When we adopted our first son we had a tough Chesapeake Bay retriever. She was a tough dog. She was not "reactive" or a "fear biter" she was territorial and mean, and she was not kidding. The pack order in our home was husband, Maple, then me.
The day we brought our adopted son home from Nebraska the pack order changed. We had a plastic baseball bat for some reason. Every time she looked at the baby I hit her with the baseball bat. I hit her three times. That is MINE, you stay away was my point. The pack order has changed, I have a baby, get back!

She ended up being an absolutely fantastic dog. Our son learned to walk holding onto her fur. She was a ferocious monster to everyone other than our family, to us the best dog you could ever know.

As a mother, you have to get your point across. If you want to train this dog and protect your children you can do this. Your husband doesn't need to even know, he's gone all day. The pack order can change, you can have peace in your home. I would NOT recommend the baseball bat method, you can surely do a better job than that!

 Quote: Kristin Mortensen

Daisy is a tie to my Grandma, sure. But to put my children at risk just to maintain that tie, would be a grave disservice to my Grandmother's memory.

This is an excellent point.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

Drag line and/or tether.

You needn't catch a dog if it's tethered to you.

I honestly don't know if this is reasonable with a 2 year old and five month old.

This thread won't leave my mind.

We are asking a woman who doesn't like dogs, who didn't want a dog in her house (which is NOT a crime), to train and socialize a dog which has bitten her child several times. This would be a challenging case for an experienced individual, let alone someone with no experience!

A dog which belonged to a FIL who abused his own son and now the son is trying to please this deceased father rather than take good care of the dog AND his wife and children... I couldn't look at that dog with an open mind and want to "rehabilitate" him - I'm sorry, I couldn't - not in this same situation.

It is not fair to put this on the OP.

Connie hit the nail on the head; this dog deserves better and this is not the home for that dog.

I'm adding that this woman and her children deserve better as well. She should not have to teather this dog to her, or crate train this dog, or do anything to this dog except take it to a no kill shelter or give it to a rescue - with full disclosure on the dog's history. Period. Actually, she should not have to do this - her husband should be willing to do so, but if he won't she should be free of guilt in making it happen. If the SIL doesn't want this to happen - take the dog to her and let HER train the dog to get along with her dog. PERIOD.

It is not often I feel this strongly about a situation and I RARELY side with humans over the dog, but this is absolutely one of those situations. The OP has handled this better than would I, given the same set of circumstances.

 Quote: barbara schuler

This thread won't leave my mind.

We are asking a woman who doesn't like dogs, who didn't want a dog in her house (which is NOT a crime), to train and socialize a dog which has bitten her child several times. This would be a challenging case for an experienced individual, let alone someone with no experience!

A dog which belonged to a FIL who abused his own son and now the son is trying to please this deceased father rather than take good care of the dog AND his wife and children... I couldn't look at that dog with an open mind and want to "rehabilitate" him - I'm sorry, I couldn't - not in this same situation.

It is not fair to put this on the OP.

Connie hit the nail on the head; this dog deserves better and this is not the home for that dog.

I'm adding that this woman and her children deserve better as well. She should not have to teather this dog to her, or crate train this dog, or do anything to this dog except take it to a no kill shelter or give it to a rescue - with full disclosure on the dog's history. Period. Actually, she should not have to do this - her husband should be willing to do so, but if he won't she should be free of guilt in making it happen. If the SIL doesn't want this to happen - take the dog to her and let HER train the dog to get along with her dog. PERIOD.

It is not often I feel this strongly about a situation and I RARELY side with humans over the dog, but this is absolutely one of those situations. The OP has handled this better than would I, given the same set of circumstances.

THIS.

I've been thinking about this, too. Something very similar occured in my family. We inherited my deceased grandfather's dog when I was 8, my brother just a baby. The dog would growl and snap at my mom, she was afraid of it. A toy Manchester terrier. My dad traveled, Mom was left alone with the kids and a dog she wanted no part of. The dog was taken to the pound. Sad ending, but in retrospect probably the best decision. Thank goodness there are more options today.

 Quote: Cindy Rieck

A My thoughts at the time were the dog was going to be an outside dog only.

I never grew up with a dog and am not a fan of house dogs.

I don't think she can be trained and I don't think my husband is willing to try and train her even if she was. I would prefer to have her put to sleep, because I couldn't stand to see her bite or attack someone else.

I told my husband if he wasn't willing to get rid of the dog the kids and I would have to leave. He said fine. He's not getting rid of the dog.


I am now scheming of ways to get rid of her without my husband knowing I got rid of her. She's never tried to run away, and don't know if I could get away with she ran away.

I tried sending him an email with kids and dog bite pictures and articles (including your web site) and nothing changed. I just made him madder.

You have been emailing him pictures of dog bites? If your child has been bitten three times, haven’t these bites been visible on your child ?

Was your husband present any of the times she was bitten?

Does he think your fabricating these situations?

This needs Dr. Phil more than Ed Frawley.

Amen Barbara