to be worried about this dog after two incidents?

[mummytowillow]

I live at the bottom of a lane popular with dog walkers. I have gates which are closed when I'm at home.

A guy I know from school lives at top of lane and walks his two labs past my house.

Couple of weeks ago my DD (6) and I were saying goodbye to her play date outside the gates. He walked past with dogs off lead and we briefly chatted. As he went to walk away one of the dogs went for DD. It caught her arm but didn't bite her, more like he mouthed her. No marks etc but she was hysterical

Dog owner was embarrassed and apologetic. DD calmed down and was ok.

I'm puppy sitting for a friend. Took her for a walk half an hour ago and passed owner and dogs again. I tried to keep puppy away and just as I went to pick her up same dog went for her. She howled and I had to literally drag her off other dog. Owner seemed non plussed and tried to keep me talking but I just wanted to get home.

I've checked puppy over she has no wounds but is quiet.

So AIBU to be now scared of this dog. Not a huge problem for puppy as she goes home in two days and I'll walk her elsewhere. But this dog goes past my house daily and what if it attacks something/someone else?

Should I do something? If yes what?

This is a tricky one... you say he 'went for' your DD and the puppy, but there were no wounds or marks? A dog that 'went for' someone or something would do more than mouth, tbh. Can you say exactly, in sequential detail, what happened with your DD?

With regard to the puppy, again can you clarify what you mean by 'went for'? My little spaniel is scared of other dogs after a few encounters with rude and boisterous dogs. If a dog is 'rude' - bullying or dominant behaviour, overly intrusive or rough, even when they just want to play but are boisterous about it - she will often scream/give a really high pitched yelping cry. My point is that the pup was obviously terrified but not necessarily hurt.

If this dog is just ill-mannered and boisterous, then there's nothing you can do really except make it very obviously to the owner that you expect him to keep his damn dog under control. Do you know how old the dog is? Labs take a very long time to mature and calm down. If you really think the dog is being aggressive, then yes, something needs to be done.

It sounds like the dog is not trying to attack but rather trying to dominate. Holding a submissive pack member with its mouth is the way to get to be top dog.
It is rude behaviour and could lead to bites if the subject panics, do you have a good enough relationship with the owner to suggest some behavioural training, to ensure the dog's safety as well as everyone elses.

First incident my DD was stood by dog and he had his back to her. He suddenly turned around and touched her arm with his mouth. He was growling and making a lot of noise.

DD insisted he had bit her but I don't think he did, but her arm had a slight red mark and was wet.

Today dog had mouth around pups head area and again was wet. We literally had to grab labs head to get him off her, it was awful . No visible puncture wounds but she is shaking her head periodically.

I will keep a close eye but still don't know if I should do something?

A dog growled and took your daughter's arm in its mouth (leaving her hysterical) and you didn't do anything?

I would have told the owner to walk his dog somewhere else in future - that if it bit your daughter again you would complain to police and the dog would be destroyed.

Ok neither of those incidents are remotely ok. I would be telling the owner that if I ever saw that dog off the lead again then I'd be calling the police. I'd be considering calling 101 anyway, to be honest, and I don't say that lightly at all.

The dog obviously has good bite inhibition as he only mouthed your DD, but I'd want to know why he reacted to her in that way, whether he'd done anything like that before and wtf the owner is doing about it? Was she touching the dog or moving around at the time?

Ditto re bite inhibition with the pup, but that will have terribly traumatised the pup.

I'd be hysterical too. This dog needs to be on a lead. (actually it needs to be shot as it is dangerous but that is probably not happening).

next time you see the chap, if the dog is not on a lead tell him that due to the attack on your daughter please can he either keep it on a lead or walk it elsewhere. If you get anything other than a promise of total compliance, tell the police.

Sorry should have said, first time he was off lead as he was near fields by my house. Today he was on lead as owner was on road, about to come down lane.

I'm going to look out for him and mention it and see what he has to say.

I think the action that the dog took with your DD is absolutely not ok and YANBU to be uncomfortable about that. No dog should put its mouth on a person walking near them.

Re. The puppy: this is a little different as there are dog rules and puppies need to learn how to behave around other dogs. Sometimes this sounds bad as the adult dog will growl at the pup. Also the back of the neck is a plave where dogs show their dominance. If this incident had happened on its own I would say YABU this is normal dog behaviours. Definitely do not pick up the puppy when bigger dogs are around as that changes the dynamic and might encourage the adult dogs to jump up at you to see the puppy.

However the incident with your DD is not ok and you should definitely watch out for this dog in the future.

Ps puppies will cry if they get told off by an adult dog. It's scary but they aren't hurt. It's difficult because try are so small and vulnerable bit please try not to worry too much about the puppy, she'll be fine I promise.

If that happened to my dd, I would report to council dog warden, especially if you have the owners address. Afaik, any threatening behaviour or if it leaves a person scared or distressed is violating the dangerous dogs act,.if on public land... Doesn't need to bite or leave marks, a threat of such is a violation.

Ie. You said it growled beforehand, its not a happy playful action.