How to let children know we have to give our dog away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was trying to eat hot dogs off the counter. She walked in and either pet him or tried to take the plate when it happened. She went to her personal doctor and he did not report it. That's beside the point. I almost wish he has been taken away. He snapped at my son a year ago. I gave him a pass because my son climbed on his dog bed. I was still shocked he bit her. He loves strangers!

Oh, see that's strike TWO in my book. He has to go. I can't believe that her Dr. didn't have to do a mandatory report on the incident

[Anonymous]

I am not a PP. We lived on a farm, and we did not neuter our cats. My mom would drop cats off on the side of the road or sometimes bring them to the vet to be euthanized. As a young child, I hated my mother for that. I don't mean to be extreme, but it does not seem to me that you have to get rid of this dog. Other people have recommended solutions.

I have a standard poodle. One time I was outside in the backyard with him, and I picked up a balled up piece of paper. He wanted that paper, and tried to get it out of my hand. He ended up biting me a bit at the same time. One other time, I was out in the yard with him, me and my 6 year old dd. She was running up and down the driveway, and he was too. He ran into her and knocked her down. Are these offenses where I should get rid of him? NO! When he was running with dd, I was trying to get her to stop. I had a dog trainer who told me never to have my kids run with the dog. I was trying to get my dd to stop running with the dog right before he ran her over.

Anyway, I hope you can find another solution.

[Anonymous]

OP, to answer your question, you can tell your children honestly that you're getting rid of the dog because he bit someone. Or you could lie and say you can't afford a dog.

Make sure to tell them that you're not getting any other dogs again, since you don't know what to do about a lab who makes any displays of aggression, or find out how to deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a PP. We lived on a farm, and we did not neuter our cats. My mom would drop cats off on the side of the road or sometimes bring them to the vet to be euthanized. As a young child, I hated my mother for that. I don't mean to be extreme, but it does not seem to me that you have to get rid of this dog. Other people have recommended solutions.

I have a standard poodle. One time I was outside in the backyard with him, and I picked up a balled up piece of paper. He wanted that paper, and tried to get it out of my hand. He ended up biting me a bit at the same time. One other time, I was out in the yard with him, me and my 6 year old dd. She was running up and down the driveway, and he was too. He ran into her and knocked her down. Are these offenses where I should get rid of him? NO! When he was running with dd, I was trying to get her to stop. I had a dog trainer who told me never to have my kids run with the dog. I was trying to get my dd to stop running with the dog right before he ran her over.

Anyway, I hope you can find another solution.

Some people value the lives of dogs more than humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get bit by a dog, get stitches and when asked say that it's a dog bite, the dog will be impounded. No choice. Even if it's your dog and you don't want that to happen.

This doesn't need to be "your" decision in the eyes of your children, this is a county public safety decision.

Not true. Depends on the county and what the victim wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Do NOT keep this dog.
You are wise for putting 2 and 2 together (snapping at your son and biting to protect a food source).
This dog thinks it is the master in the house, and is friendly most of the time just because it usually gets its way.

Tell your children matter of factly that there is no other option than to try to see if a rescue wants the dog, because the dog has proven that it can act dangerously.

Really?

Food aggression is a particular problem. Snapping at a child, by a lab, is a means of communication, not an aggressive bite. Please don't spout nonsense.

Actually I happen to know what I'm talking about. Neither are acceptable forms of behavior, and unlike other PPs who pretend this is easily dealt with, most of the time it is not. Experienced dog trainers have specific and time-consuming ways of dealing with such behaviors, but the average family does not have the time or energy. Plus with children around and playdates going on, there is a certain measure of risk around attempting to re-train a dog in the house.

[Anonymous]

It's off to the glue factory for Boscoe.

[Anonymous]

You can train the dog. If you can't do that then you must get rid of him. Tell the kids the truth. The dog is getting older and his behavior is unpredictable. If he had done it to one of your kids friend's then would have been more severe consequences.

[Anonymous]

Sad. At least explore options by speaking with a trained professional in dog training rather than relying to opinions of random folks on DCUM.

Poor message for your kids too IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really want to cry and hug your dog after reading this. Dogs are family too and sometimes they make mistakes!

Me too!

You people are nuts. I feel bad that the dog may leave its home, but it also snapped at her son. If a "mistake" is my child being marred for life, I'm not willing to take the risk. Get over yourselves. I really hope you are vegans too -- what "mistake" did your pork chop dinner make?

We love and respect dogs and try to take care of them,but if we need to make a choice, humans must come first.

[Anonymous]

Too bad your dog cannot talk...Unfortunately for him you are only getting one side of the story.

I would never give away my beloved pet over one bite.

Try to see if there are other options available first.

Please find out if he was provoked. Scared.

Maybe you can take him to see someone to address these issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you just get rid of the dog -- whatever you mean by that -- while they're at school, won't they wonder what will happen to themselves if they do something wrong?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you just get rid of the dog -- whatever you mean by that -- while they're at school, won't they wonder what will happen to themselves if they do something wrong?

+1

No. It's a fucking dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, to answer your question, you can tell your children honestly that you're getting rid of the dog because he bit someone. Or you could lie and say you can't afford a dog.

Make sure to tell them that you're not getting any other dogs again, since you don't know what to do about a lab who makes any displays of aggression, or find out how to deal with it.

I agree with this advice. The OP wants to get rid of the dog; she does not want to work with a trainer to address the problem. Please be honest with your kids and never get another dog. Also, OP, please be honest with the shelter and give a detailed account of the snap and the bite. Your dog is a resource guarder (food, beds)--it did not bite unprovoked. The sooner you give the dog up, the sooner the dog can get the training it needs. You've let the problem get worse by doing nothing for a year.

[Anonymous]

I'd either look into training or finding an adult only home. I love animals and my cat, and three birds are all rescues with traumatic pasts. I live alone and they do well in my quiet environment where I occasionally have visitors. The animals are allowed to interact on their own terms. Perhaps that would be better for this particular dog? I'd probably not want a potentially aggressive dog around if I had kids so I completely understand that. I also think that since this is a new behavior perhaps it's worth taking to the vet to make sure the dog doesn't have any illnesses or injuries.