Friend's dog bit a child, whose fault?

Long leads shouldn’t be allowed for any dog if I’m honest so the dog owners should rethink that

but in this case depending on how far the dog was from the owner at the time then yes it’s the child and their parents fault

i have a child who loves dogs and it’s been a nightmare getting him to calm down when he sees one and always ask first if he can stroke them - no he’s not a toddler - he really should no better - although his stroke can then often end in a full on bear hug. I accept that if he gets bitten it’s my fault for not having my child on a shorter lead!

I'd say it was dog owners fault

Clearly dog wasn't under control and lead was too long

Dog owner saw the family coming towards them and failed to keep the dog on a shorter lead.

If it's a new behaviour I'd be getting dog to the vet as it might be ill and that is also on owner for not noticing

I have a two year old and while we comment on dogs she sees I don’t let her get close and certainly wouldn’t let her touch one. On the off chance she darted and did and it bit her I’d be so angry at myself and would take sole blame for it.

It's the parents/child's fault completely. I was always brought up not to touch dogs I don't know without asking, and that's how I bring my children up too. Although the girl may be shocked and or frightened, the dog had a reflex reaction and girl was unhurt, she should take it as a lesson not to touch dogs she doesn't know. Forget about it.

Try reading the post properly- I’m responding to what the other poster said. If thou think she started from the wrong point take it up with her.

If a child cannot be taught the parents need to never keeping it under close control as ll manner of things could happen to them.

The dog was on an extending lead ahead, away from the owner. You have your dog by your side when people are passing.

Surely you take him by the hand and physically remove him? People are banging on about the level of control owners are expected to have over dogs, even when other run over and physically grab them, so parents should be able to control their child, most of whom presumably understand language.

The dog should have been on a much shorter lead if the space was that tight you couldn’t pass at a reasonable space. If I was the kid’s parents I’d be furious too. I’d have called the police then and there and be pushing to get the dog destroyed. There are too many aggressive and untrained dogs out there.

@SoVeryVeryBored that works if he is next to me and walking sedately and I am not making sure a different child isn’t drowning or something! If he’s running ahead or has briefly lingered behind or if I glance the opposite way and a dog approaches us or he sees an exceptionally appealing one he isn’t guaranteed not to pet it. I am on him and I do remind him he must check with the owner but children do things on impulse and I do think it is wise to remember that, not just where dogs are concerned either. He has got better, there was a stage where I thought he needed a lead. And treats, and poo bags, and a crate. I do often think he has a lot in common with your average golden retriever, he even looks a bit like one with wavy blonde hair

very sensible advice here. Some leads are utterly ridiculous - extendable and long lines are totally unsuitable. I’ll just add if this is genuinely a new and surprising before have her checked at the vet, it’s quite possible that dental or other pain in affecting behaviour and this is common in older dogs.

Nobody is going to destroy a dog because you weren't supervising your child properly. Any dog might snap when assaulted. The child literally banged it on the head. What would your reflex be if I ran up to you and randomly smacked you in the face?

If you don't want your child hurt, it's your job to keep them out of dangerous situations. Can't blame others for your own ineptitude.

Legally speaking there is now mandatory reporting of dog bites and the police are a lot more proactive since the high number of dog bites that happened in lockdown and the XL bully deaths.

I would not be so dismissive. the police take all incidents extremely seriously and whilst this incident would not meet the threshold for euthanasia it is likely a muzzle in all public spaces would mandated and a record would be kept about any future incidents. The owner has to be very proactive now.

50/50 on the adults here. Children and dogs are unpredictable it’s up to the adults in the situation to manage it safely and both sides have responsibility here. FYI if the dog is elderly I would also get it checked at the vet to make sure it’s seeing and hearing ok and in general good health because if this is unusual behaviour for the dog something could be going on health wise.

It is no suprise that the siscourse has, in some cases become hysterical.

Nipping = warning. It leaves no marks or injury and is a "leave me alone" signal

Biting - what it says on the tin.

Two different behaviours.

A dog nipping or someone does not automatically mean an offence has been committed, and there is no rule that every dog that has nipped must be muzzled in public.

The Dangerous Dogs Act requires the legal test for a dog being “dangerously out of control” to be met; the circumstances matter. A dog reacting defensively to a child nanhandling it is not legally equivalent to an unprovoked attack.

An actual bite can be serious, but “it touched someone with its teeth, therefore instant criminal offence” is not how the law works. The CPS is very clear in this regard. It is case by case basis where all circumstances leading up to and during the event are taken into account. You can check their website. It's all there, make sure you read carefully and see what it actually says, not what you want it to say.

Clocking out of the thread now as I can see it descending into hysteria 🙄

It's 50/50

Parents should make sure their children don't approach dogs without permission.

Dogs should be on a short lead.

People are idiots. If that had happened to my child I'd have said "well you've learnt a lesson, don't pat strange dogs without asking". If it had been my dog, I'd have apologised but added in "he doesn't like being touched by strangers and wasn't expecting it". We've a lovely lab, very good with kids but he is over enthusiastic and large, I always say no to requests for petting him from kids under 8. He is so large he can accidently knock them or scare them or try and lick them. If people don't take heed of that warning, absolutely not my problem. A genuinely "dangerous dog" is a dog who can do serious damage without provocation - this dog gave a warning nip when touched inappropriately without warning, he's not a snarling beast out lunging at people and he was on a lead. Dogs are animals and therefore unpredictable, in theory they can all be dangerous and as a result you should respect them and listen to their owners who know them, not randomly slap them on their heads. Same goes for horses being "bomb proof" and then people moaning they bolted when a fire alarm went off or a bird flew at their faces - animals are animals, not robots and that means there's always risk involved.

Skin wasn’t broken? Not really a bite then, just a warning.

It’s bitten now so could do it again. Having yoir dog so far ahead that you can’t react to it is irresponsible imo

Muzzling can be very distressing for dogs and make their behaviour worse, a blanket approach is completely unnecessary.

There are consequences for running up to strange dogs, which is why it is better to teach people not to do that. Punishing a dog by muzzling them because of someone else's poor behaviour is awful.

I think the parents are more at fault as they shouldn’t have let their child go up to an unknown dog like that.

But I also think an extendable lead and the dog 1.5 m in front is too far in front on a pavement with pedestrians. Seeing the family approach was a time to bring your dog closer to you even if you had been using the extendable lead beforehand.

You just never know - as a pp has said, children and dogs are an unpredictable mix.

4 metres wide path with 2 sets of people walking past each other IS narrow!

Not 'according to me' at all. According to the law, passed to me by dog law specialist solicitor, Trevor Cooper at several dog law seminars.

It isn't fair and I've said that - but ultimately the dog owner is responsible for protecting their dog from other people, other peoples kids... AND for preventing their dog from harming anyone - the unfair part is, that counts EVEN if the other person chooses to do something stupid, cruel, dangerous... the dog owner still runs the risk of legal action against them, particularly if there is no photographic, video or reliable witness accounts of the incident.

Now hopefully should anything go as far as court, the courts would be reasonable, see sense, see that a dog on a lead was approached by a stranger, see that the owner is responsible and had no reason to believe their dog was a particular risk in that situation.. but that isn't a guarantee. You could get a dog hating judge, you could be dealt with by police officers who are scared of or really dislike dogs.

Best to know how the law works and avoid falling foul of it than put your dog at risk!

But not to the law

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