Was this an 'acceptable' reaction?

[Badgershy]

We're pretty new to dog ownership, only ever had 1 very laid back elderly rescue before. Our pup is 14 months old. He was playing with his ball when it rolled under the sofa and he couldn't get it, DH knelt down to help and accidentally kneeled on his tail, he's 6ft and 14 stone so a lot of weight pressing down which obviously hurt him. He instantly growled and snapped at DH. As DH was down at his level the dogs tooth caught his lip, it bled a tiny bit. I didn't see it but DH didn't feel he deliberately bit him.

I just wondered if this was a normal reaction for a dog?

Yep pretty normal. If you hurt them, they are frightened, shocked and react immediately.

Yeah... that’s just argh, that hurts and your DH was in an unfortunate place for it, well that’s what it sounds like anyway.

Poor dog, that’s a lot of pressure on his tail. I would say that’s normal, especially for a younger dog.
DH is being unreasonable - the dog reacted instinctively .

Thanks for the replies. I've trodden on his paw before now and he just yelled and cowered but I'm only 8 stone so obviously not as painful.

Happytentoes DH isn't complaining about it or anything, he said sorry to the dog and made a fuss of him. Its me just wondering if the reaction wasn't an over reaction.

*yelped

A normal reaction. And dogs understand apologetic tones of voice. They don't hold grudges either. Don't worry.

Poor little dog, I hope their tail is okay, it was probably also that he was hurt while he was looking for his ball, and therefore it will have given him a shock as well. Really hope he is okay. Your partner will be shocked, but you can't blame the dog.

Is the dog ok now?

It's the canine equivalent of someone suddenly hitting you from behind. You go "argh, what the fuck was that", flail your hands around and happen to clip the person who hit you. The dog's mouth is the equivalent of hands, of course.

No malice, totally normal reaction, and your husband's lip was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Depends on the dog. We’ve had a few and I grew up with them.
Our Jack Russell was a devil and would have ripped your face off for standing on his paws or hurting him, he once gave me a black eye with his nose because I kissed him!

Our lab has never bitten us, even when he was attacked by a dog he just turned his body to repeatedly knock the other dog over. If you stand on his foot he will scream blue murder though.

Aww the poor dog. They can only communicate by barking/growling so it sounds like he was telling him it hurt and your DH was unfortunately at head height.

I hope they're both ok

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

It's the canine equivalent of someone suddenly hitting you from behind. You go "argh, what the fuck was that", flail your hands around and happen to clip the person who hit you. The dog's mouth is the equivalent of hands, of course.

No malice, totally normal reaction, and your husband's lip was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This ^