To get rid of the dog,...or not

[Mindy_mini]

I would say he needs rehoming with someone who hasn't got children ans has more time to "mother" patches.

Heart breaking but he's already shown signs that he would bite your son with his nipping. If he gets a "real bite" and you're not around... Well the out come is unspeakable.

 

[dreamqueen]

Even the smallest of dogs can pose a risk to a child or babies safety! This woman should not be condemned for her decision to put her childs welfare before the dogs.
If she keeps the dog after it showing the warning signs and then something bad happens *touch wood* then that would be VERY irresponsible. Rehoming a dog because of these reasons is not irresponsible! And no one has the right to judge her

 

[Mari30me]

Even the smallest of dogs can pose a risk to a child or babies safety! This woman should not be condemned for her decision to put her childs welfare before the dogs.
If she keeps the dog after it showing the warning signs and then something bad happens *touch wood* then that would be VERY irresponsible. Rehoming a dog because of these reasons is not irresponsible! And no one has the right to judge her

I completely agree with you!

 

[Sew_Sweet]

While I strongly believe in forever homes for animals - I do draw the line at a couple of things. Aggression towards children is one of those things. With your son have already been nipped - you've been bitten and a baby on the way I think you have an easy decision to make. Patches sounds like he would be happier in a home with older or no children. Patches doesn't even sound happy to me right now. Maybe once your kids get older around 7 or so for the baby, you can look into getting a family dog at that time so he is brought into the family as a whole. I'm so sorry. I know how much it would break my heart to get rid of our dog, but if I thought my kids were in danger I would know I had to do it.

 

[Sew_Sweet]

clogsy, thats brilliant that you rehomed your dog to a loving home. That is the ideal arrangement. Unfortunately it doesn't happen like that very often.

Most dogs will go to a shelter, then be rehomed via there. Most shelters are at bursting point and simply can't afford the time or money to take on a dog that 'nips'... because there are 1000's of dogs that don't available too, So the dog will more than likely be PTS.
Sorry to sound harsh, but until the breeding of unwanted dogs in this country is sorted out then thats the way it goes. Heart breaking as it is.

slightly aside from the main point, dogs that are rehomed via places like gumtree etc, free to good home, many of them go to be used as bate dogs in dog fights.

PLEASE think VERY carefully before rehoming a pet.

I agree, but at the same time, an adorable little havanese would have a million people trying to adopt it. The dog isn't viscious - it just isn't good with children.

 

[lori]

That's a really tough decision. If it were me, I think I'd give the dog away to a good home. I can't imagine looking after two children who need full-time supervision AND a dog you can't trust. I feel for you

 

[USAF_Wife08]

Honestly I wouldn't want to risk it. We had to rehome our dog Max to my mother's house after DD. It was a hard decision, but one we finally had to make. He didn't attack DD but my neighbor's DD 3-4 times. We really hated it but we also didn't want him to be put down for biting a child. Especially since my friend's DD comes over often. We constantly visit him. He has never snapped or bit DD. He's happy and has other dogs to play with.

 

[jules22]

wow everyone, wasn't expecting that many responses!!

I told my husband yesterday that we should get rid of Patches, that the risk was too large for me. My husband is having a hard time with it because he has NEVER bit him. We started talking about it and it was because (we think) that my husband is the "head pack dog" so to speak. It makes sense, so how does Patches realize that me and my son and the new baby will be ahead of HIM.

We think we are going to do some obedience training. I am going to have to go and do it with Patches because I am the one that will be dealing with him. I am so torn and I agree with everyone as to what they are saying about getting rid of him. Maybe I should give it one more shot? I'm going to try and if it doesn't work, then its over. I am just going to be on him like glue right now and make sure he stays away from Brayden. I think I'll have my final decision right before the baby comes...

 

[jules22]

I'm just so scared that he will get put down. He has been a GREAT dog before kids (besides taking a leak here or there on my carpet!) If he doesn't show improvement with in two weeks, we will contact the Havanese Rescue service that relocates this particular breed to homes that do not have children....

 

[Geegees]

Good luck. I really hope it works out for you all. X

 

[soxfan]

I don't think it's worth the risk. But I do think it's worth it to try to find Patches a home without children. I work at a large company, and I often see fliers up like that "great dog, best if in a home without kids". Good luck to you.

 

[mindgames77]

Have you tried giving him positive reinforcement? Try getting your son to hand Patches treats. If he was never exposed to children as a puppy, he is probably just not used to them at all.


We don't have any kids, but we expose our dogs to kids and they love them. We started by getting the kids to hand treats to the dogs and such.

 

[mrsthomas623]

I'm just so scared that he will get put down. He has been a GREAT dog before kids (besides taking a leak here or there on my carpet!) If he doesn't show improvement with in two weeks, we will contact the Havanese Rescue service that relocates this particular breed to homes that do not have children....

The rescues are great! Much better than the pound. Good luck with the training!!!

 

[CharmingBeake]

If you think that being around the dog is unsafe for your child, then get rid of the dog. I know it will be hard, but your child's safety is more important.

My husband and I are preparing for our first child and we had a very wild cat...she spooks at the slightest thing and tears through the house, destroying anything in her way even if its your feet...We knew right away that we didn't want her in our house with a baby. It was a hard decision because we love our cats, but for the safety of our future child, we left her in the care of the local horse stables. They have several other barn cats and they are well taken care of.

Overall, just think of what the best decision is for your child. If that happens to be getting rid of the dog, then that's the way it will have to be.

I hope you are able to find a suitable solution.

 

[Minivan]

wow everyone, wasn't expecting that many responses!!

I told my husband yesterday that we should get rid of Patches, that the risk was too large for me. My husband is having a hard time with it because he has NEVER bit him. We started talking about it and it was because (we think) that my husband is the "head pack dog" so to speak. It makes sense, so how does Patches realize that me and my son and the new baby will be ahead of HIM.

We think we are going to do some obedience training. I am going to have to go and do it with Patches because I am the one that will be dealing with him. I am so torn and I agree with everyone as to what they are saying about getting rid of him. Maybe I should give it one more shot? I'm going to try and if it doesn't work, then its over. I am just going to be on him like glue right now and make sure he stays away from Brayden. I think I'll have my final decision right before the baby comes...

One suggestion is to make sure your dog has an area that they can go to that your child can't get to the dog. We would put up a gate that the dog could get over, but our son could not. After our experience with our son being bit, I definatley didn't let the dog and our son have alot of alone time. I should have done it from the start, but I didn't....
My husband also had a much harder time letting go of the dog. Maybe it's the maternal instinct in us... I can understand how hard this is. Whatever you decide, I hope you feel good about it. Either way!

 

[alette]

I would say he needs rehoming with someone who hasn't got children ans has more time to "mother" patches.

Heart breaking but he's already shown signs that he would bite your son with his nipping. If he gets a "real bite" and you're not around... Well the out come is unspeakable.

Not around?? What kind of a mother would leave a child alone with a dog? Even a dog that has had no problems with kids before might get put into a situation by the child where the dog feels it has no other choice to get the child away then to bite. Dogs and kids must be supervised when together AT ALL TIMES. If one can't handle that, they probably shouldn't have dogs OR kids.

It is an excellent idea to create an area that the dog can go to get away from the child where the child can't follow. This will give the dog another option besides biting. The biggest reason kids get bit by dogs is because the dog feels cornered and threatened and can't get the child to go away by other means. Be sure to teach your kids early that a growl is a VERY KIND warning from the dog. They need to listen to it or he might feel forced to bite.

 

[Liesje]

I would say he needs rehoming with someone who hasn't got children ans has more time to "mother" patches.

Heart breaking but he's already shown signs that he would bite your son with his nipping. If he gets a "real bite" and you're not around... Well the out come is unspeakable.

Not around?? What kind of a mother would leave a child alone with a dog?

Exactly. (not the OP) but it amazes me how people can set their pets up for failure throughout the animal's life, suddenly change their expectations and turn their back when the dog screws up. It's fine that not everyone is an expert in canine behavior but the animal can still be given a chance. There is no such thing as a "jealous" dog... Some dogs are just dominant. NILIF training demonstrates to the dog that they do not make demands and that their people are above them. The people control all of the resources and everybody in the house is to be respected. With these types of dogs, it's really important not to allow your children to have food within the dog's reach, because if the dog is able to take it (or the child generously shares), the dog has made a demand, "overpowered" the child and you've just set the dog up for failure even with good intentions. It's not that the dog aggressive or "hates children", the dog himself is fighting for the respect of the people in the house.
Our dogs are all huge, some are not particularly fond of kids but all of them can be bossed around by the tiniest and most annoying of chidren because they've been taught that dogs are at the bottom of the food chain in our house (even though they're secretly my babies).
Don't be afraid to discipline your dog, it isn't abuse (if it's within reason). When our dogs were puppies, we would scruff them if they were behaving inappropriately. That is the same thing their mother does as discipline and is really effective. There are lots of videos available to YouTube that demonstrate scruffing.