Hi, I am devastated my two rescue westies have with the help of a trainer/behaviourist been doing really well. I have not been working over christmas and dispite having a lot of family visiting over christmas because they have been all adult the dogs have had free roam of the downstairs most of the time. They jump up and offer very friendly greetings but then settle.
Unfortunately due to some plumbing probs I called a friend to have a look this evening and dispite the fact that I put them in the kitchen with both the gate and door shut before I went upstairs, my son after he thought daddy said yes (daddy had his back to the door and was unaware of the boys, he says) went into the kitchen with his friend. The dogs immediatly attacked and one (don't know which) has bitten the friend only 8 before anyone could intervene. The child is thankfully going to be ok very shocked, the bite was not too severe and we are all in shock not knowing what to do.
I have spoken to westie rescue who will collect the dogs if I want I must ring tomorrow, I know the boys shouldn't of opened the door or gate but should the dogs react like that to a child they don't know anyway.
Help what do I do?
I childmind but never let the dogs come into contact when I am working and have an extra gate on the living room which was taken off for christmas!
Wendy, very sad and upset, they are now licking my feet

Wendy, what an awful situation :-( but I feel that you have answered your own question

>>I childmind

The dogs are unpredictable. You can never guarantee that this situation will not arise again no matter how careful you are. Can you afford to wait to see if they can be *cured* ? I know it isn't an easy choice but I don't see that you have any choice at all. If it was my decision, then they would have to go.

Leigh

im sorry to hear about this-you must feel terrible, the bit in your mail that worrys me most is that they immediatley attacked----obviously without provocation, i cant help it but i feel that everyone has to take care when they have dogs mixing with children, but to know that your dogs reacted in this way to a child is to me unthinkable, and not made any better by the fact that you child mind,is it really worth taking the chance with another child, accidents can and do happen but as far as i can see you've been forwarned as to the capabilities of your two dogs,
i think if you read the postings on the board-my puppy bit my daughter you'll get an idea of how most of the members feel about the situation,im really very sorry for you ,not forgetting the child what an awful end to the xmas excitements

I'm so sorry to hear your story, what an awful situation for you. I'll be thinking of you
Jane

how terrible, I feel you cannot take the risk now they have bitten, If it happens again what can you say to the person bit. I would be devistated to be in your position. I have 3 dogs ranging from 13 year to 5 months.
I think I would get rid and go and get a pup from a reputable breeder so that their temperments would be sound. I have a rescue who is 7 and has not been brought up around children but would not dream of biting even when I was having to re educate him he never growled once (I have 2 kids 7 and 9) if a dog bit my kids I would make sure it was put down, but having said that I really feel for you and hope you make the right decision for you.
Luv
Jane

I have always said two male dogs at times dont get on, as one always has to "be the boss" I am not agreeing to what they have done, but did Mags or any of the rest at westie rescue say if the dogs had been in the company of children before you got them, I think you would find that if these dogs were seperated, they would get on a lot better with your family, I know male westies are a bit more "growly" than the bitches, my dog is like that, but I have a bitch as well, have you got any idea which one is more dominant than the other, I would let one go back to rescue, the dominant one, and have a trial period with the other one, just to see if he behaves on a one to one situation, my westies, love children and have always been very good with them, but sometimes the dog will growl, but another thing I have found is with mine "they do not like being shut in any room" if someone comes to the door I will put them away until they are in, but then let them out. I wish I was a bit nearer you so I could maybe help a bit better. Who went into the kitchen first was it your child or the visiting one, the dogs really could have been protecting your child. but again if I had a westie that bit any of my grand children, then that dog would probably be re-homed to someone that does not have any children in the house or any children visiting that home, I had to re-home a bitch not so long ago that "hated" men, she was like that before I got her, I had to find a home for her that did not have a man in the house, she is now with my sons friends mother who is on her own and is doing very well. sorry this is so long, e mail me if you have any more problems as I am a friend of westie rescue
"

Hi Irene, thank-you for your mail I have just returned from the kennels as after deliberating all night (we all had very little sleep my son included) we rang westie recue and decided that it was in the dogs as well as visiting childrens best interest to rehome them to someone without children.I would of liked to of kept them until a home was found but the rescue society felt it was better to make a clean break asap.
Grant was already in the kitchen with the dogs sat at his feet, my son entered first quietly and his friend followed the dogs ran and attacked his friend (running past my son). I know that they hate being put in another room or shut out but they growl insesintly at visiting children even when I have tried to leash them and then bring them in. This was next to be worked on in the meantime I felt it safer to keep the two apart. Unfortunately this happened and I don't want to apportion blame but after long consideration I felt the restrictions to both dogs and visitors would become so rigid in the summer that noone would be happy. The dogs need some freedom and yet people need to feel safe. I love the dogs to pieces but have to be fair to them. I have two growing boys who will have friends visit over the years. If they feel threatened by the mere presence of others (young boys 8-18 especially) then I don't feel able to offer them the secure home they deserve, Jake is the less dominant and yet also I feel the less trustworthy(he once ran across the feild out onto the road and across to bark at a v sensible young lad who stood still until I caught up and leashed him,I never took him off the lead after that).I would not like to seperate them because we have done so much work keeping them together, they now play tag and chase round the room tug of war with us or each other and really seem to enjoy each others company.
As for the children I mind none have ever been in contact with the dogs and when I am in the house working the dogs accept that and behaved impecibly except for barking at the door !!
We are all very upset and sad but feel we can do no more to undo whatever damage has been done to these poor dogs, we don't blame them.
Wendy

Wendy, what a very sensible and thoughful person you are. You've obviously thought it through and tried to be fair to everybody. I have no doubt that you have done the right thing now. It is often a difficult situation to take on two males with an unstable history. Not something that I could encourage with children at risk in the family too, but you certainly gave it your best shot and you could have done no more. Maybe in the future, when everyone is ready, then you could have a puppy to join your family, from an experienced and knowledgable breeder who could give you any backup and support that you may need.
With best wishes for the New Year.

HI Wendy

I feel so sorry for your predicament; I tend to agree that if you childmind it could be a risk that is too big to take. I tend to feel too that it is often the less dominant dog that is the worry (if that is the right word) as they are less confident and thus can sometimes be more inclined to fear-bite which form what you have said is what happened. It's so sad and I am so sorry for you, especiallyas youhave been putting in such hard work. At the end of the day you can never guarantee what will happen with animals, just as with people.

Lindsay

Wendy, I tried to contact you privately by e mail, please send me your correct e mail addy, as I know several breeders who have just had bitches mated.

Hi to all, I just wanted to let you all know that Jasper has been rehomed quite happily and with full history and is settleing v well he will be spending a lot of time aboard a boat by all accounts and get a lot of individual attention which will suit him down to the ground.( with life jacket). Jake has finally found a new home subject to home check, by someone who chose him and requested full history. He has not been very happy in the kennels and lots of people didn't want him poor love. They have been v particular as to where he goes no children or grandchildren and hopefully things will work out. New owners are used to terriers also. I have been really missing them both and still feel v sad. My neighbours have also all missed the boys loved to hear them and my next door neighbour said they made him feel safe because he knew when anyone was around because they would bark and alert him even when someone knocked on his door not only ours as he partially deaf. The dogs were not viscious contrary to some posters thoughts in other posts they were just v frightened after being badly treated previously and teased, unfortunately my home dispite all our protective efforts and good intentions realisticly was not the right environment for them to be in but I do not feel the should be P.T.S and do feel that with more time and training they could be helped but should be kept away from children. They had a lot of love to give and dispite the hard work were a joy to have I feel v angry that humans could disturb a dog so much (mentally) that it could be so scared in its own enviroment! They did not aggressivly (i can't spell) bite (it was about the size of a 2yr old child mark) but were scared and although that doesn't excuse it, maybe we should be more understanding we wouldn't consider P.T.S a child who bites another or an adult when feeling scared or threatened! But yes children's saftey must come first.
I also don't feel that I am passing the buck by returning them to rescue I am admitting that I am not a suitable environment for these particular dogs with their particular problems, I consider that sensible. I also offered to home them until they could be rehomed but resue preffered to keep them in kennels.
I grew up with a westie that I had even when I married and my oldest children were born he was lots of fun and lovely with them and passed away of old age a long time ago.
sorry if this is long winded Wendy
(by the way rescue has lots of homeless westies at the moment if posters are interested)

Thanks very much for filling us in with what has now happened with your 2 Westies, iMHO you have done the best thing for yourself, your family and also the 2 Westies. It is good toknow theyhave been rehomed and that they are in homes where the new owners know their full history.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments, too :)

Best wishes
LIndsay