dog bit grandson

I think talk of muzzling the dog, gates and crates won't wash with the mother of the child, particularly as she is separated from seasider's son.

We don't even know the age of the child but someone has said he must take some responsibility!

I agree Riverwalk. A lot depends on the circumstances. If the GS was too rough with the dog and had been warned then the dog is not entirely to blame - and did give his own warning. Also your GS obviously enjoyed playing with the dog, how is he going to cope with knowing he was responsible for the dog being killed? Children cotton on to more than is often obvious to us.

Perhaps the dog could be sent to a rescue centre and rehomed with a family without young children. Many adverts from rehoming centres specify no children.

NfkDumpline I mis-wrote my last sentence - I was being critical of the person who said the child must take some responsibility, particularly as we don't even know how old he is.

I think too much thought is being given to the dog!

Of course it isn't the dog's 'fault'. It isn't the 'fault' of the irritated bull that gores someone. That's beside the point.

It isn't a small child's 'fault' either.

There is only one place where the fault lies: with the dog owner. The dog had "gone for" a child (11) before so should never have been allowed near enough to a younger(?) child to hurt it.

I hope the child is allright and won't be scarred for life, physically or mentally.

Well spotted, thatbags. I'd forgotten about the grumpy dog thread.

I stick by what I said earlier and now I feel there is only one solution and that is to have the dog put to sleep.

I am a dog lover but no dog is worth more than a child's safety.

It is a terrible shock when a previously good natured dog suddenly turns, but they can only cope with so much rough play or teasing. It is difficult to make young children understand that it is cruel and dangerous to be rough with a dog or tease it.

If your grandson is young, then I agree with others who have suggested that the dog be confined somewhere else, or muzzled, when your grandson or other children are visiting.

In your grandson's case, if he is a bit older, say around 7, and quite sensible, perhaps he could be told never to touch the dog (he may now be wary of doing that anyway). Only you can know whether he is mature enough to follow this instruction.

When I was around 5/6 my grandparents had a very beloved older dog who disliked and feared children, and I was told never to touch him. I tentatively tried to stroke him once and he snarled and nipped my hand. I got the message, and we kept a respectful distance from each other for another 3/4 years until he died.

I suppose what you do depends to some extent on whether the bite has caused a superficial wound or a more serious one and on how your grandson has reacted - whether he is frightened to come to your home - also on possible repercussions within the family.

If you do feel it necessary to give the dog up, I believe dog re-homing centres can specify that a dog should not go to a home with children. I may be wrong, but I think it is only dogs that have a history of unpredictable and unexplained aggression that cannot be re-homed.

The other thread changes the complexion of all this. Still don't understand such untypical behaviour from a Shih Tzu, though.

My dislike of dogs is of no relevance. The fact is this dog is dangerous around children and should not be allowed to come near any ever again - how that is achieved is up to the owner.

I do sympathise with seasider as this is her son's dog and he will be very upset by the dog going. But that is no good reason for not doing the right thing.

I have many friends who own dogs and they simply would not allow this dog anywhere near children if it were theirs.

I am shocked at the idea that anyone could imagine it was the child's "fault."

According to the grumpy dog thread, the other child involved is only eleven. The dog is his pet but he is also at risk.

I've made my feelings clear so I won't say any more.

Not only that but the 11 year old probably has school friends come to the house that are also at risk.

Mishap you stated that 'the bottom line is that no dog should be near small children' that's the bit I suggested should be disregarded.

It is of course a load of rubbish sweeping generalisation. . Most dogs get on very well with small children. I was brought up with dogs, my children were brought up with dogs and my grandchildren are being brought up with dogs. We have never been bitten, caught any diseases or been infected by any parasite either internal or external.

But of course we are very responsible dog owners. We choose breed which are not prone to aggression, ensure both dogs and GC are trained to treat each other with respect, pick up after our animals, etc...

The bottom line is actually that this dog had already shown signs of aggression 6 months earlier and should not have been allowed to be near a child who was known to be 'rough' with animals. A rough child ..a snappy dog.. an accident waiting to happen.

I think pets can be a very valuable part of a child's life as well as an adult's.

Apart from the wonderful companionship a dog can provide, there are physical and psychological benefits too. Research has shown that stroking a dog has a calming effect and can lower blood pressure. Dogs are taken into homes for the elderly because they provide comfort and cheer and help to alleviate depression.

I think children benefit from owning pets, particularly children who are sad, poorly, or isolated. It also teaches them respect and kindness for other living things.

Thanks everybody for your comments. Following previous thread dog was castrated and we have had no problem since until today. The dog has never been alone with children and shown no signs of aggression. My other DGC come every few days and dog has never been a problem with them however they have a dog (also a shin Tzu ) and know to respect the animal. Good news is the injury is superficial and been told should be no scarring . DGS mum has been surprisingly understanding. I have told her we will cage the dog when DGS visits. We have today discussed 're-homing but youngest DS is distraught at the prospect of losing his dog so unsure what to do. Will contact some dog trainers on Monday then make a decision. By the way the dog was never left alone with kids and myself and older DS were in th room when this happened.

So glad your DGS is ok seasider. Sorry if my earlier post was harsh but I think you are being very sensible. This has reminded me that when I was about 8 my friends Scottie bit me on the leg, completely unprovoked, through my dress, not breaking the skin but causing a nasty bruise. I didn't tell my friend because I didn't want the dog to get into trouble! I'm worrying now in case the dog went on to bite someone else (bitlatetoworrynow)

I feel the dog was not to blame! Go along with training and separation..

If it had been a puppy annoying the dog, exactly the same thing would have happened – a warning growl, followed when that was ignored, by a nip. No one would have said "He'll do it again and again." The dog didn't savage the child; he just behaved like a dog. Providing the child and dog are not put in a position whereby the child can annoy the dog again until he is old enough to know not to annoy the dog, I cannot see why there should be a problem. Some of you make it sound as if you're dealing with a man-eating tiger.

I'm just catching up with this thread, and absent's post cheered me up. Yes, this dog behaved like a dog, not a man eating tiger. Muzzles, crates, gated areas to separate the dog from children are needed, and Seasider is doing that, as well as finding a good dog trainer. That's the right way forward, this dog sounds reactive, and that is a challenge to work with.
Thanks for the update Seasider. I hope things work out for you

Yes, there's a difference between a dog launching itself at a child for no obvious reason, and the situation Seasider is dealing with here. The lovely spaniel we rescued bit a visiting child on the face despite two adults being present, and the child not approaching the dog. It caused an injury that required stitches (there was no permanent scar). We had gone to great lengths to check out the dog, who had been through a period of rehabilitation with the the original breeder - he had taken taken her back from the owners who wanted to show her, but then neglected her when their own litter produced the puppies they preferred. The vet said, when looking at her background, he thought the visiting child would have been seen as a usurper taking the family's affections from her, so she leapt at the child. As we had four young children at home, and could not trust the poor dog not to do it again with any child, she was put down. We complained to the Kennel Club about the owner who neglected her, with the help of the breeder who had taken her back. A tragic situation all round, but we would take the same decision again in such circumstances - hard to do when you are a dog lover.

I hope you have no more problems, Seasider. It's good to hear that your efforts to make things safe are appreciated.

We had a lovely lab who had a hip problem which caused her pain, because of this pain she snapped at but did not bite our toddler who climbed on top of her. I could not take the risk of it happening again with possibly more severe consequences. We made the decision to have her put down.

That was a hard lesson. Three more dogs have followed with no problems but never again have I allowed a small child to be quite so free with any dog.

My son at about 10 or 11 years used to lie on the floor watching tv using our very good natured rescued cross as a pillow, I didn't have any doubts that he was perfectly safe. The dog was probably around 4 years old then.

My last dog, a bearded collie X, was good with everyone, but I never left her alone with the gc's even though they used to lie on her, pull her tail and generally muss her about. She loved it and just lay benignly on the floor and let them get on with it. Occasionally when excited she would put her mouth round your hand or arm but no teeth just 'lips' and then a big lick. She was the gentlest dog who came to us as a very excitable re-homer aged 3.
My Grandmother's dog bit me when I was 2 - we lived with her for a year - so he was sadly put down.. The late Mr. Gally sported a very fetching scar on his upper lip from a bite from his Grandmother's dog, but it was given a stay of execution. I think with small children and dogs you have to assume the worst and take the necessary precautions.

So pleased to read this seasider and it sounds like your handling is spot on. I had forgotten the use of a crate, we found ours invaluable. My daughter had a black alsatian cross and one day it went for one of her girls because it was provoked. After my daughter had calmed down she found a trainer with the help of her vet and they had no further problems. Mind you the little girl had to have a small amount of training too and she learnt not to be so rough.

It is however a salutory lesson to all dog owners. I have a large (on the face of it easy going) lurcher and a 2 year old grandson - not a good combination. Maybe I will check out a trainer too, better safe than sorry.

seasider glad to hear your GS is not badly hurt although I would imagine very shocked, I don't have a dog, but have had dogs in the past, (even cats can be quite vicious) and our have been know to give GS a nasty scratch!! so it's not always about dogs that can do damage. Hope you find "most"! of the comments helpful and you and your family can come to a suitable solution.

I'm not a dog lover and am not keen on pets at all but I respect animals and feel very sad when one has to be put down because of an untrained child. They are both "animals" and will act instinctively if they feel threatened. Unless well trained I would keep them apart for the dog's safety as much as the child's.

Seesider so glad to hear the damage is superficial and the mum is being understanding. Let's hope this young person has learned his lesson.
Never-the-less this young dog has shown a tendency towards aggression on at least two occasions. He obviously feels insecure and threatened in certain situations. If he is to grow and mature into a good family pet he needs to be treated gently and quietly, and kept away from situations which might trigger his instinct to defend himself. Some dogs like rough play, some don't. Most dogs do not react well to noise and young children can be noisy.

Giving him a secure and quiet place to retreat, such as a cage, might well be the answer. So long as he see it as his own 'safe place' , somewhere he can retreat to and not as a punishment.

I would like to say I wasn't advocating killing the dog. Just giving it to someone who doesn't mind having their ankles bitten. Or toes if it can't track ankle height.

Odd sort of dog for a boy. Not exactly a "run with me" kind.