Mum's dog bit my LO

duchy

Some of the justifications in this thread are ridiculous

Most mothers of pre-school children don't have childcare but take the child with them as they go about their daily business

The dog was routinely shut in a bedroom when visitors came -The owner did this for a reason -most likely previous incidents or the risk of them if the dog reacted badly to visitors .

The dog owner is ill so not at the top of her game so the OP could take responsibility for ensuring the dog is shut away when she visits.

The first responsibility of a mother is the safety of her child. The dog owner is also the child's grandmother -she is balancing two responsibilities- to some the safety of a child should be the priority -to others the attitude that it is the dog's home seems to come first. Either way if the dog attacks the child again and serious harm is done the dog will be put down so regardless of the rights and wrongs there will be consequences to the dog.

Personally I wouldn't have time for someone who didn't regard the safety of their grandchild as serious and would only visit when I was able to leave the child with the other parent-If that meant I visited and therefore helped less often - that'd be tough.

FBaby

If the dog was normally always shut elsewhere, didn't OP question once why that was the case, especially if the dog was free to go this one time.

I am struggling to believe that if OP was told that the dog was not good with children, and was normally locked away during their visit, that it didn't occured to her during the half hour the dog was free this time, that maybe that wasn't safe for her son.

System

So, having just googled bite inhibition (thankyou to the two posters above for the information) I found this webpage, which looks to contain some useful information

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BiteInhibition.php

It is something that normally-socialised puppies learn, and it can also be taught by humans.

But generally of course people cannot be expected to be experts in dog behaviour. Understanding why a dog has bitten is second best to preventing the situation from happening, as has been said.

Pearlstar

I like dogs (had a lab we had to shut away until visitors sat down or she would knock them flying, she could open doors so we had to have a bolt on the door) but I would never let anything harm my children or grandchildren! There are plenty of dogs without issues needing homes so why take on a problem?

Pollycat

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

I haven't read all the thread OP, but if it were me, there is no way on this earth I would visit with this dog in the house

Furthermore, I would report it to the RSPCA, because the next child it bites, might be seriously injured and you could prevent it

If I were in the OP's shoes, I would find this a real dilemma.

Balancing the thought of this dog biting someone badly and upsetting her Mother who obviously loves this dog.

I'm not sure that I would report it but then again, imagine the guilt if it did bite somebody.

j.e.j.

Pollycat wrote: »

If I were in the OP's shoes, I would find this a real dilemma.

Balancing the thought of this dog biting someone badly and upsetting her Mother who obviously loves this dog.

I'm not sure that I would report it but then again, imagine the guilt if it did bite somebody.

It has bitten somebody!! Three young children (so far). I hope she keeps it muzzled when she's out or there's a real danger it could bite someone else's child, and the brown stuff could really hit the fan.

pickledonionspaceraider

.............

picklekin

There are different kinds of bites, there is a warning off and there is an attack. Obviously I wasn't there but this sounds like a warning off to me.. you might say "a bite is a bite" but my lab will occasionally "mouth" people as a greeting (sadly, despite all my efforts and those of 3 dog trainers!) but he doesn't hurt and its just his way of saying hi, yet some people who don't know dogs might think this is biting as it involves his jaws!

If I were the OP, I'd go inside, with my child and then just take the dog into another room and lock it away. Creating a huge drama out of this is going to alienate the mother, which if you really want to do just don't go round there in the fist place and leave her and her dog alone!

Pollycat

j.e.j. wrote: »

It has bitten somebody!! Three young children (so far). I hope she keeps it muzzled when she's out or there's a real danger it could bite someone else's child, and the brown stuff could really hit the fan.

OK then.
"bite someone badly" - as I said in my earlier paragraph.

I did know the dog had bitten the OP's sister's kid as well as her son.

FatVonD

I have to agree with some of the other posters that you must have had a fair idea, OP, that the dog could bite.

I also agree that the dog probably didn't do it for no reason but it could have been simply that your little one was walking in the direction of the room his food dish is in or where his favourite toy was stuffed down the side of the sofa.

The dog though has issues with small children and I agree 100% that you shouldn't be taking your child there ever again. I, personally, wouldn't even trust some of the suggestions given here such as stair gates (depending on the size of the dog it may quite easily be able to jump a stair gate) and a closed but unlocked door could easily be opened by accident.

Your mum seems to accept that you won't be going round but your siblings don't think you are pulling your weight and that's tough. You could cook her up a casserole and drop it to her door (leaving your boy in the car) a couple of times a week to show willing, maybe pick up a bag of washing and return it neatly ironed? There are ways to be seen to be doing your bit without putting your child at risk.

I agree with some of the others that you should report the dog for the benefit of any other small children that may be bitten outside of the home though I can see it will make for very strained relations within the family. Think though how you'd feel if your son was mauled by a dog in the street that the owners family knew to be a liability.