My 7 year old Pug bit my 2 1/2 year old on the cheek. Please give advice on what I should do as responsible parent/owner Answers at Dogster Answers.

Tue, May 1st 2012, 12:25 GMT

I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old and 3 dogs. I've been in your shoes. I had an older rottweiler who I loved but hadn't been raised around kids. She was skittish around them and my son was and still is a handful and very rambunctious. One day we were sitting on the couch with her at our feet when my son ran up and tried to use her as a step stool to get on the couch. She was startled and snapped at him. Not her fault. We made the decision to make her an outside dog to protect her and my son and because my son and I were allergic to her. She had been an outdoor dog all her life anyways. She had lived with my parents after I joined the military and after their rottie passed I brought her back to live with us and by then I had my 2 kids. Like I said she was a wonderful dog and she was 9 yrs old and there was no way we were going to get rid of her. We have a large indoor patio that had a doggie door for her to come in and out of.

ANSWERED BY

Sarge

Tue, May 1st 2012, 11:54 GMT

Jax is on the right track. I would hire a behaviorist that can observe all the dogs and their interaction with all of you. Elliot is feeling stress because your son is taking what he perceives as his place in the pack. Each pack member has a purpose and place. If Elliot is being regularly pushed aside in favor of Finn, of course he feels stressed and is fighting for his position. You can imagine how dangerous this might be for your son, even if Elliot is a Pug and not a bigger dog. Don't confuse the dogs by allowing them on furniture then making them get off. Consistancy is important.

ANSWERED BY

Pepper
2 dog found this answer to be helpful.

Tue, May 1st 2012, 11:17 GMT

I know that this will sound cruel but frankly I could never keep a dog that bites....ever. But then again I could never handle five dogs either AND have a toddler.

ANSWERED BY

Keeva

Tue, May 1st 2012, 10:19 GMT

You need to keep the pug off the couch all the time. He should never be allowed on it, since he displays that behavior. As far as your child, he should come first. I would not allow the dog near your son, if he bit him. In general, dogs and small children should never be around each other unsupervised. Children just don't understand how to behave around dogs. There may have been some eye contact or something that was very subtle, that your husband didn't see. Of coarse, your child wouldn't understand. So, with that said, I would keep the dog away from your son, or at least on a leash so he can be controlled.

ANSWERED BY

Jax (earned her wings 5/30/12)
3 dog found this answer to be helpful.