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I have an Australian cattle dog with a biting problem. (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Zannsolo@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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So I was 37m single set on not having kids when I got an Australian cattle dog. Literally the day he got his final parvovirus vaccine I took him out with me to drinks with a couple coworkers where I met my now wife who was a friend of a coworker.

Fast-forward 4 years I'm married have 2 kids (both conceived after marriage tyvm #firstinmyfamily #generationalfamilyissues #omgwhyisthisboomerusing hashtags #causeimaddandalreadyinsideaparenthesies) and my dog is a absolute love but very protective and has a biting problem.

He's never broken skin on me my wife or kids but he does regularly bite my older daughter. He has broken skin on several people we are close to though. I'm not worried he will mail our daughters but it's very difficult to have a dog you have to lock away whenever people are over and my wife hates that he bites our daughter.

Should I try and re-house him, are there ways to fix this. I love the guy but he is a problem.

Edit: I would have never gotten an ACD if I thought this was going to be my future. I knew what I was getting into with the breed, I just didn't think I was ever going to have a family. He does love our daughters too but a two year old doesn't understand why he bites.

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[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 16 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Treading on "beyond the scope of internet randos", imo.

Medical: I hope you're getting your kiddo properly cared for after these bites. Infection care. Stitches. Whatever. (Not a doctor, talk to a real one)

Legal: varies by location (varies by state if in the US), bites may be reported and the decision may eventually be taken out of your hands. Many have a "one bite" rule where the owner gets one freebie and then any bite after that, they're liable because they knew their dog was a biter and yet continued to put others at risk. (not a lawyer, do your own research).

Practical: keep your kid and dog separated. Period.

Professional advice: this is where online advice really falls flat bc we're not experts (even if one claims to be , we could be lying) and we don't get know your specific dog. Talk to a vet, or ask them for recommendation to a good trainer. Get better training for the dog to where it doesn't bite kids or decide with professional support that the dog would be better off re-homed. (Not a vet or dog trainer, talk to real ones)

What you can't do is march along without changing anything, knowing your dog will continue to bite your kid.

[–] Zannsolo@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

He's never broken the skin on me my wife or kids only friends or family and not in a very long time because don't let him around people anymore. We have one friend from the dog park (met then when he was a puppy) we let him around when they come over but only after they've been over for a while and we're still really careful.

The crazy things is he does great when we board him at a place in the cuts. Fine with the people and dogs they love him.