Terrible tragedy-dog kills baby

That's very sad for everyone involved.

Andrew Stein's parents never worried about the Doberman pinscher they had had since the dog was a puppy.

that's what went wrong- unrealistic expectations of dog behavior. Did they teach the dog how to act around babies? they had nine months to prepare. Dogs often seem to think babies are prey items, not humans.

mudpuppy

Andrew Stein's parents never worried about the Doberman pinscher they had had since the dog was a puppy.

that's what went wrong- unrealistic expectations of dog behavior. Did they teach the dog how to act around babies? they had nine months to prepare. Dogs often seem to think babies are prey items, not humans.

That's only speculation on your part. These parents may have done everything right. Sometimes despite the best efforts tragedies happen. This is very sad! 

I do believe that unrealistic expectations of the dog played a part.  They may have done everything right, but missed one tiny thing.  Perhaps the dog had a sliver in that paw.  Or maybe the baby was staring intently at the dog before it reached for him.  Maybe this maybe that, maybe the other thing.  Regardless the dog is a dog and should be treated as such.  No dog should ever have to be left alone with a baby.  And once that baby becomes mobile, it becomes even more important.  You never hear stories about a careless mother that leaves her baby with a known dangerous dog.  The line is always always always, I never thought the dog would do something like that.  And yet, even when you do know better, someone else may leave the baby where it shouldn't be.  This poor poor family.  

How awful!

I won't speculate either way.  A neighbor posted some very kind, supportive words on that news site. 

huskymom

do believe that unrealistic expectations of the dog played a part.  They may have done everything right, but missed one tiny thing.  Perhaps the dog had a sliver in that paw.  Or maybe the baby was staring intently at the dog before it reached for him.  Maybe this maybe that, maybe the other thing.  Regardless the dog is a dog and should be treated as such.  No dog should ever have to be left alone with a baby.  And once that baby becomes mobile, it becomes even more important.  You never hear stories about a careless mother that leaves her baby with a known dangerous dog. 

     I agree, it's never wise to leave a dog unattended with such a young baby. Me, I was practically raised by dogs. My earliest memories (I kid you not) were of my Shepherd mix sticking her fat head INTO my bassinet to check on me. When I was two years old I got my own dog, a Lhasa mix. Now, he could be a nasty one, but turn on me? Never. We grew up together ... How many moms on this forum have left young toddlers with the family dog for a few minutes while they loaded the washer or answered the phone? I'm sure almost everyone has ... I think, and this is probably not a pouplar idea, but I think a dog has to have a screw loose somewhere to attack a baby. Sure, kids pinch, pull, squeal - but a stable dog either walks away or gives a warning nip. Not a bite to the head that is severe enough to break through bone and cause death. I'm very much an advocate for young kids having a dog. Have seen an APBT act more of a mother to a child no more than 2yrs old than his actual mother. I think that kid could have poked that dog in the eye and she'd still have never done such a thing to him. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I've been unnerved since I heard this story ...     

I think, and this is probably not a pouplar idea, but I think a dog has to have a screw loose somewhere to attack a baby.

this idea is the cause of most fatal attacks on babies-  unrealistic expectations of dog behavior. Dogs are predators. Human babies act like wounded prey. It's NORMAL for a dog to want to attack and eat a young baby- you need to take steps to prevent such attacks, not go around blaming the dog, or pretending dogs aren't predators. It's always the parents fault for not training, not supervising enough.

I am sure the parents realise that it was their fault (now).  And I am sure it won't do a bit of good.  I am even surer taht the poor family will have to carry this tragedy in their hearts for the rest of their lives.  

As for "who HASN'T left a dog with a baby..."  I can answer that one.  ME.  I have the softest dogs on the planet where humans are concerned, especially children.  But even if the risk is ten million to one, I WON'T take the chance.  Winning the lottery is FOURTEEN MILLION to one, but I still buy a ticket, hence I know it could still happen!

mudpuppy

I think, and this is probably not a pouplar idea, but I think a dog has to have a screw loose somewhere to attack a baby.

this idea is the cause of most fatal attacks on babies-  unrealistic expectations of dog behavior. Dogs are predators. Human babies act like wounded prey. It's NORMAL for a dog to want to attack and eat a young baby- you need to take steps to prevent such attacks, not go around blaming the dog, or pretending dogs aren't predators. It's always the parents fault for not training, not supervising enough.

As harsh as this sounds, I must agree with mudpuppy.  Our OP asked what could have gone wrong.  As a trainer, here are some of the things that people don't often think of that can go horribly wrong.  New and expectant parents take note - please...  Also, a dog does not have to have a screw loose to attack and kill a baby.  Predatory drift is something that can befall even the nicest dog, and rough play can kill a child, too - dogs are NOT born knowing how to behave around human infants - the responsibility for teaching that belongs to the dog's breeder & owner.

1. No child should ever be left alone in the company of any dog, no matter how friendly the dog is.  Under the age of 5, children do not have the capacity for empathy and may do things, unwittingly, that the dog finds unpleasant.

2. Parents should keep kids off the floor, and dogs off furniture.  Face bites are all too common, and there's no sense putting any child's face in close proximity to a dog's teeth. 

3. If you are of childbearing age, and want a dog, it is your responsibility to be absolutely certain you socialize your puppy to infants, toddlers, and children.  When choosing an adult dog to adopt, get it from a source that temperament tests their dogs with kids of all ages.  Be sure your dog equates the appearance of kids with great things happening for him, not with "NO!", "Off", or leash yanks.  Instead, learn to train appropriately using positive methods that tell your dog what behavior you expect when children are present.  Take a baby prep class or buy a CD with baby noises, and desensitize the dog.

4. Assume that a screeching baby, or yowling toddler can accidentally engage your dog's prey drive (Dobe's and others with high prey drive may exhibit "predatory drift" and some of them have the terrier-like habit of shaking prey to kill it, as may have happened in this case.)  Did I mention never leaving a child alone with any dog????

5. Train your dog!!!!!!  Socialize your dog!!!!!!  Manage the dog's environment!!!!!!!  The only way to protect your kid is to protect your dog. 

6.  Choose your breed wisely if you have youngsters.  Aussies & Border Collies may chase and nip them.  Huskies and Dobes may have prey drive engaged by hearing them screech.  Mastiffs or Great Pyrenees may mistake their playmates as intruders and attack them.   Sure, there are many fine examples of all those breeds that never get into trouble, but don't let your own machismo or preferences make you choose unwisely when there is time to choose. 

7. Don't wait till you are pregnant to train the dog, and don't wait till your puppy is four months old to take it to class - take it as soon as your nearest positive trainer will let it in to class.  Most important two commands - "leave it" and "come"

 Dogs are predators. Human babies act like wounded prey. It's NORMAL for a dog to want to attack and eat a young baby- you need to take steps to prevent such attacks, not go around blaming the dog, or pretending dogs aren't predators.

I did not realize this.

Its really a crummy thought to think of your sweet, loving pet as a predator that could think of your sweet loving baby as prey.  

I am sure somewhere along the line I have left my dog Sammy (who wasn't the nicest dog in the world to begin with because she was a spoiled brat) for a moment or two with one of my boys when they were babies also. Guess we get away with it most of the time.

I have always believed that since you never know what a dog is thinking...you never know what he will do.  I think of it all the time when I am kissing and hugging my Dane on her face so close to those big teeth.   I would NEVER think she would hurt me....but realistically, I don't know what she is thinking...or when her thinking will change.

Such a sad case, those poor people will never forgive themselves.  But I believe it the dog should not have been alone with that child even for a second.

Unfortunately many of us who love our dogs forget something.

THEY ARE DOGS.

As such they live and react differently.  We can train them all we want -- but NOTHING ... absolutely, positively, NOTHING can take the place of constant vigilance and never leaving your dog alone with the baby ever (particularly a baby on the floor or with no barrier between baby and dog).

Human babies are fragile -- puppies are made with loose skin on the scruff of their neck so Mom can carry them AND give them a shake to wake them up.  It's how dogs are built.  Humans aren't -- the skin is fragile and so are the bones. 

In a situation like this the word "attack" is used.  As in frothing at the mouth, eyes glazed with bloodlust?  Probably not. 

Probably the baby was crawling and 'cornered' the dog - the baby may have been screaming or any number of other things that could have made the dog uncomfortable.  The dog may have even tried to crawl behind or under something to get away from this crazy little thing.  A dog the size of a dobe could simply have picked it up to scruff it's neck and that's ALL it would have taken.  Particularly if the dog didn't have good enough bite inhibition to realize when it had broken skin.  Or maybe baby fingernails grazed an eye or baby teeth chewed an ear and caused pain. 

It doesn't have to be that the dog went crazy and aggressively 'attacked' the baby.  In honesty if the baby was all over the dog and the dog literally flung the baby away the baby could have died on impact. 

bottom line -- everyone jumps to the gorey -- and it doesn't have to be that the dog went 'crazed' -- the dog is simply bigger, and built differently, and babies are fragile. 

You can add anything to this from prey drive to insanity -- but the basic fact is even mild defense by a dog could put a small child at risk.  So you don't leave the dog alone with the baby -- so baby doesn't become an annoyance or become hurt, and so the dog isn't tried and tested beyond what it can endure. 

"dog accidentally kills baby" doesn't sell the papers and news coverage that the word 'attack' does.  *sigh*

dog accidentally kills baby" doesn't sell the papers and news coverage that the word 'attack' does.  *sigh*

Your right Callie,,,we might never have heard this story had it been worded differently.

What "went wrong" was the Predatory Drift that all animals that are predators by nature, experience. The infant makes a cry, a slight movement, or a sound and they become like a helpless bunny rabbit and prey for the dog.

When are dog owners going to realize that dogs and babies/toddlers don't mix? How many tiny pink or blue closed caskets are we going to have to bury in the cold ground before people realize that a dog doesn't "complete" the family? But it can certainly destroy the family.

May the horrible, terrifying deaths of all the tiny innocent babies and toddlers we read about every day, not go unnoticed. May these senseless deaths wake up somebody somewhere who just bought a pit bull puppy to protect her 6-month old baby. Who's going to protect the baby from the pit bull? Apparently not his mom....