7 Day Old Baby Bitten By Family Dog

[BarbedWire]

I just heard on the news that the parents were actually asleep in the bed when it happened. The bassinet was at the end of the bed.

[Yonjuro]

I am not insulted as a Husky owner, but the statistics linked show "husky like dogs" at 5%

The story linked by Haredown is indeed horrible, but if I plug almost any breed into google I will find something horrible especially if I go back 8 odd years like that particular story .

I will say again it is a horrible incident, and I am all for education, especially as a father of a young daughter. I also don't think huskies are a good dog for many people. Like any "fashionable' dog there are hundreds of dodgey BYBs and even registered breeders punching out litter after litter and I would prefer there were much fewer of my beloved breed out there.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Yonjuro

[Dame Aussie]

All it would have taken was closing the bedroom door

[espinay2]

Yes, any dog should be supervised around babies/children and there is one well known case of a Pomeranian that killed a baby.

www.liamjperkfoundation.org is a fantastic website for learning about managing dogs and children and just how easily bites can happen, even when supervised (see the story of Liam for example which led to his parents starting the foundation).

I do find it very interesting though, from a behavioural perspective, the particular link between arctic breeds and issues with neonates (when issues/stats in relation to human and even child fatalities/ severe bites are quite low for these breeds/types outside of that initial neonate period). That the link exists is undeniable and something we can learn from in terms of animal behaviour. It is simply something that needs to be recognised as part of the breed nature - they can be high risk around very young children - most specifically those under 30 days of age.

Edited June 22, 2015 by espinay2

[The Spotted Devil]

I won't leave my adult dogs unsupervised with a puppy, let alone a baby!

[Steph M]

My mothers partner has a dog/cat/small animal aggressive husky who spends a fair bit of time at her house (because he can't keep the dog in) and Mum is really pissy I won't let her babysit if the dog is around. Supervised, unsupervised I don't care. Some dogs are more driven and determined than others. Managing risk and leaving no room for error is the only way.

I trust Gus 99%, but I still won't be enlisting him as a hairy babysitter. Its a risk to baby and to him.

We are stockpiling baby gates like.its the end of production! Haha.

[mita]

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania questioning 6,000 dog owners (results published in Journal of Applied Animal Behavior):

Breeds scoring low for aggression included Basset hounds, golden retrievers, labradors, Siberian huskies and greyhounds.

The rottweiler, pit bull and Rhodesian ridgeback scored average or below average marks for hostility towards strangers.

Scoring highest were dachies, followed by chihuahuas, then jack russells.

But info like this can't be directly applied to everyday because:

, owners made the breed ID (tho' largely members of breed clubs) & did the observing

. 'behaving aggressively' what does it mean? Rushing, snapping, nipping, biting, attacking?

. no background history patterns (like socialization) also surveyed

. statistics don't predict for individuals dogs.

And it didn't cover the situation of a dog being exposed to the 'prey-like' signals from a new baby.

All of which shows how lists like this, can be wrongly applied to predict for particular, everyday situations.

NEVER leave any dog unsupervised with a baby, sounds like good advice.

Interesting read, tho'.

http://140.122.143.143/yuyinghs/yuyinghsu/papers/DuffyHsuSerpell2008.pdf

Edited June 22, 2015 by mita

[Guest donatella]

One of mine would happily munch on some baby I reckon.

[Scottsmum]

One of mine would happily munch on some baby I reckon.

Yup. Not a proud moment, but one of mine took a bit of a nibble once.

[Salukifan]

Personally I think a lot of breeds suffer from being selected for their appearance by people with little grasp of the drives that go with that breed.

I'd not "blame" any dog for having high prey drive. God knows I have such dogs.

Why be "insulted" about something that, for the most part, is an intrinsic element of a breed. Acknowledge, manage it and never forget that it's there. That is all that is required.

[Steph M]

One of mine would happily munch on some baby I reckon.

Yup. Not a proud moment, but one of mine took a bit of a nibble once.

Taste testing!

Sorry to make light of it, couldn't help it. At least you know this though and make provisions. Go you guys.

[Scottsmum]

One of mine would happily munch on some baby I reckon.

Yup. Not a proud moment, but one of mine took a bit of a nibble once.

Taste testing!

Sorry to make light of it, couldn't help it. At least you know this though and make provisions. Go you guys.

F. Yes. A very valuable lesson to have learnt. I was only young myself (15/16) at the time & she was never trusted around kids ever. Ever. Full stop.

[Sandra777]

You know, I saw the heading of the thread and I immediately thought 'Siberian Husky I bet'. Well I was fairly close with it being a Malamute.

The reason I thought this? The statistics on arctic breeds with Neonates is not that good. It is THE biggest issue with them in relation to children.

Neonatal children (young babies) set off prey drive quite strongly in Arctic breeds such as Sibes and Mals.

Unfortunately deaths of small babies as a result of attacks by these breeds ('good dogs' owned by the family) is quite high and not that uncommon.

Anyone owning a Sibe or Mal etc (any dog, but stats show owners of these breeds need to be particularly careful) should be VERY careful having their dog around a young baby, and NEVER EVER leave them alone in the same room.

Exactly what I said when we saw this on the TV this morning - (or will be labelled a pit bull I added under my breath)

Arctic breeds are virtually not reported when it comes to serious attacks on people over 2 or 3 years old, but over represented in attacks below this age.

[Guest donatella]

Don't read the courier mail fb comments to this article

[Miz]

My BC loves kids. But only when they are running, in which case she likes to nip at their heels.

As a result, she stays on a leash in public and kids are told she isnt friendly. When my nieces visit, she stays outside and they watch through the window. I wish they could cuddle up together and live happily ever after, but it isnt going to happen and we're all ok with it.

Ditto goes for small dogs and my BC. I dont think she is aggressive at all. Just a BC.

[Yonjuro]

Personally I think a lot of breeds suffer from being selected for their appearance by people with little grasp of the drives that go with that breed.

I'd not "blame" any dog for having high prey drive. God knows I have such dogs.

Why be "insulted" about something that, for the most part, is an intrinsic element of a breed. Acknowledge, manage it and never forget that it's there. That is all that is required.

I am not sure if you are referring to me, but as I am one of the few Siberian Husky owners here I guess so??

I will say again, I am not insulted. I have also made comment on our husky page that it is a reminder for everyone to be extra vigilant with children and especially babies.

I agree that the breed has a high prey drive - my boy has eaten 4 birds he has caught since around 14 weeks of age so he is not lacking in this regard.

Just this morning a lady came into the off lead park where my boy was running amok with his greyhound mate. A lady with a Chihuahua came to the gate to ask if my wolf would be okay with her chi... I said yep, no problems. The little Chi runs like a mad thing across the park, my boys runs with. Stops, sniffs, and that it is. My point is that prey drive doesn't mean tragedy waiting to happen. FWIW the Chi took numerous jumping snaps at my boy too, my boy did not react... I'm sure he was chuckling to himself :) Either way, I know which dog I would have more trust with :)

I am also not going to defend all Huskies or Arctic breeds. There are dangerous dogs out there in all breeds, I have met some Huskies that I definitely do not like and I know others that cannot be trusted with small dogs either.

In any case the dog involved in this incident we are discussing was not a husky, the article HW linked from 8 years ago was.

[Salukifan]

Just this morning a lady came into the off lead park where my boy was running amok with his greyhound mate. A lady with a Chihuahua came to the gate to ask if my wolf would be okay with her chi... I said yep, no problems. The little Chi runs like a mad thing across the park, my boys runs with. Stops, sniffs, and that it is. My point is that prey drive doesn't mean tragedy waiting to happen.

Prey drive with an animal not socialised to tell the difference between prey and non-prey animals can be a tragedy waiting to happen. Small dogs die in dog parks because of it.

That's why you actually have to go through a process of socialising a dog, ANY dog to a new born baby... and to be extra careful with the tiny babies.

[OSoSwift]

I also thought artic breed as it seems with young babies they are highly represented. Your dog can be around your baby child, get used to noises etc SAFELY.

This means no free access to the child, it's pram, cot or room. All dogs have the potential and merely supervising isn't enough, in the time it takes a dog to bite and severly injuryor kill a child you would barely have stood up.

[Steph M]

Just this morning a lady came into the off lead park where my boy was running amok with his greyhound mate. A lady with a Chihuahua came to the gate to ask if my wolf would be okay with her chi... I said yep, no problems. The little Chi runs like a mad thing across the park, my boys runs with. Stops, sniffs, and that it is. My point is that prey drive doesn't mean tragedy waiting to happen.

Prey drive with an animal not socialised to tell the difference between prey and non-prey animals can be a tragedy waiting to happen. Small dogs die in dog parks because of it.

That's why you actually have to go through a process of socialising a dog, ANY dog to a new born baby... and to be extra careful with the tiny babies.

This is so true, there's always a first time. How many times have you heard people shocked as their dog hasn't reacted that way before?

I think of the lovely Kirty's thread on Toby, things are always fine until they're not.

[mita]

[

Arctic breeds are virtually not reported when it comes to serious attacks on people over 2 or 3 years old, but over represented in attacks below this age.

Bears out that particular research finding that the husky breed came out in the least aggressive to humans group. (But as the researchers noted, there's still variation within the breed, as for any breed.)

But babies & tiny children send out totally different signals. So different stimulus to dog.

Which is why, generally, across all dogs, the babies & small children are the highest 'at risk' group.

Do you have a reference for the arctic breeds being over- represented in serious attacks on them? Or has it been your impression from media accounts?

It'd be good if there were stats like that, to show how people can't predict what their dog might do around babies/tiny children .... based on, genuinely, how trustworthy it's always been around humans. Whatever the breed or mix.

I think this might be the fatal flaw for many people .... not realizing that there can be a difference.

Edited June 22, 2015 by mita