Had a 6 week old infant that had been bitten many times come into my E.R. last week.
Everyone was shocked...they couldn't believe it...
Why? because the breed was a ...Daschund.
I explained prey drive, that it was a DOG,that people have no business leaving an infant/child alone with ANY animal.
They kept saying but those are such cute dogs, so small, my grandma has one etc...
How can we educate the general public?
What a tragedy!this dog was a beloved pet that they had for 9 years, never bit or growled at anybody.
Now they will lose their dog and possibly the child! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I am sure it didn't even view the infant as "human" yet.
Sorry to relate such a sad story, just had to get it off my chest.
Erin

So all you rescue people who say give the dog a chance? Where are you now. I mean sounds like this was a once in a life time bite. The dog had never done this before. He is only a 10lb as some of you say. What do you tell the parents?

Oh yeah, it was the infants fault. He must have teased the dog or something.

Just curious, would this dog be allowed in rescue? Then, when you were looking to adopt it back out, what do you tell people?

I have an idea. Tell the people to seek professional training. Lets exhaust all possibilities before considering putting the dog down. It was a fluke. Wait, it probably isn't their choice anymore is it?

This kind of stuff scares the crap out of me. I've got two Mals and a 150lb Mastiff pup. I've never had a problem but I watch like a hawk. I have my kids aproach the Mals while I hold the collar. They are good with the kids but I don't trust my kids to understand that their innocent kid behavior could set off a dog in a second. I keep socializing the dogs to the kids. I gave my wife an earfull for taking the three kids in the back yard with the dogs by herself. There's potential jealousy issues and all kinds of instant nightmares that could happen. Maybe I'm overprotective. As I said, my dogs have not displayed any aggression toward my young kids, but I'll never leave them unsupervised.

Maybe there should be a "Dog Behavior" section of the required high school science classes.

At this point I don't think people should be allowed to have dogs without taking a class first,
just like you can't drive without drivers ed class.

Rescue people just check to see if you have a fenced yard for the dog and if you will be nice to the doggie. They don't give you a test on dog behaviors and instincts.
Not to make light of this but we need to teach that-size doesn't matter.
Erin

Not trying to make light of the situation. I just find the timing of this ironic. YEsterday there was a thread quite interesting about the same type of thing. All kinds of rescue people came in saying save the dog. (When I say same kind of thing, I mean a child bit).

How someone could keep a dog that they know bites or has bitten is beyond me.

Todd,

 Quote:

How someone could keep a dog that they know bites or has bitten is beyond me.

"YEPP................" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What do us HARD CASES know!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Its hard for general public to see this happening they think that the dogs thinks like a human.

*** People have to understand **** that the dog does not think like a human. It may have seen the small infant as a competitor or inturder. And that its taking all the attention from me. The reaction if it gets the chance is to bite the competition/inturder.

I don't really feel its the dogs fault, its his onwers fault for thinking the dog was going act like a human and just accept the new family member. Dogs don't think that way, they have adjusted to what the rules are, no touching of the baby and the baby is of the highest priority of no-touching and gentel treatment by all. I would still get rid of the dog or give it to another family. He won't get another chance at my child. I just wouldn't trust or want a dog that has bitten my little baby.

You never know, even when you introduce the new member slowly. A kid's movement, screaming and crying can set off some dogs, before it gets use to it.

Once when I've had my grand son over (once or twice a month), when the dogs are out he gets to pet them,walk them and command them in OB. But when I'm training them sometimes he likes to jumps from the tree, run by and scream. Usually the dogs show no reaction, but one time (during the 2nd month of thier meeting)the Rottie stood watching him, and her ears went up and short bark. I brought her back to the training exercise and told My Grandson (I didn't mention 7 yrs old) to stop screaming and running. I mentioned this because the female Rottie/Pit loves kids and to be petted by kids, I wouldn't have thought she would be the one to react (the GSD didn't react at all he tends to ignore kids, though she wasn't aggressive it was potentially). We carried on and the incident did not happen again, even when the G-son ran through screaming again. So you never know, you got to be careful and safe. Screaming kids can set a dog off, it has to be taught to accept this.

I still say it is the onwers fault, but the dog will have to pay the price. I could not own a dog that bite my kid or any kid, let a long a infant.
It would never leave any dog with a newborn or strange kid, it was poor judgement <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> , I feel sorry for the family including the dog, he may have to be put sleep. My prays are with infant.

So there is no difference between a dog biting a helpless infant and a dog biting a bratty 9 year old who has tortured the dog fo quite some time? How can one blanketly put the two scenarios on the same level? Just curious......

Todd...if this story justifies your argument in the other thread then so be it. I for one hope your very happy. :rolleyes:

Chuck,it's impossible to compare a infant to unsupervised brats that tease and provoke any dog.

The problem is that the dog has biten children and MAY notice I said may, bite again.

Is it WORTH the RISK, not with me. Sorry <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I hope I never have to make a decission as Lisa will have to make under the circumstances.