I’m not a dog owner, and don’t know much about dog behaviour.
PILs acquired a new dog last year (not sure of the breed exactly but it looks like a springer spaniel crossed with something else, maybe) – they got it off someone who had got it off someone else… basically, its history isn’t known. The first time we met it, MIL insisted that it was great with kids, and encouraged ds (who is 5) to cuddle up to it, and it then bit him in the face. Hard enough to leave marks for a few days and to upset ds a lot, but not hard enough to require professional medical attention.
When we got home, I set a rule that ds wasn’t to crouch down near the dog. Basically, I just don’t want his face being level with its mouth. MIL knows I’ve set this rule, but keeps encouraging ds to crouch down near it anyway to give it treats etc. (I’m never actually there – DH takes him to visit while I work, and MIL only does it when ds is alone with her, meaning we only hear about it after the fact). This obviously puts ds in a difficult position.
I still feel uncomfortable about it, but what I want to know is, am I being overly cautious with this rule? I’m on the verge of raising it with MIL, but that would cause an argument which I’d like to avoid if I can. Except for on that one occasion the dog has always seemed very docile, and PILs are always talking about how great it is with kids at the park etc.