My Dog Bit a Child

[Red Chrome]

Originally Posted by SevenSins

I agree with the above and I'll add my (very strong) opinion here. There is NO place in this world for a human-aggressive APBT/mix and frankly I don't think a single one is worth saving, not when there are multitudes of APBTs out there with rock-solid temperaments, some who have been wrung through all manners of hell and still wouldn't dream of laying tooth on a person. I'm not going to candy-coat; Based on the OP's description of the dog's temperament, that dog should have been dead a long time ago. Further, the OP failed that dog, and failed responsible APBT owners, by putting it in a situation that allowed it to bite someone, knowing the dog was aggressive. This dog is now a statistic that brings the rest of us one step closer to losing our dogs.

I agree with you to a point. However, I feel that the owner owes it to the dog to have it evaluated and if the case isn't that bad to work with it.

I owned an AST/APBT that wanted to eat children, however, she never bit a child and was handled with care and consistency till the day she died. She was never allowed to have a chance to bite a child after she muzzle punched one, no teeth were used, it was a warning. She was the best dog I ever owned and I miss her everyday. I got a lot of flack and hell from certain people for keeping her alive, but I don't regret it and would do it all over again for her. That said, I don't know that I would want to work through another dog with issues like hers, I have to say that euthanasia is much easier than working through the issues.

This is an OWNED dog and the OWNER should STEP UP and take care of things properly, giving the dog an evaluation and then making a decision is the only FAIR thing to do IMHO.

Originally Posted by Red Chrome

if the case isn't that bad

"If the case isn't that bad?"

Originally Posted by zeekee

Yesterday, my dog broke out of his leash and rushed going outside the fence and bited a child

Originally Posted by zeekee

he's very aggressive with strangers and passer-bis..

Originally Posted by zeekee

he gets aggressive to any kind of people

Originally Posted by zeekee

He played with children already but now, he doesnt want to play with them anymore. Whenver he sees them, he gets really mad. He hates children very much now.

I'd say that case is pretty effing bad. "Because I love him" isn't a good justification to keep a dangerous dog alive, particularly when the owner has already clearly demonstrated that they're not responsible enough to have the dog.

[Teal]

Originally Posted by Xandra

I don't think the dog is necessarily wired wrong. Does a dog just look at a little kid and automatically know it's the same deal as an adult? I don't think so. They look, smell, sound differently. Actually I'd say that's a not an unusual response in a dog that has a lot of prey drive and little exposure to children, but for them running past the fence squealing, which is "teasing" the dog even unintentionally. (I mean how do you get a dog to bite a tug, you whip it around just out of reach to build frustration).

I actually agree with this. I've said before that dogs don't always recognize children as humans.

However - that's a VERY limited window, and is definitely not an excuse to keep a dog alive. I agree with Kady, SevenSins, and definitely Miakoda - there's NO room for a Pit Bull mix who will put teeth on a child, for WHATEVER reason.

[crazedACD]

If zeekee is not willing to put safety measures in place to absolutely ensure the dog will not get loose and not hurt people, then absolutely the dog should be put to sleep. Zeekee, obviously you now know what happens if he gets loose. Perhaps he needs to be shut out of the world until you can find a behaviorist and work on managing his behavior. If it's not possible to keep him secure and safe NOW, then it is probably best to consider euthanasia.

I had an APDT mix. He started snapping at people and dogs right off the bat when I got him at about 4-5months and continued despite socialization, management, and working with trainers. I had a few dog-knowledgeable people take a look at him, and I wouldn't call myself a novice. He was about a year old, and we moved across the street from a school. I found another trainer, brought him for an eval, and when she was walking by us (he was in a sit-stay), he was looking at me when he turned, jumped, and grabbed her by the arm. That was it. Toward the end he never warned before he bit either..he was very well behaved and obedience trained. I probably trained out his warning mechanism.

Honestly, it depends on your situation and what you can manage. At that (and this) point...I live with my mom, brother, and sister. God forbid a gate was left open, or he got out the front door, or he figured out how to jump the fence. Or someone forgets to put him away when someone is visiting. It just isn't worth someone getting mauled, and isn't worth yet another news story against yet another APBT. If I lived in a more rural area, it was just me and no kids, a nice high fence..I doubt I would have been inclined to put him to sleep.
I'm not saying I don't halfway regret that decision everyday, or that it was an easy or quick decision. Everything replays in your head about things you should have done differently, and the what ifs (see, I'm tearing up now). I LOVED that dog, he was awesome with me. It just isn't worth a child getting killed.

[Red Chrome]

I will stand by my beliefs. You can NOT diagnose the dog over the internet. We ONLY know what the OP has told us. UNTIL a PROFESSIONAL has evaluated the dog, I will withhold opinion on whether it needs PTS or not. The dog needs evaluated.

I will say that the OP sounds irresponsible and lax about the dog in general. He needs a wake up call and needs to realize that it isn't all fun and games owning a dog. Unless he is willing to commit to the dog's training needs and step up his management plan then I feel the dog would be better off elsewhere.

[~Tucker&Me~]

Originally Posted by Red Chrome

I will stand by my beliefs. You can NOT diagnose the dog over the internet. We ONLY know what the OP has told us. UNTIL a PROFESSIONAL has evaluated the dog, I will withhold opinion on whether it needs PTS or not. The dog needs evaluated.

I will say that the OP sounds irresponsible and lax about the dog in general. He needs a wake up call and needs to realize that it isn't all fun and games owning a dog. Unless he is willing to commit to the dog's training needs and step up his management plan then I feel the dog would be better off elsewhere.

I agree that the dog needs to see a professional - the OP owes it to the dog to give him a very fair and unbiased evaluation. I am one of the first people to say that an aggressive dog in the shelter or rescue should be put down because of risk and the use of resources to 'fix' or manage them. However, this is an owned dog, and if the OP wants to invest money into making their yard un-escapable, is willing to only take the dog out with a basket muzzle forever or until he drastically improves from training and accepts that he must do a *ton* more work than people with safe dogs... Than I think he can consider working on this dog's issue.

We don't know what is causing this aggression, and what is triggering his behaviour. If you want to save this dog and live with an animal you will always have to be cautious with, explore your options. See a vet to rule out any and all health problems. Hire a reputable behaviourist. And in the meantime, contain your dog. No going out of the house without a basket muzzle and without being securely attached to a strong leash and collar (that he can't slip out of). What happened with this kid, CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. If that means intensely managing this dog for his entire life, so be it. If it means euthanasia, so be it.

You cannot let an incident like this happen again.

[Bigpoodleperson]

Does anyone else smell Spam/Troll? I have seen another thread where the OP posted about her dog not eating, didnt answer questions, and just have answers that stirred the pot. Something about this smells fishy to me... IDK Just this is a thread that would be a guarentee to stir things up here, hasnt come back, isnt answering questions, the way the post was written, etc...

[filarotten]

Originally Posted by Bigpoodleperson

Does anyone else smell Spam/Troll? I have seen another thread where the OP posted about her dog not eating, didnt answer questions, and just have answers that stirred the pot. Something about this smells fishy to me... IDK Just this is a thread that would be a guarentee to stir things up here, hasnt come back, isnt answering questions, the way the post was written, etc...

[Teal]

Originally Posted by Red Chrome

Unless he is willing to commit to the dog's training needs and step up his management plan then I feel the dog would be better off elsewhere.

Are you suggesting he REHOME a Pit Bull mix with a bite history?

And yet you give people **** for rehoming perfectly healthy, stable dogs to better homes

[Lyzelle]

Originally Posted by Teal

Are you suggesting he REHOME a Pit Bull mix with a bite history?

And yet you give people **** for rehoming perfectly healthy, stable dogs to better homes

What's wrong with rehoming a dog with a bite history, given that it was caused by a stupid owner and the dog could go on to live a fulfilling and happy life in the hands of someone who would know how to properly manage and train him?

If the temperament is genetically caused, by all means, put the dog down. But if it were caused by stupid humans with poor training techniques....I don't see the problem with rehoming the dog, as long as the rehome knew what they were dealing with.