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Friend's dog bit a child, whose fault?

285 replies

karrabee · Yesterday 09:43

Dog was on a lead, probably 1.5 metres ahead. Family of 2 adults and 2 children walking past in opposite direction. Children probably 4 and 8? As they walked past the younger girl darted towards the dog and put her hand on his head (flat palm almost like she was hitting him but I think she was trying to pat him on the head) and he nipped her. We were passing each other on a path in a park so were quite close already. Had zero time to do anything as from her walking past to touching him happened in about 1.5 seconds. We had no interaction with the other family prior to this. Dog has never bitten before, we think he just got a fright from the girl, but the family went mad and started threatening to call the police saying we have a dangerous dog (he's am old staffy who has never bitten once and we were so shocked that he even nipped her as he is extremely gentle!). Family followed us round the park and kept shouting 'we know where you live, police are going to be well aware of you'. The girl wasn't injured, skin wasn't broken, but she was obviously scared. Surely this is the fault of the family for not teaching their children not to touch dogs? I don't have a dog so haven't really had to think about it before, but my son knows not to touch dogs without confirming with the owner that they're friendly. It is drilled into him!

OP posts:
FuzzyBumbleeBee · Yesterday 09:53

Both party's are in the wrong

When passing people the dog should have been on a short lead 1.5m is not short there is no real control there
Anything could happen as has been proven
A short lead the dog could have been pulled away easily when it was obvious the child was reaching for the dog

The child should not be approaching strange dogs or touching them and the parents should have reminded the child as it's still young when walking towards the dog if they know it grabs at strange dogs often

Unfortunately if the dog has snapped it may be in their best interests to muzzle on walks from now on as a precaution
You never know if they have the start of a painful ear infection which could have caused the reaction but better safe than sorry

takealettermsjones · Yesterday 09:53

I think it's on all the adults to do better - the parent should not have let the child touch the dog, and the dog owner should have had the dog closer than 1.5m when passing young children.

OhBotherSaidPoo · Yesterday 09:52

The girl was at fault and so were her parents.

Hankunamatata · Yesterday 09:51

Well girls fault for touching dog.

Have to say Im not a fan of extended leads when there are kids around in parks as its hard to stop situations like this (i know you shouldnt have to but people are idiots)

SoThatsTheWayItIs · Yesterday 09:50

Dogs and children are an unpredictable mix. My dog has never bitten but in such circumstance I would always move him to be on my inside and away from passers-by and with no slack on the lead.

Fault on both sides but not on the dog’s fault. Parents should teach children not to approach but owners need to be aware protect their dogs from unexpected approaches.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · Yesterday 09:49

Parents need to ask owners if children can stroke their dogs. And then teach them how to stroke a dog.

The parents are at fault.

MerylSqueak · Yesterday 09:49

I taught my children from a young age not to touch other people's dogs without having been invited to. I think it was the girl's parents' fault.

MrsLFii · Yesterday 09:48

Definitely not the dogs fault. It’s the parents responsibility to make sure their small child doesn’t slap pat random dogs without asking.

NancyThompson · Yesterday 09:47

The dog got a startle and warned the child with a nip - if it had wanted to, it could have bitten her hand off so it's clearly not aggressive.

Pumpkinsaregrowingnicely · Yesterday 09:46

The dcs dps fault.

Personally I'd forget the whole thing.

My huge ddog nipped dd.

When she ran over her paw in skates...
Told dd I would have done the same !

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