Our dog nipped my daughter today... what's your oppinion?...?

Question

We have a Boxer, he's very large (80+ Lbs) he'll be 2 yrs in the spring, so he's still considered a puppy. He's exteremly gentle and my daughter loves him to death (even rides him like a pony). Today, while I was at work & my hubby was making lunch he heard her scream. The dog had nipped her on her face (hard enough to slightly pierce the skin). She says she didn't do anything to cause his aggression - but she has been known to lie so that she doesn't get in trouble. The dog was immediately punished and spent the rest of the day in his cage.

Now I'm wondering if: #1 - I should find him a new home. #2 - Have him put down or #3 - Leave it as is but if it EVER happends again...he's gone.

We love him dearly - but not at the expence of our child's safety. For the time being - she will not ever be left alone with him.

I'll be contacting my Vet tomorow, but for right now - what's your oppinion???

Thanks

Listen - regardless of what my daughter may have done. The dog was punished because HE DID BITE HER.
My daughter's punishement was that she wasn't allowed to play with him anymore.

They are rarely left alone together and I'd appreciate not being accused of neglect.

Answer 1

You don't say how old your daughter is. I'd be interested to know. However, given the fact sthat you gave, I don't think I'd have him put down. They may very well have been playing and he didn't mean to nip her. Or she may have reached for something he was eating. Because you love him, I'm assuming that his shots are up to date, so there shouldn't be any problem there. Kids frequently get nipped or scratched by their pets especially if they "spank" the dog and there's no lasting harm. I do think you're wise however to be determined that she not be left alone iwth him in the future.

Don't be in too big a rush to find him a new home. Boxers are not typically viscious to the people they love. They have more of a tendency to go after people who they perceive as dangerous to "their people". I had a pit bull for several years and their rep is a shame. It all depends on how you raise them. He was the sweetest most loving dog I ever had, but Lord help anybody that would have tried to hurt one of us. Good luck with yours

Answer 2

He is a pup and seems like a good dog from what you say so I wouldn't put him down for sure. The finding him a new home could be an option.

Personally, (and I didn't always feel this way) I would never, ever leave a child with a large dog and probably not a medium dog. Maybe not even a small dog, depending on the temperment of the dog. I've heard too many horror stories about "good, gentle" dogs attacking children and babies.

You did not say how old your daughter is, but I wouldn't put it past a child to aggravate a dog on purpose and sometimes things children and even adults do unknowingly can aggravate an animal.

My cats hide from my 7 yr. old grandson because he's so active and just his normal kid actions freak them out.

Answer 3

First of all, you musn't leave a young child alone with a dog... ever.

Secondly, you need to gain an understanding of how dominance is established among dogs. He is not a human and will never react in a human way to the family. You have to behave in a way that he understands in order for him to act in an acceptable way.

You can hire a trainer or canine behavioral specialist to come in and help you with this problem. If you can't or don't want to do this, re-home the dog. Your daughter's safety is tantamount, as you said, and after all, what would be the good of allowing the dog opportunity to do something which could cause you to feel there's no choice but to put him down. He's really big and could inflict some very serious harm.

Ask your vet for referrals. Even if it's expensive, I'm sure your dog was not cheap, and you are attached to him, so it is probably more palatable to you than getting rid of him.

Answer 4

Your daughter should NOT ever, ever be allowed to ride on a dog of ANY size ..this is cruel to the dog and it hurts the dog. Serious injury can be done to a dogs spine by this type of behavior.
Punishing the dog after the fact was a fruitless venture..the dog had no understanding at that point on why it was being punished.

Given the fact that your daughter has been allowed to play rough and inappropriately with the dog in the past I would venture to guess that the dog reacted out of fear or pain and in defense. I also would venture to guess that he didn't intend to hurt your daughter but rather to warn her (if a dog that size had intended harm he certainly would have inflicted more damage then a nip).

For the protection of all concerned I would rehome this dog. This dog needs a home where he will be treated with respect . I also would not get another dog until your daughter has learned how to treat animals in an appropriate manner ( they can be taught as young as toddlers).
This post isn't meant to be harsh..it is meant to point out reality of the situation. My job has been as dog trainer and teaching people and dogs for many years. I've attended many classes, seminars, clinics on canine behavior. If the situation is allowed to stay as it is now the dog will be the one to pay the ultimate price....his life and that would be truely sad.

Answer 5

I don't think that your dog is in the wrong here, remember you said that your daughter tells lies to keep from getting into trouble. She may have pulled the dog's tale or another part of him that would have hurt him enough to cause him to nip her. I would sit HER down and talk to her on her level and explain to her that she must have done something to cause the dog to do what he did. It is also clear that he loves her because he does let her ride him, that alone shows love on his part. By no means put him down, that is a very strong punishment for a tiny little nip. You said your husband was in the house making lunch, why didn't he bring her in with him. This time it was on him. Your pet is the innocent victim this time around because your daughter who is young enough to not quite know that it is NOT okay to lie and blame the dog because he can't talk needs to learn how to treat the dog as well, she's more than likely gentle with him when you and/or your husband are around watching her but she needs to learn that since he is still a puppy too, that she needs to play nice with him even when Mommy or Daddy aren't watching them. Besides putting him down would be like saying to someone guilty of a misdemeanor assault where the victim had minor scratches that they were being sentenced to death by lethal injection!

Answer 6

if you didn't punish the dog within 1.2 seconds of biting her, the dog doesn't know what he did wrong. dog's will sometimes bite because of a reflex. yes, a reflex.

did your daughter, by chance, hug the dog , like wrap her arms around his neck, ? was her face right near the dogs ear? many kids have been bitten this way because they may be inadvertantly be blowing, perhaps while laughing or talking while playing, into the dogs ear. puffs of air into a dogs ear can trigger a bite. this is not BS. If no one saw what happened, and you don't know if daughter is telling the truth, you need not to jump to conclusions.
a dogs natural reflex to touch is defensive. if he doesn't see it coming, a reflex kicks in. you don't say how old your daughter is. kids that are young can't expect to know how a dog thinks. or know anything about his natural instincts. so it is your responsibility to get some info yourself on dogs, and then teach your daughter how to play properly with the dog.
boxers are high energy dogs. and they are somewhat big and strong. he needs help in controlling himelf too. you're all he has to help him with that. see a trainer, but make sure it's a good one. otherwise, just read all you can. i reccommend any book by william campbell. don't give up just yet.

Answer 7

First off you do not know that it was aggression. Your daughter may have accidental hurt him and he reacted. (an elbow in the right spot may hurt like the devil). I don't think that you have anything serious going on here but since I don't know how old your daughter is, sometimes small children pull on an ear, grab hold of a lip, tail, foot or what ever and will be a little rough and the dog will respond in defense.

If the skin was barley broken then this is not serious unless the Boxer is showing other signs of aggression. He should be very protective towards her and he may have tried to correct her for something he thought was wrong for her to do.

So don't be too quick to judge, he may be the best thing in her life. Just think about the way a mama dog disciplines her pups. Straight for the face or head, no harm is done but the idea got across.

Answer 8

I'm no dog expert but accidence do happen. From my experience if they bite once they will bite again. You never mentioned how old your daughter is. I think if concerned (which I would be) instead of taking a chance, I would give the dog to a family without kids, especially if you have a young child. There are a lot of older people looking for companionship. This is a hard decision to make but if your childs safety is in question. That comes first. Better safe then sorry.

Answer 9

Boxers are known to be good family dogs, gentle with kids. But as with any animal, exceptions can be found. Generally, however, dogs do not nip unless something is done to provoke them - a finger in the eye, a tug on the tail, for instance. Or it might have even been something as simple as your daughter bouncing on him while he was asleep and the dog jumping up startled and defensive. Your first priority must, of course, be the safety of your daughter, but before you talk about putting the boxer to sleep or giving him away, I would sit down with your daughter and have a serious discussion about what happened. And if you still don't feel comfortable with the dog - instead of putting him down, try to find a good home for him with no children.

Answer 10

I would certinly never leave her alone with any dog and please dont put him down for one little nip cause most of the time a dog wont nip at someone unless it was scared, provoked or hurt in some way so i would just watch him from now on and never let him and your daughter unsuperived ever agian untill you know that he will be fine with her,, my children are the same they will not tell the trueth when they think they are going to get into trouble so your daughter might have hurt him some way and didnt think it would have hurt him,, but please dont think im calling your daughter a lier cause im not but im just saying all children have the tendency to lie for them not to get into trouble,,, I hope your daughter is ok with the nip and also i wanted to say is your dog may be coming out of the puppy stage and start changing his disposition some, you may want to teach your daughter to be not be so rough on the dog from now on,,,