Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Dog jumped and scratched child

75 replies

ShyChai · 23/04/2019 23:12

So super long story short, my dog is about a year old, so still a puppy. He is very well behaved unless he gets super excited, then he is very difficult to control (mainly because he's 60 pounds).
I was out in front of my apartment in a grassy area playing with him with a ball. I know I shouldn't have him off leash, but he never runs off, and I only really play with him when no one's around. The leash obviously makes it impossible to run without getting tangled/tearing my arm off.

While we were playing, a little girl came over (12?). She asked if she could play. I warned her he was not aggressive but we are working on his jumping, which he does when he gets very excited (meeting new people). Two other girls around the same age came over. They were having a great time playing with him and having him do tricks.

About 30 mins later, a younger girl (8?) with an even younger girl (4?) came running up around the corner. The 4 year old got extremely excited to see the dog and yelled while running up to my dog. My dog got extremely excited and jumped on her. She got scared and started screaming. Unfortunately the more she screamed the more excited my dog got. Mind you, he never bit or growled, he thought they were playing. Unfortunately the poor kid was terrified, and all the little girls didn't know what to do so they just sat there. I didn't feel comfortable picking up the little girl, so it took me a few tries to grab my extremely excited dog without knocking over the terrified child. The 8 year old removed the 4 year old from the situation and my dog went back to playing with his ball like before. The 12 year old girls were a little shaken up at first, and I adamantly apologized and explained he didn't understand she was scared, he thought they were playing and got excited. They definitely agreed that he is a good dog and he didn't act out of aggression.
I noticed a scratch on her leg from one of his dew claws (all of his other claws are very dull). He didn't draw any blood but I know he did technically hurt the child. And I know it's my fault for having him off his leash, even though it was pretty much a freak accident. I'm just wondering what I should do in this situation. Should I reach out and try to get in contact with the 4 year olds guardian and explain what happened/ let them meet my dog (because he is so incredibly sweet when he isn't super excited)? Should I let it blow over? Should I reach out to management and explain what happened in case anything comes of it?

OP posts:

longearedbat · 24/04/2019 11:46

I think in your situation I wouldn't have let any children I don't know play with my dog. I would have put the dog on the lead, let the children meet him if they wanted, and then gone elsewhere to play. Anyway, lesson learned op.

HoppingPavlova · 24/04/2019 11:49

What should the OP have done? Started screaming at the kids to back away, that would have caused even more upset. Kids need to be taught how to behave around dogs.

So as a dog owner, you have never managed children around your dog? I’ve had dogs I trusted but my trust in children I did not know was zero so I acted accordingly so that they did not interact. The most simple and front line action would be to tell the child that no, they can’t pat or touch my dog. Given I am right beside the dog I can enforce this. I don’t see the difficulty?

werideatdawn · 24/04/2019 13:51

Would love to see a 60lb staffy. It would be like a ball

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:24

In the case of the 9 year old who was killed by a dog last week, the owner was arrested for having a dog dangerously out of control.

If your dog can't be trusted, it should be on a lead.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:26

Kids need to be taught how to behave around dogs.

NO. Dog owners need to be taught how to control their dogs around kids.

Isitweekendyet · 24/04/2019 14:29

Children have very little respect or understanding for dog’s boundaries, if they don’t own one. They aren’t toys.

It was an unfortunate accident but no one is to blame. Hopefully she will have gone home and her parents explained that she shouldn’t have run over screaming.

Don’t worry OP, these things happen.

Nesssie · 24/04/2019 14:36

Sunlov Those 2 situations could not be further apart.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:37

Children have very little respect or understanding for dogs' boundaries, if they don’t own one.

Which is precisely why dog owners need to take responsibility.

Had this gone worse, the OP could be looking at an arrest for manslaughter as the owner of the killer dog last week was.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:38

Sunlov Those 2 situations could not be further apart.

Where's the difference?

LadyFlumpalot · 24/04/2019 14:39

My next door neighbours have a 14 week old puppy, it jumped at me and my 5 year old DD over the weekend when we saw them and went over to say hi, it nipped me and scratched DD.

It's a puppy. They nip and jump and scratch.

My poor neighbour was mortified but it's not an issue, the puppy was excited and jumped up. Nobody was actually hurt. It wasn't malicious and it doesn't sound like your dog was either. I'd chalk it up to experience and take it as a learning point that your puppy gets excited around the kids and it would be worth working on it.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:40

The OP's dog is a one year old 4 stone dog.

Nesssie · 24/04/2019 14:44

Sunlov The dog that killed the poor boy was left alone at 5am in a caravan with the child. The dog has previously bitten. There were no adults present. Irresponsible owner. The dog was aggressive. The dog bit. The dog killed the child.

This situation. A young dog. Supervised at all times. Got excited. Accidentally scratched the child. Was immediately removed from the situation. Responsible owner. Wasn't aggressive. Didn't bite. Didn't kill anyone.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:47

From the OP, there are three 12 year olds, an 8 year old and a 4 year old.
Except she states that I only really play with him when no one's around.
The OP couldn't even rescue the 4 year old, the 8 year had to.

OP also states He is very well behaved unless he gets super excited, then he is very difficult to control
She goes on to state she can't even control him on a lead.

THE OP IS COMPLETELY IN THE WRONG HERE.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:49

@Nesssie

Which is precisely why you can not ever trust a dog.

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 14:51

And in answer to the question - you should most certainly talk to the 4 year old's parents and explain what happened. I very much doubt they will wish to meet your dog, but they will want to know what the fuck happened.

FriarTuck · 24/04/2019 15:38

The OP couldn't even rescue the 4 year old, the 8 year had to.
Because she was trying to grab an over-excited puppy! If you only have one pair of hands there are limits to what you can do. And an excited animal tends to jump around, usually at the precise moment you're just about to grab it!

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 15:40

The owner can't control a one year old dog. I could control mine from 6 months.

Lllot5 · 24/04/2019 16:01

If she couldn’t control the dog it should be on a lead. Wouldn’t have to try and grab it’s collar. Control your dog.

Smumzo · 24/04/2019 16:15

Mumsnet really isn't the right place to ask dog questions OP....

Sunlov · 24/04/2019 16:24

Mumsnet really isn't the right place to ask dog questions OP....

What a stupid statement.

If you've a dog out of control, don't expect mothers of 4 year olds to say 'ah but he was only a put (a 4 stone pup)'

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 24/04/2019 19:07

*Mumsnet really isn't the right place to ask dog questions OP....

What a stupid statement*

Its correct though sunlov not just on this thread but pretty much every dog thread turns in to dogs are bad.

There is a stupid statement on tgis thread though you're right something about a there being £20 on it being a staffie. When the weights and sizes given would make the staffie obese ......i can't think who made the comment about it being a staffie.

(Maybe if you call something thats actuslly correct as stupid - prehaps make sure you haven't made an even stupided statement)

TopDogs2019 · 24/04/2019 21:25

I live in the middle of a city, parks are fab, my 2 love off lead. I'm also a mum, not everyone likes and feels comfortable around dogs, parks are social spaces for all, and if we picniced etc, and a dog bounded over, i'd be pretty pissed off. So, you get up early, you're home before the park 'day shift' and you train and retrain your dog to stay near to you. Everyone who pays council tax, has the right to enjoy public spaces without fear of out of control dogs (and sometimes children) ruining their day. Xxx

Chocolatefishandchups · 24/04/2019 21:54

Slightly off topic, but at the weekend I was out walking my 30kg mixed breed (looks a bit like a red fox Labrador but in reality he's a total mixed mongrel ex Romanian stray). For context my dog is the loveliest natured dog I've ever come across.

There were a group of drunken teenagers sitting on the grass and a boy and his girlfriend came over and next thing I know he had my dog in a headlock and was wrestling him to the ground. I was completely shocked. He clearly -in his inebriated state - thought he was 'playing' with my dog, but obviously to the dog it was quite an aggressive and confusing move from a stranger. Dog starts looking very stressed and his barking (he's a talker) becomes noticeably distressed / unhappy. All the while the idiot drunk kid (likely @17-18) kept putting his face right up against my dog's face. Fortunately my dog is such a nice guy he just kept distressed barking and and I finally managed to extricate him. But I was totally shocked. And I realised in that situation - what what if he had (in my opinion quite justifiably) bitten the boy? He's on a lead. But I imagine in that situation he'd still get the blame for any reaction to being headlocked and wrestled to the ground onto his back. Really shook me up to think how he'd been put at risk like that (I admit I probably should have reacted myself more quickly but I was just totally shocked/ stunned by such an idiotic approach/ action to a totally unknown large dog). I'm aware ( just like Sunlov above) that in that situation if he had bitten, he'd have totally got the blame. Cos I'm supposed to have trained my dog with how to deal with that type of situation!!??

People need to think about how they (and their children) approach/ interact with dogs. They can't be held totally unaccountable for their actions and get an entirely free pass. While the dog (and it's owner) always get the blame. I have my dog on a leash because he's a flight risk (serious prey drive), bread obsessed (high picnic risk) and can be a bit boisterous once excitedly playing with dogs in terms of his approach to people (could knock them over with his enthusiasm). So I'm doing my bit to be responsible until those issues are resolved. But I can't control the actions of total idiots who think they can treat a dog like a feking soft toy .

w0man · 24/04/2019 22:20

Children should never run yelling up to a dog. The parents need to take responsibility for this innocent accident. OP was minding her own business.

Equally dog owners who know they struggle to control their dog when it gets excited and jumps people esp children and knows one of the dogs triggers is children needs to take responsibility for allowing several children she doesn't know to play with him off leash.

She should have kept it on leash and told the children no when more than one wanted to play.

I don't think this dog is bad just that when the OP starts saying she can't control when jumping with excited at people because he's large, it's a bit irresponsible to have him play off leash with children she doesn't know and no sign of their parents to check it's ok.

I agree children should be taught how to behave around dogs but also think it's reasonable to expect owners who know their dog jumps at new children to not allow their dogs off leash with new children. Now way would I allow my dog to play with a child whose parents are not there, because a small child having a 4 stone dog jumping at them is different to a 4 stone dog jumping at an adult.

BrokenWing · 26/04/2019 13:29

Children should never run yelling up to a dog. The parents need to take responsibility for this innocent accident. OP was minding her own business.

Disagree. In an ideal world this will happen, but while young human children are still learning they get priority and dog owners need to keep their animals under control.

I am a dog owner and would never have my placid, bombproof labrador off lead playing with unknown excitable young children.

Flip

1 2 3