# Older dog starts to bite preschoolers - any hope? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895 "2014-09-29T18:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/21 "2014-09-30T02:41:54Z")
I second and third the suggestion to get the dog checked out by a good vet. Behavioral changes towards aggression could well be a sign of illness. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/22 "2014-09-30T21:38:55Z")
Thanks for all the great suggestions guys - a little more info based on questions: [ul] [li]Dog is a mutt mix, around 40 pounds - part shar pei and part lab maybe? we were never sure on that.[/li][li]dog has it’s own bed in a private location for sleeping and another in the tv room where it hangs out during the day with his brother[/li][li]The dog is no longer allowed direct access to the kids at this moment[/li][li]This is the 3rd bite and while not a full on massive puncture bite they are getting a little more intense each time[/li][li]The “molecular atrophy” was just a joke about the fact that sometimes he seems to just start barking for no apparent reason than possibly detecting some molecules are separating in his vicinity[/li][li] the preschoolers have been with the dog their whole life[/li][/ul] I am setting up a very apt as soon as I can get him in. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/23 "2014-09-30T23:41:57Z")
[quote=“BurnMeUp, post:22, topic:699895”] [li]The “molecular atrophy” was just a joke about the fact that sometimes he seems to just start barking for no apparent reason than possibly detecting some molecules are separating in his vicinity[/li][/QUOTE] Exactly how I read it. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/24 "2014-10-14T19:13:42Z")
An update for anyone who was interested: [ul] [li]After a vet check including multiple blood tests no issues found externally or internally[/li][li]They recommended pheromone therapy which seems to work in a percentage of dogs having anxiety based issues. We are trying that right now to see if there is any improvement. Specifically [this brand](http://www.amazon.com/Adaptil-Appeasing-Pheromone-Collar-Medium/dp/B000HPVH78/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413313913&sr=8-2&keywords=Dog+Pheromone+Collar)[/li][li]The next suggestion is to try low does pain medications in case there is general pain from his previous leg injury bothering him in his old age[/li][li]Their last suggestion is to think if we would rather try drugging him with mood stabilizers or look for a new home.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/25 "2014-10-14T21:18:09Z")
This is not really a happy idea, but some dogs undergo a drastic personality change and are later found to have a brain tumour. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/26 "2014-10-15T01:44:33Z")
**BurnMeUp** , have you been trying the thing with having the kids feed treats to the dog? ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/27 "2014-10-15T03:05:20Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > Thanks for all the great suggestions guys - a little more info based on questions: > > [ul] > [li]Dog is a mutt mix, around 40 pounds - part shar pei and part lab maybe? we were never sure on that.[/li][li]dog has it’s own bed in a private location for sleeping and another in the tv room where it hangs out during the day with his brother[/li][li]The dog is no longer allowed direct access to the kids at this moment[/li][li]This is the 3rd bite and while not a full on massive puncture bite they are getting a little more intense each time[/li][li]The “molecular atrophy” was just a joke about the fact that sometimes he seems to just start barking for no apparent reason than possibly detecting some molecules are separating in his vicinity[/li][li] the preschoolers have been with the dog their whole life[/li][/ul] > > I am setting up a very apt as soon as I can get him in. 3rd bite?! Dogs are awesome but kids are better. If there is no medical reason the dog is snapping at kids then there is some other reason. Keep the dog away from kids! Do you want to explain to the parents that your dog was on meds while he bit a kid. He didn’t hurt the kid too much more than the last kid he bit because meds… You have to decide whether the dog who bites kids is worth keeping around. It is a harsh decision but it is something that comes with having pets. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/28 "2014-10-15T03:10:23Z")
Since the OP is looking for advice, this is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/29 "2014-10-15T03:37:53Z")
_Three_ bites? Where is the dog on this[bite level scale (.pdf)](http://www.dogtalk.com/BiteAssessmentScalesDunbarDTMRoss.pdf)? I’m about the hugest dog lover and advocate around, but it is absolutely unfair to have a stressed dog and children in the same location. Unfair both to the dog and the kids. This dog needs to be in a child-free home. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/30 "2014-10-15T03:38:19Z")
A few years ago I was in your position. The dog in question was the greatest dog in the whole world 99.996% of the time. One night he nipped at the little one, our female had something to say about it (very protective of small critters), he jumped on her, the Mrs tried to separate them and got pretty seriously bitten. I threw a rug over him and tackled him and when he stopped fighting we put him in his crate. The next day we gave him a thick t-bone steak smeared with peanut butter and a ride to animal control. Never looked back. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/31 "2014-10-15T05:43:42Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > Thanks for all the great suggestions guys - a little more info based on questions: > > [ul] > [li]Dog is a mutt mix, around 40 pounds - **part shar pei** and part lab maybe? we were never sure on that.[/li]… > [/ul] > > … Here’s your problem. I’d put them in the top ten dog breeds most likely to bite. Even mixes still have enough concentrated Shar Pei-ness to be a problem. They were inbred a lot in order to “save the breed” and that led to a lot of genetic messes and a lot of them just don’t seem right in the head. I realize this will probably piss off some of the loyal sharpie lovers here but it’s how I feel from many, many years working with animals. Just to be safe, I won’t mention the other breeds. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895/32 "2014-10-15T18:02:15Z")
Answers to the other questions: First of all the contact with the dogs is extremely limited now. [ul] [li]Poysyn - I haven’t noticed any other changes in behavior at all with the dog but that is in my mind as a possibility[/li][li]EmilyG - They boys are (and did) feed them treats and they are the ones who feed them in the mornings too[/li][li]Chirpotera - two level 1, one level 2[/li][li]Wile E - I am aware that some Shar Pei are definitely prone to types of behavior. As the ones I have are of definite mixed descendancy (you can tell by the ears and a little by the face) I am pretty sure it is very diluted. The fact that this is the first time in 10 years this has come up despite multiple interactions with other children until now I hesitate to blame breeding.[/li][/ul] Since the collar has been in use we have noticed no signs of aggression/annoyance but are still in a very restrictive review period on his behavior. The dog also has a dog “sibling” that’s a year younger, and a Shar Pei mix as well. He’s not aggressive in the least but has seizures and isn’t so bright. he’s pretty happy go lucky. They depend on each other a lot for company so I’d have to consider if I didn’t have one I don’t have either. It’s harder to find someone to take 2 dogs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-dog-starts-to-bite-preschoolers-any-hope/699895.md?page=1)