So, I am here because my dog bit two children over the weekend.

Here is the background information on my dog and his problems prior to the incident.
Dog is 10 month old male mini-dachshund, approx 5lbs. I've had him since 9 weeks. Never been able to house break him. He never listened to me and never seems like he wants to please me in anyway. He never has free rein of my home. He is always leashed otherwise he will mark/poop in the house. When he is not on the leash, he is in his crate. When he is inside, even in his crate, he is always on alert for the cat. If the cat walks close enough to us he immediately mounts the cat. I really think all he cares about in life is the cat! He cares more about what the cat is doing than what I am asking him to do.
When we go outside, he is chasing lizards and birds and it's really hard to get him to go potty. In the early days I'd spend hours outside trying to get him to go.
I am hoping that paints a picture of part of his personality.

So, fast forward to this past weekend. We were going camping with our neighbors and I took my dog out for a walk to stretch his legs. Well, the neighbors had their door open as they were loading the car up and their pitbull was not leashed. Long story short they had a scary confrontation but both dogs are ok. My dog was really shaken up and he was literally shaking for several days after the fact. Would not eat/drink/poop/pee.
They did not bring their dog camping but I still brought my dog.
We told all the kids to stay away from my dog because he didn't look good. He just looked really scared/weak/sick. I tied him up away from camp and encouraged him to eat. Well, one of the kids snuck up behind him and my dog bit him in the lower leg. No blood. My dog retreated immediately.
I am thinking he did it because a combination of smelling the pitbull on the kid, he was scared from the incident, and the element of surprise all at once.
The SAME thing happened later that night when I tied the dog up to feed him. The other child got bit on the hand but she is fine.


I take FULL responsibility for what happened and I know its my fault. I never trained my dog and prior to reading this website I knew nothing about pack structure, etc.

So, now I have a 4 year old daughter at home. Since the incident he is now barking at her when she walks near his food. And for some reason he is now listening to me. When I ask him to come, he actually comes now. And he lays on his back and shows me his tummy. Prior to the pitbull encounter this was NOT the case. He only did the tummy thing to my husband.
So, now I feel I actually have a better handle on my dog and I want to keep it that way.

But my question is. Do you think I can retrain my dog? Or does he need to be put down because he bit the two children? What would you do? My neighbors expect me to put down my dog. I understand but at the same time their kids were laughing and playing 30 seconds after the dog bite. This dog means the world to me.
My big worry is that we have a small child in the house (who he loves but now I know he can't be trusted).

I feel terrible I let my dog down. I wish I knew better.

Keep the dog, that way we get interesting stories periodically.

Do not put the dog down because of their lack of control over their children. (were they even watching them?!?) Don't ever leave your dog unattended with access to children. He needs to be completely put away unless you have dirrect control of him. I'll let the other more suited members talk about the retraining.
Welcome to the forum! please don't take anything in a personal manner that may be said. We are here to help and sometimes computers lack the ability to convey affiction of voice or emotion

 Quote:

My dog was really shaken up and he was literally shaking for several days after the fact. Would not eat/drink/poop/pee.
They did not bring their dog camping but I still brought my dog.
We told all the kids to stay away from my dog because he didn't look good. He just looked really scared/weak/sick. I tied him up away from camp and encouraged him to eat. Well, one of the kids snuck up behind him and my dog bit him in the lower leg. No blood

First thing first, have you taken him to a vet for a full check up?
There are a few things here that suggest the pit bull may of done some damage that you can't see.

Feed the dog in his crate. Separate him completely from the child. Get professional help.



BTW, tying up a dog and then allowing children (or other dogs or anyone else) access to him is a disaster in the making. Please never do that again. And adding his food to the mix is just bad times ten.

And this is asking for trouble: "Since the incident he is now barking at her when she walks near his food. "

Why is she walking near his food?! Now that food-guarding has been created by tying him up and allowing him to be accosted while he's eating, my goal would be to erase that with absolute peace and security around his food. Have him sit or whatever you do to "earn" the supper, then give it and go away.

And again: Feed the dog in his crate. Separate him completely from the child. Get professional help.

PS

Ditto to Amy: "Welcome to the forum! please don't take anything in a personal manner that may be said. We are here to help and sometimes computers lack the ability to convey affiction of voice or emotion."

You will get good info here. Hang in there and don't take offense when it's straightforward.

I'm thinking like Betty, if the other dog made contact with yours, a trip to the vet is something you should do first. You can mention the bill to the neighbor when you tell them you won't be putting the dog down.

The other thing Jennifer, I don't know about this being re-training. It sounds a little bit like you need to begin training.

Hi Jennifer,
This sounds like a dog that won't do well in your situation no matter what you do. I certainly don't think the dog has to be put down, find it a home where the people don't have kids and have some experience with dogs and get yourself a good safe family dog.
If that option doesn't work for you, definitely find some local help.

 Quote: al curbow

Hi Jennifer,
This sounds like a dog that won't do well in your situation no matter what you do. I certainly don't think the dog has to be put down, find it a home where the people don't have kids and have some experience with dogs and get yourself a good safe family dog.
If that option doesn't work for you, definitely find some local help.

" ... find it a home where the people don't have kids and have some experience with dogs and get yourself a good safe family dog."

This sounds like very good advice to me.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: al curbow

Hi Jennifer,
This sounds like a dog that won't do well in your situation no matter what you do. I certainly don't think the dog has to be put down, find it a home where the people don't have kids and have some experience with dogs and get yourself a good safe family dog.
If that option doesn't work for you, definitely find some local help.

" ... find it a home where the people don't have kids and have some experience with dogs and get yourself a good safe family dog."

This sounds like very good advice to me.

I'd be willing to try anything and everything to avoid having to give him up to another family That would feel like someone adopting my daughter!