Dog bit toddler -- should I be more worried?

[Anonymous]

Our dog is just like yours, put up with everything. Then she snapped at DS twice in a week when he was hugging her. Turns out she was getting very sick and had to be hospitalized the next day. She's better now and has never down that again. Maybe take the dog to the vet

[Anonymous]

does your DH also encourage your toddler to play with knives? Poke things at electrical sockets?

[Anonymous]

OP, you can not allow your son to chase the dog with pushable toys. Also, stop allowing your son to hug the dog in such a way where he lays his body on the dog. Your son is gaining weight and your dog is getting older. That's a combination for those "hugs" to get very painful for the dog.

[Anonymous]

I never let my kid treat our dog in the manner you described. And we live in a very small space so I do understand the challenge.

Get a baby gate and when you are not able to CLOSELY supervise, put your toddler on one side and the dog on the other.

Honestly, how much of that kind of behavior would you put up with before you snapped?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to supervise them more closely and NOT allow your toddler to do any of those things even if the dog doesn't seem to mind.

You also need to provide a kid free place for the dog and a dog free place for the toddler.

+1. We had issues with one of our dogs and our DD around this age. It took a long time and a ton of repetition but we taught DD to pet the dogs gently and nothing more. Whenever they were interacting or close to each other, I dropped everything and starlight there with them watching the dogs and intervening if I saw any signs of trouble. If I couldn't do that, I separated the dogs from DD.

DD is 3 and I still don't leave her alone with the dog. If I have to leave the room, he comes with me. She's pretty good with him but she's still young enough and unpredictable enough thati don't take chances.

No dog should have to put up with the treatment you've been allowing your son to dole out. It's no surprise at all that the dog finally reacted.

[Anonymous]

PP here - meant that I sat right with them, not starlight!

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't fault you for not being right there the second this happened and I don't judge you for your child not being 100% perfect with the dog. My son is 17 months old. Our dog is a gentle giant. He puts up with a lot from our son so I don't feel like I have to be within arms reach every second. DS is no angel...he sometimes tries to poke his eyes or hit the dog too (I tolerate neither). If ds seems hell bent on antagonizing the dog, I send the dog outside (happily, he's mostly an outdoor dog and he likes it out there), or into another room. The dog will head towards our bedroom if he's had enough. 99% of the time, ds is great with the dog, and has improved a lot over the past 2 months. I'm not trying to make it sound like it's easy to deal with. But now that the dog snapped at your son, you will have to rethink the situation. You could baby gate the kitchen or dining room and put a dog bed in there.

When ds goes anywhere near the dog with his push toy, I stop him and tell him "if you chase Fido with your motorcycle, I will take it away from you." If he goes even one inch towards the dog, I take the motorcycle away. I think I started that when ds was about 14 months old, and the tactic works (rarely does he even try to chase the dog anymore).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someway, somehow, that dog has got to go. Never ceases to amaze me how otherwise reasonable and intelligent people don't get it about their aggressive dogs. I'm not trying to be man, andI get that you love your dog, but this head biting thing is serious as hell.

Per OP, it's not an aggressive dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think now that you know that your toddlers antics are too much for your dog, you need to keep them separated unless you can devote 100% of your attention to supervising them. And as soon as your toddler comes even close to doing something he shouldnt, separate them. But unlike other instances on dcum of dogs biting unprovoked, I don't think you need to get rid of the dog.

Your toddler is too rough with the dog. I seriously don't understand why you've let so much go on for so long. I know a lot of people assume that it's fine when kids do this to their own dog and then the kid tries to do this dogs they don't know. I know you probably think it was cute, but it's just dumb.

Also, don't let him hang on him or hug him any more. Your kid is obviously way to young to understand. But gentle pets are fine. I would talk to your vet too.

I usually am not hard on people, but honestly, I had two dogs and three kids and not once did I ever have an incident where any of my kids did even one of the things your one child has done. And I never separated the kids and dogs. It really is possible for kids and dogs to live together without incidents.

And, I agree with the poster who noted that you need to be concerned that your dog doesn't give signals before he bites.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would be really worried if I were you. You just have no idea what might happen next.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of the dog.

You've had your warning. How will you feel if something worse happens?

[Anonymous]

I have a 12 mo and 2 dogs. A very laid back lab that DD can lay on and roll toys over and a shepherd mix who loves her but doesnt want to be played with in that manner.

DD knows which dog is which and we watch her much more closely with the shepherd. DD understands the word NO and we say it and pull her away.
We don't crate the dogs but we have a table in the corner of our living room that the dog can fit under, She does under there when she has had enough. Today DD tried to get under there with there and although I thought it was cute I pulled her away because I dont think thats fair to the dog. Thats her safe place.

You dont need to rehome your dog, but please work as much as you can on your child respecting your dog. Teach him to treat the dog as you would want him to treat another toddler.

[Anonymous]

The dog may have been startled therefore gave no warning. Once my son scooted off the couch, not realizing the dog was sleeping on the floor right below him. DS landed on the dog. The dog immediately yiped and swung his head around, but thankfully didn't nip. It was very quick, no warning. Dog was just startled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I really dont understand people like you. Why would you allow your child to do any of this to a dog? And why would you ever let your child be near an animal that has become aggressive? I have a friend whose child persistently whacked their dog with a stick - hard - and my friend just laughed and said oh the dog doesn't mind. It just blew my mind;even if a dog puts up with that kind of abuse 100 times, you have no way to be sure that he won't object, and possibly violently, on the 101st time. What you describe as supervision isn't anything close to responds idle parenting OR pet ownership. Get a clue before your child gets seriously hurt.

I have to agree with this. You encouraged your child to chase the dog with a push toy?? That is seriously batshit insane. You are asking for trouble. You don't seem to have any idea how to foster an appropriate relationship between your child and your dog. I would consider getting a good dog trainer in to teach you how to treat your dog in a safe way that isn't going to torture him or set him off. Because the way you are going is NOT good.

Signed,

Mom of 2 toddlers and 2 big dogs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think now that you know that your toddlers antics are too much for your dog, you need to keep them separated unless you can devote 100% of your attention to supervising them. And as soon as your toddler comes even close to doing something he shouldnt, separate them. But unlike other instances on dcum of dogs biting unprovoked, I don't think you need to get rid of the dog.

Your toddler is too rough with the dog. I seriously don't understand why you've let so much go on for so long. I know a lot of people assume that it's fine when kids do this to their own dog and then the kid tries to do this dogs they don't know. I know you probably think it was cute, but it's just dumb.

Also, don't let him hang on him or hug him any more. Your kid is obviously way to young to understand. But gentle pets are fine. I would talk to your vet too.

I usually am not hard on people, but honestly, I had two dogs and three kids and not once did I ever have an incident where any of my kids did even one of the things your one child has done. And I never separated the kids and dogs. It really is possible for kids and dogs to live together without incidents.

And, I agree with the poster who noted that you need to be concerned that your dog doesn't give signals before he bites.

I'm the poster who posted that and I wanted to be clear that I didn't say the the dog doesn't give signals. I said he doesn't give signals that the OP and her DH seem to be able to read. It's quite possible that running away from the child with the push toy would have been a clear signal to another parent, who would have responded by preventing the incident.