Mastiff pup bit my son

[ruthcatrin]

There are 2 of us that agree Ruth

lol, thanks Cody.

 

[taraann81]

Geez saying, i thought it was unusual was freaking out? And all I ever said is what I would do in my home in that situation.

 

[ruthcatrin]

If your solution to a child hurting a dog and the dog responding in a very normal fashion is to revoke couch privilages for the dog I do not ever want to be around your dogs.

 

[taraann81]

Go back and read my post. I never said that that was only action to take. You are just being unkind now.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Its not a problem with a pup playing rough, its a problem with the child accidently hurt the dog and the dog responded in a very normal fashion. The pup's "place in the family" has nothing to do with that, and you're the one who REPEATED that the solution was the keep the dog off the furniture when thats not even the problem. Re-read your own post, here, I quoted it for you, so you don't even have to go find it.

I wouldnt allow the dog on the furniture, ive never seen a pup growl in pain...a yelp and bite yea, but a growl and snap seems unusual. If it was my pup id continue training., and not allow him on the furniture at least until he learna where he stands At this point he probably seea your son as a littermate, and of xourse weve already discussed children should not be picking up puppies

If your solution of a pup's very normal reaction of pain is to tell him how low on the totem pole he lies then you're causing yourself more problems than you're "fixing".

 

[Smokeycat]

To me the 'solution' seems to be two pronged. 1) Teach the child limits with the puppy and from another post it does seem that he has at least started to see why the rules are there. Great but don't let down your guard because kids are still kids and when the pain and mark goes away he might try something similar/else. 2) Teach the puppy a soft bite and then no bite. I taught a soft bite first so that if they did end up with skin in their mouth they wouldn't bite down. Once they were able to not bite down I taught them that putting their mouths on skin or clothing was not acceptable.

 

[mx5055]

To me the 'solution' seems to be two pronged. 1) Teach the child limits with the puppy and from another post it does seem that he has at least started to see why the rules are there. Great but don't let down your guard because kids are still kids and when the pain and mark goes away he might try something similar/else. 2) Teach the puppy a soft bite and then no bite. I taught a soft bite first so that if they did end up with skin in their mouth they wouldn't bite down. Once they were able to not bite down I taught them that putting their mouths on skin or clothing was not acceptable.

I'm sorry, but I have to totally disagree with the "teaching" of a soft bite. What would possibly be the reason for this, instead of just teaching a "no bite"?

 

[marke]

just an opinion , an 11 week old mastiff pup that would try to bite the vet for giving it a shot is not normal puppy behavior , it strikes me as an abnormally low threshold for the pup to be defending himself , and I would think an indication of the dogs future temperament .....

 

[Smokeycat]

[/B][/I][/U]I'm sorry, but I have to totally disagree with the "teaching" of a soft bite. What would possibly be the reason for this, instead of just teaching a "no bite"?

It is a back up safety measure. When I first got Jiggers (first ever dog) a lot of my research stated that you wanted to make sure that they knew that if they ever got skin between their teeth that they couldn't bite down. The reasoning behind it was that even dogs that are taught not to bite can still bite if in pain/scared and multiple levels of training are harder to break than just a single layer. It may be a false sense of security but then again given they are thinking creatures all training can be considered that.

 

[ruthcatrin]

just an opinion , an 11 week old mastiff pup that would try to bite the vet for giving it a shot is not normal puppy behavior , it strikes me as an abnormally low threshold for the pup to be defending himself , and I would think an indication of the dogs future temperament .....

umm, actually its very normal puppy behavior.....

 

[taraann81]

Its not a problem with a pup playing rough, its a problem with the child accidently hurt the dog and the dog responded in a very normal fashion. The pup's "place in the family" has nothing to do with that, and you're the one who REPEATED that the solution was the keep the dog off the furniture when thats not even the problem. Re-read your own post, here, I quoted it for you, so you don't even have to go find it.




If your solution of a pup's very normal reaction of pain is to tell him how low on the totem pole he lies then you're causing yourself more problems than you're "fixing".

Bolding certain parts of my post does not hide the fact that I said continued training (including bite inhibition) AND... And yet you continue to try to "prove" that I feel that revoking furniture privledges is all that is required to correct what happened. Im not going to argue, I think your advice was great but in my opinion dogs should earn privledges and not just be given them. But regardless, I dont think anything I said has warranted a continued attack. But in your opinion it does, and I respectfully realize everyone is entitles to their opinion, even if it differs from my own.

 

[Smokeycat]

just an opinion , an 11 week old mastiff pup that would try to bite the vet for giving it a shot is not normal puppy behavior , it strikes me as an abnormally low threshold for the pup to be defending himself , and I would think an indication of the dogs future temperament .....

Shots hurt. Getting upset and thinking that there is something fundamentally wrong with a puppy for reacting to something hurting him and dogs react with their mouths, would be like thinking a baby crying after getting his shots meant that the grown man would be emotionally unbalanced. Just my opinion.

 

[mx5055]

just an opinion , an 11 week old mastiff pup that would try to bite the vet for giving it a shot is not normal puppy behavior , it strikes me as an abnormally low threshold for the pup to be defending himself , and I would think an indication of the dogs future temperament .....

I totally disagree with this statement. My pup is 6 1/2 months old, and absolutely hates going to the vet, and having them probe her all over and stick needles in her. She is a great dog so far, and the vet is something we are totally working on, but because she only goes when needed for shots, microchipping, etc. it has been hard to make it a positive experience. We do stop by there frequently to check her weight, but the minute she sees where we are her whole body language changes. Last time the vet checked her temp, and microchipped her, she had had enough...she snarled and snapped...never made skin contact, but she was letting everyone know that she was not a happy camper. (Personally, I pretty much feel the same when I go to the doctors and I wish I had the excuse of being a dog and could "bite" them!!!!). This is the only place so far that my pup has really shown a dislike for, and I can live with that...even though it is something we will continue to work on. If she is ever seriously injured they will probably have to sedate her anyway, and I will be there, and there is always the option of a muzzle if needed in an emergency situation. On the other hand, my 22 month old granddaughter can stick her face right in Bella's face, stick her fingers in her eyes and ears, and one time stuck her finger right up Bella's tush....Bella's reaction? She lays there looking adoringly at Alana and cries piteously whenever Alana goes in the house. That is my dogs "true temperament"

 

[mx5055]

It is a back up safety measure. When I first got Jiggers (first ever dog) a lot of my research stated that you wanted to make sure that they knew that if they ever got skin between their teeth that they couldn't bite down. The reasoning behind it was that even dogs that are taught not to bite can still bite if in pain/scared and multiple levels of training are harder to break than just a single layer. It may be a false sense of security but then again given they are thinking creatures all training can be considered that.

OK, I can understand you thinking on this better now; I still believe that teaching "no bite" is the better way. But, that is an interesting way to think on this subject, and I will have to do more research on it I guess

 

[ruthcatrin]

I've always personally found that a soft mouth comes from bite inhibition training, and that allowing a pup to bite at all is asking for trouble down the road by confusing the issue over whats allowed. Take Apollo for example, we worked from day one on a strict no-bite no-mouth on humans period process. Yesterday I was working on brushing out his tail, again, cause somehow it always matts up in a matter of hours when he's blowing his coat. I hit a matt with more force than I meant to, resulting in a hard yank on several hairs, and he came around and grabbed for the thing that made his tail hurt, got my hand, held on with no teeth for a second and heaved a sign and went back to patiently waiting while I worked on his tail.

 

[mx5055]

shots hurt. Getting upset and thinking that there is something fundamentally wrong with a puppy for reacting to something hurting him and dogs react with their mouths, would be like thinking a baby crying after getting his shots meant that the grown man would be emotionally unbalanced. Just my opinion.

***thumbs up***

 

[ruthcatrin]

Bolding certain parts of my post does not hide the fact that I said continued training (including bite inhibition) AND... And yet you continue to try to "prove" that I feel that revoking furniture privledges is all that is required to correct what happened. Im not going to argue, I think your advice was great but in my opinion dogs should earn privledges and not just be given them. But regardless, I dont think anything I said has warranted a continued attack. But in your opinion it does, and I respectfully realize everyone is entitles to their opinion, even if it differs from my own.

I wasn't attacking you, I was pointing out some rather serious issues with the solution you were presenting. If you wish you have your dog earn the right to be on the couch thats your right to train your dog, but its NOT the solution to the problem the OP is having, not even close......

 

[mx5055]

I've always personally found that a soft mouth comes from bite inhibition training, and that allowing a pup to bite at all is asking for trouble down the road by confusing the issue over whats allowed. Take Apollo for example, we worked from day one on a strict no-bite no-mouth on humans period process. Yesterday I was working on brushing out his tail, again, cause somehow it always matts up in a matter of hours when he's blowing his coat. I hit a matt with more force than I meant to, resulting in a hard yank on several hairs, and he came around and grabbed for the thing that made his tail hurt, got my hand, held on with no teeth for a second and heaved a sign and went back to patiently waiting while I worked on his tail.[/QUOTE

I agree with you Ruth. And, I had to smile at the "heaved a sigh" part...When Bella is displeased because things are not going her way/she's not getting her own way she uses all sorts of "sighs" to communicate her feelings!! It's almost like having an eye-rolling teenage in the house again

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

OP what's done is done its a good lesson for all involved Personally I share Ruth's view on about "normal" puppy behavior BTW I third that Ruth

Like people each dog is different, you pup may have a low pain tolerance ( I'm assuming so giving the reaction to the shot received by your vet. Maybe the child picked him up wrong? Who knows? His reaction is normal given the circumstance.

I'd work on some boundary levels first and foremost...personally. Welcome to the forum BTW.

 

[northernmastiff]

I think the OP has a lot figured out but I would recommend training for pup and child, making sure the child is involved in the training and the food bowl, teaching bite inhibition and learning the threshold the dog has. Some dogs are very sensitive to discomfort and will react at the slightest pressure. Other dogs can have a train roll over them (okay, not literally) and not react at all. I have a strict, no teeth on people rule and I also have firm rules in the home for both the kids and the dog. Also, expect your kid to make mistakes. My kids are 11 and 8 and there are times when I say, "Why on earth would you do that?" Yesterday, it was when my oldest was petting a French Bulldog. He was pressing down on her as he is used to Daisy but the poor dog was being pressed to the ground. I had to correct him and his response was, "Oh yeah, I guess she doesn't like the same rub down that Daisy does." The dog looked really happy by the way, I was just worried he would hurt the little thing.