dog bit grandson

Ahhhh Zombie!

Sorry Seasider, I spelt your name incorrectly. Oh for an edit button!!!!!

Our little cocker now 2.1/2 has always had her own 'bedroom' (cage) from day 1 aged 9 weeks. It's been a godsend, she sleeps in it, goes into it after her walk which saves dirty paws, takes it with her when we go to stay in other peoples houses, and retreats to it when our sons rather large rescue greyhound visits! ( his height alarms her!) Before small grandson visits we give her a good walk and put her to bed, so pre empting any fuss.
seesider I'm sure you don't have to put your little dog down and that advice from a professional, plus sensible precautions will be sufficient to make sure nothing like this happens again. DGD has a pony which she adores and has been bitten and kicked, but no one is suggesting that it should be put down! Likewise cats can be pretty feisty, but again no one ever suggests putting them down.

I have started short term fostering of dogs (mainly for hospitalised elderly people). I would, of course, not accept a dog known to be intolerant of children. Understandably, there is concern in the family regarding visiting me with grandchildren ( I have 6 gc aged 1-7).( I also have a crate should it be necessary)
Can anyone recommend any children's books which may teach them how to behave around dogs, preferably fun and fiction.
Any other suggestions welcome of course. I would not like to think my families may avoid visiting me!

No and I was obviously the most rubbish cat owner in the history of the world! I actually thought my vet was joking at first

Fantastic, the image of a cat on ante depressants. Didn't the totally self centred approach work for that cat then?
Ok off to google dap diffusers

It was actually Tegan who mentioned the dap diffuser Iam, I just repeated it. I am far too honest to take credit where it's not due

They are great though aren't they. It was one of those that enabled my cat to come off antidepressants (don't ask)

nightowl, thanks for mentioning Dap diffusers. I have a young cocker spaniel/miniature poodle mix, who is a bit of a challenge. The only one I've ever had who has been, and classically, he was carefully selected, and has been well socialised and trained. I blame the poodle in him (of course!) The vet suggested a Pad diffuser, after we had a nightmare weekend away with the dog - who was 'out of his comfort zone'. Dogs eh, who'd bother. Only those of us who are strangely drawn to the joy of dogs and the challenges that accompany them. I have not failed with a dog yet, and I'm doing all I can to help my adolescent nightmare to be a Good Boy.
Glad to hear your update Seasider, hope things work out positively for all of you.

I knew a gay couple who had a jack russell which they spoilt rotten. They managrd to turn a nice little dog into a snappy little horror who was a nightmare for his dog sitter - not that they could ever see anything wrong with him!
A friend of ours puts his boxer in cage in the kitchen when he doesn't want him bouncing all over the house (eg jumping off a first floor balcony!) The dog seems perfectly happy with the arrangement.

Thanks Night !

A plug in device Nonu that emits doggy pheromones to help the dog feel more relaxed. I have used the cat version. You can get them from the vet or large pet stores.

www.petsathome.com/shop/adaptil-dog-appeasing-pheromone-diffuser-by-ceva-23153

Good luck seasider

Hi everybody thanks for your thoughts. The dog had a crate when he was a puppy so is used to being in one though I may go with putting him in,another room with a safety gate. When I got the dog I visited a number of rescue centres but they only offered me Staffies and German shepherds neither of which I wanted with children. I just wanted an old fashioned mongrel. Our dog was the last of a litter and I think the breeder just wanted rid of him because he was12 weeks old and getting past the cute stage. He is a very fun dog and was playing happily with grandson in the park just before the incident. When he,was neutered asked vet's advice which we have stuck to. I intend to speak to a trainer tomorrow and see if there is anything else we can do. Thanks again.

Nightowl , what is a DAP diffuser ?

Not heard of it before !

It doesn't involve dying their fur or dressing up I hope!

I know of some gorgeous little dogs that are spoilt rotten by a gay couple.

I don't think it came through the first time Nflk. I think this training is something the 11year old could easily do, and use the DAP diffuser at the same time, as Tegan suggested.

Good link Nightowl. Sorry only just now read it.

I think the term crate is for human benefit Bags. Cage in human terms has prison connotations while in dog terms, if it's used as the dog's bed and the door left open most of the time, it's seen as a den and place of safety. At least that was the case with mum's dog.

(My aunt used to breed cocker spaniels. She had six in the house and one wall of her back living room was solid cage/crates. Each dog had her own. It was her personal space and apart from two sisters who sometimes visited each other, they didn't share!)

I wasn't talking about the dog cage/crate Margaret I was referring to your idea that this savage beast is only waiting for an opportunity to launch an unprovoked attack

I tried to post this earlier but I think I posted the wrong link. This explains how to crate train a dog of any age:

canineconcepts.co.uk/en/blog/3-dog-crate-training-and-why-it-is-important

Good advice Tegan.

Crate and a cage the same thing. If we think of a crate as being cruel we're not thinking 'dog'. But they should never be used as punishment or they will be a 'cage'. It's nice for a dog to have his or her own space in a house/car etc Perhaps when using the crate at first plug in a dap diffuser as well [or get a dap collar].

I have no idea why you think that idea is "daft"Aka - I have had dogs trained dogs, never personally used a crate/cage call it what you will ( my niece had two and they were very large cages. However I still think the dog will not take to a crate/cage unless it has been accustomed to it from a young age. Will this dog only be confined to it when GS visits? Anyway, I am sure Seasider will do her very best to make sure it never happens again.

What's the difference between a dog crate and a dog cage? We had a dog something (probably crate) for transporting geese. Whatever it was called, it looked and 'behaved' like a cage. I don't believe there is a significant difference between the two. Both are limited spaces to keep dogs confined some of the time.

If not, please could someone knowledgeable describe what the difference is?

Re the 'spoiling a dog rotten' comment [albeit meant as a joke]. One of the worst things you can do with a dog is 'spoil it rotten'. A dog needs to know it's a dog and it's owner is pack leader. Unless it knows that it won't be happy.