Girlfriend's sister's dog bit me and we have a baby?

[textbook]

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How worried should I be? I have been going around to my girlfriend's house for 2 year s(she lives with her sister ) the dog is friendly (it's a male retriever) when it's walking around. I was told however for a while that if it gets something in its mouth you mustn't try to take it off it. On Sunday our 11 months old baby was crawling around and I was shielding the baby from touching the dog while it lay on the floor. It got up and jumped on the sofa to lay down. My phone was near the end of its nose and I went to grab it. It jumped up barked and bit my arm. I bled, but I will survive (theres' an obvious bit mark though). It looks pretty bad! It then ran off.

My main worry is the baby! Should I be worried?

My girlfriend's sister's life is the dog. (has photos everywhere of it and it's her life). And it's not my house. This is a delicate situation. I asked my girlfriend to get a house with me as we have a child, but she doesn't want to. My girlfriend is worried about the dog biting the baby. I really don't know how to proceed with this? The dog has been spoilt and was the centre of attention. The sister said (can't verify) that the dog hadn't bitten anyone before, but had snapped at people trying to take its possessions.

 

[dogshome]

The dog has not learned that all humans are alpha. Not babysafe. No dog is safe with a baby alone, but he needs basic training. As you say, you bled, but you are a grown man. Bite to a baby is something completely different. Even a nip like that.

There will be a well behaved and respectful dog in there I'm sure.

It's difficult and I don't have an easy answer, but its clear you can see a problem and it needs resolving quickly.

The dog may become jealous of the baby and that's much worse. He has to be trained.

I hope you can discuss it freely with her.

 

[gypsysmum]

It sounds as if the dog is a resource guarder. This is completely natural behaviour for a dog. It comes from the wild when they would die if they did not guard a valuable resource like food and a warm shelter.

To a dog possession is 10/10 of the law. They can be taught to give up things they like to guard but it does take skill. To do this you would need to seek the help of a qualified behaviourist from either COAPE or the APBC.

In the meantime the baby could be at risk. If the dog has something that it "thinks" they baby is after then it will guard it and, yes, it may bite as you have found out. It is not just things in the mouth it can be a favourite resting place, like the sofa, or a piece of carpet etc.

No dog is completely safe around babies and children. Children are like little aliens to dogs. They move in a different way to adults, make different noises to adults and are not respectful of the dog's space and possessions.

As a safety measure the dog should be given a safe haven like a crate (call it a den if it makes the owner feel better) or a partitioned off area/room where it can feel safe and secure from the attentions of the baby. It might help the owner if she realises how worried the dog is by the baby and how much it needs a safe area to go to and feel relaxed. The dog could have favourite toys etc in the safe haven. The situation would have to be handled carefully so as not to upset the dog's owner and put her on the defensive about the dog. If she realises that the dog is worried by the baby she might be more inclined to give the dog its own space away from the baby.

Another solution is to always use a play pen for the baby. I have seen people do time share with a play pen. The baby is in it for some of the time and then the dog goes in when the baby comes out.

Do not believe that you can teach the dog, without help, to accept the baby. This behaviour, by the dog, is a deep seated natural instinct. Beware of people who tell you that the dog needs "teaching a lesson". This will only drive the behaviour underground and it will surface later.

I do hope you can solve this, very worrying, situation.

 

[JoanneF]

Good advice from Gypsysmum. Short term perhaps consider a muzzle? It isn't a full solution as it is stopping the risk of a bite rather than addressing the resource guarding behaviour, but it would keep baby safe in the interim.