Help! How do I stop this?!

[divadexie]

For some stupid reason my son has told three people that our dog bites!

The first was our neighbours kid who is 3, he said ''watch out for my dog he bites'' so I called over and said he doesnt. and not to tell people that because a police man will take the dog away and never bring him back.

He then said it to a friend of the family, and I took him inside and told him off, and again but this time told him the police man will kill the dog.

But he said it again to the news paper man last week, he described our other dog as the lickiest one, and dave as the biteyist one!


Dave is a staff cross, some people have said he looks a bit pit. I am terrified someone will report him for being aggressive, or type and he will get taken away

How the hell do I get my son to stop saying he bites?!

Dave has bitten OH once, well he didnt really bite he got really exited and nipped him on the ear.
I am always shouting at Dave to stop biting Dixie, typical staff play but had stopped that before these incidents as ''Oi!'' usually works just as well.

my son is 5 by the way..

 

[MrsRabbit]

Around that age kids start to lie. My nephew [who lived with us from 5 to nearly 8] began lying around that age. Making things up. At first I explained it was wrong to say things that weren't true and why.

Could he be looking for attention because of his new sibling?

My nephew kept it up so finally he told me something and I didn't believe him and I told him. He told me he was telling the truth. I asked him how I was supposed to trust his word if he's lied in the past...it started to sink in that lying isn't as fun as he thought.

He was also punished for lying once I was sure he wasn't just telling a story but intentionally lying. He lost TV time.

 

[divadexie]

Yeah he does lie about things like tidying his room but not really anything else.
He has been going through a phase (since before Anna came home) of just being really stubborn and going behind myback to ask oh for something I have said no to.
He does understand its not good to lie, he always get put on the step and some toys taken off him, or loses a treat etc.

But tbh its not the lying that bothers me, he could lie for all he wants I dont care cos I know he will grow out of it but if someone takes my dog away because of this I dont know what I will do

 

[MrsRabbit]

Does he understand this could get his dog taken away?

 

[Mrs_B]

would the dog get taken away if there hadn't been any evidence of violence other than hearsay?
I'd just laugh it off in front of other people, to be honest anyone with any sense knows that kids make stuff up sometimes, especially at that sort of age. My neice once told the kids in her calss her dad had danced naked on the ktichen table! his response was "well it's almost a shame it's a lie, that sounds like a fun night!"

 

[divadexie]

yes, ''type'' dogs can get taken with no evidence, the police dont have to prove he is type, I would have to prove he isn't and I simply cannot afford that nor would I want him back (cruel as it sounds) after possibly months of being stuck in a concrete kennel with no socialisation cos I know what that can do to dogs and hes a big boy.


He says he understands, he understands that his grans dog died and she is never coming back, I knew he understood it cos he burst out crying when he realised she was gone.
Since last time he hasnt said anything to anyone I hope he finally understands now

 

[Mrs_B]

that's crazy about the 'type' dogs thing, glad he hasn't said anything else *touch wood*!

 

[Sammylou]

I can understand why your worried - I know of dogs that have been seized and they never come back the same

Maybe he is getting confused with 'biting' and 'play fighting' if the dogs are playing alot and he tends to do the whole staffy growly, chewy thing when he's playing that is what he could mean

If he says it again ask him why he keeps saying that, tell him that it's really not a nice thing to say and explain again that if he keeps saying it that they will take the dog away and he will never see him again and make sure he knows that - maybe get him to repeat it so you know he has listened and understood. I'd also explain to him that when dogs play they sometimes make 'fighty' noises and it looks as if they are 'biting' each other, but that they are just playing and they aren't going to hurt each other.

My sons 5 as well and he will occasionally come running to me and tell me that one of our dogs is trying to bite another one (he once came running in shouting 'mom, Giz is biting Twisters head!!!!')