I don't want to be responsible for euthanizing a dog but I just can't think of any other options.

It will not be your fault if the dog ends up being put to sleep. By the way your post sounded, you have done everything right. It's not your fault that you got a dog that has a mean streak. You need to think of your safety and the safety of your family. I'm sure there's another dog out there who will not bite you or anyone else for that matter. Hang in there, I'm sure everything will work out for you and your family.

 

[Serena]

Most shelters ask that if you have problems that you call them. It does sound like you've done a lot to curb this.
You wouldn't want your children, or any other person bitten by this dog, don't feel bad.

 

[Mermaid02]

You can look into specific training against aggression. Sometimes there are reasons that a dog will act aggressive and you can do behavior modification to try to curb it. Other times there is just something wrong with the dog (but at 11 months old this is probably not the case--this can happen in an older dog who is not aging gracefully). I would speak to your vet.

Really, there could be things you are doing at home (that you don't realize) that can exacerbate this type of behavior in a dog that might be prone to it. I would try some specialized training before I put the dog somewhere else.

With small kids in the house?? Sorry- the dog would be out of there asap. Maybe if it were just her and her husband.... Look at your bite and imagine it on one of your kids.

 

[RitaE]

Whatever you do, please take the time to write a letter to the Director of the shelter telling your story and detailing the risks of adopting out that type of animal to a house with two young children.

If they would have been doing their job, you would have never brought that dog into your home.

I'm really sorry it turned out like this. You can try calling around to some rescues. The dog is young enough that somebody might be willing to try.

 

[antmaril]

I have a very good friend who is a dog person. This woman LOVES dogs and she had a situation where her dog (a cocker) bit her (more than once) and she had him put down. It was something she felt had to be done and she will not discuss it with anyone. I think it broke her heart to do it, but there really was no choice. Like someone else said, if the dog will bite you, it cannot be trusted.

 

[clh2]

Sorry to hear this. We had a similar thing happen about 2 years ago, except, our dog bit a neighbor and he needed stitches. I got slammed on this board by many "friendly" DIS'ers.

This is not an easy decision, however, in our case, the neighbor was a 40 year old man, and he needed 3 stitches. Having our dog euthenized was the right thing to do. Our neighbors begged us not to, however, as I explained to them, what if the "next time", if this were to happen again, the person would be a cute little girl, and the bite was on her face. KWIM?

We only had this dog for a short period of time, only 7 weeks. The trainer we had worked with PUSHED us to get a different dog after the bite. We probably still wouldn't have ventured back into pet ownership quite so quickly, however the trainer really pushed us. About 1 month later, an 8-year old yellow lab/white shepard mix "picked us out" at a local humane society. He has been the best dog ever, and is now 10. Even at our church's pet blessing last night, I had several people comment on how laid back our dog is, couldn't believe he didn't bark at all during the service etc.

I only mentioned the above because - while it was really difficult to have our first dog euthanized, we had a lot of support from the pro's - dog trainer and our vet - to look for another dog.

And, just to warn you, some people on the DIS might be quite cruel about any decision you make. I was found (by a jury of DISer's) that I probably wasn't fit to own a stuffed animal. Luckily, several people PM'd at the time about awful dog-bite stories. And, another dis'er at the time really supported me after I stopped reading the posts.

 

[torinsmom]

I was told by shelter personnel that once a dog has bitten, it is very likely it will bite again. WIth children, you definitely cannot take that chance! Now, if you got the dog from the shelter, they may NOT put it to sleep immediately if you take it back there. Maybe they will try some kind of training?

Yes, its' sad. But sometimes you have to get past that and protect your child(ren).

Marsha

 

[Catzeyes]

If I were you I would contact a pitbull rescue. Maybe someone there would be able to handle a dog like that. However if I were you my family would come first and there is no way I would keep a dog that bit me.

 

[MoniqueU]

My neighbors son still has a small mark from where our psycho weimie bit him. And my son was bit hard on the arm by him and that was enough for me. I was able to place him with a shelter but with full disclosure.
I would not keep a dog that bit my children.

I do have an aggressive lab but he is only aggressive to my other lab. He has gotten into fights with the other lab and has bit in the heat of battle with my husband. He is very good with people and kids so we just keep the dogs seperated. Not easy but we deal with it. Having given up one dog I didn't want to go through that again. But if he ever showed aggression with anyone in our house or any people he would be gone.

 

[spima3]

Whatever you do, please take the time to write a letter to the Director of the shelter telling your story and detailing the risks of adopting out that type of animal to a house with two young children.

If they would have been doing their job, you would have never brought that dog into your home.

Well, I believe she said they adopted it as a puppy. I think it would be hard to predict the temperament at such a young age.

We adopted a older beagle from the Humane Society, and were told up front he had "food agression". We are use to beagles and their issues with food and it was something we have dealt with in the past. Well, his "agression" is stealing food off a table or counter if he can get at it. We've dealt with worse. But at an older age, it is easier to test for certain behaviors, and it was good that they had this listed. He was also listed as not liking other dogs, but good with cats. Our two cats bossed him around something terrible, though he is three times their size. So in our case, everything they informed us about, was basically true.
Other than that these minor issues, he has been the sweetest, most easy going dog we have had. Even our vet has commented on his easy going temperament. He has had some serious health issues as he has gotten older, and he has never snapped at anyone there despite any of the treatments.

I would not hesitate to remove a snappy dog from a home with small children, especially if there was no real reason for it.

 

[kaf7878]

Thank you all so much for your caring replies. I cannot stop crying about being in this situation. Sad for the dog and so so so sad for my kids (even though they kind of understand). I am going to bring it back to the shelter where we adopted it.

 

[Michelle67]

I'm so sorry. It does sound like you've done everything you can, and I agree with the others that a dog that bites, regardless of breed, has got to GO. The only reason the breed is relevant at all to me is because of the level of damage those particular dogs are capable of. But honestly, any dog can do a lot of damage, even the cute little Cocker someone else mentioned...and you just can't risk it with children in the house.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I believe you are making the right decision. Doesn't make it any easier.

 

[Magic Mom]

Really, there could be things you are doing at home (that you don't realize) that can exacerbate this type of behavior in a dog that might be prone to it. I would try some specialized training before I put the dog somewhere else.

If it were just her and the dog I might agree, but she has small children. She can't risk trying out some other training methods and seeing what happens. She has done what a good owner should do, now she has to think of her children first.