Help - My Dog Bit Someone

[MyDeftFawn]

I’m in such a panic and am hoping someone can offer advice/reassurance. I hope I’ve chosen the right place to post.

I was hanging out laundry in my back garden this morning. My dog was wandering the garden while I was out there (the garden is completely secure, with a fence and gate at the bottom through which the dog cannot escape).

A young boy - perhaps about 10 - passed by the alleyway that my garden backs onto and stopped by our fence. He spotted my dog who’d ambled over to the end of the garden (he shows interest when anyone stops at our gate). In a flash he had put his hand through a gap in the fence and my dog bit it.

I went to the boy and checked his hand (he was obviously very shocked but I didn’t want him wandering off alone if he was injured/bleeding). There was no cut or blood that I could see, but a scratch. He wasn’t crying, but I could tell he was shocked, understandably. I said I was so very sorry that the dog bit him - which I am, I’m absolutely devastated. He went on his way.

I don’t think the boy meant any harm at all and my dog does look like a sweet little thing, but he doesn’t like his face being touched and I think this is what the boy did. When out walking we are very strict in not allowing people to stroke him for this reason. But this all happened so fast. Just seconds.

I’m heartbroken, but also worried about where we stand legally. Can anyone help? I am definitely not asking for anyone to tell me it’s OK for my dog to bite like this, by the way. It absolutely isn’t and we are now going to look at replacing the fence with one that doesn’t have gaps so that this cannot happen again.

But, honestly, if my dog were taken away or, worse, destroyed over this, I don’t know how I’d cope with it.

Thank you

I had a similar situation although it was an adult and not a child. (Delivery driver). She said that she had to report it to the police as that was her company policy and I said that it was absolutely fine to do so.

About three days later a policeman came, took a report, looked at the dog and took dogs name and description. That was the end of it.

Close the gap in the fence. Surely that's the obvious answer?

Yes, we’ll be doing this.

Honestly, I've kept dogs for over 35 years - medium to large breeds - this was an unfortunate, but thankfully rare, occurrence. My dog is 12 now, she too has cataracts. Whenever she is outside now I stand outside with her because it's fairly easy for someone to put their hand over my gate and I've started to ask the kids not to try to stroke her as she doesn't have good sight anymore and they may accidentally startle her. To be fair most of the local kids ask permission first and they're very accommodating. The boy will be fine.

He’s held in the living room when that happens. The back garden was (I thought) somewhere safe. I’m an idiot.

Then I honestly don't think there is any more to do. Other than keep an eye out for other possible changes in (dog) behaviour that may indicate a vet check would be in order.

All you need to do is sort the fencing so that people can't reach the dog. At 15 your old dog was probably startled due to poor vision/hearing, hence the bite.
I would not put up a sign as it could be interpreted as you having admitted liability to owning a dog which bites, and there are some strange folk about who could take advantage.
Your dog isn't dangerous or need rehoming, he is elderly and just needs his space respecting.

That's how we were raised.

Always ask the owner if you can stroke their dog/don't put your hand over a dog's fence or you may get bitten.

Always approach a horse from the side, never from the rear or you may get kicked. Never walk through a field when the cows have their young with them or they may charge at you and trample you underfoot.

And if you are silly enough to do any of the above, don't coming crying to us because it will your own fault. 🤣

Christ, if my dogs were in my secure enclosed garden and a kid stuck their hands through my fence and they bit said kid, I would not have said sorry to the child. I’d have asked if they were ok but I wouldn’t apologise that they paid the price for their stupidity.

I was always brought up that if you torment or touch an unknown dog, it’s not the dogs fault if it bites and the dog won’t be told off.

that’s not victim blaming that’s parents not teaching their delightful angels about respect and boundaries for other people and animals. He was 10 ish not 2, more than capable of understanding and respecting animals.

common sense comes into play and I very much doubt a police officer even if reported would act on this.

Ah don’t worry about
if the kid has put his hand in my neighbours garden with her dog he be lucky to have a hand left 😂 vicious little yappy dachound

and the mini bully would have licked him to death

honestly your dog was in his home on his land I don’t blame him for doing a “ oi who the fuck are you nip “

the kid will hopefully learned a lesson a not to stick hands though a fence

you have learned that need to have the fence made idiot proof , dog proof & child proof 😂

As a kid we were always taught don’t touch a did without asking the owner and if you do and get bit then tough shit

but my parents were quite lax 😂 and would give most parents today a heart attack

@Mischance what a load of nonsense , the dog was in its garden the child shouldn't have put his hand through the fence

Dogs Trust have visited the kids school to explain to children that must never approach a dog they do not know. They also explained that if you have permission to pet the dog, how to do it. (Eg Most people try to pet the dog on its head, but that isn’t a place dogs like strangers petting them.)

its also worth explaining that dogs are sentient animals, not things to satisfy others needs. @MyDeftFawn I feel you have been responsible with regards to your dog and the child has learnt a natural consequence for his uninvited actions.

Respect for animals needs to be explicitly taught and that includes not petting animals unless consent is given.

Wouldn’t give this any more thought than you have done. He was in his own garden. I say that as someone who was bitten this week and it definitely left a mark

I completely agree. No matter how much he likes these other people, you are his human as much as he is your dog. Don't send him away.

You have done nothing wrong ! Your dog was not roaming around - he was in his own garden - not out in a public space - onus is on said child - should not be poking his hands through a fence - his fault end of!

I will always remember this. Thank you.

I only wanted to hang my washing out. I haven’t been outside for days. It makes me so sad.

I think you are overthinking this, yes a child was bitten, but through his own stupidity. On the positive side he will have learnt a valuable lesson and he wasn't injured.

Honestly, you need to just chalk it up to experience, secure the fence and carry on with life. With the best will in the world accidents can happen, hiding away will not benefit anyone.