Sorry to hear that, IROC it. I am glad you little girl handles the whole thing well - better than a lot of adults would do. Hope she recovers soon and fully. A question for dog owners here, are golden retrievers one of the most docile and kids-friendly breed out there? My wife has been thinking to get one.
Looks like you found yourself a free house! In all seriousness, that is horrible and irresponsible. Let's hope your little girl recovers and is fine.
I've had three goldens over the last 17 years, and have two teenage kids. When the kids were younger, they would perform flying leaps onto the sleeping dogs and otherwise abuse the dogs the way small children do by pulling on ears, tails, etc. The dogs did nothing (I would have bit, myself). As a general rule, goldens have great dispositions and are great with kids. Of course, if you read my post above my daughter got bit by a friend's lab, and labs also have good reputations with kids (I have had two labs). So each dog is different. Good luck.
Sorry about that IROC it. As a father with 2 young ones I can understand what you're feeling. Your daughter will be in our thoughts and prayers.
I have to say, yours is the first account I've ever heard of a a lab biting a kid. Now, if you'd have said the lab knocked the kid out with his tail... I can see that happening.
Really. My girlfriend's sister has an enormous yellow lab and the way it whips its tail is enough to knock the young or old out. Same with my friend's golden.
That's horrible. What is it with dogs these days? When I was a kid, it seemed like almost all the dogs I knew were friendly. I had a 20-pound mutt from the time I was 4; he was the sweetest thing ever and never even came close to biting anyone. He loved strangers as well as his own people. Why aren't there more dogs like that now? That is one advantage of cats. If a cat doesn't like you or what you are doing, it will leave. It won't come at you. Maybe cats are just better... except for Golden retrievers, like mentioned above. The ones I've known have been really sweet.
Isabel, we've declawed our siamese and neutered him. He's so frustrated he bites a lot. As soon as he bites one of my girls for whatever reason, i kick the sh*t out of him. Of course, I ask my girls not to do the same thing again and leave him alone.
my lab has knocked out my neice a couple of times and several beer glasses with his tail. but my neice loves it. i think she stands in it's way on purpose.
Yeah, that doesn't solve anything. I think by law any dog that attacks children are put to sleep though.
Sorry to all the dog lovers, but if some dog attacked one of my kids I'd do whatever was neccessary to get it away and keep my kid safe. Just like I would if some thug tried to attack them. Roc - I'm sorry to hear about this, I myself was attacked by a rottweiler at age 8, he bit a chunk out of my leg and I still have the scar (not too visible though). To this day I get edgy around Rotts and I really don't care for dogs in general at all.
Man, I was pissed at reading IROC's first post. I certainly don't like the cat for a while after that... I try to push him away, and sometimes with my leg. It almost can de described as a kick.
Thanks everyone for the show of support and the prayer. The dog is a Blue Healer/Beagle mix. It is 14 years old and has the beginnings of cataracts. We have figured out now that appearantly the dog did not see my daughter sit down next to her on her bed at the foot of her owner's bed.... so this must have startled the dog, and it reacted. I realize that it STILL was not proper for the dog to be out, but the circumstances appear to just be in that strange "worst case scenario" chronology that resulted in this. (the dog had actually been bringing it's toys to my kids for them to play with it... so this was definitely out of character.) I also realize that if the dog was doing more than a snap, that my daughters face would/could be have eaten... at which time, Chance (had it happened) the bare handed killing of a dog would have ensued. This dog is about 65-75 pounds, so my 36 pound little princess was right at face level sitting on the ground next to the dog. Had she been standing when the dog was startled she may have been bitten on the leg, or perhaps not at all. I really have considered a law suit. Maybe not though. I am of a rare breed these days that can still see an accident as an accident. This dog had no prior history of even snapping at someone in 14 years... so it looks like the age has placed in a fragile state. Right or not, a dog does not think like a human. As much as we'd like it to not... a dog still will react instinctively when it perceives any threat. I'm still mad about the whole ordeal though. GOOD NEWS HOWEVER! We were at a restaurant earlier and the waitress saw my duaghter, heard her saying "I still want a little puppy, so I can make it be sweet" - and she turns out to be a dog breeder. To make a long story short, we are getting my daughter a AKC registered puppy for FREE... tonight! And my daughter really hasn't looked back, other than to say that "dog was a meanie." Thank you all so much for your stories and input... but mostly for the prayer directed toward my daughter's pyschological response. My daughter's name is "Faith" btw... If anyone remembers the old "IROC it's PICS" webpage I had, she was the little baby in the picture with me and CD at the TC on my birthday 2 seasons ago. I may post a pic later on. Thanks again, all. It looks like we'll be fine here. Thank God.
Man that is GREAT news. I too also view accidents as accidents. I wouldn't ever let my doberman around kids, but always let my weimaraner play with kids. I don't think the owners were being neglegant especially with that breed of dog not being know for aggressive behavior. I think its great that she wants and is getting a new pup. You sound like a great dad.
Sorry to hear that IROC, that is an unfortunate accident. Sounds like you are doing the right things so far. Old dogs can react strangely sometimes and that dog doesn't seem as though those actions would be inherit to it. I'm sure the owner feels just as bad...Your daughter sounds like she is recovering fine which is good. Don't know if I'd buy that house, although you might get a good deal
Wow, IROC, she is definitely an innocent angel who forgives.... Even if it was an accident, it's just hard to see a reaction from a dog like that. And your reaction is to tear it to pieces after hurting your daughter.... Glad everything turned out well and I'll be praying for your daughter's psychological well-being.
Sorry to hear about this incident, best wishes to you and your family. Kids that age usually heals very fast. With the medical technology we have today, she will most like have very little scars when it is all said and done.
