Friend's dog bit a child, whose fault?

Ok then another 4 year old goes up and smacks them. I was making a point that our Blake the person who makes an unprovoked attack and not the one reacting to that out of fear or to protect themselves.

People always get every emotional and invested when it comes to dogs - I’ve never owned a dog so have no skin in this game - I was looking at this from a moral perspective and from someone who would usually assume the dog or owner is to blame.

I actually feel sorry the poor dog got put into this situation.

Dog should not be in a park 1.5m ahead where toddlers etc may be walking around. yes the young child shouldn't have touched but young children are unpredictable. I would walk my dog on the outside of me so the other side from anybody passing.

Well, yes?

But equally, if parents took as much responsibility for training their children as I do for training my dogs...then no one would ever need to worry.

My dogs have had children drag them from behind - literally wrap their arms around them, choking them for a 'cuddle.' My dogs didn't bite. But many dogs would in the circumstances my dogs have suffered through and it would be completely expected for them to do. And that's the point. Dogs are dogs. They are animals.

Don't rely on someone else's training of their dog to make up for your inadequacies as a parent. The answer is not muzzling, or demonising dogs, it's raising children properly - not letting them be feral and entitled.

I've managed to raise my children to be respectful of dogs, and train my dogs not to react to unpredictable children by biting. It's not hard. It's the bare minimum any loving and competent parent should do.

Both at fault here. Small child should not have ran over and patted the dog, but small children are unpredictable. When I'm out with my dog and there are small children in close vicinity then I always put myself between the child and the dog. It's not fair on either of them to be in that position.

Both are at fault. The dog should have been on a short lead on the side away from the passers by. The child should not have approached the dog. Sounds like the parents have not taught that you never touch a strange dog ever without permission. Horrible situation for everyone involved, especially the poor dog and child.

This was my exact point, if your dog is under control next to you, YOU can control the interaction, which is what you should be doing as a responsible dog owner, letting it wander ahead 1.5 metres in front of you to pass a group of people, you have no control at all, you are putting your dog in a terrible position in case anything happens, it doesn't matter who's 'fault' it is, no dog should be biting anyone, which is what a nip is to be fair, it's a low level bite.

Not the dog’s fault and I wish to goodness parents would teach children not to approach strangers dogs. Madness.

Both. Dog should have been closer...thats a long lead ..and child or tbh parents who should have taught child to not touch a strange dog. As dog has now bitten (or nipped but it's still a bite) dog needs a muzzle if in public.

It’s your friends fault that the dog was on a longline and not under control in an area where there are unpredictable kids.

Its also the parents fault for not teaching the girl not to approach strange dogs and touch them without permission.

Lessons to be learned on both sides i think

But the dog should have been on a short lead/to heel when passing the family, so could have easily been moved out of the way of the child. Plus ime children less likely to approach a dog under close control.

Parents fault

When I walk my friend’s gentle but slightly nervous dog I bring him right by my leg if there are people approaching on a path, out of consideration for path use but also it is important to protect your dog from the unknown. Kids are often erratic around dogs

But the child’s family need to put their energy into teaching their child not to rush towards strange dogs and touch them. That was very much their fault

I have a nervous dog who basically wants to be ignored. She wouldn’t bite but doesn’t want patting by random kids and will try to get behind me. It never ceases to amaze me the number of children who get upset or annoyed when I say no to stroking the dog and the parents that don’t back me up!

edit: misread

I don't think it is the dog's fault at all but perhaps a lesson for all. I have a lurcher who seems to be a magnet for little children. Whenever I walk him in a public place I make sure to swap sides if necessary to put myself between my dog and strangers. Honestly more to protect my dog from stressful situations and to give me more reaction time if needed.

if your friend has a dog who gets bitey when children try to pet it, it needs to be muzzled. The fact that the dog was scared doesn’t mean a bite is any less painful!

There's a nip and a bite and this was a nip. Girl needs to learn some sense around animals and her parents need to learn some manners.

The parents fault of course. Always ask for permission before petting a dog - some dogs do not like it and can become distressed; can never know how they will react

You have to understand that not all people are reasonable.

Children should be taught to ask before petting a strange dog.

In credit to both children and their parents, in the 14 or so years I had a dog, I would say at least 90% of children asked before petting him - and he was a small, cute kind of dog (and as harmless and soft as he looked, never once bit or got aggressive - miss him every day).

All dogs above a certain size need muzzling in public. I would rather a 1000 muzzled dogs than 1 kid losing fingers.

Child and parents fault.

Or parents could take some responsibility for their damn kids. Plus, a chihuahua could maim a child. People need to teach their children not to touch random dogs.

Everyone and no-one.

1.5m leash is quite long. We always shorten to have the dogs walking at our sides when passing people.

Children should be taught not to approach strange dogs.