posted
My wife and I just decided to get rid of our dog and we are both really upset about it. Unfortunately he left us little choice. he bit my daughter. The thing that really bums me out is that he's a great dog. Just our kids are too young to understand how to play with him properly and when he bit my daughter it was because she was laying on top of him pulling his tail. but when it comes to my kids, there is no thought in the matter, they come first. We just really want to find a good home for Brutus, thats our dog, and are trying to figure out the best way to do that. Any advice?
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
How hard did the dog bite? Was it a "hey, lay off" nip, or a "now you must die" type chomp? I'm sure you have a good handle on what needs to be done, but I don't know that I'd give up a dog just because it bit my child. I don't know that I wouldn't though--I don't have children, and I understand that that can change a person's perspective.
I know that when I was a kid, there were a couple of dogs that bit me, and I've been bitten and scratched by myriad cats. All of that just helped me learn how to interact with them really.
If you do feel that you have to find the dog a new home, I'd recommend first trying to find a friend or family member to take him in. If that fails, find a "no kill" animal shelter and take him there (maybe advertise in the paper first).
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
He is a mix between a beagle and a mini pin. He didn't bite her that hard, it left scratches but didn't break the skin. Unfortuantely I was in the other room when it happened so I don't know what his attitude was.
But yes, having children definately changes your perspective. they come first with out question. Like I said we love the dog but we can't trust him and there is no way i'm going to risk my childrens facial features for a dog. My perspective is also affected by experience. My sisiter was bitten on the cheek by a dog when she was 2 and she still has the scar, 21 years later.
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I've always wondered - what's the big deal about scars? I've got keloid skin, so pretty much if I get cut, I scar.
Growing up with very big dogs (st. bernards), I learned very early on that it wasn't always a bright idea to pull on the dog's tail. Yep, I got bit once, but it wasn't that bad. It drew blood, but again, I'd been tormenting the dog, so I deserved it. Same thing with our cats. Sometimes I pushed them too far, and got clawed as a result. No biggie. The wounds healed, I got some neat looking scars, and life went on.
I'd say give the dog another chance, and try to teach your kids that it's not fun for the animal to be tormented.
However, if you can't handle the idea that your pet has basic instincts still, then yes, your family shouldn't have a pet - ever.
Posts: 851 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Aspectre, I'm hoping that you were kidding about putting the dog to sleep because it bit someone.
If not, should we should kill every person who hits anything (human or animal), cause there ain't no such thing as a good human that hits?
Posts: 851 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
Actually this was his second chance. He has shown some agressive tendancies before and we have been working with him, as well as our girls, on it. Like I said I do feel a bit like this is unfair to the dog who is only acting out naturally, but you have to make that hard decision at some point. We have decided that our kids are just too young still to be able to completely understand the type of behavior that is and isn't acceptable around the dog.
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
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We have decided that pyutting him to sleep is NOT an option. He deserves a chance with a family who doesn't have children. He is absolutely wonderfull 99 percent of the time, but as a father You can't risk that 1 percent. So with a little luck we will find hima great home.
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
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aspectre, that's nonsense. Some people aren't good around kids. Some dogs aren't. That's life. Dogs cannot be intrinsically bad-they can have poor temperments, or be mistrained. To say that every dog that bites should be put to sleep-that's sick. So many can be trained out of it, or be put in a home better suited to their temperment. Just killing them off, it's cruel and wasteful.
Posts: 3493 | Registered: Jul 2001
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I just assumed that aspectre was joking, Toretha. I seriously doubt that he would seriously say something that was so obviously ridiculous.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Okay, I'm going to get flamed here, but I'm going to say it anyway.
Growing up on a farm, with dogs, cats, horses, cattle, etc. etc. -- I have been bitten, stepped on, kicked, knocked down, etc. etc. NEVER, in our household or those of my fellow farming neighbors, did we get rid of an animal for this type of thing unless it was really vicious (did it unprovoked). ALWAYS it was a point of education of the child!! Teaching a child to RESPECT the personal space of the animal; teaching us (as kids) that animals can be unpredictable, and that you should always be slightly on guard and know what to do. (kind of like cars when you are teaching them to drive) Respect, respect, respect.
Now, you never say just how young exactly your child is. And granted, if this is a HOUSE dog, then this dog has even less personal space and more needs to be taught. But I would hate to see you get rid of a dog just because the dog was communicating it's warning the same way it would if it were to its own puppy.
Farmgirl (who has, with great pleasure, killed a rooster that was just downright mean, who liked sneaking up behind people and attacking them for no reason)
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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Somehow, Farmgirl, that last bit puts me in mind of Little Peggy in 7th Son (although that was a hen, and she didn't kill it herself).
I absolutely agree with you, by the way. This was how my parents always approached my interactions with animals (within reason). I've probably never been more surprised than when a cow bit me on the knee. I'm still not sure why it did that. Maybe it sensed that in a few months I'd be dining on it, and decided to preemptively get me back?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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It was kind of like -- if a child burned himself on a hot stove -- do you get rid of the stove? Never cook again? Or do you teach the child WHY they shouldn't touch a hot stove?
(I just think a lot of society is becoming way overprotective, which prevents some children from learning much on their own, compared to say -- 100 years ago as pioneers)
posted
We got rid of a dog once for biting our son and drawing blood. Yes, it was our son's fault, yes, the dog was a generally nice dog and deserved a good home. This is a choice that each family must make on its own.
We rehomed the dog, rather than have her put to sleep, and sent her to a rescue who knew her history. They ended up keeping her as a mascot dog rather than rehoming her elsewhere. They have no children. This is an ideal situation. It's extremely unusual. I know that we are blessed to have good friends (who helped us ship her to this place) and the luck to have a sanctuary for Bella.
My son was three years old, pulling on Bella's ears, right in the kitchen where I could see him. He had been pulling on her ears for three years straight, in essence. She finally had enough. He didn't learn his lesson the first few bloodless nips. I blame myself as well.
He cried his heart out when I told him Bella moved to Texas. He still talks about her (two years later). It's hard, but it was our decision, and I don't regret it.
My heart goes out to you and your family. You have to do what's right for you.
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
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Yes... well... my cat used to bite regularly, never badly, but I would have scratches on my arm. There was a time that she would bite anyone who treated her with disrespect. The fact my little sister liked/s to chase the poor fluffball is/was one of the problems....
We didn't get rid of her, but we definately thought about it. I'm very glad we didn't.
How old is your dog? It doesn't sound like a serious bite. If your dog is just a puppy, perhaps her/his behavior will improve.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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When we first got our dog we had problems with him biting. It didn't take long to figure out why. My twelve-year-old stepbrother would tease the dog by pulling his tail, taking his toy away, threatening to hit or kick him, shoving him roughly. The dog would become tired of being jerked by the collar or shoved off across the floor and would attack him. Then the dog would try to hide and my family would try to force him outside when he'd bite them hard. My parents wanted to shoot him, but I managed to convince them that it wasn't his fault my stepbrother was cruel to him. We kept him, and my parents started to watch how my stepbrother treated the dog. As the dog got older he became mellower, and my stepbrother learned that animals aren't as defenseless as they seem and treats them better.
Long story short, if your daughter is too young to handle a pet, don't put him down just give him to someone that can. If the dog's still young, like less than 3 he will probably chill out on his own, if you hold on to him. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Posts: 349 | Registered: May 2003
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Noeman-hopefully-but that's the exact attitude my parents who are normally reasonable people take-and took when they put our dog to sleep because he attacked my uncle (a man he'd never met, who to the dog was a stranger, sneaking in through the back gate without a family member with him to show that he was safe)
Posts: 3493 | Registered: Jul 2001
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