The Worst Day!!Long (sorry)

[Lezah]

We have just had an awful day here. I woke up with a horrific migraine. My DH and DS were watching a movie together and I decided to go lie down to see if I could get rid of it. My DH is a firefighter and his pager went off and he got a call. He should have put the dog into his crate (I always insist that my DS (almost 10) and the dog never be left alone together as that would just be asking for trouble), but he told my DS to put him into his crate and left for the call.

I am asleep in the bedroom of course by this time and have no idea what is happening. I wake up to my DS crying in the living room. Of course he tried to put Bear into his crate and Bear was upset because his Daddy had left suddenly and was up on the chair watching him leave out the window. DS took him by the scruff of the neck (gently) and tried to get him down to go into his crate, Bear growled a warning, he stopped for a second and then tried again. So Bear growled again and nipped him in the soft fleshy part between the thumb and forefinger This is the exact reason why I insist that no dog is ever left along with no child!! He is not an aggresive dog and has never ever shown any sign of aggression. He was just showing DS that he didn't want to do what was asked of him. As far as he is concerned DS is lower in the chain of command than he is!! I was sooo mad at my DH for this, and furious with the dog too just because he shouldn't have done it. I ran out of the room and insisted he go into his crate (I think I scared both of us as I was sooooo angry, my voice was deep as my DH's.

My DS was more upset as he was worried that my DH would take Bear away and have him put to sleep (take him to humane society is the same as that as far as he is concerned). My DH has always said if dog ever bit anyone that is what would happen. I was torn between being a protective mother and understanding why what happened, happened. After I cleaned out the bite and put a bandaid on it, DS and I were both in tears in anticipation of what was about to happen. After I had calmed DS down I sent him to lie down in my room and called my BF and broke down on the phone there too. She did what BF's do and calmed me down and talked to DS and settled him down too. She even offered to talk to DH and try to explain exactly why what happened happened (she was more mad at him than the dog as well).

Long story short, my DS and I explained things calmly to my DH and all is temporarily well, cautious but well. He didn't overreact and just gave dog a long time out about it I'm hoping things will be okay, but I am still suffering from the migraine needless to say. I just can't sleep cause I am soo worked up about everything. Sorry this is so long, but I had to vent. I'm hoping I don't get flamed from the non pet people for understanding my dog, but my DS does come first and it would have been worse for him to blame himself forever for his dog being killed. I decided that the small physical pain, would never outweigh the huge emotional pain that he would feel! Thanks for listening everyone. I'm okay now really!

 

[nemo1987]

awww.. to you. my mom gets migraines too so i kinda know what its like. things will look up soon!! good luck trying to get your headache to go away too bad we couldn't find a fair godmother to wave her wand to make it go away for you. have a good night.
**Sarah**

 

[Tinkerbutt]

I feel bad for you...but seriously be careful with that. DS should be able to put the dog in the crate w/out the dog snapping at him. You might want to consider obidence school b/c you don't want it to get any worse. And be sure not to use the crate as punishment or for time out b/c it needs to be the dogs safe place if he is to go in there w/out a fight. Good luck and hope all works out.

 

[meandtheguys2]

There are few things worse than waking with a killer migraine! I have nursed a mild one for a few days, and my heart goes out to you. It sounds like you dealt so well with things being so miserable! Take care of yourself, and I hope you feel better soon,

Michelle

 

[campingcorgi]

Please check to be sure that your son is current on his tetanus shot--he may need a booster after a dog bite.

 

[nativetxn]

I hope that your migraine is gone now. Those headaches are absolutely miserable.

Katholyn

 

[orvilleair]

Originally posted by Tinkerbutt
DS should be able to put the dog in the crate w/out the dog snapping at him. You might want to consider obidence school b/c you don't want it to get any worse.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing since your son is 10. As he grows, you would think his control over Bear would get better. Hope those migraines go away.

 

[Lezah]

DS has had his tetanus shot, so no worries there. Still have the wicked migraine, but I'm hoping once I sleep all night it will finally go away. Usually DS has no trouble putting Bear into his crate, this was an unusual case where Bear had no collar on and he grabbed the scruff of his neck and tried to get him away from the window where he was watching DH drive down the road. I'm sure that if he had waited until the van disappeared, Bear would have just gone into the crate. We just got back from vacation on Monday so Bear is being a really clingy boy to his Daddy!! Everyone is all settled down now and Bear has apologized (in his own way to DS) and he knows what he did wasn't right and is trying to make it up to me too. Before we went away when DH's pager would go off he would run right into his crate, but not since we've been home. I'm sure he will settle back into routine again soon. Thanks for all the good thoughts. Good night.

 

[Kallison]

Our lab is 5 and he doesn't even have a crate -- he is often alone with the kids 9-11-14 years old. That is a tough one, I can't imagine never leaving my dog alone with my kids. I think the dog needs some training.

 

[ripleysmom]

You might want to consider having DS either feed your dog or give him treats. When your dog realizes that he must depend on your DS for food he will realize that your DS has a higher place in the pack than he does and behave accordingly.