German Shepherds Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

My GS bit my daughter, time to put down

56K views 375 replies 60 participants last post by  ken k 
#1 · (Edited)
We have had our female german shepherd for 5 years, named bella. She is well trained in the usual commands, and even goes to the bathroom where we want in her kennel. She has always been an indoor dog, except for exercise or if we're away for hours we leave her in our fenced in yard. In terms of her personality she often does not want to be touched or petted except by my wife. My wife spent most of the time with her the first couple years we had her, and bella is her baby. Bella in general does not want to have much to do with me or my daughter, she just prefers to not be bothered.

The other day, Bella was sitting on the ground and Abby put her face close to Bella's face, saying she loved her. Bella then proceeded to bite Abby on the nose, causing a large cut, a puncture, internal bleeding and bruising. Bella had never bit anyone before, but Abby did know that she shouldn't be in Bella's face.

At this point, since Bella bit our daughter after being in our family 5 years, I think we have to have her put down. She is so anxious and skittish as it is, and I would not trust her in being around other people or kids. We don't have any behavioral specialists near our small town, even if we did have the time and ability to put in multiple hours trying to cure her anxieties. This is obviously a very difficult decision, especially for my wife. Not sure what I'm looking for in posting this....but feel free to respond with any thoughts.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
According to I think it was Bill Campbell, this is one of the main causes of dog bites -- people, especially kids, putting their faces in dogs faces.

I don't know what to tell you. Your daughter knew she shouldn't do this. She will forever remember why especially when her action led to the behavior that causes the dogs death. Really sad situation all around. I'm sorry. That's all I got.
 
#84 ·
What an absurd position. Blaming an innocent child for showing affection to her family pet... Stable GSDs (or dogs of any kind) don't do this. At the very least, this dog should never again be in a home with children. It would take some major management no matter where it went...
 
#3 ·
I can't say my reaction would be much different given similar circumstances. However, instead of putting her down, maybe find someone that has experience with the breed to give her a good home and let her live out her years vs. putting her down.

You say you have had her 5 years, how old is she? 5 I presume?
 
#4 ·
This must be difficult for you. I have found females GSDs are much more aloof and like their independence compared to males and we have to respect this. You don't say how old your daughter is. I wonder if everything is good with Bella medically wise? Sometimes if a dog is sick their personality changes. At the end of the day, you have to do what is right for everyone - Bella, your daughter, your wife, you etc, if you decide not to keep Bella, rather than euthanzing her you could contact your local German Shepherd group and ask if they could rehome her to perhaps an older person with no children.
 
#5 ·
my prayers are with you and your entire family.i hope peace finds you.i would take my time following thru with any options until you have time to explore what happened.
again my prayers are sent to you and your entire family.
 
#6 ·
you can not put the responsibility for a child doing what innocent children do --- " don't know what to tell you. Your daughter knew she shouldn't do this. She will forever remember why especially when her action led to the behavior that causes the dogs death. "
Not the child's action , how wrong to blame the victim"

This was a dog with known anti social behaviour . "She is so anxious and skittish as it is, and I would not trust her in being around other people or kids" But you did .

just a terrible situation. I hope and prey that your daughter is okay .
 
#7 ·
We don't know that this was a child though. We do not know how old the person that was bitten is.

Is this someone who lives with you? And, how old is she. If she is 1 or 2 or 3, yeah, I think I agree with your position. If your daughter is from a previous marriage and is 16 or 21, usually lives with her mother, or is away at college, and hasn't had much contact with this dog -- doesn't live there, then I think it is harder for you, because you would be asking your wife to put down her dog, because of something that your daughter did, that probably wasn't a smart move.

If she is an older child, ie. teen or an adult, and does not live with you, then I think you need to understand that while your dog bit, she bit once, caused pain and a wound, but did not maul the daughter. I know it is still awful, especially in the face, but the dog is not crazy, uncontrollable, unpredictable. Maybe she can be safely managed by the person who loves her most -- your wife.

Rehoming a dog that will bite someone like this, is really a question. If your daughter is a child -- aged 10 or under, either work with the dog and an experienced trainer, or take the dog to the vet and have her put down. I think the latter makes more sense, but would be very hard to do.

Sorry you are going through this. Having a dog for 5 years, it would be devastating. Probably moreso for the wife.

BTW, it is the my daughter, not our daughter that makes me think that maybe the daughter is a little older and not the wife's daughter.
 
#8 ·
Consider her having her professionally evaluated. Perhaps she can be carefully, properly placed. I agree with Carmen that this is what children do. It's not 'bad', just appropriately childish. For this reason the safety of children (including friends & neighborhood scamps) s/b TOP PRIORITY in acquiring, keeping & managing dogs.
 
#9 ·
I grew up with dogs, including GS, I was bitten by dog when I was about 6 years old. Dog was friendly never attacked anyone and I think I try to hug it. Bit me in the face and reality is dog and kid cannot be left alone especially when dogs are skittish. I have golden retriever that is 11 years and GS that is 14 months. I am never at ease around kids, especially younger than 8 years as I know that they do not know how dogs behave and they treat dog in a human way. As I don’t know details, it is hard to make a blame, but I would really had difficult time to make such a decision, as I would way if this was isolated incident or perhaps, this is more behavioral case. My golden is wonderful dog with kids and always was, but I have seen her growl at my son’s friend younger brother who was about two years (lucky I was around to spot and prevent any incidents), kid was not doing mach but looking at the dog and waving hands in front of it (about 2-3 feet away), so something set my extremely friendly do to react. I gave general rule and I do tell kids this is not a toy, I do not want you to play with dogs without adult present, also, I stress do not hug dogs and do not pet dog on their head. I know am paranoid when kids are around but it is so easy to get dog, especially GS, to misunderstood play for threatening situation (dominant behavior).
I am so sorry that your daughter got hurt, hopefully it will heal and there will be no physical or emotional scars (I still have a bit of scar on my cheek), you do have to make sure that she will have save environment. Before you make decision about putting your dog down, perhaps explore other options such as evaluation if dog is aggressive and maybe potential for putting dog for adoption. Good luck with decisions.
 
#10 ·
it doesn't matter how old the child is --

Management .

If you keep an animal with behavioural problems you have to protect that dog from harm , and others from harm , by managing the dog .
All this could have been prevented had the dog been put away while the daughter was visiting - "Bella in general does not want to have much to do with me or my daughter" -- then keep every one safe and crate her while you have the visitor . Dogs with problems require vigilance all the time. For their sake .
 
#12 ·
This!

My last GSD had some aggression issues, it is a huge responsibility AND you are liable should you fail. If you fail many pay the price and in this case, the daughter, the dog and the owners of the dog. I cringe every time I read an OP has a fearful or reactive dog as a puppy as it is soooo much work and with that comes much stress. My guard was never down with my last GSD, I could not afford to take anything for granted.

I am so sorry the OP and their dog is in the position but most of all I hope the daughter is ok and not scarred long term both emotionally and physically.
 
#13 ·
Nobody should be putting their face in the dogs face. Especially a dog that doesn't want anything to do with anyone. I would not put this dog to sleep. I would manage the dog.
 
#14 ·
Find a rescue that would take her. I was a child once myself and occasionally did the wrong things around my beagle which ended up with bites, once on my cheek. My dog bit right above my neighbor's eye (he was about 8 yrs old) because he was blowing in my dog's ear. Children are unpredictable, and if your daughter cannot be trusted, then find a new home for your dog - don't pts!

From what you described it sounds like your dog has not had a very happy life, indoors most of time, must pee in kennel, no socialization. Give your dog the life it deserves, find it a better home.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Children are unpredictable, and if your daughter cannot be trusted, then find a new home for your dog - don't pts!
.
I am sorry but honestly....what child can be trusted??? Kids will be kids and a child should not have to learn a lesson by being bit in the face!!

The owners failed, not the child!

If this dog is so fearful of people in its own household that its bites a family member, how much fun is the dog going to have out in public with strangers?
 
#15 ·
unfortunately a rescue most likely would not take this dog on, she has a bite history no matter who's fault or who did what, she bit:(

Very sad for the dog, management may be a pain in the butt, it should have been done a long time ago..Now a person (I don't know how old your daughter is), has been bitten, the dog will pay with it's life.
 
#17 ·
I agree with Saphire, it's not the child, it's not the dog, and sorry OP, don't mean to be harsh, but it's the owners:(
 
#18 ·
Bella in general does not want to have much to do with me or my daughter, she just prefers to not be bothered.

my thoughts
since you asked
your fault completely and the dog should not
have to die because of that
u knew she was antisocial yet let the child play
on the ground in the dogs face
you even state she doesnt want to be bothered
huge mistakes on your part

Family Paws-New parent classes dog and baby
read the above site
which can help you understand
appropriate and inappropriate interactions
between your child and dog
 
#19 ·
We are all assuming this is a child. The OP never says that it is. I hope they come back and clarify that.

The OP does say the the daughter did know not to get into the dog's face. That suggests the daughter is at least old enough to be able to be expected to understand things. I am 45 and I am someone's daughter. If I go and get into my brother's dog Tiger's face, it will probably lay open my face. It's a dachsund/beagle mix and has already laid open his boy's face.

Good thing most 45 year olds don't go around putting their faces into dog's faces. But a daughter can be pretty much any age. Does it make any difference if this is an adult with whether or not we feel the dog ought to be euthanized?
 
#21 · (Edited)
Lets say the "daughter" is not a child and/or is old enough to "know better". Does that now make it ok for the dog to bite a family member?
From what the OP says, this was a serious bite, not a warning nip.

I am not judging, just curious if that changes opinions.

If this was my dog and I failed it by allowing it to be in a position that it bit a family member (especially a family member), the dog would be pts and it would be my fault and only my fault for ever allowing it to happen. That in itself would be so very difficult to live with but even worse would be if it bit again. That would be inexcusable.
 
#22 ·
Sue makes a very good point. I, too, hope the OP clarifies the age of the child. I have three children living at home. My baby is 15. My oldest is 24 and most likely to be bitten. She does not respect the dogs boundaries or thresholds. That is her fault. The dog and I both warned her.

My middle child was bitten in the face by a dog, when she was 6. Fortunately, it wasn't a bad bite. It wasn't our dog. It was an old farm dog. She hugged him, because he looked sad. I guess you could blame me. I only had time to yell, "DON'T!" Things happen real fast. Don't be too hard on the OP.
 
#23 ·
"Lets say the "daughter" is not a child and/or is old enough to "know better". Does that now make it ok for the dog to bite a family member?
From what the OP says, this was a serious bite, not a warning nip."

No. I am absolutely not saying it is OK for the dog to bite. This dog needs to be managed. If they are unable to manage him, the kindest, safest thing would be to put him to sleep.
 
#24 ·
In my opinion if a dog puts a serious bite (not a warning or an accidental nip) on a pack member no matter what the age child, adult or grandparent. (One that currently lives in the household and isn't new to the pack) then that dog has issues and its time to seriously consider putting the dog down.
 
#25 ·
I'm tired of people excusing the lousy nerves in this breed and others.

It's not the dogs fault for their genetics but it is also not ok for dogs to bite family members. No matter what age.

Unless a kid or adult really hurts or torments a dog, the dog should not bite.

Dogs should enhance family life and family life should enhance the dogs life. If you have to spend your life tip toeing, and managing around your own dog what purpose does the relationship serve.

There are people who like to take on this type of dog but for most it is a major stressor and a liability that can take a heavy toll on a family.
 
#27 ·
I guess, I am wondering if this is an older kid, 17 -24 age, that hasn't lived with the dog, lives with her mom elsewhere, so she is kind of like a visitor to the dog. For a dog to bite someone it was raised with for 5 years, that is awful.

I don't know why my brother let the dachsund beagle live to bite his kid again. It's still living. But, I guess, if the daughter is more like a visitor, does that make a difference. I mean, if Cousin Louisa comes over and bends down and into your dog's face, is it still a trip to the needle?
 
#28 ·
The other thing is, these people know the dog doesn't really like people other than the wife. The daughter knows not to get in the dog's face. Is it still a trip to the needle if you know your dog has problems, and you haven't tried to work with a trainer, and you haven't managed the situations?

If the daughter doesn't live with them. They should crate the dog when she is there.

If the daughter has lived with this dog for five years, and it suddenly bit her in the face, then that's really odd. Dog's either ill, or needs to be released from its demons.
 
#30 ·
listen , i think you have some training issues, socializing issues and
not knowing dog issues and not knowing dog issues involves your
dog. rehome your dog and tell the people to whom you're rehoming
what happened with your dog and daughter. maybe your dog shouldn't
be around children.

i think not knowing a dog has a lot to do with your issues.
 
#38 · (Edited)
I am with doggiedad on this one.

I actually don’t understand how people who don’t know the dog, the OP, or the family dynamics, can just sign off on euthanasia as the best option on the Internet. That is a very final solution.

There are plenty of households that would do just fine with a dog that wants to be a one-person dog. Re-homing should be considered.

I could really care less what a GSD should be able to tolerate re: kids, this thread is about an individual dog, a dog that I think - based on the information given to date. - has a good chance of being just fine in another household.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top