By "bit" I mean bite that goes through the skin into the flesh.

Katie

It depends on how it happened. Can you give us more information ?

Lucy
xx

Depends on the circumstances.  Was dog startled, trodden on or teased or provoked.

If I knew in my heart of hearts that my child had never been in a position to hurt or tease the dog (i.e. never left unsupervised with it), and this biting was totally unprovoked and not open to any misunderstanding or fear by the dog then I would put the dog to sleep.

Four year olds are very likely to over excite a dog, and can also me rough and tease, but are of an age where we may think they understand more than they do and maybe not supervise them as much as we need to around their canine chums, and they get some pretty silly ideas into their heads, like trying to ride, dress up etc the dog, and it may loose patience if it sees no option bu to attempt to discipline/avoid the child's actions.

My daughter now admits she used to tease our first dog, even though I was very careful and the dog came to me/or I would let her have time outs when the kids got too much for her.  She was of a sensitive, reactive pastoral/guarding breed.  My current breed are less sensitive, but I have always protected them from any chance of kids teasing so that they always view them as positive.

Depends entirely on the circumstances. 

To be honest I would have to know more details as to why/when/what was the child doing?

I was bitten as a child in 1976 (the very very hot summer) by my aunties dog very very seriously and that was totally unprovoked.  He was PTS which I guess was the right thing.  It was on the face too and I had many operations as a child.

And if the same thing were to happen to a child by one of mine then yes I would have to think very seriously about whether they could live in harmony with my children after.

Hope that makes some sense - it would be very tough decision if unprovoked but without knowing any more details I can't comment properly.

Best wishes,

It happened on Tuesday. My Doberman bitch Kimmy will be 9 months old next week.
We went for a walk, Benny (my son) on his bike and Kimmy on the leash, and then Kimmy jumped at Ben, knocked him down from the bike, and bit into his calf! She didn't want to let go!

I of course lunged right after her and pulled her mouth away, and then she tried to go after Ben's neck (he was lying face down on the sidewalk). I had to quickly slip the leash loop over the fence that is there to be able to get Benny safely away from her. She was like possessed!

I brought her home and put her in her crate. Benny's wound bled quite a bit, on his socks and on my trousers as I was carrying him in my arms. He has two deep puncture wounds in the flesh, about third of an inch wide, gaping slightly open. I didn't think it needed stitches, so I put bandaids on both wounds (after I cleansed them with an antiseptic spray).

I am so glad it was his leg and not his face!

I took Benny (and his bike) with me to the dog trainer, and told her what happened, showed her wounds as well. She talked to Benny, let him tell her what happened in his own words, to see if he was scared of Kimmy now. I don't know if my son is exceptionally brave or exceptionally dumb, but he said he forgave Kimmy for biting him and wanted to play with her again.

Then the trainer suggested controlled situation role playing so she can see for herself how Kimmy behaves around Benny on a bike. So we went out and Benny rode his bike around and the trainer had Kimmy on the leash, and at first Kimmy barked and strained to get to Benny, so the trainer distracted her and rewarded her with treats for staying calm, gradually the calmer moments got longer and longer, until Kimmy was able to stand right beside Benny on the bike and just look.

The trainer says that in her opinion the stress from the dog show we attended the day before affected Kimmy in such a way that she overreacted. And that when Benny fell off the bike, she reacted as if he were a prey, that means, she bit into him.

She thinks this biting incident could be classed as "accident", she doesn't think Kimmy intentionally wanted to hurt him.

When we were back inside, Kimmy put her head on Benny's lap as he sat in the chair, and he stroke her ears, and she licked his hand. I looked at this and thought what the hell was she thinking earlier today, biting into him like that.

It breaks my heart to think what she could do to him next time she overreacts.

The trainer said she still thinks Kimmy is a good dog, and that she just needs to be "desentized" to triggering situations/objects, such as Ben riding the bike.

I am so torn. On one hand, I love that dog and she has been a joy. On the other hand, I am terrified for Benny, although he doesn't seem to have any lasting mental scars from it (this could come later, though).

As a mother, I want to protect my baby. I want to keep him out of harm's way.

I just don't know how I could live with myself if I kept Kimmy and she bit him again. Or even worse, someone else's child!

The trainer said she can't guarantee it won't happen again. Do I want to take chances with my only child?

I feel like I am letting her down, you know? She adores me. I raised her from puppyhood into teenagehood. I taught her to sit and stay, I housebroke her, I cuddled her and groomed her and all that...

But I also feel that let Benny down earlier today. I was right there and yet I didn't protect him, I didn't manage to prevent this bite from happening.

I just never saw this coming. I thought I was doing all the right things. I put a lot of work and effort into this dog. I can honestly say I did my best to raise her well. This is a huge shock and disappointment :(

This incident happened near the playground, directly in front of two mothers and several children. By now, I am sure the whole village knows what happened. And as it is with gossip, by now people probably say that Benny's leg was completely ripped in pieces or something.

Can you imagine when I send out invitations to Benny's birthday party to his classmates? Would anyone allow their kids to go into a home where they have a dog who bit their own kid?

I hugged her last night and cried my eyes out - I can't understand how could she do this to me :(

Last night she nipped me hard in the arm after I called her in from the garden. She's been very grumpy and cranky.

I was at the dog trainer again this morning, I told her about Kimmy's behaviour and the snapping, and she said she thinks it's a sign that Kimmy is stressed from what happened (the bite) and that she knows it was wrong and her brain is trying to process it. I really don't know if I'm buying it, though. It just sounds too much like psychobabble. You can't expect a dog to have human-like thoughts!

In every case, she told me to buy a DAP diffuser in the pharmacy, the scent should calm Kimmy down.

Katie

Has she had a season yet?

Yes, her season finished about 10 days ago.

what a terrible dilemma you are in. i quite understand your fears especially since the biting seems to have come out of nowhere but to be honest, i do think your trainer is getting a tad close to psychobabbling and may be erring towards rationalising this from a human, not a canine, point of view.

kimmy's recent season may well be significant although i'll leave people who have more recent experience of having bitches to provide a more educated comment. that she seems generally cranky and out of sorts suggests that a trip to the vet could be the next course of action to take though in case there is another underlying, medical reason for this sudden change in temperament.

benny has been an incredibly brave boy and of course you have to put his welfare first since none of you in the household will enjoy your relationship with kimmy if you are on tenterhooks just in case of another biting episode and neither will that sort of atmosphere be good for kimmy.  of solutions i don't have any although if you feel you can't keep her then an early call to her breeder should be on the cards too.

her hormones are all over the place then & maybe having a phantom. id consider getting her speyed

I agree, but that shouldn't be done for a few weeks till her hormones have settled down.

yes of course,i sort of meant b4 the next season!

You must be very very torn here.  I wish I could offer some helpful advice but even having been through this as a child - I have absolutely no fear whatsover of dogs and never did after it happened.  And my lip doesn't really notice now - I know it's there but people don't seem to notice the scars at all.  So I'm sure Benny will be okay - he sounds like he is and it doesn't sound too serious if no stitches were needed.

I know of many other people who have an issue with their children on bikes so it sounds like this triggered her off and then when he fell down something else kicked in.

I'm so sorry but I think that if it were my dog that I would be walking on eggshells worrying what might happen I have two girls aged 8 and 6 - Kimmy is only a baby still too isn't she so you must be heartbroken that this has happened.

It sounds like you are trying your best with your trainer - have you spoken to Kimmy's breeder for some more advice?

Reading your message I think in your heart that you don't want to take a chance on this and I don't think you should beat yourself up on it either - your child has to be the priority on this one.

I wish I could be more help to you and can't imagine how hard this will be for you.

Best wishes,

Thank you for your kind words.

We emailed the breeder along with a photo of the bite and bruising on Tuesday evening, haven't heard from her back yet. We have been in contact all through the months so I bet she will be just as shocked as we are.

Katie

Hi Katie,

so soon after her first season would suggest that she may well still have hormonal disruption going on.  I feel for you here because with a large guarding breed more so than other breeds it's naturally a concern.  That said, Kimmy is still very much a puppy and not mentally mature enough yet to be fully at ease with all situations which, compounded with possible hormonal influences, could certainly make a viable case for not over reacting.

I am rather concerned that having bitten your son's leg she then attempted to "go after Ben's neck" - only you are aware of how serious the attempt was and unfortunately advice on a potentially serious temperament issue is not suited to advice on an internet forum.

If you are happy and confident with your trainer's advice (which your post suggests otherwise) then all I can recommend is that you exercise due caution when Kimmy is around children or in places where "prey" instincts will be highest driven such as cyclists, skateboards, joggers, basically most parks and sports areas.  

I'd recommend that you walk her only on a head collar so that you have full control of her head and she is not in a position to suddenly lunge and snap.  There are several recommended by others on the board if you use the [search] facility - personally I like the Dogmatic because it not only controls the movement of the head but is constructed so as to restrict snapping if the dog suddenly propels itself away from your control.

Alternatively, perhaps you should consider contacting her breeder and seeking his/her advice - possibly with a view to returning her if you don't feel suitably confident that this is something which you, personally, feel able to deal with in the long term.

best wishes, Teri

 

You see, this is my first dog. A lot of people discouraged me from getting a Doberman as my first dog, saying that only experienced dog owners should get a Dobe. I obviously didn't heed this advice and decided to do everything "by the book" and prove the naysayers wrong. *sigh*

Katie

Hi again Katie,

I wouldn't let what others might say or think influence you on making a decision - easier said than done ;)  Some breeds are not suited to some homes but more often than not each case should be looked at individually.

You sound like a very responsible and caring owner who has done lots of the right things so far to make Kimmy a well adjusted family pet - maybe this is a "blimp" in her training and something which can be overcome.  I would not try to sway you either way here because there are far too many emotional issues and variables in how things are best handled.

What I can assure you of is many people on here will be right behind you whatever the outcome - sometimes there is no cut and dried solution.  I wish you well to do what you feel in your heart is best for your family and for Kimmy.

good luck, Teri x

Oh Katie, poor you, what a dilemma.  :(

Neither of these questions are going to help you with your situation but might help in future:

Did you know the dam and sire of Kimmy?  Did you meet them, and do you know they have good temperaments?  (Ie not just on the breeder's word, but their line is known to have a good temperament?)

What sort of breeder did you get Kimmy from?  Are they a member of a breed club, do they breed regularly, why did they breed the litter?  What do they have to say about these events?  Have they offered to take Kimmy back or rehome her in an experienced Dobe home without children?

What outlets does Kimmy have, in her day to day life, for her prey drive?  All dogs have a prey drive and it's important you're at the very least doing things like chucking balls etc for her to chase.  Do you do any "dog activities" or regular training classes with her?

What sort of socialisation around children, children on bikes, children running away from her etc did you expose Kimmy to, during the socialisation period?  (Ie up to 16 wks old?)  Again, this age (around 10 months) is the peak time for socialisation problems to reveal themselves.

As for what you should do - only you can make that decision.  You are right with what you say about "dogs not having human thoughts" - dogs just don't have complex human emotions like guilt.  They have the intelligence of a 2 yr old child, and as you probably know guilt doesn't develop as an emotion for several more years past that.  So it's unlikely that any Kimmy's current behaviour is guilt at what has happened, I would disagree with your trainer on that one.

On the other hand, your trainer is to be commended for not using any aversive methods on Kimmy when you went to her, because many "trainers" would be doing horrible things like stringing dogs up by their leads for aggression.   If it is indeed stress, then a DAP could help.  But I'd want to know on what basis it is being diagnosed as stress - I would be wary of excusing it too much - we can say that maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was her season, or maybe it was the dog show the day before, or stress in general, or her age - but at the end of the day we all have dogs and we all expect them to tolerate changes in weather, seasons starting and ending, dog shows and so on, without taking bites out of our children (or even other dogs).

When I began to read what you described, it sounded like a one-off incident, but then you went on and said that she had "nipped hard" at your arm when you called her in from the garden and you describe her as grumpy or cranky, which I take to mean she's been growling or snarling, or showing aggression in other ways???  Is that right?

Have you taken her to your vet, so your vet can examine her physically, to make sure there is no physical reason for this behaviour??  Aggression can be related to physical problems, unbalanced hormone levels and so on... So I'd take her to the vet immediately.

At the end of the day it's your decision.  If you decide to keep her, you will probably need to keep her muzzled at all times and probably on a lead at all times too.  (Imagine if it was someone else's child she had attacked and they wanted to sue...)  If you decide not to keep her, you might want to consider talking to your breed club, or your breeder (assuming they are a reputable breeder), or to your breed Rescue, to see if you can find an isolated, experienced Dobe home for her without children.

Thank you so much for your insightful words.

We got her from Germany, from a breeder that is endorsed by the German Doberman Club (Dobermann Verein). This was the breeder's first litter so it's hard to say if she's reputable or not.

Kimmy's pedigree name is Aksha von Baden. Her sire is Angelo von Karat.

Angelo is a medium sized brown male, which is characterised by great courage and hardness, a ballanced character connected with large self-confidence. His working drive is very high, this is shown by many trials. Already with 16 month he did his excellent ZTP and with 20 months SchH 1. He had 11 trials SchH 3 and IPO 3. In the year 2000 he became DHV Kreismeister and qualified for the Bavarian Championship 2000 and 2002. At many shows he received V1, CAC and CAC Reserve. Angelo is German-Champion VDH.His second home is in Florida (AKC registration sertificate WP 924693/02) where he is working at DHV US.

Her dam is Banja von der Rheinaue.

Both dog's lines are working lines. There comes the high prey drive, I guess.

The breeder visited us in March, and brought Kimmy's mother and sister with her. I was surprised to see how aggressive the dam was to Kimmy, but the breeder said it was normal. Also, the littermate who stayed with the breeder bites the dam a lot. I saw the scars on the dam's body that the bites left.

About socialization - we attended puppy classes and I tried my best to let Kimmy experience everything around her and get used to it. She doesn't like to retrieve but loves the game of tug.

In case you're interested, when you click on my profile, there's a link to my blog where I write about her since the day we got her.

Katie

How about emailing Christine - (Kerioak) kerioakk-champdogs@yahoo.co.uk.  She's very knowledgable about Dobes and bloodlines.

Brilliant call Val :) I second that emphatically!! get in touch with Kerioak (she always comes across as ever so nice too)
I have nothing of value to add that hasnt already been said, I ditto Teri.
Warm wishes to you, its an upsetting time for you and youve been such a good owner!! dont beat yourself up.
Like Teri says you have support here..but def get in touch with Kerioak she'll help make the path easier and clearer for you to follow, and I suspect what she doesnt know about Dobes isnt worth knowing!!
Good luck xx

Umm, I think that I would rehome to someone who knows about the working drive especially when as you state both parents have extremely strong working drives in them!!

I'm sure that this will be more than likely to do with the season, her getting excited when your child fell off the bike, but I have to admit for me it is a chance that I wouldn't want to risk again and there 's no saying that spaying will stop this from happening again.

I don't mean to be awful but I would be worried that a breeder sold you a dog from a line that seems to be totally the working strain when as you say you are a first time dog owner.  Yes it can work but you (as you seem to have done) have to put a lot of work into it.

Hope everything works out well for you.

You see, Kimmy has always had a high prey drive (mainly demonstrated by her undying desire to grab my pants and shake them like a prey). Even my trainer didn't know how to un-teach her this, no matter what tactic I tried, it always came back. Last couple of months or so, she started grabbing my ankles with those teeth, not just pants. I have had constantly bruised feet. Then she progressed to biting into my arms when I tried to protect my feet from her teeth. She never broke skin, but that was probably thanks to me wearing a thick polar fleece jacket. In every case, my both arms are full of black and blue bruises.

you shouldnt have really let her keep on doing this :(

if you get on top of this i think youll be ok

i dont think shes learnt not to bite

All European dobes are required to have working traits and pass working tests before they can be bred from, there aren't pet and working lines, a dobe is a working breed.  Working drive does not equate to poor temperament, but working dogs take some owning..

Brainless has got it in one. :-)

I have had dobes since the 80's and currently own four one of which has a high prey drive and he is a handful the say the least.  I can honestly say that if he had gone to an inexperienced home he wouldnt have lasted 5 mins.  They certainly take some owning..... :-)

Its very true, but is there a difference in temprement between say older uk lines and the new european imports that are coming now?

Surely there are some that have stronger working drive than others even there?  I don't know, but from the first few lines of the sire, he definitely has extremely strong working lines!

Do many people have them as "pets" then over there or do the majority work them?  I know in my breed we have strong working lines in some of the dogs and we try to ensure that they go to the correct owners and especially ones that have had dogs before and know what they are doing.

PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT GETTING AT THE ORIGINAL POSTER WHEN SAYING THIS!

The thing is you would expect those traits to be stressed in a description of a stud dog, as you wouldn't use a dog that did not have strong working drives when breeding  working breed, not outside the UK, where the fit for purpose is as or more important than the physical attributes when breeding.

I am sure in my own breed that if we had hunting trials here some dogs would be excluded from breeding for not having the correct hunting drives, and why no matter how stunning a dog cannot become a show champion unless it has it's working qualifications, and vice versa.

This does not make the temperament bad or good, but appropriate for the breed.  Whether that makes them easy to live with as companions depends on the person, and their abilities/circumstances.

Thanks for that :d

I'm not saying that the temperaments are bad but even in my breed if they were put in the wrong hands and weren't allowed to use their brains a person would end up with real difficulties.  That's why the majority of breeders in my breed stress that the least that they have to do with their dogs is obedience.

I think that on the continent that is why people that choose working breeds work them or at the very least know how to channel their drives, and they would not choose such a breed purely as a companion unless they were sure they could deal with the fact they are a working dog with the appropriate working drives, which may not fit in well with some domestic situations.

Its very sad, maybe it might be a good idea for Katie to contact one of the dobe breed clubs for some advice or like has been suggested kerrioake.  Ive not had dobes for a few years now but when my bitch died I decided not to get another one because of the strong working continental lines being brought in, her lines being old uk and american lines which whilst made her an excellent pet, she wouldn't of been capable of working.  As you say brainless doesn't make the dog bad just fit for the purpose it was bred for in the first place.

I hope it all works out ok for you Katie,

Kind regards

Clair

Do many people have them as "pets" then over there or do the majority work them?
Many, many Dobermans here in Europe are kept as pets and so far I've mostly met the ones with good temperaments. Obviously they come from reputable breeders..... there are unfortunately just as many that were poorly bred :(, but majority are very sweet and non aggressive.
One of my relatives used to be a Dobe breeder and produced very good litters. His foundation bitch was imported from Cuba and had great temperament. The sweetest, most family oriented dog I've ever seen. Great with kids!!! Her puppies however were all very different. They kept one male and he was adorable, while his brother was all trouble!! It obviously depends on an individual dog as well, not just training or pups blood lines.

Thanks everyone, really interesting subject, sorry if it's gone slightly off the wavelenght intended but to someone like myself who knows very little about what goes on in some of the other breeds abroad there's really good information above :d

I have just emailed her :)

Katie

Sorry to read this post Katie, it sounds as if you've put a lot of effort into Kimmy - but it sounds as if she is not a dog that should have been sold into an inexperienced home. Unfortunately, it would appear that the breeders' inexperience has let you down here.

As a young dog, my view would be that Kimmy would be happiest in a home which is able to correctly channel her intelligence and drive. I would be surprised if she caused any further problems in such a home myself, although obviously you need to take advice on that from people more experienced with Dobermanns. Clearly, she should go somewhere with no children, to be on the safe side. Although we'd normally all advocate returning to the breeder, I wonder if this breeder has the experience necessary to ensure the right home is found this time, for Kimmy's sake, or whether involvement from Dobe Rescue in conjunction with the breeder might be the best way forward? Important to get it right this time, as it's her 'last chance'.

My experience of Dobermanns? I had a young bitch, bought as a puppy from parents with excellent temperaments (bought from a friend, so both adults I knew very well). I had to rehome her at 6 months as she was completely incompatible with my fairly submissive Rough Collie at the time - not an ounce of malice in either dog, but the day I looked up and saw the Collie lying limp on the floor with the Dobermann dragging her up the garden by her collar was the day the re-homing process started. Just because a dog has a good temperament, doesn't always make it the right temperament for any home it may live in. I have no doubt that if she'd stayed I would have had huge issues, and possibly a dead Collie as it escalated.

M.

Hi Katie,

I am afraid I am going to be a killjoy and disagree with the majority. I absolutely love my dog, my families dogs, and have time and patience for all kinds of training.  But.......... the one thing I value above anything else in the world are my children, I would never in a million years keep any dog that latched it's teeth into my child, I don't care, how, why or where, the dog would no longer be in my home.  I need 100% trust from any dog, if it should let me down it would not be my dog.

Hormones, fear, I don't care, the dog would be gone, and I would not risk a second accident my children are too precious. Sorry just my opinion.

This is why the RSPCA, and dog rescues, do not allow dogs to go to homes with under 7's, the risks are too great.

But.......... the one thing I value above anything else in the world are my children, I would never in a million years keep any dog that latched it's teeth into my child, I don't care, how, why or where, the dog would no longer be in my home.

I agree with Carrington - I love my dog but children definitely come first - if he bit my grandchild then he would have to go!

So sorry this happened.  I'd be so shocked and gutted. Were it me..though I love my dogs..they are my life...but  this sounds a really  bad attack and what if you had not been there what would have happened .. how much worse would this have been....  that is so  hard for you to be in this stuation and only you can work out a solution that suits you ....... but I  really think I would not trust the dog with my child...and it's not like me to say that to anyone. One of the last things I ever want is to see someone give up on their dog and need to rehome... but the very last thing I ever want to see is some have their child badly hurt. This could be hormones or lack of training but whatever...if the attack was as bad as it sounds ... if you did not need to go to hospital for stitches and antibiotics maybe it wasn't so bad as it sounds... so I really can't say as I wasn't there...only you can know what is best to do.  It sounds like it could be hormones and a lack of training/socialisation but even so this may mean it is not the right dog for your family...you will have other kids comming to play and maybe it is not safe for them.

Hi Katie, so sorry to hear about this, sounds like you've got a good trainer and some help from here too. I just wanted to add that I would probably take your son to the docs just to make sure he doesn't need antibiotics or a tetnus jag? I know when my dogs have had been bitten they always swell up and need antibiotics - dogs mouths are not very hygenic places!

Oh dear Katie, what an absolutely horrible thing to happen - and what an absolutely horrible situation you are in!

I am with Carrington on this, and, in view of the fact that your little boy is only 4, I would be working with the breeder on possibly rehoming her (the dog, not your son :rolleyes:) with a family that is experienced with dobes, and with no children - that is the only way that you will have peace of mind, I feel.

If you were to re-home her now, as a young dog, she can still have an excellent life, but should this happen again and she did bite your little boy or another child, then this option wouldn't be open to you :(

Horrible, I know.    You've tried so hard, and so far as I can see you HAVE done everything right - but sadly, sometimes things do go wrong.

Kind regards

Margot

Hi this is going to sound awful, my child was bitten by my westie twice and i still have him.  I know i'm going to be judged but the thing is you have to judge the situation and why the dog has bitten in the first place for ,my situation i knew the circumstances so the dog is okay to stay.

Don't forget, there is a lot of difference between the size of a westie, and that of a full-grown dobe!

I wouldn't judge you harshly - you know the circumstance surrounding the biting and you decided that you could live with it.   From what Katie has described, her little boy had done nothing unwarrented to the puppy, who reacted to a situation which could occur again, which she is bigger :(

Margot

Exactly - a Doberman is physically capable of killing a person with one bite. Westie probably not...
Katie

The bite seems to be healing well, it's not swollen or anything, just a nice tidy "crust" over the two punctured places. On the opposite side of his calf, my son has a largish black/blue bruise from the other teeth, thankfully these didn't go through the skin.

I will be keeping en eye on it and if it starts looking infected, I will take him to the doctor.

I think the problem is that my son is still rather young and Kimmy with her prey drive is tempted to treat him as prey, too. I know we had to establish the rule that when they play, he mustn't lie down because when he does, she immediately starts mouthing him.

Katie

My dane Phoebe snapped at my daughter when she was about 18 months old - the dog, not my daughter. It was a graze only but I was very shocked and talked to breed rescue about rehoming her. They gave me some excellent advice and I got her spayed too and we have had no problems since. However, my daughter was older and could be trusted to do as the rescue advised and also stay away from Pheebs whilst this particular training took place.

I have to say that I love Dobes, but in my limited experience you need to be very on top of the game with them.

What an awful situation to be in :( and I really feel for you, but perhaps you need to follow your 'gut' instincts, we can all advise or pass on opinions, but at the end of the day its your child and your dog, and you need to feel comfortable with that combination.

I wish you well.

Sorry i didn't realise it was a dobe threw lazyieness, i just replyied.  All i would say is take everything what's happened into account and then decide what you want to do with your dobe:rolleyes:  i had a dobe years ago a male he really didn't get on with our german sherpherd at the time rocky, they ended up fighting to cut a long story short, and the dobe bit my mums leg because she had got in the middle of the fight but that was her fault not the dogs but if you have young children which and your dog bites it's not worth it.  There's only one of my dogs which is like this so i keep him because i know his past but if any of my bullmastiffs showed their teeth at my children they would be gone in a heartbeat because my children do come first and these dogs if they attacked could do almighty damage, and i would never forgive myself if my children got hurt!

Katie,

I truly do feel for you and I tried to put myself in your shoes and think what I would do in your situation whilst walking the dogs with my girls riding their bikes.

I know you are trying to do what is best and right for you and Ben and I am pleased that his leg is healing - dog bites bruise dreadfully don't they.

I also mentioned it to my husband but I think men find it much easier to make black/white decisions sometimes don't they.

I'm sure you will find the answer right for you and your family Katie,

All the best,

Its a very horrible situation to be in, but Im with Carrington on this one.
Could you risk this happeniing again, do you want to live with that worry
From what you have said yr Dobe has gone from biting yr ankle and arms to having a go at yr son, and you said was like a thing possessed
PERSONALLY i think there is only one solution, its horrible and its not rehoming