Topic : 03/30 Is This Normal?

 I have read most of the posting tonight in regards to today's show, there have been many that have spoken about how a dog has injured a child but none have mentioned if a dog has killed the child.

My son, Geoffrey, at 20 months of age was killed by our family pet.  I do not have the exact details (due to my request) but have been told that Geoffrey went over to our Chow dog and kissed him on the head and stood up and smiled.  Our dog was sleeping and this startled him and he reacted as an animal is expected to act.  Geoffrey had never kissed our dog but I guess to a child that big, fluffy animal looked much like any stuffed animal.  

I picked out my dog when he was one day old, brought his home when he was 8 weeks old and spent the first few years of his life intentionally  taking his dog dish from him while he was eating because I was always told when I was young "don't put your hand near the dog while he is eating".   My dog had never growled at anyone before.  My dog had never bit anyone before.  If I had been given a 2nd chance, and my son had only gotten stitches I would have gotten rid of my pet.  Yes, my dog was part of my family but there would be NO choice in this matter.

Steve and Suzie are lucky that their daughter survive this "unfortunate situation".  Whether you want to call it an attack or an unfortunate situation - it doesn't matter - their dog has now  shown agressive behavior.  Why would Steve even consider putting his daughter in this "situation" again? How could he even think his wife could have prevented this "situation".  Why does Steve feel he has to justify this injury due to the fact the dog is deaf?  What excuse can he come up with next time? Let's hope Steve doesn't have to face a "next time".  Susie, you are doing the right thing by preventing your daughter to be around this dog.

It has been over 14 years now since I buried my son.  I live with this experience every day and will live the  rest of my life with it.  But if I can  tell my story and possibly help one mother from having to experience burying her chid due to a dog attack - then I guess my journey has a purpose.

I have had a Dalmation  for 12 yrs, nicest dog ever.  As in any dog i don't let anyone get their face close to the dogs mouth not even adults.  I don't want to get rid of my dog, but if it ever did bite someone, unprovoked, I 'd have the 1st dalmation telephone pole . Also I read  any deaf dogs have a few more screws loose upstairs and are more unpredictable and even should not be breed. When  I seen the picture of his princess, biten, buddy, loose the dog and get a grip. Be like the Longhorn chicken on Bugs Bunny and grab that round mouth shovel and crown it.  Just Kiddin 

   Stormin     Sudbury Ontario 

obviously you have never had to choose between a pet and a child. 

  

  

I've been dealing with anxiety/panic for as long as I can remember.  I think I've been on every medication out there.  I would have a certain thing that I would focus on...like driving...and the thoughts became worse and worse until I couldn't drive anymore.  I was finally able to drive, but using only back roads.  I WON"T go over bridges, I WON'T turn left, for fear that I might have a panic attack and no where to turn.  I won't drive on interstates.  I always have a route where I know I can have a place to 'pull over'.  Believe it or not......this has gotten much better!!  Is this irrational fear?  Of course it is!  Do I know it?  Of course I do! Has it changed? No, but, I've learned to deal with it.  It isn't life threatening, I can still do things, but, sometimes it does hamper my life.  Sometimes I would love to take the kids to Miami for a visit to see family.....but, I won't go, for fear I'll have a panic attack on the way.  I can't drive to Orlando(45 min) away, and that upsets me....because, there is so much to do.  But, I've been through so much more in my life, that this seems like a piece of cake.  So, to the beautiful young lady on the show today.......PLEASE go get help now...one fear will turn into another and then another, before you can't function at all.  Take the opportunity Dr. Phil gave you and run with it....I wish you luck and will pray for you..... 

I too own dalamatians, two in fact. I adopted both of them from dalmatian rescue programs when they were both  adults.  Not  all dalmatians are good with children. I would not have owned these two dogs if my children were still young. They are very protective, especially of me or what they percieve of as mine. They are  usually very dedicated to one family member and they don't always understand that they can't have that person to themselves. I do agree  with Dr. Phil that the offending dog should not be around the child,  her safety has to come first. I do however hope that the father does not  sentence the dog to a life in a dog run. Dalmatians are not like other dogs, they NEED to be around people to be mentally happy.  My dogs follow me from room to room and go into deep depression if I am forced to board them.  If Steve chooses to get rid of the dogs I hope he finds a GOOD dalmatian rescue program that will take the time to find them a home or make the responsible choice of euthanizing the dog that bit his daughter.

I quite agree!!

My opinion, take it or leave it.   

The way to stop doing this is to go help someone.  Someone that  really needs help and will appreciate it.  Their gratitude alone will stop you from having the need to cut yourself.  Get out of yourself. 

~C~ 

Children and dogs are not equal.  If your house was on fire, and you could only save one of them, would you choose your dog or your child?  I would hope that every parent would say they would save their child.  Dogs are very important members of many families, and before I had children, I used to think they were as important as kids.  Then I had my children, and found out that nothing can compare. 

  

If my child were to hurt another child, or kill an animal, it is my responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen again.  Just as not all people cannot be rehabilitated, neither can all dogs.  Anyone that thinks they can guarantee their dog will never bite again is fooling themselves. 

Is it normal for me to hate the fact that my husband likes porn?  

  

This is really the only big issue we've ever had, he lied to me about it for a long time and he still does it sometimes. I know because I'm handy with computers and i know how to see whats been going on ._. I always feel awful when I spy but then i just get upset/mad when I see it.  We've talked about it and IVE TOLD HIM how important it is that he just BE HONEST with me about it. Is it normal to want honesty when it comes to this?     

 My sister has a problem with noise.  She's lived alone for a long time and because of noise (once it was a barking dog, next it was an electrical humming in a wall of her condo, and now it's a noise from the upstairs tenant in a third place)  She's planning on moving again, selling this place as well that she's been in for only a year.  I try to tell her that "normal" noise will be anywhere she might choose to live.  It's her sensitivity to it that she must learn to handle.  She even lived with me for 6 months after selling her 2nd place and before finding this condo, and even at my home she'd be bothered by noise coming from an outside wall of our brick house.  Suffice it to say we didn't hear anything.  The building management of her second condo tried in vain to find out what the noise was.  There was a humming periodically, but she distrupts her whole life over this.  Now she's doing it again.  She claims that her upstairs tenant drops his gym bag on the floor late at night and she hears it.  He's been spoken to, but the change is not to her satisfaction.  I'm afraid that she will continue to do this to the expense of her pocket book and her emotional state.  I feel she should get help (therapy, drugs???) but she does not agree.

Dr. Phil you stated at the end of today's show that if the behaviour affects and disrupts your life, then there is a problem.  I believe that there is.  Any advise?