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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I understand your situation. Our dog bit my child. I know everyone on here would say get rid of her, but we didn't.

The context is she is a very laid back non-aggressive dog and our child was seriously bothering her. The dog had growled several times but our child had ignored this. I had told the child to move/stop doing it when the dog growls but he is very stubborn.

We all learned a lesson from this, and our child now does not harass the dog and knows to move away of the dog should she growl, which she will do if our child "cuddles" too aggressively.

If your dog snapped with no warning, that would be scary. Are you sure the dog did not growl first?

I grew up with dogs, but the lesson I learned as an adult is that young children need to be taught how to behave even around the most relaxed, mild-mannered dogs and how to treat the animal with respect.

They are NOT toys. I know you don't want to hear this, but lying down on the floor with a dog is not the wisest idea.

[/quote]

op, you've had the dog since January, which means your kids have had 2 months to learn how to interact appropriately with her. They still need a lot of training.[/quote]

I think you have a Rottweiler.  You may not know it, but they shed like crazy.  Dobermans do not.  Rescues like about the mix, and say almost everything is a lab mix.  If you really want to know, do a genetic test.  I actually own a Rottweiler rescue dog (on purpose).

1.  DO NOT like on the floor with the dog.  That's asking for trouble.  Never put yourself on the same level with the dog.  DO NOT like on the couch with your head at the dog's level.  
2.  Learn to watch for the warning signs that the dog is displeased with something.  "Whale eye".  (Showing the whites of the eye).  Pinned back ears.  Sneezing.  Licking.  You can google this.  If they're uncomfortable with something you're doing, they'll let you know--but you need to learn to understand what they're telling you.
3.  Dogs will warn you.  Repeatedly.  (See 2).  A low growl, lifting the lips.  A snap.  If the dog wanted to bite your DS, the dog would have bitten your DS.  Dogs are lightening fast--it wasn't a miss, it was a warning.
4.  Train your kids, too.  This one is almost harder.  At least it was for us.  I CONSTANTLY had to remind my kids to get off the floor and lie down with the dog, especially at first.
5.  Find a trainer that specializes in Working Dogs--Rotties, German Shepherds, etc.  Not someone who obedience trains beagles.  It's different.  Don't take your dog to PetSmart to be trained by someone who barely knows more than you.
6. Or try here: www.positivek9training.com

In the meantime, keep a closer eye on your kids and dog together.  Don't let them cuddle--seriously.  They both need more training first.  That can come later.
And it will.  I'm on my 4th rescue Rottweiler, FWIW.  They've all been great dogs, some faster than others.  (People are really awful to dogs sometimes)

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Dumb question but don't a lot of people let their dogs sleep in their beds? Wouldn't that constitute laying down at the same level with your dog?  [/quote]

Not that PP.  Allowing your dog to sleep in your bed (we don't because of allergies) is very different than going to a dog's bed.  They know which bed belongs to whom.[/quote]

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