My dog nipped neighbours kid !!

mama79

So I have a two-year-old Jack Russell (neutered)which is normally fantastic with kids. However today two of the neighbours kids were in my living room with my two sons. The neighbours kids were jumping around and making the dog excited. I asked them to stop but before I knew it the dog nipped one of the kids on the back of the leg. I took him straight to his dad across the road and showed him the mark the dog left. He said these things happen and seemed ok but I said to maybe get him checked out all the same and let me know about any medical bills etc.

What should I do? Am I correct in assuming that the dog now needs to be put down or rehomed? Any advice welcome! I've been trying to contact the shelter where we got him for advice but they're closed/not picking up the phone.

Thanks in advance

Rommie

Did the dog draw blood? Sounds just like it was a playful nip and that was all. It sounds like the neighbour understands that these things can happen with a young excitable dog so I wouldn't be worried about it, just make sure the dog is put into a different room or something in future to avoid it happening again

PucaMama

This is not something to put the dog down over just don't leave it alone with children.

mama79

Thanks Rommie I think the skin was broken a bit ...the dad seemed fine at the time but I guess you never know how they'll be once himself and his wife sit down to talk about it.

antix80

It might be an idea to train the dog.

If the skin broke the child probably needs a tetanus injection.

mama79

Possibly, I'll have to wait & see what the parents say if or when they get the boy checked out .

mickdw

Nipped seems to be the term used by dog lovers to make small of it.
It appears that the dog bit the child and to be honest it would be foolish for you to retain such a dog. What if it happens again? What if it significantly damages a child, you could have no defence given your prior knowledge.

Spanish Eyes

Wondering why you asked the kids to be quiet instead of putting the dog in the back garden. Or vice versa. It was a lovely day today.

PucaMama

mickdw wrote: »

Nipped seems to be the term used by dog lovers to make small of it.
It appears that the dog bit the child and to be honest it would be foolish for you to retain such a dog. What if it happens again? What if it significantly damages a child, you could have no defence given your prior knowledge.

I have been bitten and I have been nipped by dogs, there's a difference. A jack Russell I. With over excited small children isn't a great situation. I wouldn't allow it with mine.

mama79

I didn't ask them to be quiet I asked them to calm down a little . They had been out most of the afternoon but came in for a few minutes !

bmwguy

Slightly worrying you thought of putting the dog down so quickly. Poor dog. Just let it be a lesson that these things happen and be very careful about kids getting the dog excited and being around the dog in the first place.

I can make my lab play bite me through messing but she doesn't put any pressure on and its more affectionate than anything but I wouldn't let kids get her as excited.

Your dog didn't really do anything wrong, we just have to manage their environments a bit better

linpoo

mickdw wrote: »

Nipped seems to be the term used by dog lovers to make small of it.
It appears that the dog bit the child and to be honest it would be foolish for you to retain such a dog. What if it happens again? What if it significantly damages a child, you could have no defence given your prior knowledge.

There's a big difference between an aggressive dog that you'd be afraid to be near as it could bite you to a dog that gets excited and does a little nip. It can unintentionally happen when a dog gets excited, doesn't mean it's vicious.

I'd never leave any dog (no matter how long I have it) alone with kids as kids can make a dog nervous too with all their jumping about and excitement and sounds like it was just an accident.

mama79

Yes having experienced both nip & bite there is a difference ! Lesson learned I'll sign off now thanks for the replies

Manach

Even the mildest of dogs are known to react under pressure. It should just now be a case of restricting access when the neighbours kids come around to prevent a re-occurrence.

mama79

I'm not thinking of putting the dog down (sorry bmwguy just saw your message) I guess I'm just trying to look st from all perspectives

PucaMama

mama79 wrote: »

Yes having experienced both nip & bite there is a difference ! Lesson learned I'll sign off now thanks for the replies

Op I know it's not nice when our dogs act up like this I got a full bite seperating two of my own fighting it can be very upsetting

mama79

Also I was in the room at the time

bmwguy

PucaMama wrote: »

I have been bitten and I have been nipped by dogs, there's a difference. A jack Russell I. With over excited small children isn't a great situation. I wouldn't allow it with mine.

I'll echo that, I have been nipped by loads of dogs over the years, mostly mine, sometimes not mine. I have never been bitten aggressively by a dog, there is a massive difference. I once told my parents I was bitten as a child but they knew better, it wasn't really a bite. In fact I don't know anyone personally that I know to have been properly bitten by a dog. Although it does happen, I will admit.

njs030

mickdw wrote: »

Nipped seems to be the term used by dog lovers to make small of it.
It appears that the dog bit the child and to be honest it would be foolish for you to retain such a dog. What if it happens again? What if it significantly damages a child, you could have no defence given your prior knowledge.

Nipped is a small insignificant injury. Will probably cause a bruise. Similar to if I chicken scratched you in a game.
A bite is an aggressive action used to defend or attack and designed to cause a large amount of harm, would rip flesh and leave a huge wound and require stitches. Like if I clawed your eyes out in anger.
You see the difference?

Op the dog was over excited as were the children, please make sure to separate them in future and keep the dog in a calm place. Hopefully if you explain you won't put their child in the position again it'll be fine.

mama79

Thanks everyone I'll see how it goes with the neighbours

endacl

PucaMama wrote: »

I have been bitten and I have been nipped by dogs, there's a difference. A jack Russell I. With over excited small children isn't a great situation. I wouldn't allow it with mine.

+1

The dog wasn't being a 'dangerous dog'. It was being a 'typical jack russell'. Kids get excited - dog gets excited - nip.

There is a world of difference between a nip and a bite. If a terrier bit, you know all about it, because it'd still be hanging on and shaking.

PucaMama

bmwguy wrote: »

PucaMama wrote: »

I have been bitten and I have been nipped by dogs, there's a difference. A jack Russell I. With over excited small children isn't a great situation. I wouldn't allow it with mine.

I'll echo that, I have been nipped by loads of dogs over the years, mostly mine, sometimes not mine. I have never been bitten aggressively by a dog, there is a massive difference. I once told my parents I was bitten as a child but they knew better, it wasn't really a bite. In fact I don't know anyone personally that I know to have been properly bitten by a dog. Although it does happen, I will admit.

I have been properly bitten with broken skin etc had to have tetanus (which I got sick from) but it was my own fault I had to seperate my small terrier and a much bigger dog fighting if I hadn't she would have been dead

groovyg

Op I think putting it down is a bit of a very extreme reaction. Did it happen in front of you or were you out of the room when it happened? To be honest you cant leave kids and dogs alone. I had a jack Russell as a kid and it nipped me once or twice but my mam gave out to me for driving it crazy!! To be fair when I think back now I probably did drive it nuts lifting her up, carrying her around I treated her like a doll rather than a dog.

embraer170

endacl wrote: »

+1
There is a world of difference between a nip and a bite. If a terrier bit, you know all about it, because it'd still be hanging on and shaking.

My dad got bitten by a kerry blue once and it wasn't a pretty sight.

mama79

mama79 wrote: »

So I have a two-year-old Jack Russell (neutered)which is normally fantastic with kids. However today two of the neighbours kids were in my living room with my two sons. The neighbours kids were jumping around and making the dog excited. I asked them to stop but before I knew it the dog nipped one of the kids on the back of the leg. I took him straight to his dad across the road and showed him the mark the dog left. He said these things happen and seemed ok but I said to maybe get him checked out all the same and let me know about any medical bills etc.

What should I do? Am I correct in assuming that the dog now needs to be put down or rehomed? Any advice welcome! I've been trying to contact the shelter where we got him for advice but they're closed/not picking up the phone.

Thanks in advance

Your dog is fine your neighbours kids need training in how to behave in someone house. As you said they were making the dog excited and it sounds like a nip from excitement only.

Jack Russell's are live wires and do need firm training from the get go and no young children should ever be left alone with any dog.

I know you were there and you'd know if he/she really tried to bite so I seriously doubt it's suddenly turned into the Hound of the Baskervilles a serious bite would have resulted in far worse as others mentioned.

byhookorbycrook

The dog was in your house, not loose on the road. I certainly agree with others that the dog doesn't need to be destroyed.

DBB

As the op has indicated that they've got what they need from this thread, and because threads like this become havens for drama queen-level gobsh!tery, for my own sanity, I'll close this thread now
Thanks,
DBB