Dog bite | Mumsnet

C36M · 2024-05-27T17:39:06+00:00

Just wondering what other people would do in this circumstance. My 4 year old daughter has just come back from her dad’s house (she was there for the weekend). I noticed there was a bruise and a few cuts on her arm, so I asked her what happened. She said her dad’s friend’s dog bit her yesterday. I asked her what daddy did and if they kept the dog away from her after that? She said daddy came downstairs to get her and took her upstairs, but didn’t keep the dog away from her after that. When she said he came downstairs to get her I realised she had been on her own with the dog (which she confirmed). I asked her if it was a big dog or a little dog she said big. Then she said it’s not the doggy’s fault though because the dog was eating and she tried to hug it (that’s why it bit her). I obviously don’t want a dog punished for this, as it’s the adult’s fault for leaving a child with an eating dog, but I don’t know how safe this dog is and my ex hasn’t kept the dog away from our daughter after the incident. I also don’t trust him now that he’s left her alone with a dog. My dad suggested I report it on 101, but I’m worried that’s a bit drastic. My ex didn’t mention the bite when he dropped our daughter off, and hasn’t replied to my text asking what happened. What would you do (if anything). I’ve added images of the bruise

firstidrinkthecoffee · 27/05/2024 18:40

Personally I would report so there is a lot.
Also it's worth checking your daughter's tetanus is up to date and having the nite checked out.

Devilshands · 27/05/2024 18:48

I think if you reported the dog, it may be PTS for something that was 100% your ex's fault. It was not the dogs, nor the child.

No child should be left alone around a dog - particularly not a child that is young/naive/inexperienced enough to think it's okay to hug a dog whilst it's eating.

This is not your daughters fault. But it's not the dogs fault either. Most dogs are territorial around food and if you don't have a dog, then she wouldn't have known not to do it. The fact it was a one off bite that was caused by your daughter hugging it makes me think, actually, the dog is probably not a threat. It could have been so much worse - dogs reacting to encroachment when they're eating/playing ('guarding' behaviour) usually latch on. This one didn't and tbh those bites are pretty mild - looks like a warning snap that caught rather than something malicious. It's straight puncture wounds rather than tearing or excessive bleeding and there's no obvious 'mouth grip' (i.e. where the entire mouth latched on. So, tbh more likely a snap than a proper 'bite' otherwise her arm would be mangled and she'd have two sets of bite marks where the top and bottom jaw locked.

Tell your ex he's a dick and make it clear to him (and your daughter) that she is not to be around dogs as she is much too young. If your ex doesn't get with the picture, then no more daughter staying at ex's house.

But don't punish the dog for showing restraint, when many wouldn't, and for an incident that was not its fault.

takemeawayagain · 27/05/2024 18:49

She's 4, this is not ok at all. I dog sit and have never known a dog that would bite around food, that is certainly not a safe dog to have around a 4 year old, let alone her be left alone with. You need to take her to the doctors who will probably contact the police as it is a safe guarding issue.

If you don't go to the docs/report it then you are not safeguarding your daughter. I would not want my child staying with their dad if they can't be trusted to safeguard her properly and then can't even be bothered to mention it or reply to messages.

takemeawayagain · 27/05/2024 18:53

Devilshands · 27/05/2024 18:48

I think if you reported the dog, it may be PTS for something that was 100% your ex's fault. It was not the dogs, nor the child.

No child should be left alone around a dog - particularly not a child that is young/naive/inexperienced enough to think it's okay to hug a dog whilst it's eating.

This is not your daughters fault. But it's not the dogs fault either. Most dogs are territorial around food and if you don't have a dog, then she wouldn't have known not to do it. The fact it was a one off bite that was caused by your daughter hugging it makes me think, actually, the dog is probably not a threat. It could have been so much worse - dogs reacting to encroachment when they're eating/playing ('guarding' behaviour) usually latch on. This one didn't and tbh those bites are pretty mild - looks like a warning snap that caught rather than something malicious. It's straight puncture wounds rather than tearing or excessive bleeding and there's no obvious 'mouth grip' (i.e. where the entire mouth latched on. So, tbh more likely a snap than a proper 'bite' otherwise her arm would be mangled and she'd have two sets of bite marks where the top and bottom jaw locked.

Tell your ex he's a dick and make it clear to him (and your daughter) that she is not to be around dogs as she is much too young. If your ex doesn't get with the picture, then no more daughter staying at ex's house.

But don't punish the dog for showing restraint, when many wouldn't, and for an incident that was not its fault.

Edited

You are wrong. It's not unreasonable for this dog to be PTS. The child should not have been left with it of course but it is not normal behaviour for a stable pet dog to bite someone who touches it while eating. I dog sit and have never known anything like that, the dogs I look after will often try and sneak a bit of another dogs food and wouldn't dream of biting me for stopping them. This is not normal or acceptable behaviour in a well socialised dog.

Devilshands · 27/05/2024 18:57

takemeawayagain · 27/05/2024 18:53

You are wrong. It's not unreasonable for this dog to be PTS. The child should not have been left with it of course but it is not normal behaviour for a stable pet dog to bite someone who touches it while eating. I dog sit and have never known anything like that, the dogs I look after will often try and sneak a bit of another dogs food and wouldn't dream of biting me for stopping them. This is not normal or acceptable behaviour in a well socialised dog.

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Actually, it's entirely normal. The fact you claim to be a pet sitter astounds me...you clearly have very little idea about dogs given you claim to let multiple dogs eat together and take food from each others bowl. That is a recipe for disaster, much like the situation OP posted about.

Dogs are terrotorial. Very few dogs would not snap at someone hugging them - which many dogs don't like anyway - when they are eating. In this case, the dog did not know the child and that will have been part of the issue.

The animal should not be PTS for something that was not its fault. If it had attacked the child randomly, I'd say differently.

Heelworkhero · 27/05/2024 18:59

@takemeawayagain I hope you never sit my dog!

Dogs should never have the opportunity to ‘sneak’ another’s food. Even if they live together they should eat in separate areas.

Not because they will all be biting each other, but because it’s unfair for humans to put dogs in stressful situations - another dog approaching one eating will produce a level of stress in each animal.

Most dog sitters don’t have a clue about dog behaviour………… 🙄