Letting a dog bite a Obnoxious Toddler too teach him not to hit Animals?

Question

My buddy has a 3 1/2 (or) 4 year old boy, who punches kicks slaps the Doberman dog.And my buddy told me he has tried and tried too put a stop to it.But the kid just wont listen.
So last-night while we were having a beer, I saw the kid abusing the family dog and I said WTF and my buddy said that the dog will teach him what he can't.
So is he right ?
I Remember when I was just like this kid and I use too tease the dog and it finally bit my nose and my parents told me that is what i get....And I never did that again.
But my dog that bit me was a toy poodle not a Doberman.
does my buddy know what he is doing and i should butt out?

Also I really feel real sorry for the Dobie.
No dog deserves to be torchard.

Answer 1

No, the parents need to be firmer and train their kid better, an animal will fall to its instincts and could harm the child, but they won't be to blame.

Answer 2

No you buddy does not know what he is doing.

While I agree the kid needs to learn not to abuse the dog, the lesson that the dog could end up teaching the kid could lead to life long PERMANENT injure, or even death. As you said a Doberman ISN'T a toy poodle, and could do some very serious harm to the child.

As a parent, I try to let my child learn from her mistakes, she is also almost four. When I've told her repeatedly not to run in the house and she falls after doing so, I tell her see this is why I tell you not to do certain things.

However if there is a threat of serious or permanent injure a parent needs to intervene and STOP the child before the injury happens.

Maybe it is best that your buddy finds a new home for the dog, so that the dog can avoid the harsh treatment of the child, and the child can learn in a risk free environment how to treat dogs, either through interactions with smaller dogs of friends, or just through the maturation process, and teaching from his parents.

It would suck to have to give up a family pet, but it sucks more that the dog has to put up with that. Sometimes kids and dogs don't mix, and when it is a large *and not in MY opinion kid friendly* dog it is a receipe for diaster. And how much more would it suck if the child lost an eye, or finger, or worse his life.

I would step in. Help your buddy do some research into other ways to teach the child, and if that fails, help him find the dog a new, and good home. I think that if not and something does happen to the child you would blame yourself.

Good Question.

Answer 3

I would never purposely let a dog bite a child. If the dog snapped, I wouldn't punish it either though. If that dog bites that kid hard enough to make him need medical attention, they are going to have to have the dog put down. How fair is that to the dog? They should spank the kid and sit him in time out anytime he goes near the dog, and actually I wouldn't have a doberman around a child. It may be nice now, but it could turn for no reason. My brother has a pitbull and a rottweiler and a 10 month old baby, and I cant stand the though of what might happen.

Answer 4

If the dog attacks the child - the dog 'should' be destroyed. No exceptions. Letting the dog teach a child a lesson is not only wrong minded - its extremely dangerous considering you're talking about a Doberman. This kid is in danger and its up to your BUDDY to teach his kid how to behave - not the Doberman. If he's serious about letting the dog discipline his child he's seriously irresponsible and it will end tragically. I don't know how much of a role you should play - but - I'd look out for the welfare of the child above all - the kid needs to stop abusing the dog - but don't let the situation get so far out of hand that the DOG is the one who has to 'teach him what his father can't. It's DAD'S job to stop the abuse - not the Dobie's~! This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Answer 5

This situation is a time bomb. Isolate the child from the dog. He is abusing the dog and it will not improve over time. He hurts the dog therefore he does not get to associate with the dog. It is not the dog's fault if he tries to protect himself, but the dog could get put down if he bits the child seriously ( and a Doberman biting a preschooler will be serious). Your buddy does not know what he is doing. He could be charged with child endangerment as well as animal abuse, for not taking control of this situation.

Your buddy needs to take some parenting classes, the preschooler needs to learn self control and the dog needs to be protected. Intercession is called for. Social Services can provide assistance.

If this situation is allowed to continue, the child could be mauled/killed; the dog would be put down and your buddy will have the rest of his life to regret his inaction.

Answer 6

Considering the strength of the type of dog, this could be a deadly lesson.
None the less, the father sounds as if he doesn't have any control over his kid. I'd tear his @ss up, and yes this is a situation that deserves a spanking as well as time out. This child is not only breaking a law (which I would be accountable for should someone report for animal abuse) but is also putting himself in a life threatening situation should the dog turn.

Answer 7

WHEN (not if) that doberman bites the child it will not be a nip or a snap. It will be a full-on self defensive attack.

Your buddy could not be more wrong and you're right to be concerned. He will eventually lose both the dog (it will be put down) and the baby (taken from his care - or worse).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to teach a child how NOT to treat an animal. Your buddy needs to step up and learn how to parent. Where is the child's mother?

Answer 8

I would be hesitant to let the dog teach the boy a lesson, and the father is taking a chance of being charged with child endangerment, especially if the Dobie takes a chunk out of the kid. That's one big mouth with LOTS of long, sharp teeth on a Doberman.

It'd probably be safer for the father to give the kid one hell of spanking the next time the kid abuses the dog. And I don't mean abusing or beating the kid, but you CAN spank a kid severely enough to get their attention when all else fails.

Answer 9

Get real. That is a very young kid. That doberman will become totally unreliable around that kid if it believes it can get away with being aggressive.

I'd say get rid of the dog. Sorry, the kid comes first.

I have two kittens and my daughter (9 yrs old) has been mean to them. I finally flat out told her that the kittens will be gone next time she treats them bad. My daughter is old enough to understand. The little boy is not. Get rid of the dog for the safety of the kid and so the dog isn't tormented.

Answer 10

This is a mauling waiting to happen. A doberman is capable of killing a 4-year old faster than an adult can intervene.

The child and the dog need to be separated completely. Take the dog for your friend, and tell your buddy that he needs to spend more time with his son and improve his son's behavior. He needs parenting classes. Get a referral from the local YMCA or his child's pediatrician.

Please don't sit by and say nothing. Dogs aren't capable of holding back their frustration indefinitely to torture, and this is truly a tragedy waiting to happen!

Answer 11

To JJJJ...read the question again. He clearly states that he doesn't agree. Therefore, don't call him an abuser. He is asking an honest question. To your question, you are correct in feeling that it is the wrong way to learn. If the lesson has the possiblity of involving a child's life or permanent damage, it is not the way to teach. The child needs to be seperated from the dog during this time so that he may be disiplined in a more appropriate manner. Not doing so is simply lazy parenting and punishable by law.