We bought a two year old GSP female from a breeder and she wasn't used to being around kids. We have  7 & 5 year old boys and a 3 year old girl at home and the GSP seemed good with them. I made the mistake of letting our GSP on our bed for one, but she seemed fine to play on my bed with my kids and me. However, yesterday we were just lounging on my bed with her and I turned over to kiss my 5 year old son and my daughter was bitten in the face by our GSP. I assume that our daughter did something to hurt her because there was no growl. My dilemma is should I bring the dog back to the breeder or give it some time and see how things pan out. I will of course no questions asked put my daughter before any pet, but I want to make sure I do the right thing. This is our first GSP and I really think she's a good dog but the truth is I don't know if I can trust her. Please let me know if you have any advice. Thanks. . . 

A:  Hi,  You didn't exactly provide a lot of information (age the dog is now, how long you've had her, did she break the skin, did your daughter cry, did you see her bite, or did she just nip at your child, was there food or a toy involved, etc.), so I don't know exactly how to advise you, but here's my take on the situation and things I'd do in a similar situation:

1) Who is your breeder/seller? Contact your breeder/seller of the dog. Let them know what's going on and they should offer at the least, advice, and at the most, to take the dog back or to give you a refund or replacement--most conscientious breeders would do some or all of these things. He/she should also want to know that temperament is apparently an issue in their lines, so that they can avoid such problems in any future breedings.

2) Decide if you want to keep the dog and work with her, or if you don't. If you want to keep her and work with her, I'd recommend immediately severing all contact between her and your children until the problem is resolved, discontinuing letting her on the bed and furniture, and contacting an animal behaviorist ASAP for advice. Do a search on GOOGLE to find one. Just type in "canine behaviorist*" . When you find some, email and/or call them to find one in your area or one who is willing to consult long distance via phone or email or both.

3) If you decide you don't want to take a chance on the dog at all, you really only have two choices--euthanasia or full-disclosure re-homing. If you re-home the dog, you would need to be perfectly candid with the new buyer or adopter, letting him/her know that the dog is a known biter, the circumstances in which the biting occurred (with a child, on a bed, apparently unprovoked, etc.), and if it were me, I'd have them sign a written acknowledgment and waiver of liability as to the same. I'd make sure the new home was without children, and a person experienced with dog ownership and training in general, and GSP's in particular. If you simply re-home the dog without this, you would be assuming a great deal of liability, as you know the dog is a biter already. If you can't find a "taker" with full disclosure, or if you don't want to assume any personal liability at all, then euthanasia is the only other option. Breed rescue groups, animal shelters, and humane societies will not take biters for the aforementioned reasons--too much liability is assumed.

4) Don't let this experience put you or your children off dogs completely. Like riding a bicycle, you need to get right back on, so to speak. When you decide on another dog, either start with a well-bred puppy that is guaranteed and temperament tested by the breeder, or an older dog that is a known quantity around kids. Look for a breeder who has small kids of their own and socializes their dogs around kids of a variety of ages.

5) When dealing with your next dog (or this one, if you decide to pursue training via the behaviorist), set limits right away and be consistent. Do not let the dog on the bed or furniture or anything in a higher (more dominant) position than the people in the house. Don't let the dog go through the doorway before the people in the house. Don't let the dog eat before the people in the house, and don't feed the dog from the table. Make the dog wait to eat--train him/her to sit and stay until given the command OK. Make the dog obey each and every member of the family--from oldest/most dominant to youngest/most submissive. The dog must learn that he/she is a dog, and that all humans are higher in the pack order than he/she is. ETC.

6)  See the Answer to FAQ #1. . . 

Hope this information is helpful. Good Luck.

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