Biting Dogs

[jac1791]

what will it take in wick for something to be done about dogs that bite.

my 13 yr old was bitten yesterday by a staffie that was on a lead with its owner, the dog has bitten twice before that i know of - last friday being one - lady needed hospital treatment. police says the dog jumped playfully and nipped my daughter -- well if ur lower arm with bruising and teeth make is a nip i must have been mistaken all my life to believe this as a bite. having 2 big dogs myself i am well aware of a dog playing or being aggresive, just hope this does not put my daughter off dogs!!!

today she getting greif at school, that if the dog is distroyed then my daughter will get a kicking ....

[poppett]

How awful for your daughter to be injured in the first place, then bullied about it in school. What is this sick world coming to? Hope your daughter makes a speedy recovery and the bullies are dealt with appropriately.

[WickWitch]

How awful for her and for you. I hope that she recovers quickly.

[Tubthumper]

Maybe it's the kids who are threatening to give her a kicking that need put down... do the world a favour?

[katarina]

that's awful. There are so many staffies around now. they are usually lovely dogs with people, but vicious with other dogs if they are not socialised properly when puppies. however ANY dog that bites should be muzzled, even if it is just a playful nip. Maybe next time the bite will be serious enough that the dog WILL be have to be put down. Hope the owners take note.

[Tugmistress]

some may think me a bit harsh, but if it were my dog that had bitten a child - and this sounds like a bite - then i would have no hesitation in putting it to sleep as much as i love my dogs. as for your daughter being threatened at school then again this needs bringing to the attention of the police.
i sincerely hope that this does not put her off dogs and that she recovers quickly from her ordeal and that the bullying and threatening behaviour of these other 'animals' is stopped.

[BINBOB]

Maybe it's the kids who are threatening to give her a kicking that need put down... do the world a favour?

Good one....I agree.

[arana negra]

Firstly sorry to hear your girl has been bitten I hope she is recovers well from her ordeal. I also hope the school deals appropriatrely with these other children.

Secondly, I am amazed that the police took that line, dimissing a dog bite as playful especially from a breed on the dangerous dogs list.

Thirdly I had a dog of mine put down for biting my eldest son on the leg, it broke through the skin. Dogs that bite should be put down.

[grandma]

some may think me a bit harsh, but if it were my dog that had bitten a child - and this sounds like a bite - then i would have no hesitation in putting it to sleep as much as i love my dogs. as for your daughter being threatened at school then again this needs bringing to the attention of the police.
i sincerely hope that this does not put her off dogs and that she recovers quickly from her ordeal and that the bullying and threatening behaviour of these other 'animals' is stopped.

Totally agree.

[changilass]

Go back to the police and say you want to take this further.

Go to the school and see teacher about the bullying - if they wont do owt go to the police about this as well.

Dogs that bite should be put down.

[jac1791]

thx for all your comments - at least now i know im not just being an over protective mum.

i have 2 big dogs - if one o them even snaped me then i would not hesitate to put it down.

[redeyedtreefrog]

Maybe it's the kids who are threatening to give her a kicking that need put down... do the world a favour?

Not a bad plan

[cuddlepop]

If a dog bites someone,especially a child a sensible owner should put their dog down.
I know I've had to do it in the past and it was awful.

[NickInTheNorth]

Go back to the police ask to speak to the senior officer in the station and state that if you cannot you wish to make a formal complaint.

Also contact the dog warden they have a statutory duty to deal with dangerous dogs as do the police. Any dog that has bitten someone is dangerous.

Contact the school report the bullying and the circumstances that have led to the bullying. If they will not take any action ask to see the anti bullying policy and then ask them to act in accordance with it (it will include taking action over this sort of bullying). Also report the bullying to the police and make the schoo, aware that you are doing so.

Instances such as this are perpetuated because people do not persue them correctly.

If there is proof that the dog has bitten people three times then the courts should order it's destruction.

[Thumper]

I agree go back to the police immediately and tell them you want this taken further and also tell them about the threats made to your child at school,let the school know as well as this is typical "bullying" the parents of the children should be ashamed of themselves for a)allowing a dog to bite a child and b) for letting their children take this matter into a playground! I hate to make harsh judgements but it sounds as though this family make their own rules and if not taken into account for this who knows what will happen the next time-and there WILL be a next time! x

[Stefan]

If a dog bites someone,especially a child a sensible owner should put their dog down.
I know I've had to do it in the past and it was awful.

I totally agree. Dogs who bite should be put down.

I was in that situation once and my daughter begged me not to put our dog down. She was the one who got bitten.
After careful consideration I went with her wish but told her that if the dog ever bit again there would be no turning back, he would have to be destroyed.

I first thought I made a mistake but feared that my daughter would feel guilty for the dog having to die. Being 10 at the time I didn't want her to suffer any trauma. She loved the dog. First thing she said after she got bitten was "Oh, no that was my fault, don't shout at him."

She had wandered about with a stick, swinging it about next to our new puppy. She told me that the dog was growling at her but she ignored it although she knew better. We believe our dog was protecting the puppy. He is a staffie cross, deaf, and he was never socialised as a puppy, but he was still a friendly dog with people, just not good with other dogs. We got him at 5 month and had to teach him that dogs don't stand on kitchen tables and steal childrens cereals whilst they are eating.... He learned quickly and has never even nipped. He was 6 when he bit our daughter and hasn't nipped or bitten since. He is now 8.

As a precaution I muzzled him when the younger children were about. He accepted it without any problems. He even seemed relieved that he didn't have to guard the puppy any more and just went to his bed or out in the garden to sleep in the sun when he got muzzled. I stopped it when our puppy was a year old and overtook our staffie cross in the ranking order.

If any of my dogs would bite a stranger whilst out on a walk I don't think I would hesitate.
Unfortunately some breeds use their teeth easier than others but injuring strangers in the streets. No. That just can't happen.

I was in a very difficult situation and really hope he will never bite again. If he had bitten me he would have been put down. If my daughter would have been upset and scared of the dog he would have been put down. It was only her who convinced me to give him a chance.

He is a very friendly dog with people and will great anybody happily without using his teeth. He will nip other dogs sometimes and has left she odd scratch on our puppy, who has done the same in return. They are both staffie crosses and I must agree that they use their teeth on each other more readily than any other breed.

Biting humans is a complete different story. Some good advice from previous posters. Can you get in touch with other people who got bitten by the dog? I am not suggesting that the dog has to be put down straight away but at the very least he should have to wear a muzzle in public.

Often it is the owners fault. A responsible owner would muzzle the dog as a precaution when out in public straight after the first incident.

As a dog behaviourist I know there is a reason why the dog is biting, which is 100% the owners fault. Even staffies don't bite without any good reason and if they are just playing and being too rough, well, then the owner is responsible to prevent any injuries.

I hope your daughter will recover soon. Explain to her that the dog who hurt her is an exception and that you will go into school and stop the bullying. Children should not be afraid of dogs, but they also shouldn't just touch dogs in the street. Most dogs are friendly enough but even those can have a bad day, feel under the weather or are simply frightened of a passing lorry and growl or nip... after all dogs are animals and us such will always be a little bit unpredictable.

[Mrs Bucket]

Go back to the police ask to speak to the senior officer in the station and state that if you cannot you wish to make a formal complaint.

Also contact the dog warden they have a statutory duty to deal with dangerous dogs as do the police. Any dog that has bitten someone is dangerous.

Contact the school report the bullying and the circumstances that have led to the bullying. If they will not take any action ask to see the anti bullying policy and then ask them to act in accordance with it (it will include taking action over this sort of bullying). Also report the bullying to the police and make the schoo, aware that you are doing so.

Instances such as this are perpetuated because people do not persue them correctly.

If there is proof that the dog has bitten people three times then the courts should order it's destruction.

Not everyone is strong enough to see things through as they should. I am speaking from experience. The police can be very dismissive and make you feel that you are in the wrong even when you are not. .Is there anyone out there who could support this family (if necessary) effectively handle both these issues. Too many things get swept under the carpet as it is often the easiest option

[Allsorts]

My son was bitten by a friend's dog while in her house. He had only just turned 1 and was leaning against the sofa at the other end of the room from the dog. The dog just suddenly run from one end to the other and bite him badly on the face. There was no food involved or anything it was totally unprovoked.

I thought my friend would have put her dog down, it was a horrendous bite that has left scaring on a young child. She didn't and when we went to the police to make a complaint they said they would put it down in case someone else complained about the same dog.

This dog did it again while a child was playing and the dog was being walked. I felt so guilty that I hadn't pushed more to get the dog put down. I honestly thought my friend would have put her dog down as i know I could never trust it again. I would certainly do it if my dog ever bite someone.

[ber219]

Firstly I just want to say what a terrible thing to happen, I am so sorry and hopefully your daughter recovers and it doesn't put her off dogs. As for the kids in the school, they really need to be reported this is not acceptable.

Onto another subject and that is people blaming the dogs, it is not the dogs fault it is the people that own them and that don't know how to control/train them.

We have 4 staffies, all very well bred and very very well trained that are terrified of their own shadow, in fact one of them, the male actually, got attacked by a rhodesian ridgeback and never even retaliated (spelling?) he just wanted to get away and hide behind my mum out of the way.

It just goes to show that again far too many people jump on the band wagon of "oh they are a dangerous dog it's in their nature" no it is not in the dogs nature, if you mistreat a dog, don't train it correctly of course it is going to pick up very bad habbits and if it is allowed to get away with nipping etc and not trained not to do it of course they will carry on doing it.

Also for note Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not on the Dangerous Dogs list, American Pit Bulls are and often people mistake Staffies for Pitbulls, I know it has happened on a number of occasions with us where people have had a right go about us having them when clearly they don't have a right to say anything as they obviously don't know their breed of dog very well.

I love dogs and I am not scared of any dog apart from German Shephards, there is just something in their eyes, I had a bit of an experience with one once it just growled and jumped to attack but this was because the owner just could not control it and it did not listen to the owner in the slightest, I have met other German Shephards that are very well trained and don't have a problem with them but I keep them at a distance now after that one particular dog.

Anyway, that is my rant over and really really hope the little girl is not worried at all by dogs in the future and that those spiteful little children in the school are dealt with.

[ShelleyCowie]

Im a pet lover and i agree with people, agressive dogs should be put down.

The dog is a threat to anyone. Especially children who are less able to defend themselves or get a dog off if it wont let go.

Bullying is disgraceful. As people have stated do go back to the police about the dog and act on the bullying.

Really sorry to hear about this happening to your daughter. i hope things can get sorted soon.