New dog showing aggression

Isn't insanity doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result?

It's a safety issue now, no visits until she wises up, it's not fair on anyone. Happy/secure dogs don't try and bite children minding their own business.
Or rehome the MIL!!

ETA I can absolutely understand that this is an emotive issue, this dog is a physical link to a person who isn't here any more.
But to be practical about it, dogs are dogs and they are surprisingly adaptable. Doing the things his previous owner did means nothing to him really, he won't remember her fondly because he's still getting two treats a day, he won't feel badly done to if he is given a safe space.
I don't walk my dog at 5am and midnight because his last owner did, I made changes to his life in the past year or two and his head hasn't fallen off.
 
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Thanks for the replies. It is a totally horrid situation with the main protagonists being in total denial that there is an issue. If I say that the children can't visit their grandmother I will never be forgiven and if I insist that there is no contact with the dog, I am sure I will be ignored as it is perceived that I am making a mountain out of a molehill.

CC has hit the nail on the head - this dog is a link to someone that is no longer with us and has been built up to be far more than 'just a dog'.
 
This -

1. Crate so he has a safe space - her theory was that he is an anxious dog and he is perceiving threat and 'getting in first';

This -
BallyJ said:
Its so sad that your MIL is setting the dog up to fail,
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and this -
CorvusCorax said:
It's a safety issue now, no visits until she wises up, it's not fair on anyone.
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Good advice is only good if people follow it :(
 
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Does MIL know that the dog bit her grand-daughter? Does your OH know about the incident? Perhaps he should be the one to decide whether to risk his daughter's safety with his mother and this dog.

I do feel sorry for all concerned, especially the dog but if MIL wan't take the breeder's advice, there isn't much that anyone can do.
 
If the dog bites and does damage will you ever forgive yourself.
I had to do this with my MIL and FIL, they had a very small JRT that was not good with the kids, I put my foot down and said the kids could not go round if the dog was about, it took a while but eventually the dog would then be in a dirrernet room or (poor dog) going crazy tied up in a different room but bale to see us.
My kids did not go their without me or their dad though as we knew that the dog would be left loose if we were not there.
 
[QUOTE="If I say that the children can't visit their grandmother I will never be forgiven.[/QUOTE]

This isn't your fault or your doing.
You helped as much as you could and have given her options on how to rectify the situation, this has been ignored. Your MIL hasn't given you any other choice.
 
I will never forgive myself if the dog harms someone significantly. I have spoken out but I just keep being told that he doesn't actually bite, just grabs hold of people with his teeth whilst growling and snarling, and that he doesn't mean it, one day he will break skin with his teeth. I am dealing with a MIL and OH who are not a dog people.

As with any family that has had 2 significant bereavements there are people within it that are really struggling to adapt to their New Normal. This is not going to be a 'normal' conversation with people that are able to be rational.
 
The Bouncing Bog Trotter said:
I will never forgive myself if the dog harms someone significantly. I have spoken out but I just keep being told that he doesn't actually bite, just grabs hold of people with his teeth whilst growling and snarling, and that he doesn't mean it, one day he will break skin with his teeth. I am dealing with a MIL and OH who are not a dog people.

As with any family that has had 2 significant bereavements there are people within it that are really struggling to adapt to their New Normal. This is not going to be a 'normal' conversation with people that are able to be rational.
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It is totally unfair to the dog for him to be in the position where he feels it is up to him to protect himself. Are your OH and MIL unable to grasp this?

I don't think he, the dog, can make things any clearer. Why wait until he escalates to a bite? Let him have his safe place.

I fear that ultimately the dog will pay the price for their poor judgement.
 
My parents in law had a dog we couldn’t trust with my children. They lived in the smallest bungalow I’ve ever seen, but thE dog was always shut in the bedroom when we visited. We just wouldn’t have visited had it not been the case. Luckily my parents in law were happy to shut the dog away so everyone was safe. Their dog was treated like their baby and their whole lives revolves around it. If they could be sensible, anyone could.
 
You have my utmost sympathy and I have no real answer to the biting issue but would a slow feeder or a kong wobbler help as a halfway house solution to the feeding issue?
 
I hear what you are saying about the family members and appreciate that they are struggling to come to terms with their loss. Could you arrange to meet MIL with your children somewhere without the dog, so that they get to spend some time together without any-one having to worry about the dog.
 
The Bouncing Bog Trotter said:
If I say that the children can't visit their grandmother I will never be forgiven and if I insist that there is no contact with the dog, I am sure I will be ignored as it is perceived that I am making a mountain out of a molehill.
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Then (channeling mumsnet here!) you’re going to have to make yourself unpopular because if there’s a major incident, you will never forgive yourself. These are your children and it is your absolute duty to protect them. MIL can come to you, without the dog.

To misquote Cesar Milan, dogs need three things: exercise, discipline, food (he is quite affectionate with them too). Some of his methods are pure idiocy, but I think he’s right in that a well exercised, well trained dog is happier than one which isn’t.
 
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