My dog nearly bit a child today.

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Just wanted to vent. I have a 6 year old terrier who is very much used to kids, I have two kids and never had any issues. She comes across other kids too but we don't have a lot of visitors.

we never really have any visitors in the house. Today a friend of mine was stuck somewhere and asked if I could pick her three kids up from school for an hour.

one of them has sen, which I totally get as one of mine do too.

whilst my back was turned for a couple seconds, the boy picked up my dog from a weird angle, dog welped, growled then went in like she was going to bite - she didn't, as I grabbed her quickly. Then I shut the dog in garden.

I then let dog back in (she was whining to come in) and growled and got defensive every time the kid went near her so had to shut her away in my bedroom upstairs.

I know my dog is a good dog and was provoked by being picked up. But I'm also worried sick that I will be accused of something even though it didn't really . She's come across as an Agro dog when she really isn't 😭 i am worried I will be accused of something.

not used to this kind of thing. Never had any issues before.

I expect the child was hurting the dog. Any dog would react like that, I expect. It didn't actually bite, and you removed it immediately. I don't see what else you could have done.

How old was the child? Was it the child with SEN? Were they capable of understanding how to treat the dog and had you reminded them?

Yes it was and yeah I have a son with sen myself so know what's it's like. When they first arrived they were being very kind and gentle to the dog and I know they have dogs themselves so I didn't think. I think maybe because my dog is pretty small he thought it was cute to pick up - I think there dogs are much larger. I was watching them the whole time but had literally turned my back for a second 🤦‍♀️

No-one was hurt OP. Chalk this one up to experience and move on, and if you have strange children around your dog in future make sure they know not to pick the dog up.

Just explain to the mum that their DC picked up the dog and hurt it by accident and the dog growled and snapped but no contact was made.
Then you locked the dog away.
Tbh you did the right thing and if it was me I'd be happy enough with that explanation

I agree. Not the dog's fault.

To be honest, even if your dog had nipped then child then hopefully his parents would be understanding as she yelped first-he was clearly hurting her.

But she didn’t, so I really wouldn’t worry. I would be honest with the parents and say “In case Harry mentions it, Rosie growled at him today. He picked her up when I was doing something else and I think he must have accidentally hurt her because she yelped. I think she would have nipped him, but I intervened so she didn’t touch him. No harm done at all, but I just wanted to let you know.”

Did he pick her up from an angle where it was obvious (to you) that it would be painful? If not then it might be worth a vets appointment, just in case she’s a bit sore somewhere?

Not your dogs fault but dogs shouldn't be left unsupervised with strange (to them) children. Any dog has the potential to harm a child. It should have been your responsibility to prevent that from happening and safeguard both your dog and the children.
You could have locked the dog in a different room from the start.

I really wouldn’t worry too much. The child was hurting her and she growled which is good as she gave a warning which allowed you to remove her from the situation.
If you have kids over in the future that aren’t used to dogs I’d keep her upstairs for her sake more than anything.

ty. Dog has been known to be funny about the angle picked up especially if it's a stranger. So she doesn't need to see a vet, my mum picked her up once, she yelped and peed all over her as was nervous. I'm not sure what it is exactly. She's not used to me people in the house. I obviously tell people not to pick her up but some people think because she's small, it's okay - dog happily lets us pick her up if needed.

I did to shut her upstairs to start with then she was whining to get out! Yes they were unsupervised at that split second but I was watching them the whole time otherwise - honest, I am not in idiot.

I think you reacted perfectly. Frankly, so did your dog by warning the kid and not going for them.

You sound like someone with a good understanding of dog behaviour and it's refreshing to read. Next time, if the dog is whining, could you try a pet gate so they're able to see you but are kept safe from the kids (I know the kids weren't being awful, just kids) or get a long lasting chew/game so they can be shut away and distracted?

Ignore the idiots blaming you. The child shouldn't have picked the dog up, especially if you'd already told them not to.

It's the dogs home. They shouldn't have to be locked away because you're doing someone a favour.

These things happen. Explain to mom what happened so the kids don't catastrophise (is that a word?)

Thank you. Yeah if it was more planned it would have been easier, but it was all so last minute today. The dog didn't know what had hit it, nor did I 🤦‍♀️ Im not used to having a houseful of kids that aren't mine.

The kid was just not getting the hint with the dog, I do understand having one with sen myself, but I do consider myself kids pretty dog savvy, but I went to put the dog outside and the kid was still trying to pick the dog up and the dog by this point wanted the kid nowhere near her!

I have always been a what if person. Im fretting thinking what if my dog bit the kid, would I be expected to put my beloved dog down? She's never been aggressive and this was purely out of fear.

If she’d bitten him it would depend how badly she’d bitten him. You wouldn’t have to PTS for a nip and it sounds like your dog has a lovely temperament.

My big boy bit a man on the leg once as he stood on his tail with big heavy steel toe caps when we were having a picnic. My boy broke the skin but only very slightly and we obviously apologise profusely. He broke his tail so I actually think he was pretty measured in his response.

The guy made a huge scene and 4 people came forward to offer to be witnesses for us. In the end the police were called, they visited us without warning and met my boy. The officers assessed him outside and then in the home too and decided not the take it any further. We offered them the details of the 4 people that came forward to help us but they said it wasn’t needed.

We’re more careful now to protect him more than anything. It was 8 years ago and we haven’t heard anything since but I always have him sat fully between my legs if we ever rest anywhere so I know that no one will trod on his tail. This is a ball ache at times as he’s a lurcher x GSD but worth it for my lad.

@StopStartStop

Bloody hell, there is always one. The people giving the best advice are the people who understand dog behaviour. Not the ones who have read about a few unprovoked dog attacks and think that they know everything.

If someone bigger than you picked you up in a way that was painful and didn't put you down after you warned them, I think that you would lash out eventually too.

Ignore StopStartStop.
You certainly do not need to put her to sleep!

My terrier would have gone to bite in this situation too but I don’t have young children and never have to have him in the same room as a young child. It was of course your fault but no harm done and you’ll know next time. I wouldn’t give it another thought.

Your dog behaved beautifully. A dog has very sharp teeth and little natural impulse control. If it wanted to put a child in hospital, it could, in the blink of an eye. If it didn’t, it chose not to. A dog that growls, air snaps, lunges or even nips (which is not serious, even though it can bloody hurt) is choosing not to properly bite even though it could. That dog is a good dog, and doing its best not to hurt humans, even though they hurt it first! (Accidentally, of course, but the dog doesn’t know that, either)

Growling, air snapping, lunging and nipping are dogs communicating unhappiness and a need for space. They aren’t aggression, and would not hurt another dog. They don’t know we are easily injured and don’t speak dog!

Your girl did good, OP. She gave a warning which gave you time to react. She behaved perfectly rather than instantly snapping. If you are at all worried I would take her to the vet but to check her for injuries, nothing more.

You would honesty PTS a 6 year old dog that has never shown any sign of aggression in 6 years (we've had her since a pup?) a dog that showed fear but did not actually bite? I mean maybe if she did you'd have a point. A dog that generally had a great temperament. I never mentioned anything mt sweet little dog. I know dogs can be unpredictable. I've had dogs all my life.

today was not planned, it was last minute. I had no time to organise anything properly. I ca ensure you she was either shut away or being supervised. Kdis were upstairs most of it and dog with me or outside. It was a moment of madness.

I honestly thought you were joking when I read the first half of your message. Of course the dog doesn’t need to be put down, how absolutely ridiculous. The little boy was hurting her and she reacted to that by yelping, then growling, then trying to nip him. Exactly what part of that was her fault?

She just needs to make sure that they are kept apart in future. Or if that’s not plausible, that her friend‘s son doesn’t come over again.

@StopStartStop Oh behave!

Ignore the pp OP. The kid hurt her so she gave a warning snap. Completely natural reaction from anyone of any species. I slapped my niece round the head once when she bit me on the arm. Didn't mean to. Was just pure reflex, something hurts you, you lash out at it. It doesn't sound like it was an act of aggression.

I'm still right. A dog that will bite needs to be put down. Ideally, once it has shown that it will bite and before it actually does.