rebecca,

i really was going to submit a nice warm fuzzy reply, i really tried but had to delete it.

this dog needs to go. simple as that.

if it were my dog i would have probably beat the daylights out of it at the first "nip" at my baby and it probably would've worked (maybe) with most breeds, but chessies, chows, and some other breeds, trying to hand out a good a$$-whooping will just get you hurt. and you don't need that, you haven't been around dogs enough to read them well yet.

i give you guys kudos--you're doing all the correct things, but with the wrong dog at the wrong time in your lives. he needs to go else where. do NOT wait until he really hurts your baby.

i'm no hot-rod dog trainer, but i have worked with both small and large animals both professionally and for "fun" for nearly 50 yrs. and your situation gives me the heeby-jeebies.

not an easy decision, i know. but who's more important?

I'm in 100% agreement with Ann.

When re homing him you need to be completely honest about his history, too. No sugar-coating.

I don't even think I would use the word "nip" when describing him, either.

"Nip" kinda downplays this a little, IMO.

Wish this could be different. Truly sorry.

And you do deserve credit for looking into this and not ignoring it. A lot of people wouldn't want to admit it to themselves.

Hello again~
I really appreciate your wisdom and blunt honesty in this situation. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else because it gets to easy to rationalize things away!

So my follow up question is this. My pitbull (very much a marshmellow dressed up as a pitbull)...we continue the same treatments with him right? Very clear lines that are not to be crossed. Would you say that it is okay for a dog that is friendly to be in the same room as a baby UNDER SUPERVISION, or is this crossing the line as far as the pack rules go? I know that if we get rid of one dog the other one's behavior may change because he will no longer be low man on the totem pole (as far as the dogs go).

Thanks again for all the support!
Becky

Any dog can bite, and that's a hard fact for new parents (me included) have to realize. No matter how big of a marshmallow your pit mix is, I still wouldn't allow him in the same room with the baby, but you use your own discretion with this. I can have all my dogs in the same room as my baby (in the LR) while I'm watching. As soon as I know I can't watch anymore, the dogs go outside again. They don't mind because they know they'll get to come back in and be near their "leader".

Things could be alot worse. Your Chessie could very well have already taken a chunk out of your little one. He hasn't and I agree with the others in saying that finding him a new home would be the best idea for you and your family at this time. I wish you luck in finding him a new home.

Rebecca,
If you don't have the time or inclination to work with the dog, then yes rehoming is the right answer.....It's not fair to the dog/s to have their lives turned all screwy and not be given any direction on how to deal with it. As you have seen it starts manifesting all sorts of insecurities else where in the dog's life. He no longer knows here he belongs or who to depend on.

Yeah, go ahead and get rid of him/them, it'll make life easier.

Randy

My advice - rehome the dog NOW -- BEFORE he really hurts the baby. Not only for the baby's sake (of course) but because a dog with a bite history usually carries a death sentence.

 Quote: randy allen

Rebecca,
If you don't have the time or inclination to work with the dog, then yes rehoming is the right answer.....It's not fair to the dog/s to have their lives turned all screwy and not be given any direction on how to deal with it. As you have seen it starts manifesting all sorts of insecurities else where in the dog's life. He no longer knows here he belongs or who to depend on.

Yeah, go ahead and get rid of him/them, it'll make life easier.

Randy

I've missed the concept that the family is trying to make life easier; they appear to be coming to grips with the fact that their Chessie may not be a good "family" dog and are concerned about making life SAFER for their child. Neither have I gotten the feeling they are looking for a flip blessing on re-homing their dog/dogs.

IMO, your child's well being obviously trumps that of your dog, no matter how well-loved and well-intentioned. The hours and emotions invested in working with a challenging dog are hours taken away from enjoying, bonding and raising your child. This is without even beginning to discuss the absolute, obvious and concerning dangers to your child and neighbors.

It may be a no brainier, but that does not mean it is easy on the heart. If at all possible, find the dog a good, forever home. Preferably with someone who has owned and raised a Chessie so that they are familiar with the strong-willed, hard hardheadedness of the breed. I would imagine if you start looking for a good, seasoned, hunter/owner, with whom you are blunt and honest about the dog - you could improve both your life and that of your dog.

Good luck. Do what is best for your child and keep us posted.

barbara--what you said.

rebecca--i wish ALL owners faced with what you're looking at were as clear-headed. again, kudos. you and your family are what dog owners "should" be, IMO: learning (always....), getting the best information out there and not taking it "personally" (yay!), then making a decision.

you will do FINE!

 Quote: Angela Burrell

My advice - rehome the dog NOW -- BEFORE he really hurts the baby. Not only for the baby's sake (of course) but because a dog with a bite history usually carries a death sentence.

Ditto. I absolutely agree. If this dog had bitten kids and got away with it, the dog is going to do it again I promise. I don't have kids, but I learned my hard lesson few years ago with Cody. I adopted him when he was two years old from shelter. I didn't know that he had a bite history and his pervious family decided to give him up until I brought him into my parents house.

Few months of living at home with us, he bit my mother, my sister, and almost killed Duffy who was 12 years old American Eskimo. He has not taken his aggression to me, but I thought I can deal Cody's explosive aggression by working with a really good behaviorist who I met through schutzhund club had trained Sch 3, mondio ring 3,worked with police dogs, military dogs, and considered an expert on dog aggression. I loved Cody like he was part of my life, but I was wrong to keep him alive and almost hurt people and dog in my family.