Childminder's dog has bitten DD

[Jugglingitall85]

Last week my childminder's dog bit my DD on the face. What would you do? I feel like I have lost trust in their judgement and allowing this to happen.

Should have clarified- I meant no risk is acceptable where dogs are concerned.

I don't blame you not wanting to go back. The dog shouldn't be alone with the children
Please report to Ofsted

This is a very measured response, I think, OP.
I do also think that if a dog really goes for someone, you know about it — and while this incident sounds really worrying, it doesn’t sound as though the dog was intent on savaging your DD (thank goodness) — but when you’re caring for other people’s children, you can’t take any risks.

Edited due to confusing punctuation.

Why did your child get bitten?
How badly was your child injured?

Growing up with animals, I was brought up to leave the animal alone and not pull its tail, etc.

Those of you who say you would destroy the woman's business are terrible. I am disgusted you would be so vengeful.

My son got scratched, bitten and hit by childminder's DAUGHTER, and no way could I demand her child be PTS. So shame on you, who demand the animal's death.

If someone is working as a child minder and has a dog, then it should be a condition of their registration that the dog is kept in another place and always locked away from the children. No ifs, no buts.

If a child minder obtains a dog after registration they should be required to inform the authorities.

Under no circumstances would my child be returning.

Some people would probably blame the baby (or its parents) 🙄.

Currently childminders can still have XL Bullies.

I knew this too but didn't want to throw a grenade on an already spicy thread 😂

@Cdu A vet told me that the overstimulation/noise etc may have contributed to him turning alpha on us.

Please never listen to that vet again. Dogs do not 'turn alpha' ever, it's not a thing, it doesn't exist. Dogs are however easily over aroused, frightened, may experience conflicting emotions and may bite as a result.

I think you did the right thing in rehoming, but it really pisses me off when vets promote such bullshit concepts around dog behaviour. Unless they're a Veterinary Behaviourist, they are not qualified to talk about training/behaviour simply by being a vet.

Anyway - actually returned to the thread to say how astonished I am to find so many people wanting to seek revenge/punishment or lay blame at the dogs paws, when a dog is no more capable of being responsible for his behaviour than a small child is.

Thats why we don't take dogs to court or charge them with crimes - we hold their owners or the adult in charge of them responsible for their actions/behaviour.

How many people in the UK have been killed by a chihuahua or a cavalier kings Charles spaniel grabbing hold of the carotid artery and killing a person. Honestly I’ve never read anything so ridiculous. I have an 8 kg dog in tte highly unlikely event that he attacked me I’m pretty sure I could defend myself and I’m not Miss Universe by any stretch of the imagination. He had a small mouth I can’t fit my hand into it so he would not be able to get his mouth around my calf or thigh and you don’t need to be a dog anatomy specialist to see that he has very small jaw muscles in fact he struggles to bite through his kibble so lacks a powerful bite. At 8 kg he is not going to knock me to the ground although I guess I might trip over him. In contrast my young dog is 16 kg again in the highly unlikely event he attacked me it could be a different story my hand easily fits in his mouth he could easily get his jaw round my calf and probably my thigh it’s obvious he has much larger jaw muscles and therefore a more powerful bite. If I was caught of guard he might knock me to the ground. My friend has a 26 kg dog that can effortlessly knock me over (and has in it’s exuberance) I suspect if a dog really attacks you once you’re on the ground you’re chances of survival diminish. Secondly when you read about these dreadful dog attacks it often says the dog was shaking the child like it was a ragdoll my 8kg dog would struggle to shake a pheasant let alone a child. This is why big dogs pose more of a risk than small dogs.

Errr.....who are you talking to?
Are you feeling okay?

Landshark - As an experienced dog handler; what an idiotic thing to say. Honestly, some of you need an IQ test.

To the O/P - Not reporting it just makes you complicit. If another child goes there and they are bitten how will you feel then!? It will be assessed for dangerous behaviours and age, before any decision is made to PTS. Don't plaster it on FB, because the CM is probably already feeling awful - Even if they were mindless and should not have dogs around children! It will end in a witch hunt for both of you. Just report it - Commonsense yeah!?

Call the police, get the dog put down and the childminder prosecuted. Report them to the local authority and get them struck off. They should not be caring for children, totally unsuitable environment.

A small dog could easily cause a lot of damage to a 3 year old child by taking a chunk out of her face. No dog should be left unsupervised with a child.

I couldn’t agree more and have already stated thus up thread but this idea that small dogs are as dangerous if not more dangerous than a large dog is obviously ridiculous. It’s no coincidence that XL bullies (the clue is in the name) are responsible for more deaths than other dog breeds.

Jesus, it’s not the dogs fault, especially if it’s elderly and been taken by surprise. Absolutely no excuse on the part of the childminder. We had an injured dog and had baby gates everywhere until she was at least 7 or 8.
Lots of knee jerk ignorance on here. If an animal is in pain its instinct is to protect itself.

But this is just taking the whole thread off track! It’s not an argument about big dogs and little dogs but all dogs can bite and cause damage. The face is the CM should not have a dog anywhere near her charges. Big or small.

I’ve heard this sort of thing before, whilst I agree the dog should be away from the children, how do you all know that something nasty wasn’t done to the dog? At the end of the day they are living breathing creatures and have to put up with a lot from us humans, be it big or small ones. I always wonder why it’s always the dogs fault, she hasn’t told us all the circumstances

Doesn't really matter if the toddler 'did something' to the dog though, the child should still be able to go to childcare without being bitten.

Should she have been in that room? If the childminder is allowing her dog loose around the children, I would be angry as its not appropriate in a childcare setting.

If the dog was shut away in another room and kids told to stay out of there but my child ignored the instructions then I wouldn't really feel I could complain much as my child should do as they are told. Although tbf, where was the childminder? Why were the kids unsupervised for long enough that they could go into an area they shouldn't be in? Did she nip to the loo or was she pissing about on her phone ignoring them?

I am firmly in the belief that there is no such thing as a 'bad' dog just bad management. I've had dogs all my life. My parents bred & showed English Setters. In my time I've had German Pointers, rescued greyhound, a Great Dane & a rescued Mastiff as well as a couple of rescued Shih Tzus - they were the most challenging that I ever had to train!.

Since then I have settled on Cocker Spaniels - lovely friendly family dogs - they enjoy a good walk, love people - often bringing a 'present' of a dog toy, shoe or whatever for all visitors. My current dog once grabbed a bra from the laundry basket to greet the postman with. 😂

When my son was young he was taught how to manage the dogs - never to disturb them when sleeping, never to surprise them etc, when very young only allowed to pet dog when I was holding the dog. NEVER in the same room without me or another adult present. However, not difficult as Spaniels famously greedy & bonded with owner/mummy & would rather be with them in the kitchen (where there may be food available) or following the 'food provider' around the house just in case food will appear LOL! I'm not able to go to the loo without dog following me & trying to get onto my lap. 😂

I am always aware that dogs are not humans & need to be very carefully supervised & managed when with young children. When young, my grandchildren were taught not to pet the dog without an adult holding the dog. It doesn't matter how friendly the dog is (all my dogs were/are very calm & friendly) you can't account for the child moving suddenly, grabbing an ear or doing something that may frighten the dog & cause them to snap.

Having said that, I wouldn't have put my child into a care setting where there was a dog - too risky as you don't know how the dog's owner is managing the contact.

What a nasty, vindictive thing to write. Yes, it’s an awful situation that should never, ever have happened. But you don’t know what action the childminder has taken and to want to ‘destroy some one’s business’ is just appalling. She may be an otherwise brilliant minder who is equally appalled and devastated by what has happened and has taken full responsibility for it.

Of course you'd teach your children - they live with dogs! It would be pretty bloody stupid not to!

It may be a shock that perhaps the OP's child isn't around dogs anywhere else? My 3 year olds wouldn't have known about dogs because they weren't around any.

I assume the matter of the dog came up when the OP booked the childminder and I am also assuming that she was reassured that the dog would be kept securely away from children. It certainly should have been!

How is this even a question!???!!!!!!! What a stupid question. Of course you have lost trust in them and NO! you shouldnt send your child there again! It also needs to be reported so it never happens again to another child!!!! 😡

First reply nails it. And inform the police.