Today my male Westhighland terrrier bit my son on the arm he is 18 months old and my westie is five, it's happened before but i gave charlie the benefit of the doubt, because before i had him he lived with my sister who is not very good with dogs, her children tormented the dog constanly and now even if he sees her kids he will growl.  So this is why i have kept even now as i'm typing my eyes are whelling up, do i keep the dog and see what happens, but what if it bites my sons face or worse, as you know i have two other dogs a bullmastiff bitch who is 4 months old i dont wont her learning this behaviour as she is going to be huge, my other westie has been with me since she was six weeks and would never dream of doing anything like that, when i say he bit him i dont mean he just cut the surface he was ragging is arm until i intervend, he wasn't in the room on his own with dog i was there it was right in front of my face.  i'm so tawn i dont know what to do, i dont wont to put the dog down as i know why he is like this. But i would never for give myself if he really injures my son.  I love them both please help?

No one can give the right answere but many dogs have problems with specific things - reasons do not matter -
If it were me I would find a child free home BUT that is not so easy.

My second option would be to fully inform any rescue of his background and ask if they would find a child free home or PTS if I gave the dog to them for rehoming, if they would rehome him in that way I would hand him to rescue, if not I would ring around rescues to see who would, if that failed, don't know what I would do, but that dog and your child are not safe together.

I know it's such a dilema for me as i feel i understand the dog i dont wont anyone assuming he is nasty because he is lovely and sweet, he just doesn't like kids.  If i put him in a rescue and they do certain tests he might fail and i wouldn't wont him put to sleep

Why don't you try westie rescue? Perhaps they might have a home with a more elderly couple or person with no children?

Yeah do you know the westie rescue centre number.

Breed Rescue. Good luck.

Thanks jeangenie i feel like i'm giving up on part of my family, haven't stopped crying since it happend.

Regards Susan

It must be horrible. :( I hope they can help find a suitable home. Good luck.

Susan I feel so sorry for you. I know how you feel, I was in the same position once with a rescue collie. He started biting my mum whenever she walked past. Out and about he could wear a muzzle but when he did that I had no choice but to rehome him. The rescue centre would take him back but wanted to put him down. I really wanted to give him a chance so I found him a home myself. He went somewhere perfect for him in the end and it all worked out but the guilt is terrible. If it is any comfort to you, the guilt does go eventually as you know you have done the right thing.

I wont tell you what you should do, that has to be your decision but just so you know, no one will think badly of you if you do rehome him.

Take care <<<hugs>>>

Claire

Thanks Claire i have emailed the westie rescue i will wait and see what they say, i will not let him be put down as he is a healthy dog, he is just in the wrong enviroment for him, i'm not god and i would  not ever take another animals life,  I would wont to stay in touch with his new owner if he gets one and see how he comes along, if the rescue decides they wont take him, i will have to keep him separate from the children at all times and only allow him in the living room once the children have gone to bed.  I couldn't think clearly before as i was so upset and couldn't see a solution.   I'm so glad i found this site even though sometimes it has it's ups and downs and people fall out but i feel i have so much support on here mainly because i have found like minded people who treat their dogs as part of their family and not just an animal who they abuse.

To all who have replied thank you.

Regards Susan

I think you may have to reconsider keeping in touch with him - most rescues and new owners prefer a clean break. Not always a bad thing...as long as you choose a reputable rescue service you can rest assured he will go to a good, vetted home in the right environment for him ;) And you can always keep in touch with the rescue service (thats how it works with dallies and danes anyway)

I understand that but i couldn't live with myself if someone took his aggression the wrong way and thought he needs a good seeing to, because that approach just wouldn't work.  So thats why i would wont to stay in touch, to make sure he is happy, he never had the attention he deserved when he was a puppy and if i would have had him when he was a pup he wouldn't have turned out like that.

But if you go through rescue he would most likely go to an experienced vetted home - and they would be the least likely people to treat him that way. Especially if you give them all the details beforehand - which I know you would.

Yes i already have explained in my email why he is like this but i suppose they would do their own tests aswell to see if he is suitable, when he first bit it was my eldest son he's two and he's such a torment but he didn't bite him so bad and to be honest i didn't blame him as kids can be such a pain in the bottom you have to keep saying no to them, so i let charlie off as he hasn't had such a good start in life with kids anyway my sister has five boys and she just couldn't cope with the dog, but today when he bit aidan it was so nasty i just can't let this one pass espcially because aidan weren't doing anything, i can't stand the way you see kids carrying a kitten for instence by the neck in their arms cradling it and the poor kitten or puppy is terrified i just dont allow my children to behave in this way and i tell them it is cruel as pets are not toys.

In my opinion this dog is a serious risk to your children. Heartbreaking though it is - I think you have only two options - rehome him or have him pts. You cannot take a further risk and irrespective of his  previous background he is now a biter. Just imagine if your childs friends got bitten whilst playing at your home - or if he bit a child whilst out :(.

I'm sure that Westie rescue would be able to find another home for him without kids ( although I don't generally believe in 'passing' a biting problem on unless you are 100% sure that it is specific to children ).

I do have great sympathy for your situation but think that you MUST put the welfare of your (very) young children first.

Yvonne

Sending my sympathy to you Susan, how heart breaking for you. :-(

Just a thought, even if you can't keep in touch if he is rehomed, how about sending a letter along with him, explaining his side of things and what he loves doing etc. I'm sure the rescue centre would pass it on. Alternatively you could rehome him yourself. Maybe contact your local training clubs and ask if they would ask around for you, put notices up in vets and so on. That way you could vet the new owners yourself and make sure they know all the facts about him.

Good luck to you both, whatever you decide. :-)

Hi Susan
Its awful for you. He would be better in a home with no children. My son when age 4 was bitten by my brother in laws collie x. He was a rescue dog & not good with kids. They usually kept him out of the way when we visited - but it was  time to go and the dog was asleep in the hall , were just saying our goodbyes & next thing my Liam was bitten on the face. The dog woke and just went for him he got past my brother in law to get to Liam. He needed 19 stitches and 2hrs 45 mins in theatre at Addenbrookes Hospital. It was just 1 bite that did all the damage - I thought he had just "snapped" at him didn't even think hed made contact. I would never want to go through that night again.
The dog wasn't put down. We didn't visit much after that though. When we did I was on edge all the time. The dog was fine with adults - who knows what he had been subjected to before they got him. Even if he saw children whilst out on the lead he would growl.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Helen :)

hi! i had a lab x retrever when i had my first baby he was very jelouse.  when the second baby came along it was just to much for him. he bit my son but didn't break the skin so we gave him the benifit of the doubt. it was't very long before he bit my daughter luckly again no broken skin. we couldn't bare to put him to sleep so we found a new home for him. we were very lucky to find a devoted loving childless home for him, were he lived out his days. we didn't keep in touch with as we thought it better for him to settle with his new mum & dad.
hope this helps
xx

Thanks everyone he did actually brake the skin unfortanutely i have emailed the westie rescue but i haven't heard anything yet.  It's very hard because it's bad enough biting my children, so i definitely wouldn't wont him biting somebody elses children. He is a lovely dog though he just likes his own space, he's the best guard dog i've ever had because he's very territorial, will be honest though he does have a few problems i can't concur, when out on the lead and he sees people on bikes he is aggressive towards them or people walking past so he's only allowed off the lead when the path is clear and yet he doesn't bother with other dogs, if anyone knocks on the door strangers he has to be put in the back kitchen, he's okay when they are in the house but not when they are at the door.

Hi Frank, There was a show on this w/e and a lot of "westie rescue" volunteers do show their own dogs, also bank holiday w/e, westie rescue are a group of individuals who set this up years ago and its a registered charity, they take the dogs into their own homes for re-socialisation and then re-home, and they do have a long waiting list of new owners. Good Luck. If you dont get a reply to your e mail pm me and I will pass on some phone nos for you to try.

Hi Marguerite thanks very much i'm not sure how to pm you could pm me with numbers, thank you susan.

hi i would just like to share my family's experience with you 17 years ago my parents had a doberman that had been bullied as a puppy by older dogs they took him in and he was a loving and affectionate pet however on one  occasions he bit my uncle, only just breaking the skin. this was put down to a one off but unfortunatly the dog attacked again only much worse the sound of a revving motorbike was tormenting him and he lashed out and attacked me i was 3 years old he had my face in his mouth and at one point  witness' said they thought the way he was flinging my body in the air i was a doll!!!! i had 76 stitches in my head and face mostly my face and am scarred for life. i believe that in your situation removing the dog from your home is he best thing to do for your family's safety. as to where to go from here unfortunatly no one can say what the best option will be but re homing the dog in a more suitable environment sounds like a good start. good luck to you and your dog during this difficult time. most of all follow your heart   regards charlene

i forgot to mention because the attack was so bad my family decided that our dog was a big risk to others and they had him put to sleep. i hope i have been able to help

I seriously sympathise with your situation.  I have a rescue terrier that I've had for nearly 2 years and his problem is that he bites - dogs and people. I've come to accept and manage his behaviour but I could not have children in the house on a permanent basis and have this dog as well. He has snapped at 2 of my nephews in full view of me and he is very unpredictable. That doesn't mean to say he has to be put down, just that I have to take whatever action is needed to avoid "situations".

I think you will need to seriously consider re-homing your dog. I doubt anyone looking for a rescue would ever give the dog a good hiding for bad behaviour - after all, why is the dog in rescue?  Make sure for yourself that you are happy the dog is going to a good home and then leave it at that. It's not your fault the dog is the way he is but you have a responsibility to your children to keep them safe and you can still do the right thing by the dog and find him a home more suited to his temperament.

It must be really  hard for you but your family comes first. Good luck :)

CG

Hi.....i really really do feel for you.....

I recently had to rehome a dog of mine......he was wonderful but used to fight with my old dog.....i intervened once and ended up in hospital for the night, the young one bit me....by accident I am 100% sure.....but it was always there in the back of my mind...

Hi, I just thought I would right a quick message for you.  I used to work for a rehoming charity in the North of Scotland.  If we had a dog such as yours we would be able to rehome him BUT you must make sure that you tell the charity about ANY behavior that you think is relevant.  There are some lovely people out there and any good charity will homecheck any new owner, if someone wanted to rehome your dog and the charity felt it was not quite the right home they would keep looking.  New owners will put up with a lot of difficult behaviours but it is a must, to let them know everything. As someone already said, most charity's will not put new and old owners in touch with each other, but are happy to let you know how the dog is getting on. Like everyone else, I feel desperately sorry for the choice you have to make, and I'm sure you feel there is no one out there, who will look after your dog as well as you, but beleive me there is. Finally, just remember that if you rehome him, it is not just the best for your children but also the best for your dog. It sounds as though being around children is very stressful for him so I would think long term the dog will be happier in a house with no children.  If you think of things this way you will realise you have nothing to feel guilty about, and obviously you will miss him but at least you will know you have done the right thing for everyone concerned, including your dog. I hope this helps you feel a little less guilty.
Pauline

Thanks for your help Charelen and Pauline.

Regards Susan

Hope you can come to a decision without too much heartache Frank, your head must be spinning.

hi
don't be hard on yourself ...your childs safety must be paramount ...your dog i am sure will be much happier in a home where there are no children to stress him ...and you will be less stressed by not having to watch your dog constantly in fear of him biting again .
i am sure the right home can be found for him by going through the right people ...you are right to worry that your bullmastiff may pick up on behavour she is seeing .....make sure you are socialising her extremly well with children ...as you say a bullmastiff is going to grow into a large dog (i have three of them ) so you need to be extra careful that she doesn't pick up on these behaviours .
i wish you all the luck in the world ...i know it will be hard togive him up ...but i'm sure it will be the best for your family and for him
warm regards
debbie

Thanks very much i have decided to rehome Charlie, i just waiting to hear from the Westie rescue centre.

Regards Frank

I have been watching this post, and hope everything works out for you and of course for Charlie.

Thanks Kazz. I will keep you informed.

Regards Frank

Frank should find a good home soon. There is a good waiting list for older westies, if you don't hear back I can give you a couple numbers of enquires I have had for older ones. Childless couples.

Hi Blue i have been waiting for you to reply, as i know your the Westie woman, i did email them to day but the secretary is not there at the moment, so i will have to wait until she comes back.  It's not like he attacks the kids all the time, he doesn't just attack as they are walking past, it's the kids i dont trust to leave the dog alone when told, it's just my youngest he has no clue when danger is near and he still proceeds in what he is doing regardless of the dog biting him.  I do know the dog is at fault as well, but he would be good with older kids who aren't fascinated by another living creature on four legs and yet the funny thing is if you are playing with the kids he protects them.

Regards Frank

Westies being small are on of the fortunate breeds that you can generally find a good home for.

If you get stuck PM me.

BFN Pam

I sympathise for you and want to reassure you that you are doing the right thing.
I took on a 4 year old rescue dog and was not told that he had behavioural problems, and found out for myself. Although he got on with other dogs, he hated people and would bite them if he could. It was a lot of hard work, but i would not give him back in a million years. However, I was single at the time and had no children and if I did and he attacked one, then I would have had no hesitation in finding him a new home. He died when he was 12 and since the age of 7, he was the best dog in the world (in my eyes).
The rescue centres do vet people very carefully so they will find the best home for your dog.

Please don't jump on me everybody!!!!!!
You say this dog growls at children, has bitten a child before and it is not just a nip or bite but the dog was actually ragging the childs arm...I would suggest this dog should be PTS, even if rehomed away from children, what about out on walks, visitors to the house etc.....

My daughter was bitten by my dog, and he didn't rag her but bit her because she pulled his tail (I had the dog for four years, from eight weeks old and daughter was two at the time).....there was no question in my mind other than PTS, I do know how awful it feels because I've been there, but I was not prepared to rehome him in case it happened to someone else's child, and his temperament had previously been excellent.
To me the safety of children is paramount and a dog that is a risk to children should be PTS.......

All I am going to say is that if my child pulled my dogs tail and it bit, I certainly would not have had it PTS, it would have been my responsibility to ensure that my 2 year old was not able to annoy the dog!

Quite right Enfielrotts, couldn't agree more

                 Paxo

Yes I agree too. :-)   Children should learn to respect dogs. Its not the poor dogs fault that children can't learn to leave the dog alone.  My 4 year old is an absolute pain with our Bichon and he is way too lenient with her, I am forever telling her off for messing with him and if he bit her then it would be her fault.

I am so glad I do not have children I would not wish to put one of my dogs at risk to the behaviour of a child, when one of my GSDs was stabbed by a child, the child(aged under 10(hence not responsible legally for it's actions) & with a stanley knife) was very lucky my dog was trained otherwise no doubt I would have been in court & my dog PTS for being a dog & reacting to being badly hurt, the child of course being legally blameless

2 year olds can be pretty scarey for dogs and often dogs prefer babies or slightly older children.

I don't feel a dog should be put to sleep because it bit; but it does depend on circumstances. Often the dog has been silently telling the owner it has had enough for weeks or months and finally snaps.

The first sign is often the dog going out of the room and away from the child, or just moving away. Very few owners see this as any kind of "message" but that's exactly what it is.

I can't bear seeing dogs expected to "put up" with children. That really annoys me -it's unfair on the dog and not very safe for the child.

Lindsay
X

Lindsay I agree 100% :)

Indigo is now 19 months and she knows what respect is as do the girls back to her :)

It is all about training and socialisation for both the four legged and the two legged members of the family but also where the limits are :)

Lucy
xx

Quite agree why should the dog pay for human error? 

It retaliated to provocation, it did not lanunch a savage attack, so why would anyone feel the dogs previously blameless temperament would change?

I owned a sensitive herding/guarding breed, and I was very careful to manage things so that she never ever felt the need to retaliate.  when children were too boisterous she would be allowed time out from them, and I always kept her close to me if children visited or when out and children were running about she would come sit quietly by me.  she was never ever allowed to play games with kids (a dogs idea of a game is unsuitable for small children).

This was a bitch who was terrified of Hot Air Balloons Thunder and Fireworks, but was always reliable around children, as she would come to me for help whenever she felt uncomfortable.  I had ensured this by calling her too me any time I saw any sign of stress.

This is the reason children should never be unsupervised with any dog, or any other animal for that matter.

I couldn't agree more, Enfielrotts.

me too ...

Me too, my two children have been taught to respect the dog from day one! If he moves away they leave him alone etc. I have said the same thing to my little boy "if you keep doing that then he may bite you, and if he does it would be your fault"  I know the nip wouldn't be hard as he is pup, but children need to learn to repect before the dog is old enough to cause harm. You can not blame a dog for human error, as jeangenie has already said.

Just for the record - my dog was well trained, child taught not to harrass dog, dog had safe place to retreat to, never 'played' together, never unsupervised together, never had any problems up to that day. Dog walked past child, she stumbled and grabbed his tail to save herself, he turned round and bit once in her face......Much as I loved Joe I could not take the risk of it happening agian so he was PTS aftrer much deliberation.....yes it broke my heart, I'd had him long before the child, but childrens safety has to come first to me, I could not have been more careful but it still happened. My point remains that this dog has shown aggression towards children and followed through more than once.......IMHO it should be PTS......

I would have diciplined the child and consoled the dog!!

I forewarned my kids when they were little,if they annoy the dog be prepared to get bit!!

Poppynurse you are very brave for posting this on a public board,it's  just a shame that the dog had to pay for your mistake :(

I can fully understand breeders who wont sell their pups to people with kids under 5,or some,under 10!!

At the time my son was not annoying Charlie although i do know what kids are like weren't we all one once they are the same as puppies only their skin isn't as strong. hi poppynurse he doesn't attack the kids constantly and he wont go out of his way to bite one, the kids do follow him around at times and unfortunately that day he took it out on Aidan luckly enough he didn't do any serious damage just broke the skin and we all had a lesson to learn.  I have decided to keep Charlie after advice off the Westie rescue i'm afraid i just couldn't let him go, and i'm quite positive this will not happen again.

Warm Regards Frank

Good luck Frank, hope it goes well for you. You must have been through alot just making the decision. I am sure you have done what you feel best. Kind regards.:-)