When a pet dog turns on a child

In the vast majority of cases the parents are culpable in creating an untrustworthy pet and not being sensitive detectors of the early warning signs. The type of attack and severity of injuries is also influenced by the size of the dog, sexual status and the breed.

Some dogs have a very bad reputation as a result of bad owners, media reports and court cases citing Pitbull Terriers and Boerboels as the worst culprits. Every now and again there is a case where the dog has killed the child. This is unforgiveable, yet preventable. Man’s best friend killing the hand that feeds is avoidable but one can never educate the public enough to prevent these attacks.

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Human arrogance and macho-men are the foundation for aggressive dogs and fighting breeds purchased as pets. This attitude has prevailed for millennia and will continue indefinitely due to a genetic trait or learnt behaviour amongst certain people in all levels of society.

It is also very rare for a dog to be born aggressive. While there may be traits of fear aggression inadvertently bred into certain family lines in certain breeds from time to time the vast majority of dogs turned bad are due to the people who own them.

One of the greatest shocks one can ever experience in the human-animal relationship is the sudden severance of the canine-human bond when a long-established pet dog turns on a toddler and inflicts bite wounds and injuries requiring emergency medical and surgical intervention, including cosmetic surgery. Once the dog’s bite penetrates human skin it is automatically regarded in international animal behaviour circles as the end of the road for that pet dog. It has to be removed immediately and permanently from the home environment.

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Depending on the breed, age and circumstances some of these dogs can be relocated to facilities where the animal may be purposefully trained and utilised. If the dog is over a certain age and a poorly trainable breed or individual, it will have to be destroyed by a veterinarian. One can never relocate this dog without transferring the problem to someone else’s property and placing a degree of culpability on your part.

When the veterinary and animal behaviour professionals are confronted with a pet dog turning on a child where the injuries involve anything from bite wounds penetrating the skin, mauling or worse it would be unethical and sheer lunacy and irresponsibility to propose drugs and recommend behaviour therapy because no one in his or her right mind wants to wait-and-see-what-happens-next-time.

The dog has to go!

There is no treatment for any dog after such an incident. Only euthanasia is the safe, responsible and mature decision. It goes without saying that a child’s life is a priority over a dog, however, in many instances where I have had to offer advice and counselling after such an attack there have been cases where dogs have been repeat offenders and one of the owners, usually the husband, refuses to dispose of the dog because of its protection value, the status image portrayed by the brute of an animal, because “he is such a beautiful dog” or plain and simple sentimental stupidity.

It is not possible to contemplate the thought processes of a person who cannot be rational under such tragic circumstances. I often wonder what their attitude would have been if they had been the victim.

In the vast majority of cases where a dog has turned on the child the parents or family caregivers have either ignored the early warning signs, are unable to read unacceptable canine body language or they live in subclinical denial about the possible outcome. The moment any dog growls at a child, or any family member for that matter, immediate help must be sought from an accredited animal behaviourist or veterinarian to pre-empt a potential disaster.

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When a pet dog bites without puncturing the skin it is regarded as a reprimand, and a warning that parents should take immediate action to prevent a recurrence. The canine response may have been justified – from the dog’s perspective! What could have triggered the retaliatory behaviour?

If the child has been putting stones down the dog’s ear canal or tying elastic bands over the dog’s muzzle or smacking the dog in its face these are genuine recorded activities not supervised by parents which has caused some dogs to bite out of frustration and fear.