Help: dog snapped at DS' face

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an animal lover too, but ER doc told me once to never leave a child unsupervised with a dog. He said dog bites constitute some of the worst (and most common) kid visits to the ER.

I know that some dogs are calm, sweet, etc, but this is the main reason that we are holding off getting a dog until DCs are much older.

Good luck to you OP, either way, I hope it works out.

+1. I would love to get another retriever, but I've heard the same from a surgeon and little kids can be hard on dogs, too.

[Anonymous]

<<I know that some dogs are calm, sweet, etc, but this is the main reason that we are holding off getting a dog until DCs are much older. >>


This exactly. Not meant as a reproach to OP at all--lots of people with young kids have dogs. However, as someone involved in rescue and whose child was bitten by a dog, i feel that it is best to wait until kids are older before getting a dog. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:<<I know that some dogs are calm, sweet, etc, but this is the main reason that we are holding off getting a dog until DCs are much older. >>


This exactly. Not meant as a reproach to OP at all--lots of people with young kids have dogs. However, as someone involved in rescue and whose child was bitten by a dog, i feel that it is best to wait until kids are older before getting a dog. Better to be safe than sorry.

One of my labs saved saved my children from a pitbull mix. That shitbull weighed about 50 pounds - lab 90 and nothing messed with her kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

If the rescue won't work with you, a vet may be the most humane option. I would be very surprised if a shelter put a dog with a bite history up for adoption. More likely they will euthanize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PLEASE think really hard before giving up on the dog. Dogs aren't disposable, they are family, and you have a responsibility to work with them and teach them just as you would any family member.

This was one incident, and no one got hurt. The dog is still new to your family and it's going to take time for your children and the dog to learn about each other. Your son probably pushed the dogs face away in an upsetting manner to the dog, and the dog let him know.

I understand that you are frightened for your children, but please don't overreact to one incident. Can you hire a dog trainer or attend obedience classes? Your whole family should be involved in training the dog basic obedience commands - this builds the language that you can communicate with him in. Additionally, pay attention to the dog, and if you notice things that annoy him, make sure your kids don't do them. Some dogs will put up with a behavior for a while before they snap, so look for any sign that the dog is uncomfortable (tail down, ears back, eyes looking away) and teach your kids these signs, too. A quick google search of dog body language will find you plenty of resources on what to look out for. Your children are old enough and your dog is young enough that once you master a few commands and develop a communication style with him, things will go much smoother.

Also, make sure the dog has a safe place to retreat to if he's getting overstimulated. Crate training is a wonderful tool for creating a calm, safe place for the dog. You can also crate the dog while you are doing especially consuming activities and won't be able to monitor him with your children.

Giving the dog back to the rescue at this point is not a bad thing. I have had many rescue animals and we had to do the same thing a year ago because the dog bit our child's face unprovoked (DH was sitting right there when it happened and our child was 10 yrs old at the time). It has been painful and gilt ridden but I know that animals are not disposable but it was not like I gave the dog back because I didn't feel like walking it etc. I spent thousands on a trainer and we had been assured that the dog would do well in a house with children before we adopted her. This turned out not to be the case. It was just better to let her go back to her foster home and be adopted into a home that did not have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

If the rescue won't work with you, a vet may be the most humane option. I would be very surprised if a shelter put a dog with a bite history up for adoption. More likely they will euthanize.

A warning snap is not a bite history. The dog hasn't bitten anyone and does not have a bite history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

If the rescue won't work with you, a vet may be the most humane option. I would be very surprised if a shelter put a dog with a bite history up for adoption. More likely they will euthanize.

A warning snap is not a bite history. The dog hasn't bitten anyone and does not have a bite history.

From someone that knows, if this dog goes from snapping and then bites your child that isn't good....if it bites your friends child then you really have a problem. Not saying that you have to put it down, but then you need it back to the rescue it came from or take to the humane society and make sure they adopt to someone that doesn't have children in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

If the rescue won't work with you, a vet may be the most humane option. I would be very surprised if a shelter put a dog with a bite history up for adoption. More likely they will euthanize.

A warning snap is not a bite history. The dog hasn't bitten anyone and does not have a bite history.

From someone that knows, if this dog goes from snapping and then bites your child that isn't good....if it bites your friends child then you really have a problem. Not saying that you have to put it down, but then you need it back to the rescue it came from or take to the humane society and make sure they adopt to someone that doesn't have children in the house.

I don't agree. When on walks or even in our own yard our childless dog has been approached by children. Or been on a crowded sidewalk or at a store. Do you really think a future adopter will walk it with a muzzle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, given their behavior, I would cut ties. I would just text her back, thank her for her concern, and cut off contact. I am worried for your safety here, and I don't mean from the dog.

I would see if your vet can have the dog put down gently, myself, but otherwise, take the dog to a shelter and be very clear about the history. You can't mess around. You are going to have to do the hard work here.

If the rescue won't work with you, a vet may be the most humane option. I would be very surprised if a shelter put a dog with a bite history up for adoption. More likely they will euthanize.

A warning snap is not a bite history. The dog hasn't bitten anyone and does not have a bite history.

From someone that knows, if this dog goes from snapping and then bites your child that isn't good....if it bites your friends child then you really have a problem. Not saying that you have to put it down, but then you need it back to the rescue it came from or take to the humane society and make sure they adopt to someone that doesn't have children in the house.

I don't agree. When on walks or even in our own yard our childless dog has been approached by children. Or been on a crowded sidewalk or at a store. Do you really think a future adopter will walk it with a muzzle?

The alternative to rehoming OP's dog that has snapped at someone or any dog that has given a warning snap, is euthanasia. You believe that any dog that has given a warning snap to a child should be put down?

[Anonymous]

OP -- if you are deciding to keep the dog, can I please give you the name of my dog trainer? I would really love to get in touch with you and put you in touch with my trainer. it is completely your choice and I have no judgment on what you do either way, but if you do decide to keep her my trainer is absolutely wonderful (I adopted an older pet). please, if you are still reading this thread, let me know and we can get in touch

[Anonymous]

I love dogs and I love my dog, but I love my kids more. But if he snapped at one of my kids, he'd be gone. Done. There are no kill shelters that will take her. Maybe she's more appropriate for adults or more experienced dog owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I texted the rescue coordinator today letting her know we need to take care of this this weekend because this is really agonizing. She said we're required to do extensive training first. I have no words. For the record, this is Lucky Dog rescue. I thought they had a great reputation. I'm exhausted and depressed and just want this to be over.

OP, did you ever get any resolution from Lucky Dog on this? I'm in a similar situation now, and also having trouble with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I texted the rescue coordinator today letting her know we need to take care of this this weekend because this is really agonizing. She said we're required to do extensive training first. I have no words. For the record, this is Lucky Dog rescue. I thought they had a great reputation. I'm exhausted and depressed and just want this to be over.

OP, did you ever get any resolution from Lucky Dog on this? I'm in a similar situation now, and also having trouble with them.

OP here, just seeing this now, sorry. After multiple texts and phone calls, lucky dog finally sent me instructions for how to return our dog. It was awful, having to beg them to let us do something that was so sad for us to have to do. I can't stand that organization. I'm sorry to hear you're having a similar ezperience. It's been awful.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry you were put through the ringer, OP.