Dog bite

Sabs0402

Hi I would like some advice.
I am the owner of a 7 year old akita.
A few days ago a neighbours child came onto my property and put his arm through my fence in the dark and was nipped by my dog. He has one puncture wound.
We made sure the child was ok checked in with parents informed no hospital check was nessesary.
Fast forward two days when another family member asked me what i was doing about my dog. Surely it should be put down and it's a danger to children
My dog is kept secured at all times and I'm a licenced owner. He is also well socialised with obedience training and lives happily alongside a yorkie.
He has never shown aggression to anybody in his life.
Is this my fault?
Should he be put down?

muddypaws

Sorry this has happened to you and your dog.

Is it the neighbour's family member thats asked, or a member of your own family?

If it was my dog, I wouldn't be having him put to sleep, if it was dark, and something came through the fence, the dog may well not have known what it was. As there was no hospital visit as well, it doesn't sound serious, although the neighbours should definitely keep a close eye on it if the skin was broken.

As stupid as the RB laws are, do you comply with them when walking him, i.e., muzzle, 6 foot lead etc? If you haven't been up till now, it might be an idea, just so that nobody has any ammunition against you and the dog. If he isn't muzzle trained, make sure that you do it in a positive way, taking your time, so that he accepts the muzzle happily and doesn't mind wearing it.

Sabs0402

muddypaws wrote: »

Sorry this has happened to you and your dog.

Is it the neighbour's family member thats asked, or a member of your own family?

If it was my dog, I wouldn't be having him put to sleep, if it was dark, and something came through the fence, the dog may well not have known what it was. As there was no hospital visit as well, it doesn't sound serious, although the neighbours should definitely keep a close eye on it if the skin was broken.

As stupid as the RB laws are, do you comply with them when walking him, i.e., muzzle, 6 foot lead etc? If you haven't been up till now, it might be an idea, just so that nobody has any ammunition against you and the dog. If he isn't muzzle trained, make sure that you do it in a positive way, taking your time, so that he accepts the muzzle happily and doesn't mind wearing it.

Hi it was a member of the neighbours family that has asked this.
My dog is Walked by my husband not in our area but mostly at the beach on his lead with muzzle at all times. He also is microchippes and wears his tagged ID tag at all times.
I do think he bit because he did not know as he is a sweet dog that's highly trained to be obedient and he's been well socialised with other dogs and people. I have a parrot and the both of them are fine together.

punisher5112

I would suggest getting the fence made safe so no person can poke through or dog can the other way.

This may well become expensive I'm sorry to say.

Get cracking on the fence ASAP and prove from now on nobody can poke through.

I wouldn't be putting down if at all possible.

It may come to legal proceedings and cost a nice bit to fight.

Sabs0402

punisher5112 wrote: »

I would suggest getting the fence made safe so no person can poke through or dog can the other way.

This may well become expensive I'm sorry to say.

Get cracking on the fence ASAP and prove from now on nobody can poke through.

I wouldn't be putting down if at all possible.

It may come to legal proceedings and cost a nice bit to fight.

Yes we are in the process right now of having a new wall built.
I hope it does not come to that but I will be prepared also.
Thank you

em_cat

Sabs0402 wrote: »

Hi I would like some advice.
I am the owner of a 7 year old akita.
A few days ago a neighbours child came onto my property and put his arm through my fence in the dark and was nipped by my dog. He has one puncture wound.
We made sure the child was ok checked in with parents informed no hospital check was nessesary.
Fast forward two days when another family member asked me what i was doing about my dog. Surely it should be put down and it's a danger to children
My dog is kept secured at all times and I'm a licenced owner. He is also well socialised with obedience training and lives happily alongside a yorkie.
He has never shown aggression to anybody in his life.
Is this my fault?
Should he be put down?[/quote

Why would you put it down?

The child & child’s parents bare the responsibility, he stuck his hand through your fence, they should know better. Especially if it is known locally that you have dogs on your property.

The amount of children that just bend down to pet our dog without asking when walking him astounds me & then they get snarky when I stop them and tell them they should always ask first.

If the dog was running loose or being walked on a public street/ park, muzzled or not, that would be different.

Sabs0402

em_cat wrote: »

Sabs0402 wrote: »

Hi I would like some advice.
I am the owner of a 7 year old akita.
A few days ago a neighbours child came onto my property and put his arm through my fence in the dark and was nipped by my dog. He has one puncture wound.
We made sure the child was ok checked in with parents informed no hospital check was nessesary.
Fast forward two days when another family member asked me what i was doing about my dog. Surely it should be put down and it's a danger to children
My dog is kept secured at all times and I'm a licenced owner. He is also well socialised with obedience training and lives happily alongside a yorkie.
He has never shown aggression to anybody in his life.
Is this my fault?
Should he be put down?[/quote

Why would you put it down?

The child & child’s parents bare the responsibility, he stuck his hand through your fence, they should know better. Especially if it is known locally that you have dogs on your property.

The amount of children that just bend down to pet our dog without asking when walking him astounds me & then they get snarky when I stop them and tell them they should always ask first.

If the dog was running loose or being walked on a public street/ park, muzzled or not, that would be different.

This is exactly how I feel also. I do not let anyone pet him without asking and my children who the dog has been brought up around know themselves they do not touch him when he is around them.
It is also well know that I have akitas everybody knows their names also. They have been here longer than most of the children in the neighbourhood have been.
I'm also a responsible dog owner I know alot about the breed and my family has kept the breed since I'm a child I have gone on to have two of my own. My dogs are champion showdogs. Well maintained socialised and trained.
This is why this hurts me so much I do so much for them and they're well loved it shocked when I'm expected to destroy one of them.
Thank you so much

em_cat

Why would you put your dog down?

The child & child’s parents bare the responsibility, he stuck his hand through your fence, they should know better.

Especially if it is known locally that you have dogs on your property.

As others have said, the dog was on a fenced property & if reasonable precautions are / in place; you also seem to be adhering to every piece of legislation regarding the RB laws.

em_cat

Sabs0402 wrote: »

em_cat wrote: »

This is exactly how I feel also. I do not let anyone pet him without asking and my children who the dog has been brought up around know themselves they do not touch him when he is around them.
It is also well know that I have akitas everybody knows their names also. They have been here longer than most of the children in the neighbourhood have been.
I'm also a responsible dog owner I know alot about the breed and my family has kept the breed since I'm a child I have gone on to have two of my own. My dogs are champion showdogs. Well maintained socialised and trained.
This is why this hurts me so much I do so much for them and they're well loved it shocked when I'm expected to destroy one of them.
Thank you so much

Your more than welcome. I wouldn’t worry too much as hard as it may seem to do.

This type of situation is a real room 101 bugg bear of mine.

That child shouldn’t have been on your property unless invited, not sure what the legalities are if your fenced property is adjacent to a right of access walkway, but still it is known that you keep dogs on your property & the parent(s) have a duty to teach their child not to poke their arms and or hands through fences.

Keep us boardsies updated & try not to worry.

sillysmiles

Are they going to put the child down??

OK facetious I know but seriously, why would you consider putting your dog down. He didn't maul a child - he nipped an intruder. He has not given you a reason to believe he is a dangerous dog.
Stay calm (though I'd struggle I'd have to say) and stay polite but don't be pushed into anything.

jimf

as I see it not your fault in any way thank god nobody was seriously hurt

the family of the child are more than likely been primed by some family member probably not fully aware of the actual circumstances of the incident

head down stand your ground this will blow over when they see you are not for been pushed

Sabs0402

Sabs0402 wrote: »

Hi I would like some advice.
I am the owner of a 7 year old akita.
A few days ago a neighbours child came onto my property and put his arm through my fence in the dark and was nipped by my dog. He has one puncture wound.
We made sure the child was ok checked in with parents informed no hospital check was nessesary.
Fast forward two days when another family member asked me what i was doing about my dog. Surely it should be put down and it's a danger to children
My dog is kept secured at all times and I'm a licenced owner. He is also well socialised with obedience training and lives happily alongside a yorkie.
He has never shown aggression to anybody in his life.
Is this my fault?
Should he be put down?

No way should the dog be put down. You're a responsible dog owner and the dog was simply doing what he was meant to do i.e. protect you/your property (arm through the fence in the dark...who's looking after the kid?)

Graces7

sillysmiles wrote: »

Are they going to put the child down??

OK facetious I know but seriously, why would you consider putting your dog down. He didn't maul a child - he nipped an intruder. He has not given you a reason to believe he is a dangerous dog.
Stay calm (though I'd struggle I'd have to say) and stay polite but don't be pushed into anything.

You beat me to it. That was not a bite but a warning nip. Trouble is it gets exaggerated. OP make sure you use the term "nip". Had the dog really been dangerous?

So sorry you are having this hassle; happened to me once. I made sure the Gardai met the dog etc.