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dog advice needed...
We had an accident last with Evelyn and the dog. She was standing next to the couch and fell but fell on the dog who was sleeping. Rosco got startled and bit her on the face. We had to go to the ER and have stitches done. I called 911 so now animal control has to come. However, we now have the tough decision of what to do with Rosco...do we keep him with the chance of it happening again, do we bring him to the shelter or do we put him down. He is a wonderful dog and is great with Evie normally. I am afraid of bringing him to the shelter that someone will adopt him to be a guard dog cause he is a rotti but he isn't that kind of dog and would probably end of being abused. If you were in this situation what would you do? DH and I are so torn and heart broken.
Re: dog advice needed...
I don't blame you for having a hard time. I certainly would!
My first inclination is to say that it was provoked and not in Rosco's normal behavior. So I'd give him a second chance and just be aware of it and cautious. But my gut tells me that his lesson is learned not to sit under her and maybe she'll understand that she needs to be more aware of where he is to.
Digby sometimes snaps when we startle him. He hasn't made contact yet, but I don't think that Rosco's reaction is limited to just him. I bet most other dogs would do the same thing if they were startled.
And I hope your little one heals up quick. My T&P are with you!
All of this!! I would just add that I don't think he should be put down, at most he may need to go to a home with no children or older children and that I would hope you could re-home him instead of him going to a shelter.
I agree with Susie - if he's sent to the shelter and they know it's because he "bit" a child, he probably won't get adopted and he'll be put down. Especially given that he's a rottie (which how did I not know you were a fellow rottie owner?). I know there are certain things that triggers my dogs and as an owner, it's my responsibility to make sure that the dog isn't put in those situations. No dog is going to be perfect with a new little one running around - I'm sure it's been a huge adjustment for Rosco as well.
Check out this blog - http://babiesandbeasts.blogspot.com/ - she's got some GREAT information on how to acclimate and live with "babies and beasts."
I'm hoping kclouts weighs in too because she had success after some tough times with her pup.
I know that I don't have children and can't relate from that level but as a dog owner, I'm pretty passionate about the responsibilities of being one. But at the same time, I hope I don't sound preachy.
Hope that helps!
When Cider bit the two kids at camp it was a tough decision for us too... but I knew in my heart that I wouldn't be able to trust him and would be on my guard and my feelings had changed for him. We took him to the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, he was evaluated for aggressive behaviors and then put up for adoption. Three days later I went onto petfinder to make sure they put up that he should not be with kids, and he was already adopted. No one can tell you what you should do in this situation, it is going to have to come from your heart and you have to decide what is best for you, YH, Evie and Rosco.
Here I am!
We knew we were going to have a problem so being neurotic about it from the get-go helped. It sounds like you guys may have been tricked by Rosco and Evie into thinking that it was going to be smooth sailing so you didn't need to be so crazy about it. Our issues were with Trouble thinking that baby Ridley was prey, which was much scarier in my opinion. He would literally stalk her, so we needed to keep them absolutely separated for a while. As Ridley grew and became human in Trouble's eyes, things progressively got better. I don't think he loves her, but he tolerates her. Given the fact that he is blind now, we have to pay close attention to how she treats him. He gets startled easily and she has had to learn what his boundaries are. I actually am grateful for the hell of a time that we have had with this whole thing because I feel like it has taught Ridley a respect for animals that not all children learn.
That being said, I really think that Rosco's reaction was natural. He didn't bite Evie or attack her unprovoked. She absolutely startled him and she may have even hurt him when she fell on him. It sounds like he is a great dog otherwise. I wouldn't lose faith in him yet. I am SURE that this was a terrifying experience for you but give it a few days and see if it feels less overwhelming. I know that for us, in the moment sometimes, it felt like we needed to make a decision right away, and as time went on, we decided "OK, we can do this for another week." Eventually those weeks turned into months and now it has been two years. Trouble hasn't bit Ridley once (knock on wood). My guess is that Rosco probably feels terrible about the whole thing and knows that he has done something wrong.
Like Darcie suggests, now that there has been an "incident," you guys are going to have to be extra vigilant as Rosco's owners and Evie's parents to make sure that you are keeping them both safe.
I also want to say that you need to make the right decision for your family and that may mean re-homing him (I would not recommend a shelter or having him put down). I didn't feel particularly supported when I thought we were going to have to re-home Trouble, so I want to put it out there that I know personally what you are going through and how difficult a decision that can be. I am here (in town) if you need to talk about it. It really is like having to choose between your children.
HUGS!
Perfectly said kclouts! And I should have said that too - I would much rather see a dog be rehomed than live in an environment that's stressful on them (and you!) and I think if that's a decision you need to make, it's a much better one than putting him down. And like sweetpea said, a dog can be adopted out to the right family but it's tough - I think people are more likely to look passed those behaviors from a terrier (like Cider) than a rottie because of people's (really unfortunate) pre-conceived notions about them (which I think you eluded to in your original post about being a guard dog).
And PS... Kristin, I didn't realize that Cider had been adopted - when did that happen? I'm so out of the loop lately... hahahaha
I would call Sergei Buchovsky. He works with dogs who have bitten people or other dogs/animals. I would trust his opinion re: if your dog is a risk or not. And he's honest-- he will tell you if your dog is okay to keep around Evie, if your dog is a risk around kids, or if your dog should be put down (which he almost never believes and when he does, it's when a dog has killed another dog).
He's saved countless animals who were considered "goners" and he's worked with many families who otherwise would have given their dog up for bad behaviours (not just bites).
He runs the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine. Phone is 207) 946 5348.
The girls have given great advice so far. The site Darcie recommend is a good one. If I could get into my office without waking up Caroline I'd get a card from a woman down in VA who has done seminars and books about kids and dogs, she's great. First off, do what feels right for you and your family, including your dog.
My husband and I were just talking about this. It's always on our minds because we have dogs, we will be fostering again this summer and bringing in strange dogs, and it's a common topic brought up in the rescue community. If this situation happened to us, we'd give our dogs a second chance. This wasn't a provoked situation. If our dog growled beforehand and had a second to "think" about it and then reacted we'd have to give it some more consideration. More training, re-homing, etc. But, your dog reacted to being startled awake. If someone fell on your while you were asleep you would react. They can't swat their hand in the air and bat someone away, so they bite. The big thing is what happens from here. How your dog reacts to her from here on out. Also, how you react with your dog and your daughter. If you are tense you will create a tense situation.
Coming from a mom, who has a daughter around your babie's age, it would definitely be heart breaking to see her bit, go to the ER etc. I can't even imagine how shaken you must be. You never want any harm to them.
I hate that AC is involved, they are very rarely any help. I've worked beside them when I worked at the PD and with them with the rescue, community etc. and they are clueless half the time. Hopefully, things can calm down and you'll have the chance to breathe, and then make the best decision for all.
I'm sending you a PM
Just wanted to say I'm sorry you had to go through this. I really do think that it was not provoked and I would give him a second chance.
Keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has a baby and a dog who can be aggressive (mostly fear, possession aggression and food aggression). I have always been concerned about how Buddy would be with her just because of his personality and our experience with him. I have taken him to obedience and we have worked with him so much. But, we just have to keep them separated all the time. When T is on the floor in the living room, the gate is up and I'm usually watching to make sure he isn't too close and she isn't provoking him at all.
The best thing I ever taught Buddy was "back". I use it mostly when he is begging too close, when he is too close to her or when he is guarding something that I need to take from him.
I don't feel like I can give up on him because if we decided he needed to be rehomed, I just don't feel like another family would work with him as much or understand him as much.
Good luck...you can do this. If rehoming via rescue is the best option for you family, that is ok. hugs