Argumentative dilemma.

I've had a dog most of my life, not one ever showed any sign of nastiness, but its horses for courses and your one clearly has the potential.
If you are worried about Laura , just ask her this would she be more upset about telling her Uncle no or sitting at the side of your lads bed if he had been mauled!
A child being bitten or worse by a dog is bad enough, having one been bitten when you have already had a warning, well it would take some living with.
Its alright folk saying there are no bad dogs, its not their child, IMHO you cant have a dog that's both a hunter and domesticated, even if it behaves for its owner.
Anyway you just can't trust them ( kids) no matter what you say there is always the danger they may inadvertently do something to trigger the dogs hunting instinct

 

We have had a Springer from it being a Pup, he is classed as a hunting dog and is soft as ****.
Our grandkids have climbed on him, trod on him etc and he has just took it, if they have gone too far he gives a low growl.
It’s just the nature of the individual dog, I wouldn’t be sitting for the dog either as it has shown how it reacts more than once.
Jamdrop post is the most accurate for me, until George is old enough it is a potential risky combination not worth taking.

 

Imo the dog has done nothing wrong. George, bless his little cotton socks, has fallen on him twice and the dog has reacted defensively both times just like I'd expect anyone or anything to do really. But it doesn't matter if the dog has done anything wrong. It isn't about blame, it's about risk, and while you've got George as a little un who is going to run around and fall and things then there will always be a risk with a dog. A risk that's not worth taking.

I'd have a word with Laura and say that you aren't blaming the dog at all but you can't take the risk of George falling on it again and offer a compromise where you'll visit the dog every day, take it for a walk etc but the risk of dog and George being in the confined space of the house for so much time is just too high.

 

If I was uncle Steve I wouldn’t even be putting you in that awkward position, if I had a dog that had done that to a little un (I’m not blaming the dog/kid here) there’s no way on earth would I be asking you to dog sit, I wouldn’t be able to relax on holiday,

 

If the dog isn't used to Children and the child isn't used to dogs then I'd avoid putting the two together until the child is old enough to understand how to behave around dogs, tragically accidents happen you've only to look at the recent incident in Milton Keynes. I'm a life long dog owner and all my married life have had dogs as it happens very large dogs and what all dog owners need to realise is their family pet is a Wolf all be it a domesticated for 10 thousand years wolf. It still has the same weapons and in certain circumstances like when frightened or under attack will use them and a child falling on a dog may well appear to that dog like an attack. It's not the dog or child's fault it's just an accident. I've had 5 Mastiffs 4 Rottweilers and 2 Great Danes in 30 odd years of marriage and raised 2 kids during that time without incident but that's because my dogs have always been very well socialised and are always under control. When my eldest was born she came into a house with a 110kg Mastiff and a 95kg Great Dane all ready living there but because our dogs were used to being around children because wed made sure they were socialised and they were never left unintended together there wasn't a problem. A dog is a loaded weapon and should be treated as such by its owners it should handled with respect care and attention and always always under control when in public.

 

We have a Staffie to stay with us sometimes when the owners, our relatives, are away and I enjoy walking him in the streets and on The Stray outside our house. He is always on the extending lead and I let him sniff and poke around wherever he wants to go. What really infuriates me though is the people who walk theirs off the lead and then can’t understand why their little darling is snarled at and lunged at by the beast that I’ve suddenly got to control. Demek is a strong dog as well so it’s not easy.

I try to shout warnings before they get too close but some people are too thick to own a dog. Ours is as friendly and gentle as you would wish for around humans, including kids, but one sniff of another dog and he is a raging bull. That’s not his fault. It’s his nature.

All I’m trying to say of course is that all dogs, large or small, are unpredictable so it’s best not to take chances no matter how well behaved they “normally” are.

 

Do not let George anywhere near that dog again. And definitely no dog sitting. Has he bitten anyone else,? I really think the dog should be pts, although I recognise he was probably startled.

 

Not sure about killing the dog for what was an accident. Yes if the dog had made an unprovoked attack but in this case the ones at fault are the dog owners and parents for not recognising the potential danger after the first incident . Maybe a muzzle would be appropriate when the dog is around children.

 

Simple solution- keep your boy & the dog well apart..
I currently have a 15 year old JRT, my latest of 4 in the last 4 years. One I had a long time & 3 adopted old boys.. This one came from a reputable rescue, but I’m pretty sure he’s an former working dog who outlived his use.
He’s fine with me in the house etc, but has a mistrust of strangers & is prone to snap. I learned that early on & the rescue people were honest about an incident or two. He even gave dear old Shenk a nip when we brought him home..
I don’t have kids, but they’re around the village, so I have to be careful when we’re out. He’s still a bit fly & has the teeth of an animal twice his size.
It’s simply not worth the risk, mixing an unpredictable dog with children.
When you’re ready for your own dog, go see some young ones in rescue & they will match you with an appropriate animal & you always have the option to return it if it doesn’t work out..

 

Never trust any type of dog when a young child is around. I guess the 'fur baby' contingent would be horrified but why take the risk?

 

As a dog owner, I'd say not to dog sit for the uncle again. I wouldn't waste time trying to apportion blame, but I simply wouldn't risk the safety of my child.

 

Has anyone asked for the dogs opinion on this?
After all everytime it gets a couple of minutes a spare to give his balls a lick a child dive bombs on top of it

 

Too many children died from dog attacks. If a dog has already bitten twice that we know of then it's very likely it could happen again. Not worth the chance that the next time it could result in serious injury or even death.

 

Sadly not everyone is like what you are saying and can be selfish or at the very least not thinking straight because the dog is 'their baby'.

 

Kids safety comes first, no brainer. If you’re uncomfortable, there’s a reason.

 

As dilemmas go this isn’t the toughest.

Your kid shouldn’t be anywhere near this dog again. It’s had two goes at him.

Not really the dog’s fault. Which is absolutely and completely irrelevant.

Uncle Steve is unreasonable to still want you to look after the dog; your Mrs even more unreasonable for still wanting to do it.

I don’t buy into the dog needing to be put down as some have suggested - he hasn’t shown any signs of unprovoked aggression or even a desire to actually do serious damage (based on what you’ve said), but the animal should not be around kids.

 

One key fact that makes alarm bells ring is the fact that, whilst there was a 'trigger' in that the George fell on the dog, it did not simply nip him in retaliation then run off, but "....Steve's missus pulled the dog off him..".

This implies that without that timely human intervention it could have become a serious prolonged attack. It is conceivable that the incident could have occurred with both George and the dog unsupervised if it had followed him upstairs.
It would be an absolute NO from me for future dog-sits for the foreseeable future.

 

What i would say is watch your kids around the dog easy really. The dog was clearly spooked and reacted how dogs do no matter how well trained. Could have had a serious incident because you’re not aware of what your kid is doing

 

A toddler is just as unpredictable as a dog. Even if you watch them it takes one second for them to fall over or grab at a dog. My dog is as sort as anything but I shut him away if young kids come round.