What would you do? My dog bit my 4yo?

vtmil

Hi,

My 2 year old springer spaniel bit my daughter on the face today, very narrowly missing her eye. It pierced the skin and has left a bruise. This is the third time my springer has snapped at my little girl.

Generally she is a loving, very energetic dog. My daughter was stroking her when it happened so unprovoked. It has worried me.

What can I do? Would training help? Am I awful in thinking I should try and find my springer a child-less new home?

Thanks

Vtmil

UKTigerlily

vtmil wrote: »

Hi,

My 2 year old springer spaniel bit my daughter on the face today, very narrowly missing her eye. It pierced the skin and has left a bruise. This is the third time my springer has snapped at my little girl.

Generally she is a loving, very energetic dog. My daughter was stroking her when it happened so unprovoked. It has worried me.

What can I do? Would training help? Am I awful in thinking I should try and find my springer a child-less new home?

Thanks

Vtmil

I'm sorry to hear about your Daughter, hope she'll be feeling better soon. Have you taken the Dog to the Vet to rule out any medical reasons? I'm not saying there are any, but sometimes Dogs can have an undiagnosed medical problem which causes things like this. Maybe give them a call & see if they think it'd be worth a check up? For example, maybe she (Dog) has a painful back & it hurt her when stroked (Not a good example but still)

Does the Dog get tons of stimulation & exercise? I'm not sure if a lack of either could cause it to be pent up & bite, but do know they need so so much of these as they're a very lively breed!

Are you positive it wasn't provoked? I'm sure you are, but heard of one Dog PTS & after the Vet discovered a pencil in it's ear! No wonder it bit! Could she have been hot/tired/in pain?

If no cause can be found then I think maybe you do need to consider a home without kids unfortunately

vtmil

Thanks for such comprehensive advice. I will check with the vet and consider your other points. Thank you x

foreign_correspondent

Yes, a vets check over is definitely worth trying, I would also consider whether there was anything that triggered this incedent - was the child in the dogs space, had the dog just woken up, did the dog have any food/treats/ a bone near her that it could have been guarding? etc. etc.

Personally, if it were my dog I would have to consider whether the cause could be found and the triggers avoided in future, and if I couldnt resolve this myself, I would try talking to a good local trainer to look at broader behavioural issues (http://www.apdt.co.uk/), and if it appears your dog isnt all that keen on little ones, then rehoming in a child free home may be best all round.

How old is the little one? sometimes they can be rougher with dogs than they mean to be...

ETA - sorry, I saw the thread titile and realised you said she is 4!

If the skin is broken, please do see the doctor, she may well need some antibiotics, dog bites are notorious for getting infected, and you don't want to risk this, especially on her face/near her eye.

ariba10

You must be very forgiving.

I have had dogs all my life but if he had not been put down after the first incident, he would definitely gone after the second.

Pssst

My experience of this type of dog is that they can be unpredictable and a bit snappy.

I wouldnt have one near a young child.

skintsaver_2

my grandfather had a springer spaniel who was a lovely dog but used to go for my sister all the time so in the end they found him a new home as they didnt want to risk anything serious happening, they loved the dog to bits but said they would feel awful forever if anything ever happened

It was a really tough decision for them to make and i hope the vet can find an answer to your problem

MrsE_2

ariba10 wrote: »

You must be very forgiving.

I have had dogs all my life but if he had not been put down after the first incident, he would definitely gone after the second.

I don't know if I would have had it put down, but I would have got rid ASAP, & made sure he went to a home without kids.
I wouldn't have waited for a second or third time.

Spirit_2

You cannot Tust your dog with your own or any other child.

So it appears to me you have a choice:

Rehome your 4 year old

or

Rehome your Springer


Your four legged friend will be best served by being in a family where they know his history, where no little ones are at risk, where trust can be re-established and control exercised by all members of the household.

If you dither another mishap may happen and you will be closer to having him pts.

Tough call - best wishes with it- let us know what you decide

Spirit

cheepskate_2

hi

is the springer actually biting , or is it jumping up and nipping like a pup would do.

if it is actually smapping, i would say the dog should be re-homed. I don't expect my dogs to snap no matter what(a dog would usually give a growl before biting) .

Very worrying that it is giving no warning

As tigerlilly says it may be the dog is not getting enough stimulation, and this can cause problems somethimes

I think if there are things that trigger it, then with a young child this would be very difficult to control(obviously depending on the triggers)

What has happened the other two times?

love-hearts

My MIL had a springer spaniel and it bit my then 4 yr old DD, my MIL made excuses for the dog I didn't allow my DD in her house again.