Puppy just bit 4yo dd's face.

[KrisCringleWinterWonderland]

She has a small gash above her eyebrow. My older DD was getting the dog riled up and hyper, and I was upstairs not realising the situation. Puppy then ran into the kitchen and 4yo DD was interacting with her but puppy jumped up with mouth open, I assume?

There was no aggression but this isn't acceptable. We have been training at home but this is beyond me. I am going to contact a trainer in the new year.

I have a rule of keeping the little ones separate from the dog if I'm not around, but what use is that if people don't follow it.

I'm really upset.

Not getting rid. I agree it's a training issue and something we can fix. I feel sick to my stomach about it and regret letting my guard down with the DC. We have had our serious conversation and will continue with reminders. I have gates up everywhere already! This happened while my back was turned.

It's just constant reinforcement on both sides. Can you get the DC involved in training too? I found this worked wonders with my DD - she has been responsible for feeding my dogs since she was 3 - none of them moved or touched their food until she told them otherwise. It seemed to set the boundaries a little

Flashlight has a point though. It doesn't matter if the issue is not the dog, what matters is that the dog lives in a family who are not suitable for him. A 4 year old has been bitten in the face, don't make it sound like a non-issue.

Hopefully the incident is more than enough, and adults will now make sure this can never happen again. It's too much to expect a 7 yo to be trusted entirely.

I am curious about the breed - is it a small-ish dog? In many cases, owners are more wary about the bigger dogs, and not careful enough with the little ones, perceived as "safe". Even a labrador is not "safe"< they are dogs.

But I'm sure it's all my fault anyway!

Yep

How old's the pup?

I cringe at people who will take on a puppy - clearly without reading up on puppy behaviour - and then boot said puppy at the first sign of, well, puppy behaviour.

kriscringle - dont beat yourself up. Its happened. You wont let it happen again.
The bitey phase is hard but it will pass soon enough

Discipline your children. Civilised humans take responsibility. The dog did not choose to be with you and your dcs.

OP you mention getting in a trainer in the new year. Definitely let your older DC hear what they have to say as sometimes that has a bigger impact than just you giving the ground rules.

Yep, it is your fault. You have a young pup, Xmas day and excited kids. What exactly did you expect?

did the dog actually bite her or just catch her with its tooth when leaping?

Dogs and small children are not a safe combination. I know several people whose dogs bit the children and every single one said "It was o out of character. He/she has never bitten before " etc etc. Well, I hope that's a consolation as you get your child's face stitched.

@mustbemad17 you must not be cringing at me then, because I have clearly said in this thread that I am aware of puppy behaviour, that I've told my DC not to be alone with the puppy, we have gates up, etc etc. Oh, and that we aren't planning to get rid.

Puppy is almost 8 months old. She's a Spanish water dog. I've posted about her before under a different name.

Not sure why I bothered with this thread, tbh. Feeling a bit kicked by people.

You should also go to the doctors, I had a puppy catch me just with her tooth really bad skin infection

It wasn't a bite, from what I can tell but just a tooth catching her. She wasn't being aggressive .

Doesn’t sound like a bite, sounds like dog was jumping while excited with its mouth open and caught the dc face. Big difference.

X post.

Sounds like a total non issue. Tell the kids not to wind the dog up, tell kids to not lean over a dog which is bouncing about as this will minimise the chance of being caught in the face.

OP I asked about the breed as the bigger they are the slower they take to mature and it's a difficult age as clearly yours is out of the really small puppy stage but will still get over excited and bouncy as they push into teenagedom and has the disadvantage of being adult in size but not maturity.

OP absolutely not cringing in your direction, all your posts here show you really want to deal with this. My cringe comment was at other posters telling you to dump the pup for exhibiting pup behaviour.

Pretty sure it's lesson learned, hopefully on your DD's part too. Welcoming a pup into the house means everyone has to learn to muddle along together safely

This sounds like an accident when your puppy got a bit over excited playing. So I don't think it's a training issue you just need to manage her interactions with the kids better. If the kids can't be trusted to leave her alone when she is shut in the kitchen (or wherever you leave her when you are busy) you must take her about with you.

Don't get upset it could have been much worse. Puppy is learning and DC are learning, if you have to leave a room take either puppy or DC with you. It is pita for a few months but well worth the work you have to put in. My Siberian Husky is now 18 months old and is possibly one of the most tiring breeds, absolutely adores my DD but I still will not leave her alone with DD even though she is past the bitey stage, also I tell DD if she winds the dog up she will be in just as much trouble as the dog. Please preserve, I had a very rewarding childhood being around pets, it is a phase but it usually passes with time and the right training and attitude, puppy training classes are great but if you can't afford them google/YouTube advice by breed and age

My pups a Cavalier King Charles 10 months - literally could not be less aggressive and the other day he accidentally got a tooth into my finger when we were playing. I think at that age they're still learning their bit inhibition.

1-2-1 trainer brilliant idea - with the children there so can all practice together.

Mumsnet has to be the worst place to ask for a balanced view on dogs and kids. You'd honestly think that dogs were anacondas.

These things happen with puppies. It's not the end of the world, it really isn't. It's a teachable moment. The kids need to understand the consequences of riling up the dog. It doesn't sound like an aggressive bite. Was it more of a mouthy jump that happened to make contact? We had a large breed pup once who at 8 months put his canine tooth clear through DHs hand. DH was playing rough with a toy and the dog tried to grab it and missed. Dog had not an aggressive bone in him. He lived 12 more years and never "bit" another soul. It was DHs fault and he knew it. If it was an aggressive bite then you have a far bigger problem. Is the 7 year old a reliable witness?

Bring the dog to be assessed by a knowledgeable trainer who will work with your kids on how to train and interact with the dog. Have the trainer go over the incident with the kids. Agree with pp that often has a greater impact than just a parent saying it.

I have never known a single family in real life with a well trained dog that kept the dog separate from the kids unless 100% supervised. It's just absurd. Of course there is a risk. There's a risk the kids will hurt each other. But you don't keep them on lock down every minute.

It will all be fine. Really it will. You sound like a responsible owner who will sort it.

let’s hope the ‘pup behaviour’ doesn’t result in someone getting hurt.—oh wait! Your 4 yr old was bitten on the face— still! Just a training issue.

I have a puppy of a similar age and I do think she would probably do the same if wound up. She has caught me when playing with toys and has got overexcited.

As a result I never play rough games, don't allow wrestling or rough play with our other dog (walks and when off lead only) and always insist on good manners when playing. I also never allow her to touch anyone with her teeth in any way.

I have a toddler and so far she's never so much as knocked him nevermind anything else so I think it's just a case of being more vigilant.