Need advice about dog bites

[Loke]

My sheltie, who is almost 8, bit my 6 yr old daughter in the face. She is OK, it is just one bite mark below her lip. I am heart broken. My first thought was I'd have to put him down. :(

He can not stay with us. My mom has offered to take him, this would be ok since she is in a different state and he wouldn't be around kid. Is that acceptable or should he be put down? I truly feel it was just a pain reaction. I know she didn't hit him, she just touched him. He is currently kept away until I decide what is best for us all.

 

[hanley]

What was going on when he bit her in the face. Has he ever done this before, could it be , he is in some pain, or sick. I would check out every source before sending him away, & I would not think of putting him down over 1 bite.If you don't want to try & correct his problem, call a Sheltie rescue org. they will be willing to work with any issues he might have. Boxer Pal,Hanley

 

[Scorpio]

Corgan is almost 8, your daughteris 6 so Corgan has been around all your daughters life? and he has never bitten before? I would have him checked.

 

[Loke]

I plan to have him checked. I can't bear the thought of putting him down, but I'd do that rather than chance another bite if nothing was wrong with him. KWIM? My husband will not let me keep him since he bit, so he will have to go live with my mom no matter what. :(

 

[mypupJake]

I would just send him to your moms since the bite wasn't serious and he won't be living with kids. If it happens again then consider other options.

 

[Loke]

I meant that I'd rather put him down that torture him by just giving him up to a stranger. I am happy that my mom was more than happy to take him. He is a sweet guy and I understand dh's reasoning.

 

[lafsalot]

I meant that I'd rather put him down that torture him by just giving him up to a stranger. I am happy that my mom was more than happy to take him. He is a sweet guy and I understand dh's reasoning.

If he is such a "sweet guy" and has only nipped this once in all the eight years that you have had him, I don't understand how you can so readily give up on him?!! It could quite possibly be because he is sick - have you had him checked out by the vet? I become emotionally attached to my furbabies from the get go, and it is difficult for me to comprehend how anyone could consider euthanization over rescue. On the brighter side - your daughter is alright, and your mother is making a permanent home for your senior dog!! ~ Cathy

 

[lexintitus]

I agree, thinking of putting down a dog, over 1 dog bite seems extreme. Anything could have caused the dog to bite, which should be investigated. (Have you gotten the dog checked yet?) On the other hand, if I had children, and one of them had been bitten, I'd be very concerned of it happening again, especially if it was a true bite, not to be mistaken for a nip and the dog was in good health. So, giving the dog to your mom sounds like a good idea. That way the dog can keep its life and you're not in a constant state of paranoia that it could happen again, and possibly worse the next time.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I'm horrified that you would even CONSIDER putting a dog down for a simple bite about which you know nothing. You've not checked to see if the dog is sick or in pain, you said your daughter only "touched" him but I truly bet there was more to it that just that.

There are so many other options which should be checked out first before even thinking about ending a life. Are you GOD? What makes you think you have a right to take and give life simply because a dog expresses himself in a way YOU don't understand. I'm disgusted by your attitude.

There are behaviorists, vets, trainers, and rescue organizations which can help you understand what happened and see that it doesn't happen again. I work very, very hard in my business SAVING aggressive dogs from being put down. Its people like you who are at fault for so many dogs without homes and the reason so many dogs are KILLED each year. Your only concern is a small bite on the lip. If your daughter had her face that close to the dog for him to bite her face, then YOU and YOUR daughter are at fault. There is no excuse for putting a child at risk, and by allowing any child to get in the face of ANY dog is downright irresponsible.

Think about what you just said in your post. Perhaps you SHOULD find a new home for your dog because frankly, in my opionion, you don't deserve to own a dog.

I'm sorry, but your post has made me very, very angry. And if no one else will say it, I sure will. Your attitude sickens me and your playing God is wrong, wrong, wrong!!! :mad: :mad:

 

[Loke]

Dan, I did not mean that I was going to put him down. I would rather not have to give him to a stranger. I'm sorry if you read that in my post. I love my dogs, I will not deny that I am at fault for this happening. That is another reason I feel so bad about it. I may not have come across clearly in my posts, I am definitely not a writer. I am offended deeply that you would think I do not deserve to own a dog. :(

I said that I thought I would have to put him down. I was not aware if there was a law that would force me to do that. In fact they told me if he had not been up to date on shots that I would lose him. When he bit her I thought it was much worse than a simple little bite to the lip, she had blood all over her face. It scared me to death! I have had a chance to sit back and think on what to do and in that time it makes sense about what happened. She was lying on the floor on her blanket watching TV. Corgan is usually at my feet, he is there now, and I didn't notice him get up and the next thing I know she was bit. I am not all knowing and can not catch everything before it happens. It took 6 years for something to happen.

He is going to live with my mom. I know he will be cared for and it's the best I can do for him.