Mum's dog bit my LO

Buzzybee90

Is your son ok?

I'd report and get rid.

Mojisola

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Now that you know could you not in future go into your Mum's house first (leaving the child briefly in the car), secure the dog into a shut room on behalf of your Mum, and then bring your child(ren) in?

Separate the annoyance at having found out that this has happened before, from the practicalities of how you can continue contact with your Mum.

I would do this as a temporary measure until Mum is feeling better but then she really has to do something about the dog if she wants the grandchildren to continue to visit her.

j.e.j.

krlyr wrote: »

Well done for tarring everyone with the same brush.

Actually the responses have been quite sensible.. up to this point!

As a 'dog lover' myself, I do not think it's fine that the dog has bitten a child. I wouldn't blame the dog though - it has not bitten to be malicious, it's a dog known to have issues with children (whatever the reason - e.g. it could be fearful of children due to poor socialisation or a bad experience in the past) that was put into a situation where it could bite. I am perfectly capable of loving dogs yet thinking both trains of thought - it is not the dog to blame, but the owner who should have protected both child and dog (dogs bite for a reason - dog has been put in a situation it has not liked, too)

You are welcome to your doggy psychology, it is very interesting. Unfortunately it gets even more interesting when the mutt sinks its teeth into a person (or in this case a young child).

I don't mind dogs, and most of them (I find) are not vicious, unless provoked. But some of them are, unfortunately, and there's no point being soft-headed or sentimental about it.

Georgiegirl256

Solsol wrote: »

I don't know why the dog wasn't locked away like usual - I think it was because like I've said my mum is quite ill at the moment and obviously was physically unable to do this herself.

If I could have done something to prevent this then I would have but sadly, it seems like this has happened because my mum was too proud to admit that she wasn't well enough to lock the dog away.

I read that your Mum was ill in the first post, but it was post 14 that then confused me as you stated that she knew you were on your way and so had plenty of time to lock the dog away. She can either lock the dog away herself or she can't.

If she can't, then maybe you could do as Tigsteroonie has suggested above, and go in first, lock the dog away and then the children can enter safely?

It sounds like maybe your poor Mum is struggling in general, and is really struggling to cope with her ill health. It would be a shame if you and your siblings stopped going around because of the dog when it sounds like she needs you all the most.

j.e.j.

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

It sounds like maybe your poor Mum is struggling in general, and is really struggling to cope with her ill health. It would be a shame if you and your siblings stopped going around because of the dog when it sounds like she needs you all the most.

They could shut the dog outside in the garden (if there is one) and keep the child indoors.

My gran's dog was not vicious but a bit over-friendly, and one of my aunts did not take kindly to a slobbering great-dane sniffing and jumping up at her, so she wouldn't come in the house until the dog was put outside.

The dog didn't mind, and the aunt got to visit :beer:

Solsol

I didn't realise that she wasn't well enough to lock the dog away plus as I was unaware that it had attacked previously I didn't see any reason to once I arrived.

Like I have already said, I think pride is playing a part in this and she didn't want to ask for help with the dog as she may have been scared that the dogs will be taken away if she admits that she isn't well enough to look after them

Solsol

j.e.j. wrote: »

The could shut the dog outside in the garden (if there is one) and keep the child indoors.

My gran's dog was not vicious but a bit over-friendly, and one of my aunts did not take kindly to a slobbering great-dane sniffing and jumping up at her, so she wouldn't come in the house until the dog was put outside.

The dog didn't mind, and the aunt got to visit :beer:

Except that while I was there the dogs actually opened the garden gate and escaped down the driveway!

She really needs to get proper barriers installed which is something I am currently helping her with but I still haven't decided if I am going to take my son back there or not.

It's a difficult situation because ordinarily she could meet us somewhere else but being ill she can't get out of the house just yet.

j.e.j.

Solsol wrote: »

Except that while I was there the dogs actually opened the garden gate and escaped down the driveway!

She really needs to get proper barriers installed which is something I am currently helping her with but I still haven't decided if I am going to take my son back there or not.

It's a difficult situation because ordinarily she could meet us somewhere else but being ill she can't get out of the house just yet.

Don't feel bad about it. I wouldn't take my child back there either if I knew the dog was prone to biting. Your mum is effectively prioritising the dogs over her grandchildren's safety. I don't understand the siblings not being concerned about the situation, especially if their kids have been attacked by the dog too.

The dogs are her responsibility not yours.

Solsol

Just thought I would add that my son is ok - his arm was bruised and swollen and still has bruising on it now but the bite didn't penetrate the skin so there was no blood and he was quite shocked.

He is also more wary around dogs now although that could be a good thing really as I don't want him thinking that all dogs are friendly as they clearly aren't! I am happy for him to play with dogs I know and trust but will definitely be more wary myself of him playing with other dogs in the future

krlyr

j.e.j. wrote: »

Actually the responses have been quite sensible.. up to this point!



You are welcome to your doggy psychology, it is very interesting. Unfortunately it gets even more interesting when the mutt sinks its teeth into a person (or in this case a young child).

I don't mind dogs, and most of them (I find) are not vicious, unless provoked. But some of them are, unfortunately, and there's no point being soft-headed or sentimental about it.

Just because there is not obvious provocation, does not mean the bite is irrational. Dogs can have their triggers, for the dog in question it seems to be young children.

We don't know enough details about each situation to know why the dog bit. Even if there was no identifiable trigger from OP's child or niece, there is something that has made the dog act out of character and bite.
Even where there is no obvious trigger, many cases on "unexplainable" aggression can be health related - one of my dogs, for example, suffers hypothyroidism which causes anxiety, and led to her becoming reactive to other dogs when she was previously great with them. Pain can cause sudden aggression - e.g. young child leans full weight on a dog to balance, hurting a dog with sore hips. Or even a neurological condition, brain tumour, etc.

That's not being soft headed, it's realising that behaviours can be explained, and those explanations can help prevent a repeat incident (as should have happened after the first bite really - but that is the owner to blame, not the dog)