Dog bit friend

[GotBit]

I need some advice here.

Friend has a large breed pup. She’s an experienced dog owner.

My young DS spends time at their house fairly regularly and when being picked up by (another) friend yesterday the dog leapt up and bit friend.

I can’t let DS go round unsupervised can I?

Why did the dog bite? And what did the dog owner tell you?

How old is the dog and what sort of bite? An excited nip from a young puppy bouncing around wildly is very different from a proper bite from an adult or near-adult dog.

Puppies mouth when they get excited - it's not ideal, but it is what they do. Obviously a responsible owner trains that out of them, but it takes time.

So while I usually don't have any time for the people who downplay biting, I have to agree - what kind of bite was it, what was happening beforehand, and what is the owner saying?

That all said - I don't think young children should ever be unsupervised around dogs.

It's not worth the risk OP. If your dc is bitten and needs to go to hospital (if the skin is punctured to let in infection), dog-bites to children are now automatically notifiable.

Neither your DC nor your friend need the police getting involved.

Dog is 10mths ish and was being walked by friend 1.

Friend 2 approached and dog jumped at her. Not an excited, bouncing around nip. Teeth made contact with her chest but didn’t get ahold of anything. Chest is bruised from the impact.

Owner extremely apologetic and working on training. They realise dog has an issue but adore dog.

I wouldn’t let him go round.

I’ve known several dogs who bite and the owners whine, “She’s only playing…”

It hurts. Dog bites hurt. I’d be unhappy if my child got bitten.

Is it a labrador or a rottweiler. Breed makes a difference can't believe it will be a lab

@YourenutsmiLord

Is it a labrador or a rottweiler. Breed makes a difference can't believe it will be a lab

It doesnt really all dogs have teeth.

Most dog bites in the uk are caused by labs than any other breed.......

(although could be because there are a lot of labs in the uk!)

To be honest I wouldn't let my child go round to a house with a large breed dog (especially if it was a bull breed/rottweiler or alsation).
Especially if the dog is an adolescent and still learning.

Especially if now you don't fully trust the dog.

@Grumpyosaurus

How old is the dog and what sort of bite? An excited nip from a young puppy bouncing around wildly is very different from a proper bite from an adult or near-adult dog.

So what? A large dog breed puppy is face height, eye height, to a small child. It’s still a nip with teeth….

Ok, it’s a nip, not being mauled, but still not OK.

My child would not be going until the dog has settled down / mature enough to have been trained.

The dog is not one of the ones mentioned here and is not known for aggression but it is big. About 50kg. It almost knocked my stocky rugby playing friend off her feet.

I wouldn’t let your DS go there...

It’s the, the owner knows the dog has an issue and it was still put in a position to be able to attend a bite that would make me very wary of your friends ability to assess risk and manage her dog.

Attend - attempt

No. I don't think you can allow your DS to go unsupervised. Even if you're relying on the dog owner for childcare. The bite was a warning. The owner's knowledge that there are issues that need working on won't be resolved quickly. You would be foolish to ignore the possibility you're DS could be on the receiving end in future.

Oh dear, 50kg at months means there is probably a fair bit of growing left to do. Big dogs do need to be perfectly trained. Adolescent dogs often try and test boundaries, unfortunately when they weigh that much it is not funny or frustrating, it is dangerous.
Encourage your friend to get help from a trainer or behaviourist. Don't let your son go round, the risk is not worth it.

It doesn't sound like the dog was being aggressive - teenage pups are mouthy, push boundaries and often pretend they don't know anything you taught them as puppies

Unfortunately, at 50kg, it doesn't take much for them to cause an injury and it sounds like your friend doesn't have much control over the dog, so for that reason I wouldn't allow my child there.

Whatever the breed and the age do NOT let your child go round there - ever.

It matters not why it did it - the fact is it did. So do NOT let your child round there - ever.

Whether it is a nip or a big bite matters not - it bit. So do NOT let your child round there - ever.

Whether it is regarded as "normal" (God help us!) behaviour for the dog's age or breed - it bit. So do NOT let your child round there - ever.

Only you can protect your child - So do NOT let your child round there - ever.

"THEY REALISE DOG HAS AN ISSUE".Totally inappropriate behaviour.50kg is gigantic size,even jumping up on another person is a problem.If it is a male dog,it can be a dominance behaviour and potentially dangerous.I personally would want to observe the dogs behaviour before I am confident to let my son spend time with that dog.