What do do with a St Bernard, the Rescue won't take him

[taximomfor4]

My brother is in the Navy, deployed right now. He has a wife and 4 kids (btw 4-13 yrs old). 2 yrs ago, their St Bernard unexpectedly bit a neighbor girl who was over to play. It wasn't a bad bite, nor an attack. DB &SIL wanted rid of the dog but my dad (an avid animal lover) convinced them to keep the dog.

Fast forward: a year later, the dog bit my niece (age 10 at the time). She was holding the dog's cheeks or jowls, and saying "Good doggy, good doggy." She wasn't bit badly, no bleeding, etc. SIL wanted rid of the dog, but DB said niece was antagonizing the dog, and may have hurt him, causing him to "nip" her in "warning."

Night before last, nephew (13 yrs old) was bit by the dog. On the face. He wasn't doing ANYTHING to the dog. When he pushed the dog off his face, the dog also bit his hand. Had to go to the ER. He bled profusely, got antibiotics and a shot.

St Bernard Rescue won't take the dog, because it's bitten (they only know about the third bite). Animal Control has the dog now, I think. They are holding the dog for now, waiting to see if SIL will take him back. She just can't. Maybe be can't live with children? If she doesn't take him back, he will be put down, right?

My heart hurts for her, and my brother who will come home so happy to be there, but with THAT news waiting for him. And for my nephew, who KNOWS what's going to happen to his dog...and the guilt that accompanies being the "Cause".

Advice? Anyone BTDT? Trying to help SIL and nephew feel better, even if I can't find them anymore options.

 

[Caradana]

You seem like an incredibly goodhearted person who wants everyone to be happy in this situation, but honestly - and I say this respectfully - with three bitten kids, the oldest and strongest of whom needed emergency medical attention, your family is lucky that no one is dead, sued or arrested.

This dog needs to be put down. Your brother and father need to immediately accept that the safety of your neices and nephews are about a thousand times more important than the dog, and should either of them make even one murmer of regret about this, they needs to be set straight by you and your family as a united front. Your nephew needs an appointment with a counselor who will reassure him, again and again, that the fact that the dog bit him is coincidential and he is in no way responsible for this, and the only thing that anyone cares about is that he is OK.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, he will be put down if she doesn't take him back. St Bernards can get that "crazy thing", I forgot what it is called, "rage" or something like that.

Absolutely the dog should not be around children.

While putting him down is a sad thing, it sounds necessary at this point. The next bite could be an attack.

ETA...It is called "Rage Syndrome" and common in the breed.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

You seem like an incredibly goodhearted person who wants everyone to be happy in this situation, but honestly - and I say this respectfully - with three bitten kids, the oldest and strongest of whom needed emergency medical attention, your family is lucky that no one is dead, sued or arrested.

This dog needs to be put down. Your brother and father need to immediately accept that the safety of your neices and nephews are about a thousand times more important than the dog, and should either of them make even one murmer of regret about this, they needs to be set straight by you and your family as a united front. Your nephew needs an appointment with a counselor who will reassure him, again and again, that the fact that the dog bit him is coincidential and he is in no way responsible for this, and the only thing that anyone cares about is that he is OK.

Absolutely.

We had to put DH's dog down a few years ago after he tried at attack my DS (fortunately I was standing right there and jumped between them) who was only 6 months old at the time. The dog had also previously tried to attack two other small children. DH was sad but he knew it had to be done. He never questioned that we were doing what we had to do. Our son's safety had to come first. It is a very sad thing but it is necessary sometimes.

My advice is don't tell a lot of people because some people will judge you.

 

[happygirl]

I wish I could take him. I love Saint Bernards. My parents raised them growingup and I just love them. If I lived closer I would love to take him

 

[taximomfor4]

Yes, he will be put down if she doesn't take him back. St Bernards can get that "crazy thing", I forgot what it is called, "rage" or something like that.

Absolutely the dog should not be around children.

While putting him down is a sad thing, it sounds necessary at this point. The next bite could be an attack.

ETA...It is called "Rage Syndrome" and common in the breed.

I didn't know St Bernards had that Rage Syndrome thing. Going to research it, and send it to my SIL. I think it will make her feel a ton better. Their dog was a pet store dog (so most likely Puppy Mill, if I've heard correctly). He was never very trainable, but never seemed mean. None of us were afraid of him. Silly me, I thought St Bernards were suppsed to be gentle giants!

After their dog nipped the neighbor girl (the first "bite"), they always put him away whenever company was over. Even us...and when we drive all the way to their Navy base to visit, we stay a few days. They didn't want to assume the worst and "give up" on their dog, but they never fully trusted him again, either.

 

[goofy!]

Yes, he will be put down if she doesn't take him back. St Bernards can get that "crazy thing", I forgot what it is called, "rage" or something like that.

Absolutely the dog should not be around children.

While putting him down is a sad thing, it sounds necessary at this point. The next bite could be an attack.

ETA...It is called "Rage Syndrome" and common in the breed.

Rage syndrome is not common in ANY breed. In fact Rage syndrome is a very, very rare genetic disorder found mostly in puppymill dogs where the genetic trait has been passed on.

It has been found in a few Saints, but certainly not 'common." Again, it is an extremely rare condition in any breed. It is irresponsible to label an entire breed with a rare condition found mainly in very poorly bred dogs.

Anyway, this does not sound like Rage Syndrome as the OP did not say the dog seemed disoriented after the attack, which is one of the markers of rage syndrome.

If they owners even want to consider keeping the dog, the first thing I would suggest to the owners do is to have a full medical panel done on the dog. Hypothyroidism can cause aggression. Have them rule out any medical concerns.

Then contact the breeder. If they purchased the dog from a breeder, almost every breeder will take their puppies back no matter what age. Then the breeder can evaluate and rehome if appropriate.

However, as much as I am a dog person and a rescue person, I don't know if I could keep a dog that has bitten my kids 3 times, medical condition or not.

I have an aggressive breed, I myself received 35 stitches in my face from one of my dog's mother. (I blame myself and the owner for my bite because of what we know of the breed and the idiotic way I approached a nursing ***** with 2 day old puppies and raging hormones who didn't know me)

So, I tend to give dogs a bit of leeway on aggression, trying to see if it can be worked out with massive socialization and training. But I still don't know if I could keep one that has repeatedly bitten if I had young children around.

This may be one of the few cases where euthanasia is the most loving thing to do for the dog.

 

[taximomfor4]

Anyway, this does not sound like Rage Syndrome as the OP did not say the dog seemed disoriented after the attack, which is one of the markers of rage syndrome.

.

My SIL was very upset, when she told me story ... and was extremely upset upon hearing my newphew screaming (at 13 1/2 yrs old, he doesn't scream much!) He had blood all over the side of his face, I believe she said the punctures are by his cheekbone under his eye, and closer to his ear. Also, a bleeding hand from when he was bitten while pushing the dog off his face. I don't think she'd have noticed if the dog was disoriented. I KNOW she was able to get the dog into the other room and shut the door, so apparently he stopped attacking.

Anyway, I doubt they will be able to contact a breeder. The dog was from a pet store (a chain) in another region of the country.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Rage syndrome is not common in ANY breed. In fact Rage syndrome is a very, very rare genetic disorder found mostly in puppymill dogs where the genetic trait has been passed on.

It has been found in a few Saints, but certainly not 'common." Again, it is an extremely rare condition in any breed. It is irresponsible to label an entire breed with a rare condition found mainly in very poorly bred dogs.

Anyway, this does not sound like Rage Syndrome as the OP did not say the dog seemed disoriented after the attack, which is one of the markers of rage syndrome.

Well I did not know much about it so thanks for the info. I have heard of it in St. B's as an occurance.

However if these bites are a precurser she should know about the condition.

 

[happygirl]

I didn't know St Bernards had that Rage Syndrome thing. Going to research it, and send it to my SIL. I think it will make her feel a ton better. Their dog was a pet store dog (so most likely Puppy Mill, if I've heard correctly). He was never very trainable, but never seemed mean. None of us were afraid of him. Silly me, I thought St Bernards were suppsed to be gentle giants!

After their dog nipped the neighbor girl (the first "bite"), they always put him away whenever company was over. Even us...and when we drive all the way to their Navy base to visit, we stay a few days. They didn't want to assume the worst and "give up" on their dog, but they never fully trusted him again, either.

St Bernards aren't mean in the slightest. I have never heard of them having a rage syndrome. LOL I have never heard of that at all LOL. It sounds like to me the kids were bothering him and he snapped at them. Dogs shouldn't snap at anyone but he did.

 

[robinb]

St Bernards aren't mean in the slightest. I have never heard of them having a rage syndrome. LOL I have never heard of that at all LOL. It sounds like to me the kids were bothering him and he snapped at them. Dogs shouldn't snap at anyone but he did.

Sorry, the last bite did not sound like a "snap".

 

[taximomfor4]

St Bernards aren't mean in the slightest. I have never heard of them having a rage syndrome. LOL I have never heard of that at all LOL. It sounds like to me the kids were bothering him and he snapped at them. Dogs shouldn't snap at anyone but he did.

The reason my SIL had Animal Control take the dog immediately is because my nephew was standing at his TV, a bit before bedtime, changing the channels when the dog jumped up and bit his face. Believe me, if my nephew had done ANYTHING to provoke the dog, he'd be 'fessing up now. He doesn't WANT the dog to be killed.

 

[happygirl]

The reason my SIL had Animal Control take the dog immediately is because my nephew was standing at his TV, a bit before bedtime, changing the channels when the dog jumped up and bit his face. Believe me, if my nephew had done ANYTHING to provoke the dog, he'd be 'fessing up now. He doesn't WANT the dog to be killed.

I'm sorry I mis read I thought you said your nephew was pushing on the dog face

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm sorry I mis read I thought you said your nephew was pushing on the dog face

She said he was pushing on his face because he was attacking him.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I think its time he's put down. It's a horrible decision to have to make but definitely the correct one.

 

[EthansMom]

A dog that bites (more than once) won't change. The dog needs to be put down for the safety of the people around you.

 

[taximomfor4]

I know the dog is going to be put down, unless someone has a large property where they rescue dogs that MIGHT bite...where the dogs will NEVER escape. Yeah, right.

My SIL took pix, of my nephew's face. If my brother can SEE what the dog did this time, it might help the grief I know he will feel. He won't know what happened for a long time, and I know he will understand -- but still feel sad.

I hope they don't beat themselves up about this, wondering what they could have done differently through the dog's puppy years, etc. I think they just got an ill-bred dog, with a temperament not typical to its breed. He always sorta seemed to have a screw loose.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

My advice is don't tell a lot of people because some people will judge you.

St Bernards aren't mean in the slightest. I have never heard of them having a rage syndrome. LOL I have never heard of that at all LOL. It sounds like to me the kids were bothering him and he snapped at them. Dogs shouldn't snap at anyone but he did.

No offense at all to happygirl , but this is exactly what I am referring to. People will have trouble believing or understanding that a dog is truly aggressive and will try to somewhat blame the people involved in the biting/attack.

Again happygirl please don't take offense. As a dog lover I would probably react the same way if I hadn't been through this myself.

So, again, my advice for your SIL is not tell people why the dog was really put down. I just say we had to put our dog down and let people assume it was for medical reasons.

 

[happygirl]

No offense at all to happygirl , but this is exactly what I am referring to. People will have trouble believing or understanding that a dog is truly aggressive and will try to somewhat blame the people involved in the biting/attack.

Again happygirl please don't take offense. As a dog lover I would probably react the same way if I hadn't been through this myself.

So, again, my advice for your SIL is not tell people why the dog was really put down. I just say we had to put our dog down and let people assume it was for medical reasons.

No offense, There is no excuse for a dog to bite a child

 

[taximomfor4]

So, again, my advice for your SIL is not tell people why the dog was really put down. I just say we had to put our dog down and let people assume it was for medical reasons.

Thanks. Very useful advice, which I will definitely pass on. I'm making the long drive to see her and the kids in a few weeks, and will also mention that my nephew might want a bit of counseling, which another pp suggested.