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Originally Posted by ChibiLuv  He was adopted from UYR so he would go back there. I have do doubt he’d be adopted again in a heart beat because he’s so cute and he would be a great dog for someone with no kids. It is heartbreaking though, my heart breaks for what must have happened to him to make him this way and I’m heartbroken that I can’t seem to fix him. I think I’ve known what to do since the first bite but I just don’t want to do it. |
Little Taco's insecurities will likely take someone with far more innate dog handling skill, time and dedication than most dog owners have time or inclination to carry through to the end, requiring undue time, patience and skills to incite the dog to eagerly buy into their program of desensitization and self-confidence building. It takes a skillful cheerleader whose excitement level, involvement and commitment to the dog totally hooks him into the program and builds a desire in him that makes him happily want to do it the trainer's way just for the fun and much confidence-building glory, praises and rewards of it he'll adore experiencing. It's dedicated work, takes real effort to keep the excitement level worked up and going to engage the dog.
Those that try usually give up 1/2 of the way in and pup reverts to his natural fears and ways. But if dog handling comes naturally and is just a part of one's routine day, it's not onerous. You, on the other hand, likely have a job or a home to run and have a very young child to nurture and raise, little time to rehabilitate a dog from his insecurity of young children.
On the other hand, if Taco goes to a home where he'll never be exposed to young children, even if his new custodian isn't that skilled in dog handling, he's very unlikely to feel as insecure and worried, live more happily, knowing he's little king of the castle. He'll probably live a much more settled life. My Tibbe was frequently skittish around young kids but had been fun-trained to avoid his natural inclination to bolt or fear-bite for positive rewards he found more worthy. But I wouldn't trust him around a kid if I weren't there, too. Not worth chancing it.
Find little Taco a home he can be happier in, miss and grieve him and it will hurt so, so, so bad, but just know that your child is far safer, won't grow up fearing dog bites and actually you'll feel better knowing little Taco is actually better off, far more relaxed and secure. It's a safest way to go for all concerned.