my 12 year old dog bit my 5 year old son?

Question

My dog just bit my son for the second time, it happened once before about 6 months ago. The dog is old (but still in good health - he's 12 and a mixed shepherd breed) and just wants to be left alone. My son is a very active 5 year old and wants to play. He snapped at my son yesterday & got him really good on the brow bone, piercing the skin and there's bruising all around my son's eye (he didn't get the actual eye, thank the universe). I don't feel safe with my dog around my son. The dog would be heart broken if I gave him away. Should I put him down?

p.s. this attack was *not* provoked, he was just running by him in the hallway

Answer 1

YES

Why so many thumbs down? Your child comes first obviously. If my dog had attacked my child not once but TWICE...Come on people at some point the child comes first and the animal goes.

Your child could have been blind from this attack and suffered the rest of his life.

I think some people on here need to realize the difference between animal and child. come on people really. You would keep a dog in your house that was attacking your child? Are you serious? What kind of parents are you?

I love my dog dearly. I would be devastated at the loss of him. But you know what would hurt even more? My child possibly being attacked agian and this time having a permanent disability.

Answer 2

Well you've had your dog for 12 years you should feel as though he's part of your family and I'm certain if your child bit someone and drew blood or caused bruising you wouldnt be shipping him off to the nearest foster home.
Now that does sound extreme but I'm sure you understand the point I'm trying to make. Young or small children are extremely active and when dealing with an older "grouchier" dog keeping the child and the dog seperated might be necessary. Keep in mind dogs can't speak, they can't take their hand (paw) and hold it up to say stop it. You have no idea what your child was doing at that time to provoke your dog to act out but unfortuantely biting or snipping is the way they communicate. I have a friend that has a grouchy older dog and a young daughter and an infant and because the dog is grouchy she avoids the possibility of him doing anything by keeping close eyes on the girls when by the dog. YOU as a parent and a dog owner need to teach your child how to be nice to the doggy. IF all else fails maybe taking the child and the dog to "doggy training classes" would help. IF your dog is a member of your family you will do what is necessary.

Answer 3

To be honest, I wouldn't buy a dog for a birthday gift. Who is to say that your son is going to be happy with the dog you get? How do you know your son REALLY wants a dog? If your son doesn't want the dog, then what? My cousin is 6 and he wanted a dog so bad. They finally moved out to the country and got a dog...he wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. So, you may want to talk to your son about the idea of having a dog and if you have any relatives or friends that own a dog, see how he reacts towards them. A lot of animals end up in shelters because they were gifts of some sort. Please keep that in mind and good luck!

Answer 4

I think your dog just doesn't like your son. You don't say for sure if the attacks were provoked or not. Wanting to play with the dog is much different than teasing or being mean to it. Sometimes dogs are jealous when a child is brought into the house and they never get over it. I know this will offend those who think that dogs have more rights than people but I think you should try to find another home for the dog and maybe get your son a puppy. That's because the dog will bite again and this time, it could be serious enough to require medical attention.

Answer 5

Many people will tell you "yes." I'm not one of them. There are many factors to consider here. First, this is one reason why I believe having an animal is an important part of growing up. Children need to learn to treat animals with care and respect. I'm assuming your dog is warning your son with a growl before he bites him. Easier said than done, I know, but your son must learn to stay away from the dog, at least for a while. Or until he can behave in a way that doesn't make the dog feel threatened. That will be safer for both of them. Also, I wonder why this is happening now? You didn't mention it being a problem during the last five years, so has something changed recently? Is the dog touchy because of arthritis, for example? Or is your son going through a "naughty" phase? (No offense, they all do.) Maybe the dog could use a private corner where he can feel safe and secure--a place your son is not allowed to go. There is a reason this is happening. Your dog has given you love and friendship for his entire life. You owe it to him, to yourself, and to your family, to find the cause of the problem and solve it. What kind of message would that send to your son? Would he grow up to believe that animals' lives are worth so much less than our own? Or would he feel guilty because an animal he loved was killed because of his own behavior? Your son's safety is, of course, your top priority, but I believe you can find a good solution if you calmly evaluate the situation, and then find a more pleasant answer. Your dog trusts you, like a child. If your son had an older brother that was defending himself (that's what the dog believes he is doing) so fiercely, you would not put him down or give him away. You'd find a way to make it better. Please do that. Keep your son safe. But don't punish the dog for doing what he feels he must to be safe. In the end, as parents, it is our responsibility to make sure that our children treat animals in a way that allows them to feel safe and secure, just as our children do. Good luck.

Answer 6

the dog might need to be put down soon, as he is 12, but if he is still in good health, that's not necessary. Try giving the dog a safe place, such as a crate or closet of something like that where he know he is safe. Teach your son to never bother the dog while he is in his special place , and to only touch the dog in the dog initiates it by approaching him. I am an advocate of dogs not having any "no-fly" zones when they live with kids, as in they must tolerate being touched everywhere, but for a 12 year old dog, that is unrealistic.
Help your son recognize your dogs warning signs( curled lip, low growl, etc) and to always walk away or move his toys to a dif location. I would only allow them to be together when supervised for a while to see how they do.

Answer 7

Don't you have friends or family who could take him - someone he is already familiar with and might be more likely to adjust to?
It might be worth a try giving him a chance at a new home - without young children, and making sure they know about this history.
Don't keep him at your home any longer!! Your child is already suffering and no matter how your parenting goes or how well you "train" your child - he's human just like the rest of us and makes mistakes. And 5 year olds can't be expected to be mature enough to handle themselves well at all times.
I would only consider putting him down if you think he will be a risk for biting other children, if he were to get loose or something like that. A mixed sheperd breed is big enough to do serious damage to a child.

Answer 8

I would find it hard to put it down.But you cannot run the risk of this happening again.You could seperate both of them from one another.This way the dog will be happy.And your son will not be bitten.The dog obviously does need to be left alone.Your may have annoyed or even unintentionally hurt the dog at some point.And the dog is not prepared to accept his behaviour.I had a large Alsation and in the latter years of his life he did become less tolerant towards people.But he did die a natural death.

Answer 9

Of course you should not put your dog down! What a horrible thing to consider or suggest! Would you put your son down if he bit his sibling twice in six months? And I love this "put him down" nonsense. You are talking about murdering your dog. Killing him. He will not go to sleep. He will die. He bit your son because your son either hurt him or made him feel threatened. You do not feel safe-neither does the dog. That is why he bit your child. The problem is, YOU are the one responsible for making your dog feel safe. This is the dog owner's job.
A responsible parent and pet owner would choose to teach the child about proper treatment of animals, always supervise the child when he is with the dog, keep the dog and child separated, or find the dog a new, loving home as a last resort.

Answer 10

Do you have friends of family close by that could take this dog in? It sounds like he's not generally aggressive, but that your son just aggravates him. Which is (somewhat) understandable for a 12 year old dog. Try rehoming him with someone who has no small children in the house before you put down a perfectly healthy dog.

Answer 11

No. I have an eleven year old dachshund who can be very snippy, and I babysit my three year old nephew quite a bit. My dog has snapped at him a couple times, so we taught him to leave the dog alone unless she approaches him and wants to play. It's not fair to put a healthy dog down because your son gets too rough.