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Canine Behavior/Springer spaniel who bit my son

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Expert: - 1/9/2008


Question
Should I be afriad that my mom's Springer Spaniel will bite again?  My mom got a 3 yr old Springer Spaniel who had been brought up by a breeder.  The breeder sold the dog b/c he has an over bite and could not be used as a show dog.  My mom and step - dad live alone with no children.  They had had the dog for one month.  I was visiting with my four children for a week. The dog seemed great all week, then on Thanksgiving, bit my son in the face  He had to get 40 stitches in the emergency room.  The dog was over due for his dinner by one hour.  He had a bone in the yard.  My 6 year old son reached down to pet him and he severely bit him in the face.  Should I be concerned that this will happen again?  My mom thinks that it was totally related to the food and that it will not happen again.

Answer
This dog should be kept away from all children, and perhaps all visitors.  If this bite had occurred with anyone other than a close relative, there would be a huge lawsuit. It does appear that your son, by reaching down to pet him, behaved in a way that the dog might have perceived as "dominant".  One cannot fault the dog, who was most likely never socialized to children; but one cannot allow the dog to interact with children at any time in the future.  Tell your parents (mom and step-dad) to contain the dog in another room when you and your children are visiting.  It's for the dog's protection as well as your son's.  They can make the confinement a positive experience for the dog by giving him a special treat, like a kong with a teaspoon of peanut butter in it, if they feel the dog might experience this as punishment.  If they refuse to contain the dog, don't bring your children over there, have them come to visit you in your home.  In the mean time, don't YOU generalize this experience to all dogs and create a fear in your child.  I know, as a parent, that we want to protect our children and this was a very frightening experience for your son.  Encourage him to like dogs but never allow him to approach any dog that you don't personally know is solid around children.

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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