Saw a dog attack my grandchild!

[MarkF]

Interesting differences of opinions there. My son and his wife, the parents of Eddy have both said that they DON'T want the dog to be put down. They both know the dog and have only seen the evidence of his actions. My wife though is adamant the dog should be destroyed as she witnessed the malicious destruction on the beautiful face of a defenceless baby. I could go either way. I reacted fastest of all - as described to me in minute detail by my wife - and she reckons that saved him from more damage as I dragged him off by his collar and threw him in the garden before he savaged Eddy even more while she admits she wouldn't have known what to do. Even the psychological excuses for the dog's actions though count for little when compared to the terrifying assault on a poor little baby who'd done no harm whatsoever to the dog.

Nobody "knows" the dog, they can't have a rational discussion with it, the dog acted on instinct and it is still around to do so again, it shouldn't be IMO. It could be the park or anywhere next time, it's just not a risk worth taking, is it?

 

[Pale Rider]

All terriers are killers by instinct and breeding.

They don't do a lot else, other than eat, drink and sleep enough to keep themselves fit to kill.

They are also fierce little buggers, so I think the OP has done well to get the damn thing off his child with relatively minor damage.

For most terriers most of the time the killing instinct can be artificially controlled, or restricted to living things we don't care about such as rats,

This dog's future is a matter of assessing risk.

I tend to think that after attacking a child, that risk is higher than with another terrier which has not attacked a child.

It would not be acceptable to the public to kill all terriers, but I'm afraid it's a thumbs down from me for this one.

 

[bonsaibilly]

That's just awful, hopefully the injuries are not too severe, at that age it won't affect a child mentally (my son suffered similar at 2).

Ensure that the dog is put down.

It will if the attack leaves permanent scars.

 

[bonsaibilly]

I'm glad that Eddy is on the mend, Paul. What a traumatic event!

I'm not an expert on dogs but my family members have had them most of my life so I am used to having them around. I think that they learn who is boss and to a well-trained dog that will be the humans. To a dog, it is probably obvious who to defer to - the BIG humans. I think that SMALL humans probably confuse them. The SMALL humans probably appear lower in the pack pecking order and therefore potential rivals who need to be put in their place. Unfortunately, that could result in an attack like this one.

To be fair that is illegal armchair dog psychology and not necessarily helpful observation if it isn't correct.

 

[Profpointy]

To be fair that is illegal armchair dog psychology and not necessarily helpful observation if it isn't correct.

"illegal" - not quite sure what you're trying to say

 

[Pale Rider]

It will if the attack leaves permanent scars.

I was bitten by a sheep dog - collie - when I was a small child and have been left with a small scar beside my right eye.

It left me very fearful of dogs as I grew up, although I had no memory of the incident itself.

My mother told me about it, apparently it was my fault because I had been teasing the dog.

No thought was given to putting it down, a trained sheep dog is far too valuable to the farm and too expensive to replace to have its life ended prematurely.

 

[bonsaibilly]

"illegal" - not quite sure what you're trying to say

"idle" - damn predictive text!!

 

[ColinJ]

To be fair that is illegal armchair dog psychology and not necessarily helpful observation if it isn't correct.

To be fair, the conclusion would be that the safest thing is to keep dogs away from vulnerable children and I think that is helpful!

I like dogs, but a dog is a dog, not a person so it is better to realise that they think like dogs, not like people. It is obvious to us that a baby is a small person, but maybe not so obvious to a dog!

My sister and niece both have Border Terriers. They are really nice, friendly little dogs but when their instincts kick in it is scary to behold. We bought them a stuffed rabbit toy last Christmas and they immediately leapt upon it and tore it to tiny pieces in about 30 seconds ... A few minutes later, they were back to being playful pets again.

 

[Profpointy]

"idle" - damn predictive text!!

Ah that makes more sense

Apparently the bloke who inveted predictive text died last week. His funfair's on sundial

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Glad Eddie is making a full recovery!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Terrible. Im sure little guy will bounce back.

I'm really getting to the end of my tether with dog people.

And I am getting to the end of my tether with being tarred with the same brush, apparently we are all irresposible idiots or something equally idiotic.

Several times this year with my girls (5 & 3 years old) in the park dogs off leads come bounding over jumping up at them with 'owners' proclaiming that they [the dog] won't hurt them and it only wants to play. Yea right, tell that to the parents of children that have been bitten or worse.

I get totally what you are saying, I do, and I keep my dog on a lead, but it is just this whole 'Yeah right' business that gets me, as if the dog so obviously has been violent before..... Sorry, but who are you, Mystic Meg?? A mind reader who knows every dog ever? (It is the same when a dog does something for the first time, people all go 'Yeah right', the condescending twunts, there is a first time for everything).

Incidentally, in the second bit I accidentally deleted, it may be that the owner didn't know the dog had snarled at your 3 year old (see above about firsts, etc, I wasn't there so cannot comment fully) and saw you kicking it for no real reason*. Our dog Cindy also makes a whole load of strange noises at times (although a snarl is quite recogniseable, I get it, and she has only ever snarled at other dogs). I would keep her on the lead, and if kids want to say hello (within reason), then so be it.


* - These things work both ways and you can be seen as being the violent one, NOT them, just remember that the next time you class the dog owner an idiot, you don't know who you might get into a fight with.....

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

The dog needs to be dead asap.

 

[Markymark]

Ah that makes more sense

Apparently the bloke who inveted predictive text died last week. His funfair's on sundial

I quite like the idea of someone being thrown into court for illegal dog psychology.

 

[PaulB]

Don't worry about the psychological side at all, he's too young luckily

Well he does seem absolutely fine now and indeed about ten minutes after the incident he'd stopped crying and sat on my knee totally unconcerned about anything. However, the reason my parents always had dogs is because I was terrified by a neighbour's dog and the shock of it looming over me and snatching something it wanted from me remains my first ever memory and clearly caused me some fear which can still haunt me now.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

And I am getting to the end of my tether with being tarred with the same brush, apparently we are all irresposible idiots or something equally idiotic.



I get totally what you are saying, I do, and I keep my dog on a lead, but it is just this whole 'Yeah right' business that gets me, as if the dog so obviously has been violent before..... Sorry, but who are you, Mystic Meg?? A mind reader who knows every dog ever? (It is the same when a dog does something for the first time, people all go 'Yeah right', the condescending twunts, there is a first time for everything).

Incidentally, in the second bit I accidentally deleted, it may be that the owner didn't know the dog had snarled at your 3 year old (see above about firsts, etc, I wasn't there so cannot comment fully) and saw you kicking it for no real reason*. Our dog Cindy also makes a whole load of strange noises at times (although a snarl is quite recogniseable, I get it, and she has only ever snarled at other dogs). I would keep her on the lead, and if kids want to say hello (within reason), then so be it.


* - These things work both ways and you can be seen as being the violent one, NOT them, just remember that the next time you class the dog owner an idiot, you don't know who you might get into a fight with.....

Aha. The "it has never done that before" school of muddled thinking.

Dog people. Control your mutt at all times. Muzzle it in public places. Then you'll never have to say those words.

And clear its excrement up after you.