Dog bit young boy
Discussion
In a country park, three excited dogs running past off leads, one obviously over-excited, result is toothy bruise about two inches across:
I'm assuming there was some jaw action to result in that, it wasn't just a dog running into him with it's mouth open else it would have knocked him flying to be that bad?
Any idea what breed this is?
What would you do, as the parent or the dog owner?
I'm assuming there was some jaw action to result in that, it wasn't just a dog running into him with it's mouth open else it would have knocked him flying to be that bad?
Any idea what breed this is?
What would you do, as the parent or the dog owner?
Edited by ScotHill on Sunday 23 October 15:41
A deliberate bite would usually leave bite marks given how hard teeth are. A proper bite would be unmistakable. I don't think the child was bitten in an aggressive way if bitten at all but I'd certainly have expected an apology. Dogs sometimes 'mouth' when playing, we use our hands.
I'd reassure your child as well. Maybe let him think he's had a knock rather then having been bitten?
Could the dog be a pointer cross or spaniel cross?
I'd reassure your child as well. Maybe let him think he's had a knock rather then having been bitten?
Could the dog be a pointer cross or spaniel cross?
That's not a bite. Boosted has it right... excited open mouthed knock.
From the look of it in the blurry picture the dog's a Springer Spaniel or a close cross.
My reaction would depend to some extent on that of the dog's owner, but I would certainly try to get the child to be comfortable with handling dogs in the right circumstances.
From the look of it in the blurry picture the dog's a Springer Spaniel or a close cross.
My reaction would depend to some extent on that of the dog's owner, but I would certainly try to get the child to be comfortable with handling dogs in the right circumstances.
Wills2 said:
Always keep your child under control if the dogs in the park aren't.
How about you go f
k yourself if your wife won't do it for you? 
Thanks everyone else for the input, yeah agree that if the dog had wanted to bite it would have done a better job than that, still a fairly major injury for a walk in the park for a 5 year old though. Will go back to the owner and see what they say, not worth reporting to police as a bite though.
ScotHill said:
Wills2 said:
Always keep your child under control if the dogs in the park aren't.
How about you go fk yourself if your wife won't do it for you? Thanks everyone else for the input, yeah agree that if the dog had wanted to bite it would have done a better job than that, still a fairly major injury for a walk in the park for a 5 year old though. Will go back to the owner and see what they say, not worth reporting to police as a bite though.
If my dog had done that by the way, I would be absolutely mortified, would have immediately apologised and would take my medicine in terms of some fairly strong words on keeping the dog under control.
ClaphamGT3 said:
In fairness, I think the point being made is, when in a public place, always be vigilant to dogs off leads that could bound up to small children. That doesnt imply that you're in the wrong or that the dog owner shouldn't apologise it's just a reminder to exercise common sense in public places.
If my dog had done that by the way, I would be absolutely mortified, would have immediately apologised and would take my medicine in terms of some fairly strong words on keeping the dog under control.
^^^^If my dog had done that by the way, I would be absolutely mortified, would have immediately apologised and would take my medicine in terms of some fairly strong words on keeping the dog under control.
What he said
ScotHill said:
In a country park, three excited dogs running past off leads, one obviously over-excited, result is toothy bruise about two inches across:
I'm assuming there was some jaw action to result in that, it wasn't just a dog running into him with it's mouth open else it would have knocked him flying to be that bad?
Disagree. If a dog went to bite there would be puncture wounds. I'm assuming there was some jaw action to result in that, it wasn't just a dog running into him with it's mouth open else it would have knocked him flying to be that bad?
Our dogs when they walk into you open mouths without biting can knock you and slice the skin.
I suspect it just went bounding up, mouth open, tongue out....
But the owner should be mortified in any event and apologising.
As others have said, it's just a dog saying hello/playing in an over excited way, they use their mouths for most things. If it had wanted to bite, you would know about it and you'd be in A&E. Even if it was a "go away" nip, it would be painful and you'd definitely know the dog meant it.
Of course the dog should have been leashed, the owners are irresponsible, but I'd just reassure your child the dog was just wanting to play and that's what dogs do as they don't have hands. Be a shame for a child to develop a dog phobia over a playful Spaniel.
Of course the dog should have been leashed, the owners are irresponsible, but I'd just reassure your child the dog was just wanting to play and that's what dogs do as they don't have hands. Be a shame for a child to develop a dog phobia over a playful Spaniel.
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public
The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
Driveeasy said:
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public
The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
I suppose that's why he's asking, as a previous poster said it would a shame if the child became scared of dogs because an excited spaniel accidentally hurt them, it would also be a shame for any harm to come to the dog because of this. The dog owner should've exercised proper control over the dog, simple as that. The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
On the subject of the law and dogs, my Mrs was bitten by an alsatian a few years ago, silly old
who owned it opened his front door and it shot out of the house unleashed just as she was walking past with our dog. It immediately went for our dog and instinctively she tried to block this, leaving her with two deep puncture wounds in her leg. A policeman came round and asked "how do you know it was his dog and not your own" she responded to this ridiculous question by saying because I saw it bite me..!
The copper said because we had no proof it was his dog and not our own dog redirecting on her that nothing could be done. I'd never been so f
king disgusted, nothing happened to him, no fines, no compensation, but my Mrs still has the scars to show for it. Yazza54 said:
Driveeasy said:
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public
The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
I suppose that's why he's asking, as a previous poster said it would a shame if the child became scared of dogs because an excited spaniel accidentally hurt them, it would also be a shame for any harm to come to the dog because of this. The dog owner should've exercised proper control over the dog, simple as that. The law says a dog is classed as being dangerously out of control if it inures someone or makes someone worried that the dog might injure them. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bite, mark or simply a dog jumping at you. It’s not what the owner of the dog or anyone else thinks, it’s what you or your child thinks.
Not sure it will help you now though.
On the subject of the law and dogs, my Mrs was bitten by an alsatian a few years ago, silly old
who owned it opened his front door and it shot out of the house unleashed just as she was walking past with our dog. It immediately went for our dog and instinctively she tried to block this, leaving her with two deep puncture wounds in her leg. A policeman came round and asked "how do you know it was his dog and not your own" she responded to this ridiculous question by saying because I saw it bite me..!
The copper said because we had no proof it was his dog and not our own dog redirecting on her that nothing could be done. I'd never been so f
king disgusted, nothing happened to him, no fines, no compensation, but my Mrs still has the scars to show for it. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff