Friend's dog bit a child, whose fault?

Because a nip could easily turn into a bite
Not at all. If a dog nips as a startled reaction, they are no closer to actually biting. Otherwise, it's likely to be what they would have done in the first place. You have no idea how this dog would react under different circumstances.

If you can't tell the difference between a "child and an old man", you probably shouldn't be allowed out in public on your own
And you must have eyes behind your back! Anyway, the point remains that adults do have reactions as they are startled just like dog. I smacked my oh in the middle of the night when he kicked me. I don't intend on causing him serious bodily harm!

You are working with dogs and can't tell the difference between a startled and an aggressive dog?

Absolutely. As a dog owner you HAVE to be prepared to do what it takes to protect your dog. Body block. Pick them up if it's possible etc.

Lack of impulse control is normal for young children. It develops, in some it takes longer than others. Parenting plays its part, as does general socialisation.

So have I, which is why you body block your dog and say NO very clearly - and I have never once had a child be able to touch any of the dogs I walk (unless with my permission).

I’ve seen this too, I physically block, and when I hear the whining ‘I want to stroke the doggy’ I stand up and move away. Giving a clear message to parents. I won’t take the risk.

I'm not saying it's okay, but ultimately it is ALWAYS the dogs who pay the price when they react, and therefore as an owner the onus is on YOU to keep your dog safe. You can't rely on the public to do it for you.

Yes, kids are fast. Yes, they don't always listen - which is why you walk away, make space and tell them VERY clearly not to touch your dog. It's really not that difficult.

Also unless the parents learn to control their children it could be so much worse. Unfortunately you can’t cure stupid.

I’ve seen people keep their dog away from people only for children to run up to them and touch them.

totally the kids parents fault, the amount they kicked off shows they know it as well.

four is old enough to know better

Bring your dog in, stand in front of him when kids are around. Do NOT trust parents to control their children. Your dog was not at fault.

I've had kids come right up to the dogs I walk too - I body block every single time and say "no darling, please don't touch"
And sometimes they are too quick and others they ignore you and continue to try to do so even when the dog tries to get away.

What kind of stupid parent think this is ok? But they do! Because if their little darling finds your dog cute and wants to pet it, the dog should feel honoured and let it happen even if they hate it!

Where does the 'easily bitten' come from?
Because a nip could easily turn into a bite.

Even if you didn't think it was a child but maybe an old man?
If you can't tell the difference between a "child and an old man", you probably shouldn't be allowed out in public on your own.

Yes I'm sure 😁
Why do you think I care whether you believe me or not? I work with dogs. I'm very familiar with what the law says and what the potential consequences can be, and in nearly a decade, I have never once had an incident where any of the dogs in my care have even come close to nipping someone. Keeping your dog under control is really the most basic thing a dog owner should be doing.

Child and parents fault.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks i don’t believe I am a bad parent, although I’m certainly not perfect.

I have told DS numerous times not to go up to dogs he doesn’t know. Being completely honest here there’s not really much else that I can do. That doesn’t mean I blithely tell him once and then ignore him; I mean I will say to him as her see a dog ‘leave the dog, he’s having a walk’ and 9/10 times he will obey, he’s fine, the dog is fine but sometimes dogs will appear a bit unexpectedly and sometimes they’ll make a beeline for him (he and someone’s spaniel were having a whale of a time the other day) and stuff happens, I suppose.

DS hasn’t had a bad experience yet, but it could happen.

I do think that I used to believe that children should be perfectly obedient and trained and well … they’re just not, are they?

I've had kids come right up to the dogs I walk too - I body block every single time and say "no darling, please don't touch". It's very simple to do. If the child approaches again, then you get up and take your dog with you.

The owner should be mortified because they didn't have control over their pet and their dog could very easily have bitten rather than "just nipped". They could very easily have found themselves in a situation where their dog got removed and put to sleep
You're making assumptions now. Where does the 'easily bitten' come from?

And if a kid ran into me, my first concern would be to make sure they were okay - I wouldn't shout and grab at them (unless it was to stop them falling over)
Even if you didn't think it was a child but maybe an old man?

Someone near us was tripped up by a dog recently BTW and the police were incredibly interested and paid a visit to the owner of the out of control dog
Yes I'm sure 😁

Except that, legally speaking, that isn't true. As a dog owner and breeder, you should know that.

Yes but some people are just stupid.

When I used to take my little staffy to the woods when he was a puppy and still learning, he was NEVER off the lead. I think it's rude to let dogs off leads when others are around.

People would look at him and say "oooh can I pat him?" and I'd say best not to as he can nip. DESPITE this, people (after warning) would still crouch right down and put their face right into his face while loudly exclaiming OH MY GOD YOU'RE SO CUTE!! Of course he would then lightly nip. I ALWAYS wanted to say" didn't I warn you??" but never did. Instead I would spend 5 minutes apologising.

Can't account for idiots. And until it's illegal to walk a dog in public, everyone needs to learn to co exist.

The owner should be mortified because they didn't have control over their pet and their dog could very easily have bitten rather than "just nipped". They could very easily have found themselves in a situation where their dog got removed and put to sleep.

And if a kid ran into me, my first concern would be to make sure they were okay - I wouldn't shout and grab at them (unless it was to stop them falling over)

And no, the reason the police wouldn't follow it up is because they (understandably) have more important things to do and there are (unfortunately) not enough dog wardens around these days either. Not because it would be a "waste of time".

Someone near us was tripped up by a dog recently BTW and the police were incredibly interested and paid a visit to the owner of the out of control dog.

This is why as a responsible dog owner you never put your dog in this position in the first place
I had kids coming to dog to pet it when my dog was sitting right next to me. You can't prevent a frighten dog reacting startled rather than aggressive, just like us human.

If parents are going to make a big deal of a nip that leaves no mark, then THEY have to control their children.

Keep dog closer when passing people, especially with children. If it’s a narrow path I would hold dog close to me, and stand still until they passed.

Always a bad idea to put your hand over a dog’s head, particularly a strange dog. Parents should have taught their children never to touch strange dogs without asking the owner first. I don’t think the parents are right to put all the blame on your friend.

'Impulsive' is such a cop out for bad parenting.

They should have been raised to know better than to approach random dogs or pet random dogs. Even as toddlers my DDs knew not to approach dogs. It's not hard to teach a child not to approach dogs - it just requires active, consistent, parenting. It's the bare minimum any parent should teach their child about dogs. At six...I would certainly expect a child to understand not to approach random dogs and if they could not understand that, for whatever reason, I would expect their parents to be on the ball and intervene.

If your child approaches a dog it does not know, and you as a parent do not intervene, everything that follows is on you.

Luckily the law disagrees with you. Whether the police would follow up or not is another matter, but any decent owner would be absolutely mortified if their dog even tried to nip someone, let alone if they succeeded. The dog needs to wear a muzzle
The fact the police wouldn't follow it up IS the matter.

Why should the owner be mortified. If a kid ran straight into your back touching you bum with their hands, and you'd react by shouting and touching the child's face as you turn around, would you feel mortified?

The police wouldn't follow it up because it would a complete waste of time for everyone. It's a really a positive experience because hopefully, the child has learnt to never touch a dog without permission.

According to you, it's guilty until proofen otherwise.

Having had countless children touch & pat my dogs in passing it's a horrendous law and hopefully won't be upheld under reasonable.

Other people's children are definitely not my responsibility.

@karrabee
It's not the dog
It's the child's
Be interesting to see the parents reaction if next time she stuck her hand in a fire
To me, its the same difference