Mum's dog bit my LO

Rev

fizz wrote: »

Why oh why didn't you lock the dog away yourself? It beggar's belief that you knew the dog had an issue with kids and you didn't do something about it. If your mom was going to have a hissy that you wanted the dog moved to another room, then you should have left.
Did the dog break the skin of your child?

The OP has said several times that she didn't know the dog has previously shown aggression to children. And wasn't aware the dog had issued with children.


She has also stated the child's skin was not broken.


Perhaps actually read things before assuming the OP had simply been irresponsible.

Solsol

Rev wrote: »

Did you take into consideration wether your extended family liked or disliked kids before you get pregnant? Of course you didn't because it's your life. And you quite rightly make choices based on what you want. Just as your mother has done with the dog. She wanted the dog, you said yourself before she was ill she would meet you elsewhere. So why should she take into consideration children that rarely visit when deciding to get the dog or not? You don't live with your mother. They're not her children. So she shouldn't be expected to make descisons around those children.


What is unreasonable is your family thinking you should just go 'oh well' and be okay with this and carry on taking your child there.

I have two dogs. No kids. And I have to say if this was one of my dogs I would be absolutely devastated. I'd absolutely take measures to ensure 100% this couldn't happen again. Be that baby gates. Doors with locks, I'd also get the dog checked by a vet and behaviourist in. There's absolutely no way at all I would allow that dog to be around children in future. At all.


And I think you're absolutely right in not taking your LO back to the house unless the dog is safely locked in a different room. Or removed entirely from the house whilst you visit.

Whether other people like my should or not is not the issue - my child isn't dangerous and doesn't bite!

Also, I have visited my mother countless times since I had my son and she has visited us exactly 3 times so maybe you're right and she doesn't actually like my child thank you for bringing this to my attention

fizz

So that negates that point and as I skimmed please do not take that tone with me.
Original point still stands, OP knew and did nothing about it.
Personal responsibility is a valid point

fizz

@ Rev don't know where the quote has gone but OP clearly states that the dog had already 'attacked' other children.

Person_one

Pollycat wrote: »

I find it quite shocking that your siblings didn't tell you about the dog biting your niece.
What on earth were they thinking?

Don't bow to their pressure.
You are not in the wrong here.

I'm struggling to understand this a bit too.

Your mother knew before taking on the dog that it was bad with children.
The dog has previously bitten children in the family.
Your mother locks this dog away (but not her other one) when you visit with your child.
But somehow you didn't realise until today that the dog had an issue around children and needed to be kept away from them?

Is this a major communication issue within your family or am I missing something here?

As the dog didn't even break the skin, there's no way I'd be killing it over this. The solution is strict, physical separation of child and dog whenever child visits.


Edit: Apparently I managed to skip a whole page where some of these questions are covered. I still think being religious about keeping them separate (whether that's locking the dog away or you choosing not to visit) is the answer. As you say its only temporary, and asking your mum to send an animal she loves to its death because of a bite that didn't even do any damage and could have been easily prevented if the adults were more on the ball, is a lot to ask of her. If this means you can't help as much while she's ill, so be it, that's not the end of the world.

System

Even if it did not pierce the skin, being bitten by a dog is a frightening experience.

I know an elderly lady who got her dog re-homed when it transpired that her granddaughter was allergic to its fur. I am not sure what she would have done had the dog bitten anyone. For her the dog was company, after she was widowed, but her grandchild came first.

ohreally

OP, the issue of the dog biting your child is a side issue, you can remove your children from the danger, the real issue is of the dog coming into contact with other peoples children who don't know of its aggressive tendencies.

Your mother is being selfish. If the dog cant be trained and controlled then it needs either muzzled, rehomed or perhaps another solution should be considered.

System

Person_one wrote: »

I'm struggling to understand this a bit too.

Your mother knew before taking on the dog that it was bad with children.
The dog has previously bitten children in the family.
Your mother locks this dog away (but not her other one) when you visit with your child.
But somehow you didn't realise until today that the dog had an issue around children and needed to be kept away from them?

Is this a major communication issue within your family or am I missing something here?

It looks like they kept it from her in case she was put off visiting the mum with her little boy.

Solsol wrote: »

I agree but I wasn't aware that it didn't like children until after it had bitten my son. I also didn't know about the times it had bitten my niece either as I assume the family had chosen not to tell me in case I decided to keep my son away from my mum's house.

The strategy was short-sighted, because the child has now been attacked and she is indeed put off visiting!

thorsoak

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Get the kid to Feed the dog lots of chocolate and grapes. Won't be a problem in a few days.

Har,har, har. Very funny. What a useful and productive post. I admire your wit. Not.

theoretica

I am sure the OP is kicking herself quite hard enough about not realising and shutting the dog away and doesn't need other posters joining in.

Solsol wrote: »

She may not see her grandchild for another month now because of this and doesn't seem entirely bothered?!

This may not seem anything like as long a time to her as you think. Many families, including mine, live far from each other and may not see a grandchild every year, yet alone every month. This doesn't mean they aren't loved.