Family dog steals newborn

[Hanalei]

I feel so bad for the baby but I also feel really bad for the dog. I don't think the dog knew better and it's the responsibilty of the parents to have postive interaction with the dog with the baby. The parents should of given extra attention during this time to the dog too so that there is no jealousy. Hopefully some new parents will learn from this mistake. I don't think it's fair for the dog to be put up for adoption. That poor dog is so scared :( I hope a good caring family will adopt it not like the last owners:cursing: Sorry but I really don't like these parents very much right now I don't think it's fair for them to just give up there pet that has been a part of their family for 4 yrs.


http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/51317857.html

[R~O~S]

AP article with more detail:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090721/ap_on_re_us/us_newborn_injured

The dog was treating the baby like a puppy, he wasn't vicious & he wasn't trying to hurt the baby. He was trying to take care of the baby who they left alone with the dog.

How exactly does a dog snatch the baby and actually exit the house with him? My dog couldn't do that, he needs someone to open the door for him.

Yep, the irresponsible dog owner, leaves the newborn baby (four days old) with a wolf hybrid (Native American Indian dog) and then they're surprised when the baby gets hurt or the dog does something they didn't expect. They placed the dog in a new situation and didn't bother telling him the new rules.

They placed their child in peril via their negligence. Four days old, the baby was four days old and they left him unattended with the dog. How can they possibly expect the dog to understand the new rules after four days? In reality the dog didn't even get four days to learn the rules, I assume the child was born in a hospital & didn't come home for at least 24 to 48 hours.

But, it's the dogs fault. Heaven forbid they actually take responsibility for their own irresponsible behavior.

I hope the baby survives. I hope he makes a complete recovery. But this won't be his last trip the the emergency room or ICU with idiots like this for parents.

[drip~drop1]

My first concern is I hope the baby recovers 100%.

The dog. I believe either the dog was jealous OR was trying to treat the human baby as one of "his own".

I lay all the fault with the parents. It's their job to make sure the baby and dog are safe.
imo

What's going to become of the dog? Will they keep him and work with him? poor guy...he didn't know better.

[Postergeist]

:sad: prayers for little AJ's recovery

[Hanalei]

So they plan on keeping Dakota? I thought they were putting her up for adoption?:confused:

They did make a stupid mistake but they regret it and will be more careful in future, I'm sure. They aren't mad at the dog - but do plan to keep Dakota outside. Hopefully that will change when they all have a chance to calm down. Sure hope the baby is OK.

[R~O~S]

So they plan on keeping Dakota? I thought they were putting her up for adoption?:confused:

They are. Per the article, Dakota was taken into custody by animal control, and although Smith remains hopeful a good home can be found for her, he acknowledges the animal may have to be destroyed.

Yep, they're not angry at the dog, they just threw him out of the house and likely sentenced him to death for their mistake.

Like a shelter is going to put a dog up for adoption who's been accused of mauling a child, sure, that'll happen. :rolleyes:

[A-hem_1]

How big was the dog? Was the baby in a crib or bassinet?

I am 5'5" and trying to reach into my sons crib I had to put the side down. How is a dog going to reach into a crib? A bassinet maybe as they tend to be lower.

Poor baby and poor Dakota :crying:

[Mr_JaBob]

Wow.... i sure hope the baby makes a full recovery. i'd have to agree i dont think the dog was trying to hurt the baby but more like trying to mother him. The parrents should be ashamed of themselves leaveing a 4 day old newborn alone with the dog, in a place the dog could reach. i'm a first time father of a now 6 month old and have 4 dogs in the house, one being a large 90 pound german shepard malamute mix. My daughter was never left alone period for the first week or so much less being alone with the dog. now at 6 months she gets supervised time with the dogs and they really love eachother, she smiles whenever kimber, the german shepard mix comes over. it's sad the poor dog has to pay for these irisponcible parrents mistake. i'll pray the newborn makes a full recovery.

[Mr_JaBob]

How big was the dog? Was the baby in a crib or bassinet?

I am 5'5" and trying to reach into my sons crib I had to put the side down. How is a dog going to reach into a crib? A bassinet maybe as they tend to be lower.

Poor baby and poor Dakota :crying:

i was also wondering how big the dog was and how he got ahold of the infant...

[R~O~S]

i was also wondering how big the dog was and how he got ahold of the infant...

It doesn't say how big this particular dog is, but he's 4 years old, so full grown. The AP article calls Dakota a "she", neither article clearly states male or female, IIRC. If Dakota is truly female she'd be on the small end of average.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nativeamericanindiandog.htm

Native American Indian Dogs run 55 to 120 lbs and 23 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder.

There's a picture at the link.

[A-hem_1]

I think something is hinky. Especially the part about how the father was going to the store to purchase baby items, including a monitor "that would have prevented this tragedy"

I looked at the pictures of the dog breed. There is no way a dog that size can stand on it's hind legs, pick up the baby with it's mouth and run out the door. Maybe a great dane could do that, but not this size of the dog. Unless the dog jumped into the crib, grabbed the baby (didn't the baby cry when grabbed?) and then jumped out of the crib.

Just doesn't make sense to me.

Sending prayer and positive thoughts that little AJ recovers with no lingering problems and that someone comes forward and rescues the dog.

[R~O~S]

Having read the AP article, which can't be quoted, I agree.

I don't think there's any doubt the dog inflicted the childs injuries. The hospital would have known right away if he didn't.

I just don't believe the child was only left for a couple of minutes.

Article states Mom only left the child for a couple of minutes to go downstairs and "look at the shopping list".

I don't buy it. First of all, that 8 lbs of baby wouldn't have been such a burden that you wouldn't bring him with you. I don't think I put my newborns down for the first three weeks, and they certainly weren't in any room of the house other than the one I was in.

By the parents account, as soon as she left the room the dog grabbed the baby. Yet he didn't pass her on the stairs running out of the house?

Nope, I don't buy the parents version of events.

[A-hem_1]

Having read the AP article, which can't be quoted, I agree.

I don't think there's any doubt the dog inflicted the childs injuries. The hospital would have known right away if he didn't.

I just don't believe the child was only left for a couple of minutes.

Article states Mom only left the child for a couple of minutes to go downstairs and "look at the shopping list".

I don't buy it. First of all, that 8 lbs of baby wouldn't have been such a burden that you wouldn't bring him with you. I don't think I put my newborns down for the first three weeks, and they certainly weren't in any room of the house other than the one I was in.

By the parents account, as soon as she left the room the dog grabbed the baby. Yet he didn't pass her on the stairs running out of the house?

Nope, I don't buy the parents version of events.

I was happy to see that while no charges were filed the case remains under investigation.

[Dogmatic]

These news stories are troublesome to me. I'm trying to visualize a dog of that size jumping into the crib, (which would be the only way this could have happened because infants don't fit between the crib slats), and then jumping out with the child and getting all the way out of the house undetected. I just don't know..................

In any event, my heart aches for that baby and I hope there is no lasting damage and I hope a more responsible owner can adopt the dog.

[sinagua]

I am among the people doubting this whole story. http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Native+American+Indian+dog&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The dog was a mix, so I suppose it could be more wolf like, but, did the dog pull the baby out the doggie door or what?

The baby should have been screaming.

[R~O~S]

I am among the people doubting this whole story. http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Native+American+Indian+dog&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The dog was a mix, so I suppose it could be more wolf like, but, did the dog pull the baby out the doggie door or what?

The baby should have been screaming.

Oh no, ever so conveniently there was a door left ajar & nobody saw or heard anything amiss in that "moment" mom went downstairs to "look at the shopping list". :rolleyes:

Didn't even notice that 60 lbs of dog running over the stairs with the screaming baby in his mouth.

[R~O~S]

So, it's been four months and now the parents are talking & their story has changed dramatically:

http://www.wlky.com/news/21713723/detail.html

"We had just come home that Sunday night. We were laying around that Monday morning and since A.J. was three weeks early, I had the rest of the security to do to the house," said Smith.

A.J. was asleep upstairs and all three of the family dogs, Maggie, and wolf-dog mixes Dakota and Nikkita, were downstairs with parents Michael and Chrissie.

In just minutes, the house got quiet.

"They had snuck out from here, went down, went out back, went up the back stairs, opened the back door, went in and got him," said Smith.

"Usually they'll come in and see you in the office and say, 'Hi,' or 'rub me,' or 'come follow me, I'd like a treat.' But there was none of that. Usually they're in your face and something was telling me, ah, just quickly check something. So I ran upstairs," said Chrissie Smith.

Chrissie's discovery sent her into a panic.


There goes the "only left for a moment to check the shopping list". Three dogs left to roam the house with an infant unattended, having been introduced to the home less than 24 hours earlier. Yeah, let's blame the dogs. :cursing:

Thank heavens, Dakota has been found to be suitable for adoption and placed with a family. Now who's going to protect that baby going forward from his parents stupidity?

[Silk]

They need to really continue investigating this incident. How in the heck does a dog lower the crib siding and lift the baby out. This makes no sense. Unless they had the baby on the couch or somewhere in an open area. I would never leave my baby alone if I was alone or with many people around. Not a 4 days old. The baby could sleep just as well right next to me wherever I am. Dumb!
There's something wrong with this picture folks.

[R~O~S]

They need to really continue investigating this incident. How in the heck does a dog lower the crib siding and lift the baby out. This makes no sense. Unless they had the baby on the couch or somewhere in an open area. I would never leave my baby alone if I was alone or with many people around. Not a 4 days old. The baby could sleep just as well right next to me wherever I am. Dumb!
There's something wrong with this picture folks.


There's something wrong with the story, but what's wrong they'll never admit.

I can believe the baby was in a cradle or bassinet lower to the ground and therefore the dogs were able to get to him. I don't think the article ever says "crib", my newborns came home to a cradle, not a crib.

What I can't believe is that they left the baby unattended, on a completely different floor of the house within 24 hours of bringing him home and allowed 3 dogs to roam the house unrestricted.

Either you close the door and keep the baby monetor with you (the baby monitor they didn't have chance to pick up in 9 months), or you keep the baby next to you & immediately (like nine months before baby came home) work on making the upstairs of the home off limits to the dogs.

Upon arrival home with the new born you start enforcing the rule that the dogs do not have unlimited access to baby regardless of what floor baby is on, only when in mom or dads company & under their supervision. No approaching the baby seat or the port-a-bed unless invited.

This was neglectful behavior from start to finish by the parents. There were things that could have been done before baby came home, there were things that should have been done with urgency once baby did come home.

The adult humans are blaming a dog for what they willfully didn't bother doing ahead of time & be it by ignorance of willfulness didn't bother doing once baby was in the home & the outcome was fairly predictable.

I'm glad baby is going to be OK, but like I said upthread this won't be his last trip to the ICU with parents this irresponsible & they know their actions were irresponsible otherwise there wouldn't have been any need for the original "only ran downstairs for a moment to check the shopping list" bull crap they were originally spewing.

[Gary_Tibbs]

A dog that does that much damage to a baby putting the child in critical condition should be put down, imo.

[R~O~S]

A dog that does that much damage to a baby putting the child in critical condition should be put down, imo.

Untrue, the dogs intention wasn't to hurt the child and Dakota has been tested and found not to be vicious or a threat.

He's already been adopted out to another family, the location undisclosed.

You do realize a baby doesn't have a scruff of the neck which is what a dog would use to move their pups, right?

If the dog wanted to hurt the baby he'd be dead. Of course if the parents wanted to see their child dead, they pretty much set it up to happen.

[Patriot]

My stomach sank when I read that the dad looked outside to see the dog with his newborn son in the dog's mouth. The horror of that will never leave him and I truly feel sorry for them. I think we need to remember that the parents did not wake up that morning wanting their beloved newborn son to be critically injured by their beloved dog. And thank goodness they were alert enough to be up and about and checking on things, or Dakota would have had the baby into the woods and dead before they knew it.

Having said that, though, I agree that Dakota is not at fault and I'm so glad that she has been placed in another loving home. She was simply a dog acting like a dog. Yes, the parents should have been supervising the situation better but I bet they had no thought that something like that would ever happen. I'm sure that they considered aggression in the dogs when they knew they were bringing a newborn home, and decided that they weren't aggressive, so had nothing to worry about, but never even thought of non aggression and just taking the baby for whatever reason Dakota's dog mind did that.

We have a large dog that has been with us through two newborns and I know I laid my babies down in their bassinets and probably left the doors to the room open so I could hear them - while our dog had the run of the house. Yes, we kept an eye out and checked where he was and the baby was, and we supervised while the babies were directly in contact with him, but it never crossed my mind that he would go into the room and snatch my baby in his mouth and I sure can't say that the baby and the dog were both in my vision 24/7.

I just think we are being too hard on the parents. IMO.

[sunstar]

They are. Per the article, Dakota was taken into custody by animal control, and although Smith remains hopeful a good home can be found for her, he acknowledges the animal may have to be destroyed.

Yep, they're not angry at the dog, they just threw him out of the house and likely sentenced him to death for their mistake.

Like a shelter is going to put a dog up for adoption who's been accused of mauling a child, sure, that'll happen. :rolleyes:

Poor Dakota. It's just not fair he should be punished like that. I was so happy to see an update and find he'd found another home!!

[R~O~S]

Edited to clarify, response is to Patriot, obviously a caring soul. I didn't want to quote his/her entire post & Sunstar hit submit just a smidge before me. Sorry for the confusion:

This wasn't one dog, it was three acting as a pack and trying to nurture the young in the pack.

If they had no clue, they had no business having three Native American Dogs in the house. If they didn't set up the room with a monitor, didn't secure the house & didn't prepare the dogs for a change once the baby came, what exactly did they do in preparation for bringing baby home the entire nine months of this pregnancy?

You don't state the size of your dog, but one is not nearly as likely to do something like this. Far more likely to follow you around thrilled that you're home. You are his pack.

A small dog can kill a baby, but it's far less likely. These are big dogs, wolf heritage. This is not the kind of dog any responsible owner would leave with access to babies and children.

Big dogs can hurt children just by being excited to see them and knocking them across the room, no intent to injure involved. I don't encourage children to play with my dog & I wouldn't allow a child anywhere near him unless I was right there. He's still a puppy and he thinks he still fits in my lap.

[GentleBreeze]

My first concern is I hope the baby recovers 100%.

The dog. I believe either the dog was jealous OR was trying to treat the human baby as one of "his own".

I lay all the fault with the parents. It's their job to make sure the baby and dog are safe.
imo

What's going to become of the dog? Will they keep him and work with him? poor guy...he didn't know better.

Do male dogs usually nurture the babies?

I know I had three beautiful timerwolves and when the mother, Nikita, was pregnant and then had her pups our smaller Spitz dog had her pups around the same time. Nikita knew somehow that Wiggles was unable to nurse her pups and she went and gathered them all up and put them with her pups and raised them as her own. Our male timber wolf, Blazer, never came close to the pups when they were young but would go lay down at a distance as if guarding them from afar.

I don't really know what happen here because we never get the full details. I do wonder if this was their first child and since the dogs had never shown aggression before in all those years they may have thought they were safe.

I have had several inside dogs and of course I have had newborns too but none of our dogs ever showed any signs they wanted to drag the babies out of their crib. We had a couple of dogs that would lay down right in front of the crib or wherever we had our babies at the time.

When I first saw this story I thought the dog would have been a female and possibly a mother dog who had recently lost her pups or they had been given away leaving her feeling needy for a baby but it being a male that drug the child off is surprising to me.

I am trying to remember back if I have ever seen a male dog carry a pup the way the mother dog does and so far I don't remember any of them that we have had doing that and we have had numerous dogs for many years.

I pray for the best outcome for this little child. I am glad he is going to be okay.

imo

[Patriot]

Edited to clarify, response is to Patriot, obviously a caring soul. I didn't want to quote his/her entire post & Sunstar hit submit just a smidge before me. Sorry for the confusion:

This wasn't one dog, it was three acting as a pack and trying to nurture the young in the pack.

If they had no clue, they had no business having three Native American Dogs in the house. If they didn't set up the room with a monitor, didn't secure the house & didn't prepare the dogs for a change once the baby came, what exactly did they do in preparation for bringing baby home the entire nine months of this pregnancy?

You don't state the size of your dog, but one is not nearly as likely to do something like this. Far more likely to follow you around thrilled that you're home. You are his pack.

A small dog can kill a baby, but it's far less likely. These are big dogs, wolf heritage. This is not the kind of dog any responsible owner would leave with access to babies and children.

Big dogs can hurt children just by being excited to see them and knocking them across the room, no intent to injure involved. I don't encourage children to play with my dog & I wouldn't allow a child anywhere near him unless I was right there. He's still a puppy and he thinks he still fits in my lap.

Sorry, R~O~S, your link didn't work for me, so I only read the first one. All three dogs were involved in taking the baby? I thought it was just Dakota who took the baby.

I just think there is too much "shoulda, coulda, woulda" going on. A baby monitor is convenient, but not necessary or required. And even if they had one, would it pick up the silent picking up of a baby by a dog? From the first link, I don't remember there being anything about the baby crying. And as far as "securing the house" - I don't know that I went around and locked all doors while I was home with my newborns. I live in an area where some people don't lock their doors even overnight. (we do) But during the day, our doors are unlocked. Not sure how Dakota actually got outside, though. Was there a doggy door? Even if there were, the parents never in a million years would have dreamed that Dakota would take the baby in her mouth and try to escape with him. I know I wouldn't have.

As far as preparing the dogs - did the second link say they did nothing to prepare the dogs? Again, sorry, I can't access that link. And how exactly does one prepare their dog? I honestly can say, without shame, that we did nothing but love our dog as usual before the babies came and once they came, led him to the baby and stroked him while telling him we loved him and the baby and a strict "no!" when he would nose a little too close. Other than that, what can one do?

[GentleBreeze]

In another article it says Dakota was a female. The first ones I read said that it was a male.

That makes more sense now.

Adorable little boy. I am glad he is doing well and Dakota has a new home.

imo

[R~O~S]

Sorry, R~O~S, your link didn't work for me, so I only read the first one. All three dogs were involved in taking the baby? I thought it was just Dakota who took the baby.

I just think there is too much "shoulda, coulda, woulda" going on. A baby monitor is convenient, but not necessary or required. And even if they had one, would it pick up the silent picking up of a baby by a dog? From the first link, I don't remember there being anything about the baby crying. And as far as "securing the house" - I don't know that I went around and locked all doors while I was home with my newborns. I live in an area where some people don't lock their doors even overnight. (we do) But during the day, our doors are unlocked. Not sure how Dakota actually got outside, though. Was there a doggy door? Even if there were, the parents never in a million years would have dreamed that Dakota would take the baby in her mouth and try to escape with him. I know I wouldn't have.

As far as preparing the dogs - did the second link say they did nothing to prepare the dogs? Again, sorry, I can't access that link. And how exactly does one prepare their dog? I honestly can say, without shame, that we did nothing but love our dog as usual before the babies came and once they came, led him to the baby and stroked him while telling him we loved him and the baby and a strict "no!" when he would nose a little too close. Other than that, what can one do?

Trying again with the link Patriot, I don't know why it's not working for you though. I'll send you the text in a PM. Yes according to the newest story, all three dogs were involved in taking the baby.

House wasn't secure, hadn't purchased a baby monitor, obviously they hadn't limited access to the upper level of the home to the dogs.

They were "laying around" (their words not mine) with the baby upstairs, a complete turn around from the original story when they claimed Dad was going to the store and mom came downstairs for "just a moment" to check the list. All three dogs involved.

http://www.wlky.com/news/21713723/detail.html

I care a great deal about all living beings btw abraxas, but I care enough to find out who is to blame before I condemn the innocent party to death. Four innocent parties in the clutches of the people responsible here. Three dogs and a helpless baby all under the irresponsible care of two people that want to push off their responsibility.

I wonder if they'll throw the kid out when he does something wrong, they should have taught him not to do & didn't bother?

[R~O~S]

Do male dogs usually nurture the babies?

I know I had three beautiful timerwolves and when the mother, Nikita, was pregnant and then had her pups our smaller Spitz dog had her pups around the same time. Nikita knew somehow that Wiggles was unable to nurse her pups and she went and gathered them all up and put them with her pups and raised them as her own. Our male timber wolf, Blazer, never came close to the pups when they were young but would go lay down at a distance as if guarding them from afar.

I don't really know what happen here because we never get the full details. I do wonder if this was their first child and since the dogs had never shown aggression before in all those years they may have thought they were safe.

I have had several inside dogs and of course I have had newborns too but none of our dogs ever showed any signs they wanted to drag the babies out of their crib. We had a couple of dogs that would lay down right in front of the crib or wherever we had our babies at the time.

When I first saw this story I thought the dog would have been a female and possibly a mother dog who had recently lost her pups or they had been given away leaving her feeling needy for a baby but it being a male that drug the child off is surprising to me.

I am trying to remember back if I have ever seen a male dog carry a pup the way the mother dog does and so far I don't remember any of them that we have had doing that and we have had numerous dogs for many years.

I pray for the best outcome for this little child. I am glad he is going to be okay.

imo

The dog I had before I ever had children was a male. He was an English Setter, a good sized dog, about the same size as these but not as big as the dog we now have.

He wasn't allowed near the children alone until they were up and walking, but he would take the older childs Eeyore slippers and carry and snuggle with them just like they were his pups. It was really cute.

Sam was a rescue, I have no idea if he was ever around litters of pups. He was such a doll, severely abused and yet he would belly up to the coffee table so the kids could climb on his back and he'd give them a ride when they were little guys. Never even whimpered when they'd grab two fistfuls of hair and pull themselves up to standing. He was just so grateful we didn't beat him, he would have laid down his life for those kids.

[Patriot]

Trying again with the link Patriot, I don't know why it's not working for you though. I'll send you the text in a PM. Yes according to the newest story, all three dogs were involved in taking the baby.

House wasn't secure, hadn't purchased a baby monitor, obviously they hadn't limited access to the upper level of the home to the dogs.

They were "laying around" (their words not mine) with the baby upstairs, a complete turn around from the original story when they claimed Dad was going to the store and mom came downstairs for "just a moment" to check the list. All three dogs involved.

http://www.wlky.com/news/21713723/detail.html

I care a great deal about all living beings btw abraxas, but I care enough to find out who is to blame before I condemn the innocent party to death. Four innocent parties in the clutches of the people responsible here. Three dogs and a helpless baby all under the irresponsible care of two people that want to push off their responsibility.

I wonder if they'll throw the kid out when he does something wrong, they should have taught him not to do & didn't bother?

Thanks for the link and the pm - the first link says "article not found or expired" for some reason.

I agree that it is suspect that their story changed. But it also seems that they were on the ball and as soon as all "got quiet", they were up and checking. But I can see your point that they weren't on the ball from the beginning. Thanks again.

[Patriot]

I think someone thinks dogs are more important than babies. I don't get it.

Personally, I don't think that's a fair statement based on the posts I've seen. By a mother, no less.

[daniel green]

I think someone thinks dogs are more important than babies. I don't get it.

Oh, gosh, Abraxas, that's not fair. :sad:

Knowing ROS I can guarantee you that nothing is more important to her than those boys of hers.

While babysitting my infant grand-daughters last year, my son in law's 7 yr old Jack Russel (8 lbs and who looked more like a fox terrier, but they insist she is a JRT) bared her teeth and growled at one of them. She was on the floor while I was bathing her sister at the sink. It scared me to death and immediately Sue--the dog--was evaluated by the vet and by a dog trainer. She was food agressive and as long as it was just my daughter and her husband, then it seemed no harm no foul. But, with the babies, it was simply frightening.

Two weeks or so after the first incident, and even though the trainer was working with her several times a week, she lunged at one of the babies, while the baby was in a walker. I was right there, of course, but it happened with such lightening speed, I could not prevent it--though I prevented it from being worse than it was. It scared me to the core and I put Sue in the bedroom and shut the door and trembled for about an hour while the babies napped.

That day we called JRT rescue and explained what happened and that evening, Sue was on her way to West Va to be fostered by an expert JRT handler.

A lot of heartbreak all around and thankfully the baby only was scratched and not bitten or hurt badly. But this is what happens when a food agressive dog--albeit an 8 lb one--is around children.

Sue has since gone to live with an older gentleman who lives on a large property and has no children in his house or property and who continues to work with her.

Unfortunately, when my SIL got Sue he dismissed her agression issues because she was a little doggy. And they dismissed all the breed info about JRT's not being a dog for families with children.

Part of being a responsible pet owner--as ROS has explained--is to be just that. Responsible. And that included being responsible TO the animal, not just for it.

[R~O~S]

TY both Daniel & Patriot, but please say no more on my account.

I'll let my reputation stand on it's own merits & I'd be devastated if someone got an infraction because of me. It just seems to be too easy these days.

I'm so sorry you had that experience Daniel. Thank heavens you were all aware and protective in the right way. I'm glad Sue found a suitable home. No children, lots of room, good choice for any JRT.

Food aggression really can be overcome, but it takes patience and it's not a job to be taken on with children in the house. Bad things can happen way too fast.

Even a well aware adult can do something to trigger that aggression without thinking, it's too much to expect from a child, totally unsafe with a baby or toddler in the house. Your SIL did the right thing & I'm sure it was difficult to give up on Sue, but it was absolutely the right thing to do.

[daniel green]

snipped
Even a well aware adult can do something to trigger that aggression without thinking, it's too much to expect from a child, totally unsafe with a baby or toddler in the house. Your SIL did the right thing & I'm sure it was difficult to give up on Sue, but it was absolutely the right thing to do.

My son in law was devastated, he had Sue since she was a tiny puppy and he doted on her. And, always in the past, they had overlooked her agression with the standard "she's being protective," etc. The trainer (who I loved) said that Sue had been trained to do all the WRONG things. All out of love--but not responsible pet ownership.

I am an experienced dog handler, and that day when Sue lunged at that baby, I intervened, but I was frightened out of my skin. I could not believe she did that so quickly, out of nowhere. Of course, a treat was nearby and in the hustle and bustle of babysitting infant twins, I didn't pay attention. And it could have been lethal. I still have nightmares about it.

Thankfully, there are wonderful rescue groups in this country and they do fantastic work. Here is the one that saved Sue's life:

Review the Bad Dog Talk which represents the worst case scenario of owning a JRT

All rescue dogs must have containment (fence, kennel).

We do not place dogs in homes where there are children under six years of age.

We have few dogs that are good with cats.

We never suggest that JRTs are suitable for metropolitan living.

We do not suggest placing terriers where the terrier must remain at home alone for extended periods of time.

All applicants are thoroughly screened and must meet certain qualifications before being referred for a terrier.

.


http://www.russellrescue.com/adoption.php4

My daughter and son in law have a very large, fenced yard, Sue had a doggy door and she went in and out to play, she was a very pampered and beloved dog.

The reason I bring this is up is because to look at Sue one would have never thought she was an agressive dog. She is a tiny little thing that looked like a lil lap dog love bug--but she could have inflicted serious damage had the babies been unattended, or a neighborhood child approached her.

[daniel green]

snipped

When I was a little one, my grandparents large dogs attacked me. That incident killed the family relationship with my grandparents because they thought more about the dogs then they did their own grandchild. What is up with that....some people think dogs are more important than people?



I am very, very sorry that you had this awful incident, and that your grandparents reacted that way.

[Zeus]

I think something is hinky. Especially the part about how the father was going to the store to purchase baby items, including a monitor "that would have prevented this tragedy"

I looked at the pictures of the dog breed. There is no way a dog that size can stand on it's hind legs, pick up the baby with it's mouth and run out the door. Maybe a great dane could do that, but not this size of the dog. Unless the dog jumped into the crib, grabbed the baby (didn't the baby cry when grabbed?) and then jumped out of the crib.

Just doesn't make sense to me.

Sending prayer and positive thoughts that little AJ recovers with no lingering problems and that someone comes forward and rescues the dog.

I agree---this whole story is hinky. They had to look out the window to see what was going on? They didn't hear ANYTHING? They didn't hear the dog dragging the baby---they didn't hear the door ---they didn't hear the baby cry. I, for one, don't believe this story at all. Hope we find out what really happened. JMO

[daniel green]

ROS--this is a picture of Sue from the very day she attacked the baby.

http://tinypic.com/r/kp6bm/6

Looks are deceiving folks.

[SavannahStar]

ROS--this is a picture of Sue from the very day she attacked the baby.

http://tinypic.com/r/kp6bm/6

Looks are deceiving folks.


Breaks my heart....she's just so precious.

I knew a lady once who had two JRTs. She had a business up the street I would go to occasionally. She took the dogs there. I'd ask her, always, to bring out her dogs, I love ALL dogs. But OMG, they were SOOOOOOOOO hyper. Geez, talking about jumping! Not sure I'd trust a JRT myself, I prefer laid back pitbulls. :smile: But like I said, I love ALL dogs (I do have a little prejudice against the "little yippy ones" though. :ohmy:)

[daniel green]

Breaks my heart....she's just so precious.

I knew a lady once who had two JRTs. She had a business up the street I would go to occasionally. She took the dogs there. I'd ask her, always, to bring out her dogs, I love ALL dogs. But OMG, they were SOOOOOOOOO hyper. Geez, talking about jumping! Not sure I'd trust a JRT myself, I prefer laid back pitbulls. :smile: But like I said, I love ALL dogs (I do have a little prejudice against the "little yippy ones" though. :ohmy:)

She truly is. And so tiny. But, as the JRT rescue group says, they are unsafe around children under 6 yrs old. When she lunged for the baby and bared her teeth like she did I almost died of fright. She had big through my adult son's jeans a few yrs before and they all played it down, oh it's just a tiny dog. Even though she drew blood.

And extremely dog agressive and food agressive. It was heart-breaking thing for my son in law, who adored her and had pampered Sue all her life--she had a car seat/restraint, had her own little tent for the beach (she LOVES the beach), the whole thing.

Yeah, give me a laid back, baby-loving/kissing, fun-loving, affectionate Pit ANY DAY!!!!

[R~O~S]

ROS--this is a picture of Sue from the very day she attacked the baby.

http://tinypic.com/r/kp6bm/6

Looks are deceiving folks.


Oh she's a darlin. Daniel, she's doing well now, she's happier. We know that, she wasn't in the right environment and a well trained dog is a happy dog.

They don't want to be in charge, but they need someone who lets them know they don't have to be, the people have it covered.

I've had that fear you experienced, the kind that makes your entire body shake as the tears flow. I'm so sorry you went through that, truly I am.

But I have to tell you, it's your SIL I feel for the most. Obviously he loved the dog, sometimes, with some breeds, love and good intentions aren't enough. They need an owner with experience with that breed. Still, I know Sue was his first baby. The decision was a no brainer, that doesn't mean it didn't rip his heart out.

Some dogs are easy, you can do a lot of wrong things and still end up with a great dog. Others, not so much & a JRT is one of those in the not so much category.

They're very demanding for time, room, training, patience. Man I'm not sure I've ever seen a JRT run out of energy! Serious energy that needs to constantly be directed otherwise they'll direct it in all the wrong ways.

If I had one, he'd be in agility training for hours and hours every day. Not for competition, they'll never beat a boarder collie, but just to run out that energy. They're great little dogs, just not the right dog for me and mine.

Yep, the face of an angel masking a Tasmanian Devil's soul.

[daniel green]

snipped

But I have to tell you, it's your SIL I feel for the most. Obviously he loved the dog, sometimes, with some breeds, love and good intentions aren't enough. They need an owner with experience with that breed. Still, I know Sue was his first baby. The decision was a no brainer, that doesn't mean it didn't rip his heart out.

.

Thank you for your sweet words, ROS.

It was the right thing to do, the only thing to do, but that poor man cried all the way and to taking her to the foster home, during that long drive there and back.

He'd fallen in love with the baby Sue, when she'd fit in his coat pocket, and babied her and pampered here.

When my daughter became pregnant we all voiced our concerns (Sue was no longer allowed at my house or at my son in laws' parent's house) because she would attack our dogs. So they began working with a dog trainer at home and he even gave them a shock collar (of which I highly disapprove). But, my daughter, as you know, spent the last three months of her pregnancy in the hospital on bed rest--so the training did not get very far.

Sue is happy with her new owner and is being given the proper training and boundries she needs--and is a much calmer dog.

But this is what bothers me when reading about how it's the Pit Bull breed, etc. Studies show that the little terriers, like Sue, bite more than any other dog. And, as my son in law did with Sue, given her size it was just smoothed over with "she was being protective."

I could not even call my daughter at work when it happened. I put the babies down for their nap and sat there shaking till she got home and showed her the picture I had taken of the baby's scratch.

Cannot tell you how impressed I was with the JRT rescue folks. Very professional, very caring, very fast and have maintained wonderful correspondence.