Our dog bit DS...what do we do now?

[C.Ann]

This dog attempted to bite the owner previously.. This time he bit the OP's child..

Sorry, but I would not keep the dog.. Dogs can cause serious - sometimes fatal - injuries.. That is a chance I would not be willing to take where there are children involved - no matter how much I loved the family pet..

 

[lori123]

I will just address this legal concern that you raised...at least in the state of New York, which I am familiar with, at this point if your dog bites a neighbor you will be absolutely liable since your dog has this history. They wouldn't be "twisting" things -the facts are what they are. They don't get into the dog's motives when they look at the dog's history. I will also state that any dog bite that leaves scarring on a young child's face is considered a very serious injury and usually results in a substantial settlement or jury award, once liability is established. Do you have a large homeowner's policy and does your insurer know you have a dog?

Good luck with your decision, I know it is a tough situation, and I'm glad your child was okay.

I know in our state there doesn't even have to be a "history" of aggressive behavior. If your dog bites, you are financially responsible. I have interest on both sides of this being both a dog owner - and the mother of a child that was bitten. My daughter was bit by a friends dog - on the face. She required an ambulence ride and still bears the scars from her stitches. This was not a mean dog - but a dog that just "nipped" at her when he was scared by another dog and got her in just the right way. The dog owners felt terrible. Knowing anything can happen with a dog (not always their fault - a kid could be poking them in the eye) I am very careful about letting anyone get close to my dog - and never let little ones get thier face close.

 

[aubriee]

Sorry, but I have to disagree. Every single dog I have had has been trained to release everything and anything upon my command. What happens if the dog gets something poisonous??? According to the 'ER doctor, plastic surgeon, and pedi' the dog now 'owns' that poisoned food!!! And shouldn't be expected to give it up..now, you have a dead, or very sick dog!!! Sorry, but a dog needs to release anything when told to. A simple 'drop it' works, well it works after much hard work. As does a stern, loud 'Leave it!!'
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...especially when it comes to dogs!!
QUOTE]

I agree! I have an 80 lb akita that has been through obediance training. In fact, the breeder wouldn't let me have him, unless I agreed to take him through obediance training as soon as he was old enough. As we were walking to the car on his last day he found and started chewing on a treat that the previous dog had apparently dropped on the ground. I got onto him, the trainer said it was OK he could have it, then changed her mind and then asked me if I could get it from him. I said, "of course", told him to drop it, then handed it to her. She told me good, that I had better be able to get anything out of his mouth at any time, for the exact same reason the above poster mentioned. I will still occasionally make him drop his food or treats and he has never ever been the least aggressive. As an owner, you must always be alpha.

To the OP, please go with this dog through a good one on one obediance training. When you (or your) child tells him to drop something and leave it, he should.

 

[Jack'sGirl5]

Sorry, but I have to disagree. Every single dog I have had has been trained to release everything and anything upon my command. What happens if the dog gets something poisonous???

Absolutely right!

In my opinion the two most critical commands that EVERY dog should be taught have nothing to do with sitting, shaking or rolling over. They are "come" and "drop it".

Dogs should be trained to obey these commands every time, without hesitation. Those are the commands that keep your dog and everyone around them safe and it is up to the owner to ensure that they are followed through on-going training. Our Boxer can be hauling full tilt across a field (and they can really move) and she will turn on a dime to return to me if I ask her to come. That means I can call her back if she runs into the street chasing a ball, if she stands up to an aggressive dog or if she is being her happy boisterous self with a timid child. She will also drop anything in her mouth on command, every time. It is a safety thing.

 

[rottiemom]

In my opinion the two most critical commands that EVERY dog should be taught have nothing to do with sitting, shaking or rolling over. They are "come" and "drop it"

Very true. Also down/stay in case you need your dog to stop right where they are & not move until you give them the release word. I've had to do this one in the park when working my girl on a long lead if a child or another dog got away from their wrangler & came running. "leave it" is a good one too, before the dog even gets something potentially hazardous into their mouths ("hey, is that a dead bird?!")

Dogs should be trained to obey these commands every time, without hesitation. Those are the commands that keep your dog and everyone around them safe and it is up to the owner to ensure that they are followed through on-going training.

This is crucial! Training doesn't end when class is over & it doesn't end after 6 weeks of basic obedience. Especially commands like "come" and "drop it" need to be practiced and reinforced so that if the time ever comes that the it is vital that the dog obey, it won't hesitate to do so.

I'm especially conscious of these things because I have a rottweiler and they are big dogs with bad reputaions. It is crucial to me that my dog be well trained & obedient. I can also reach into her mouth without hesitation & remove whatever she might have in it. But my girl has no food agression.

OP, the decision is ultimately yours. I hope that things are going OK for you & for your son & that there haven't been any repeat incidents .

 

[Shelton123]

I watch Victoria and from that show I've found out that it's most always the human's fault. Not the Dog's. If this just happened this once, than it was something DS was doing, not the dog. Now I'm not sure what to do, all I know is that it's you who has to do something, not the dog.