Should I report this dog for biting DH?

[heldinadream]

Posting in AIBU for full range of opinions.
We live in a village. We’re having our bathroom done so are temporarily without a bath or shower, and some people we know (but not well) very kindly said we could use one of theirs, we’ve got a key and freedom to come and go.
All good and lovely. Incredibly kind of them.

They have a very large garden and a dog that runs free in the garden.
I went a couple of times to use the shower and I wasn’t comfortable with the dog, who looked at me suspiciously and followed me, so I stopped going and I’ve managed without and also spent time away so I can shower elsewhere (yes it’s taking a ridiculously long time but that’s another story!).
Anyway long story short my DH, who has happily gone there probably a good 20 times now, was chatting to one of the parents of one of the owners a couple of days ago and the dog approached him and bit him, through his trousers, unprovoked in any way as far as I can tell, skin not really broken but a massive blood clot thing just under the skin and a bruise.

Obviously DH – completely unfazed, because that’s him – has told them, they are upset and apologetic but also were concerned that we don’t report it, AND have admitted it’s not the first time dog has bitten. Second time IF they are being straight with us. DH not only happy to let it go but fully intends to go shower again and just says he’ll avoid the dog if necessary! I’m like – how? What if the dog follows you?

The people themselves are almost never there when we go, by the way.
The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to want to report the dog. But – it is in its own garden. And I really don’t want to upset these people, who are both nice but also pretty kind of powerful locally – unlike me, I’m an invisible sort. But I’m cross they think it’s ok to have the dog run free and yet gaily say to people to just come in, and presumably people who deliver stuff have to run the gamut of the dog, too.
AIBU to even consider reporting the dog?

100%. The owners should never have given you a key to their home unless they were 100% sure that the dog was safe. It is irrelevant it is in their house, they have allowed their dog to bite someone.

What would people say if they've given them a key and not mentioned that the gas was leaking and the house could explode at any minute? What if OP was saying "it was kind of them to let us use their house, but now my husband is dead due to a massive explosion". Would people say "they are kind, it's their hosue, chill out"? No. Just because you are doing someone a favour doesn't mean you can ignore basic health and safety.

The fact that the dog has bitten before makes it 100 times worse.

What if the next person to invade is a small child retrieving a ball? The dog is dangerous and needs destroying.

It is violent, aggressive, unpredictable and needs to be put down
Dies this apply to humans? Ifa friend of your husband came to you, in your garden, when your back is turned, and when they come to touch, you turn around abruptly and doing so punch them in the nose.

Does this make you a violent, aggressive, unpredictable person who should be sent to jail forever!

Total over dramatisation!

It's your dh decision if he wants to take it further or not.
If you feel that strongly about it talk to the owners before you report. (Personally I'd not report)

I wouldn’t report it but I would have a serious word with the owners about keeping the dog away from people and muzzle training it for out of the house.

The fact that the dog has bitten before makes it 100 times worse
The dog didn't bite, it nipped. Not even blood! Don't you think that if the German shepherd meant to be aggressive, he wouldn't have done more damage going for a real bite!

If this dog wanted to bite, OP'S DH would have a chunk of his leg missing.

I also think that we should know about the breed/ type of dog. Any guard dog breeds will be prone to nipping if they feel their home is threatened.

The dog was clearly guarding the home, and reacted on instinct.

I'd stop going as to not provoke the dog any further.

Oh don’t be so ridiculous. You cannot compare humans and animals. The dog is an animal. It is dangerous and should be destroyed.

Dog lovers are quite honestly not right in the head.

It doesn't matter whether there was blood or not. It still bit someone, and it bit them hard enough to leave a mark and a bruise.

The owners also know the dog has bitten before and they knew that OP and her husband were going to be coming in and out of their home.

And yet they still chose to have the dog free-roaming and in areas where it could get to them and bite them. That's incredibly irresponsible behaviour. Either you shut the dog away or only allow visitors into the home when you're around to hold and control the dog.

According to the law, any dog that bites a human on public or private property is classed as out of control. In fact, dogs don't even need to bite to be considered a danger anymore.

Honestly it's YOU being ridiculous here. The dog was in its own home, minding its own business and was caught off guard by stranger invading their space. Of course it shouldn't be reported and immediately destroyed. We don't even know what the breed is
If you knew anything about dogs then you'd know overly territorial/protective behaviour can be quite common. Training and a dog behavioural expert can be perfectly sufficient.
Your post is extremely ignorant.

So? They're not his owners/the home owners.

people are in his house, he didn't attack anyone.

the owners aren't being responsible, they shouldn't allow people who can't sort their own lives out, to use their home because it's stressing their dog out.

but the dog nipped your DH, you weren't there, he doesn't want to report it....I think you should keep your nose out.

I think you've all acted irresponsibly to be honest. Show me a dog who wouldn't be wary of two strangers entering its home when the owners aren't present.

This was a silly arrangement, the only one who isn't at fault is the dog imo! Who had no choice in it in the first place!

I can't believe you would consider reporting it either. To who? The police? As if they're going to do anything. There is major crime happening that isn't even being dealt with, never mind a completely preventable situation.

The only decent thing to do is say, thanks very much for letting us use your shower, but as the dog is clearly uncomfortable with us being there, as it bit my husband, we won't be coming over any more.

Yes we do, it’s a German Shepard.

The dog was not caught off guard and the DH is not a stranger - he’s been going there since May. Stop making excuses.

Seeing as you own a dog yourself, you should know that training and/or a dog behavioural expert can be perfectly sufficient then?

I await your response.

No!

I don’t own a dog.

This dog has bitten twice. It is dangerous and should be put down before it does it again.

That would be an incredibly rude and unkind thing to do to such generous neighbours.

Dog lovers are quite honestly not right in the head.

I don't love dogs, don't even like them really, but I wouldn't ever have a dog put down because it bit me once in his own garden not even hard enough to break the skin. And I ESPECIALLY would not if their owners had been kind enough to offer me their bathroom for months on end.

A dangerous out of control dog attacking unprovoked is a different thing entirely.

These people have been exceptionally good to you and you’re considering reporting them. Honestly, stop going over for showers, have a chat with them and leave it there. Do not report to authorities FFS

Honest to goodness Op.

Half a year without a shower & using one of people you barely know!

Not surprised your husband wants to keep going with the convenience of that!

Was it an aggressive bite or was the dog trying to get his attention/play?

I think that and the owners reaction would make a difference.

I'm not condoning a biting dog, but when mine wants attention he will try to grab hold of a loose/long sleeve and tug on it. He's not trying to bite us but he has in the past accidentally nipped us when he's got a bit over excited!

He knows straight away if he catches us because he backs away with his head bowed and gives us the big sorry puppy dog eyes.

Before anyone says it, yes we do tell him off and we have worked on preventing the behaviour, he just very occasionally forgets and gets too excited when new people come into our house, he's a sociable bod and just wants to say hello!

That being said, because we know he does this we take steps to make sure that he cannot get out of our garden and that strangers don't come into our house unless DH or I are there and the dog is introduced to them in a calm way...... your friends are really irresponsible if they are leaving their garden gate open!!

I definitely wouldn’t report this. I don’t think the police will do anything if the dog was in its own home.

YABU because the dog is probably reacting to what it saw as a threat. Even the most docile dogs may bite what they see as an intruder and will be trying to protect their owners.

Of course you should report it what would happen if someone visited with a small child doesn't make it okay just because it's at home. And I love dogs and have one but butting is never acceptable.

A dog who kills a member of its own household (especially a child) is a very different thing to a dog who sees an unknown person arrive, assumes they are a threat and bites.