My dog bit my daughter's face. What should I do?

Question

I have had a maltese/shihtzu mix for about 5 years. She is the best dog in the world. Just tonight she bit my 3 year old daughters face, we had to put bandaids on her nose and cheek. My daughter was teasing her at the time, and the biting was provoked.

My dog has bit two other people before, only drawing blood once before my daughter tonight. She is family, and I am looking for something to do besides put her to sleep.

Any opinions or suggestions would be appriciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hopefully your daughter won't provoke the dog any more, as she has learned the outcome. If she provokes the dog any further, the dog needs to be in a home with no small children.
this site may be of help to you: http://www.cyberpet.com/dogs/articles/general/manners.htm
"Teaching children gentleness with pets".
another good site: http://www.my-dog.info/getting-a-dog/children_handle_pets.asp

My dog bit me when I was 3 years old..he never did it again..

Answer 2

being reasonable...
a dog of this size is unlikely to kill anyone or maul someone too badly. But little dogs are quite frequently, aggressive and their owners LET THEM GET AWAY WITH MURDER!!! The dog needs boundaries, discipline. No, I don't think it will be necessary to put it to sleep because it doesnt pose a huge threat to others.

It should be confined and put in a pen/crate when children are around. The dog should be placed in an area that the child cannot get to the dog. The child should not be allowed to interact with the dog at all! This can be accomplished.

Kids that young have no clue what they're doing will harm them. This child should not have been with the dog at all. That's how it should be from now on.

In all my life, the only dog I've ever been chased by was a black miniature poodle. I was about 9 years old and I simply jumped up the nearest tree to escape. It was a sweet dog when it was inside it's house with it's owners. But, the idiots would turn it out loose and they had zero control of it. Because it was little, it got away with biting several children that played near the house. It's a surprise nobody sued the owner! If there's anything I see too frequently it is small aggressive dogs that live lives that allow them too much freedom. Little dogs are usually very intolerant of children

Take having a little aggressive dog more seriously AND especially don't fall prey (again) to thinking children and dogs somehow go together - dog's don't always respect children because children appear weak unlike an adult. Kids need to meet with the dog in a friendly manner and you have to keep watch to see if the situation is good. This goes for only older kids over age 8. Children can tease animals (as you well know)...and their misfortune will be being bitten by a dog that doesn't have any moral obligation to not bite a child - it simply wants the annoying aggravation to stop and biting is it's effective strategy to get the perpetrator away.

I would not necessarily give the dog to someone else knowing that it may be temperamental unless it goes to a child free (none under 10) home. I'm not that into giving a problem dog to someone else to deal with. Thats a lazy solution. I think if someone took the responsibility to get a dog then that person needs to do some work and find an effective way to keep it - and keep it from harming others.

Answer 3

Once a dog bites, it is more likely to do so again in the future than a dog who has never bitten anyone. The dog has learned that biting achieves the desired goal (to be left alone). You can never leave your dog alone with your daughter, or any child, again. You should also put your dog up when you have company, as you cannot predict your dog's behavior.
While it is important to teach your daughter the proper way to handle a dog, your maltese/shih tzu is no longer the dog to use for these lessons. Check with your vet to make sure there is no medical reason for the dog's irritability. Otherwise, seek the help of a professional trainer and keep your dog isolated for children and visitors.

Answer 4

Oh what a miserable situation. I feel for you.

If you really want to keep the dog make sure you keep your daughter and the dog separated unless you are right with them supervising.

Work with your daughter and teach her how to pet the dog and what the dog will and will not tolerate.
I'm usually the first one to tell a parent to get rid of a dog that bites, but you say the dog was provoked.

If you do decide you can't keep her - please don't have her put to sleep. Find her a home with people that don't have kids. (my dad got a dog from people that had kids and the dog had bitten a couple times - with dad and no kids around, the dog was fine - truly a great pet) I'm sure you would feel better knowing she was living with someone that loves her rather that having her put to sleep.

Answer 5

Train the dog that biting is not ok by making a loud ow sound when she does play bite. End play when she is doing this if the ow doesn't work and if you need to put her on a time out. Train your daughter that teasing the dog will end up with her getting bit. You need to make sure the dog understands that the humans in the house and around her are pack leaders and she is lower on the totem pole.

Answer 6

I would suggest a few things...

1.) seperate the dog and child ALWAYS. Never allow your child to be around this dog any more.

2.) Obedience classes.

3.) Dominating your dog. She needs to KNOW she is not an alpha in this house. Wether the child picks on her or not, she should NEVER bite ANYONE...EVER. She is now a liabillity. And if you don't get rid of her, and she bites someone, and they sue you, homeowners insurance could go unbelievably way up.

Your best option is to find her a loving home, who will properly train her, and has no children.

Answer 7

Lady, CALL an animal specialist and talk with him or her. The dog can be jealous, maybe he's not getting all the attention he got before your daughter were born. Are you giving the dog some attention, affection ? . Instruct your girl NOT to tease the dog, to try the dog with respect. Children should NOT be allowed to bother animals, tease them to the point they REACT.I don't see why you'd put to sleep the dog just because he reacted to the teasing. I think you should make that call now

Answer 8

A 3 year old should never be left alone with any dog. If she was teasing, you need to correct your daughter. That being said, you can't overlook the fact the dog has bitten others. I am in the same boat. My cairn terrier mix has nipped at a couple of people. If someone he doesnt know is coming around, I put him on a chain so I can watch him. You have been warned, now be careful. If it continues, and is unprovoked, you will have to consider the euthanasia.

Answer 9

Your dog bit people before and you didn't take any action? Dogs should not bite even when provoked. Your dog has behavior problems that are unacceptable. When you first received the dog you should have socialized it and trained it. Still not too late but it is more complicated because now bad behavior has to be unlearned and correct behavior learned. I see three people in this equation and your daughter and the dog are to be blameless. Seek the advice of a trainer.

Answer 10

I don't know about the Maltese mix ; but shi-tzu's don't usually bite hard enough to brake the skin ; and will only make an effort to bite when you stick something right up to their mouth ; regardless you can't have a child that close to take chances . Separate them . The dog may be jealous .

Answer 11

Ok as I read others I allways heard " it's your fault, don't let her tease the dog." Well I'm not going to try to make you feel guitly, But yes, I think you defently should teach her to not tease the dog but she is only three, and that can be hard for toddlers. Show your dog what she did to your daughter and tell her she is a very bad dog. There is no need to put her out though, dogs will be dogs, they get cranky and when people bother them they will snip. Well good luck and I hope she heals soon!