$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
Conditions apply. Learn more.
Wishlist
July 01, 2011

My 7 year old dog has never shown aggression to anyone before and up until now has been great with my 16 month old son. Yesterday he approached her while she was eating and she bit him in the face. I feel I can’t trust her anymore and should find her a new home. Am I overreacting?

Full Question:
I've had my 7 year old pitt mix since she was 4 weeks old. I took her through obedience classes and she follows commands nicely unless she is excited about visitors.

She's never been aggressive towards anyone. The only aggression I've seen is towards other dogs who approach us while walking and towards a friends toy poodle who constantly harassed her.

Up until now she's been great with my son who is 16 months. He loves petting and hugging her and I truly thought she liked it as she's always craved any attention.

Yesterday my son approached her while she was eating (my fault- I was 2 feet away). She's never been food aggressive at all but bit my son in the face. We were very lucky that it wasn't more serious. I feel deep down that I need to find her a new home. I feel guilty crating her all day but I don't trust her anymore. I'm scared that since she's done it once now she will think she can bite him again.

Do you think I'm overreacting?
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
I'd watch the video on this page, Pack Structure for the Family Pet. Your dog may like your son, but she sees herself above him in the social hierarchy. She looks at him like someone she is dominant over and when he approached her while she was eating, she corrected him like she would another dog.

While I don’t advocate any dog biting any child, it's not surprising in this scenario. Here is a section on preventing dog bites in kids.

I think you need to take what happened seriously and if you keep the dog, directly supervise ALL contact between the dog and child.

Cindy Rhodes

75% (6 out of 8)
respondents found this answer helpful
Did you find this Q&A helpful?
Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
75% (6 out of 8)
respondents found this answer helpful

Did you find this Q&A helpful?

Recommended Products
Scroll to Top