Hello everyone, I'm new to posting but only moderately new to the board. My dog bit my 4 year old in the face this morning. We were all in the kitchen, I was doing dishes, everyone was quiet it wasn't chaotic and the next thing I know molly (the dog) has launched at my daughter and bit her. No growl, and immediately after the bite she ran out of the room. It wasn't bad enough for medical attention but it was enough to draw blood and make me wonder if I should have my dog put down. The chances of being able to rehome her are slim and I don't want her to suffer by bouncing from home to home. Molly is a very sweet dog, very obedient and willing to please but will be maligned because of her breed. She has never, ever just lunged and bit anyone. My dillema comes in here, I'm willing to 'consider' working with her but can't help but wonder how far I should be willing to push it. What do I say to my daughter or another child who may get mauled just cause I wanted to try to 'make it work' with a dog? Does that make sense? I'm struggling to articulate myself right now as I'm perplexed and upset to say the least.

Did you see what happened to cause the dog to bite? Or was your back turned?

What breed of dog? (not that it matters at all, but since you mentioned she might be "maligned because of her breed" I ask)

How old is the dog?

How old is your dog?

How long have you had it and where did you get it?

Did you see the lead up to and the bite itself or are you going on other family members statements? (you said you were doing dishes?)

Possible that the dog is injured, hurt or sore for any reason?

How much contact has the dog had with your daughter before and what is it like?

Warning signs PRIOR to this event? You did put your post in the fear biters and shy dog section.

And most importantly are you willing to keep the dog seperated from your children and other children?

Molly - approx 10 months, got her when she was approx 6 weeks. I didn't see anything leading up to it cause I was facing the sink, but I was right there. I only saw the lunge out of the corner of my eye. Molly is not in any known pain or has she sustained any known injuries. Molly has had extensive contact with lilly (as with all the kids) but I do know lilly has in the past, been a pest. I'm not defending my kid, however she's my child regardless.. I didn't see any warning signs PRIOR to this and I put this in the fear biters and shy dog section because I wonder if what happened falls under the 'fearful' category. I have NO problem keeping dog/children seperate, and generally do unless I'm right there. Not that that prevented anything obviously.

Thank you...

I hope you are able to work this out. I am in a similar situation myself, and am doing all that I can to make it work w/ our 7 month old pup and my 5 year old.
Give a few more details and the great folks here on this board will advise you.
One thing that I will add is that you cannot predict what your 4 year old will do that might trigger the dog to react in the way that it did. In my case it was something as 'innocent' as my son leaning over the pup's head when she was lying down, which triggered a dominant reaction from her.(growling) The dog was lying at my feet when this happened.
Be extra vigilant and don't allow any interaction between the 2 without you being right there and your eyes on both of them.

*Sarah, we posted at the same time... What breed is she?

Edited by Lynne Barrows (01/19/2008 09:53 AM)
Edit reason: addition

Have you read the articles here on children and pets?
If not I would be happy to put some links here for you.

Could the child have been staring at her? Not at all defending the ACTIONS of the dog, just trying to get an idea of what could have prompted the reaction. If the dog is especially defensive, a stare can set them off. I have one similar, but fortunately it's only legitimately provocative stares by adults; he is unreactive to the actions of kids. Tell us all you can; you may be overlooking something (due to a hell of a shock) that could be the missing piece.

Molly is an APBT I got her from a rescue so I cannot verify her genetic background however I've had her since she was 6 weeks old so I can be sure of her environment. As far as the shock, it has more or less worn off but now the guilt and uncertainty has set in as well as some bruised pride. I never wanted or intended to be one of 'those people' who had kids and dogs and couldn't make it work. I felt confident that I had done all the things I could do to make sure the dog knew her place and the kids knew their responsibility. However, free will as exercised by a four year old is a wild card. I have called Howard Burgess who directed to me a lady named Vicki ( I think that was her name, it's late and I'm tired) and she'll be coming out to my house to take a look at molly and observe what she can. In the meantime Molly lives in her crate with the exception of potty breaks, exercise and strictly monitored OB time. In the end I'm left with two decisions, putting the dog down - or hoping that we can actually 'fix' the problem (assuming we can even identify what the 'problem' is) and that it won't happen again and with further ferocity or God forbid someone else. One hell of a gamble, especially considering her breed's reputation. My husband and I are willing to give her a bit before we decide what we'll do and of course any further advice would be welcomed. Also links would be great, I couldn't find them and while I do believe I have read them before I'd be more than happy to read through them again. Thank you..

Sarah

Sarah - where are you located? If you are anywhere near Oregon I beg you do not put the dog down I would gladly take her and do any work necessary and adopt her out myself.

Not being able to see the dog or the situation it is hard to tell what caused the issue. I will say that the breed has nothing to do with the bite but it may be a concern trying to rehome her. I know more poodles and such that bite children than bully breeds.

I don't think this has to do w/ a breed per se (according to what I've researched anyway although I did just find an interesting if hard to understand article on chicagolanddog.com or something like that that seemed to indicate otherwise) but a 'dog' issue. The reason I would put her down vs attempt to re-home her is #1 the risk to others, and #2 she's a pit and they are notoriously difficult to re-home. I'd rather she just had some final peace than to be moved from home to home only to 'snap' and hurt someone else when I could have been responsible from the start. Oh and I'm no where near Oregon, I'm in michigan.