dog has bit my son

bargainbetty

My ex-in-laws used to have a JRT who, if left unrestrained, would instantly attack my legs the moment I walked into the room. She would try to bite me and broke the skin slightly on several occasions, until I asked ex-FIL flat out to put the dog in the garden or conservatory when we visited. He got overly defensive and said it wasn't the dog's fault - I must have been doing something wrong! I explained to the then-OH that I was leaving, and wouldn't be returning until the dog was kept secured during the visits. His Dad finally backed down after the OH picked up his coat to leave with me.

A few weeks later on another visit, I watched another family member go out to the garden to pet the dog after telling me off for 'demanding' it be put outside. It bit her. Oh how I laughed.

Sorry, but JRTs can become agressive and overly-protective. Even well-trained ones can get very snappy, and if it is biting, then you have to consider the children exposed to it. If medical causes are ruled out, then I'm sorry, but you will probably need to arrange for the dog to go.

peachyprice

ladymarmalade1970 wrote: »

The OP situations sound practically identical to what happened with our JRT and we didn't get rid of him. As far as i am aware he never bit anyone again. (We rehomed him to friends about 3 years after this incident due to work commitments - he is still alive and well).
To this day we have no idea why he did it and i can say hand on heart it was completely unprovoked.

Did you actually read the OP's second post?

It isn't identical at all. Your dog 'nipped' your daughter, OP's son needed stitches.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Firstly - I think it was very silly of you to leave your children with a dog. You now dont know exactly what happened.

For those saying JRT shouldnt be near children. I have a JRT - he's 3, my parents have a 6yo JRT and i grew up with 2 JRT (and a Spinger Spaniel before them) and I can honestly say that they are fantastic family dogs. I have never ever been bitten by a JRT but then, I was never left alone with one as a child. My JRT is BRILLIANT with kids - he has boundless energy, lets DD lay cuddled up to him etc BUT i would NEVER leave DD with him alone, it's just not very good common sense.

Yes, i feel sorry for your son but mainly i feel for he dog

gettingready

Mimi - OP never said that the kids were alone with the dog.

Kids do not have to be alone with a dog to get bitten, just close enough to one.

So sorry but your statement:

DD lay cuddled up to him etc BUT i would NEVER leave DD with him alone

is just very naive.

peachyprice

Gettingready, I would thank you twice for this if I could.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

OP said that there was the 4 year old, and a 9yo DD. Therefore no adult supervision.

No, kids dont have to be alone to get bitten but kids cant read a dogs body language as well as an adult could. How does OP know for 110% that the children weren't teasing the dog? OP doesnt - she has the 9yo's say so, how does OP know for sure the 9yo saw everything?

And finally, no, it isnt naive, DD sits on sofa in between me and OH, Dog plonks himself next to me and DD, I sit stroking his head, DD cuddles him and strokes his back. If he was going to bite, he'd get me, not DD

Nod_Off

The dog has been part of the family for 6 years - you owe it to him to get him checked out by a vet to make sure he is not in any pain. We once had an 8 year old golden retriever brought into the surgery to be PTS after biting one of the children that he had lived very happily with all his life. The vet examined the dog and found him to have a back injury. Back injury+child climbing all over the dog=only ever going to be one inevitable outcome. If I had a sore back and you were climbing all over me, damn sure I'd bite you too!

meritaten

I am probably a bad parent - but I used to leave the kids alone with the staffy! I called her my best babysitter. if a baby cried she would come to get me if I was out of the room. her idea of a good time was to sit on a chair so she could see into the carrycot. she adored babies - not just mine.............anyones! I once looked down at a road crossing and she was licking the face of a baby in a pushchair!
She let the kids paint her toenails, dress her up, put clip on earrings on her ears, all with a big staffy grin on her face!
the ONLY time I ever heard her growl was if anyone came within a few feet of either me or the kids on our walks - OH says that she must have thought he could look after himself as she didnt do this with him!
the springer was nearly as good - but the kids were a lot older and had learned more respect for the dog!
a near neighbour has always had JRTs - most have been fine - but this last one he has been warning people not to touch! why keep a dog if you dont trust it not to bite?

gettingready

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel wrote: »

DD sits on sofa in between me and OH, Dog plonks himself next to me and DD, I sit stroking his head, DD cuddles him and strokes his back. If he was going to bite, he'd get me, not DD

Yeah, right - as long as your daughter is at the BACK end of the dog EVERY single time the dog is around that is of course fine.....:rotfl:

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee, c'mon.

OP never said she was not in the same room as her kids when this happened, never seen she has not seen the bite herself.

jetta_wales

Can't help but notice that despite all the replies suggesting a full vet check in case of a fully legitimate reason for such a reaction, the only reply from the OP was to say "he's got to go".

How sad.