dog bit grandson

You may find this useful seasider

www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/Content.ice?page=GuidesHowtoUseaDogCrate&pgForward=businesscontentfull

All dogs can run

jingl I think you need putting in a cage!! And you're a fine one to talk as you enjoy nipping a few ankles yourself

I must have missed the post that said it was the second time the dog had bitten, I didn't realise this. Ok there is obviously a problem which will need to be addressed asap.

Jingl I had a very sweet natured Jack Russell! The only thing that she was a danger to was rats. She was forever being chased by the chickens.

Thistle this is the second time that the poor sweet dog has attacked a child!

It went for the child's face - not a nip on the ankle.

Seasider has said the wound is superficial but of course that is only by chance. Also, she has still not said how old the grandson is - the grandson who seems to be shouldering some of the blame here.

And how long before he pokes his fingers through?

I think visiting grandparents who have a dog in a cage (!) would be horrific for a child. Imagine the nightmares!

I don't feel in the least bit ashamed! Shame on you for suggesting giving it a second bite of the apple I mean grandson.

Aka's advice about the cage is good. The dog needs to be encouraged to see the cage as a good place to be rather than somewhere he is shut up when the grandson visits. Sorry if you know all this but I think you should start to accustome the dog to the cage by giving him treats in there, perhaps always feeding him in there, providing him with toys and a lovely soft bed. And your grandchild must never ever be allowed to scare the dog in any way while he is in there - he must understand this is the dog's territory. It could be very frightening for the dog to feel in any way threatened but unable to escape, and it would certainly do nothing for their future relationship. Not trying to teach you to suck eggs, just trying to be helpful as not everyone has had experience of using dog crates

There are no sweet natured Jack Russells.

This is a heartbreaking situation, poor you Seasider, I feel for you and the turmoil you find yourself in. I would be so gutted in the same situation. But you don't say how serious the bite was or how old the child is. I once had a little Jack Russell who was the sweetest natured dog you could ever wish to meet, but one day my niece was visiting with her two little toddler girls, one of them picked up her toy and she responded with a very jealous growl and showed her teeth. Nothing happened as I intervened before she had a chance to bite. I decided then and there that she would be shut away if any child came into the house. Please give your little dog a second chance, shut her away or you could consider buying a muzzle when he is in the company of kids.
Jingle, shame on you for your horrid comment.

reach.. Not track. though probably that too

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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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)