Dog Bites Kid Despite Multiple Warnings About It Not Being Kid-Friendly, Family Upset Over Owner Saying "Told You So"

" I told her multiple times to leave him alone"

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• December 11, 2023

When pets and kids are together at home, there's always a chance for mix-ups and little accidents. The key thing is that kids need to learn to respect the pets' space and boundaries, but this is something they often don't get or forget about.

In this particular story, OP shares a situation involving her dog, a chihuahua mix known for its aversion to children, and her young cousin. OP, aware of her dog's disposition, had made it clear to her eight-year-old cousin to steer clear of the dog.

This precaution was set to ensure the safety of both the child and the pet. However, the story takes a turn when, despite multiple warnings, the cousin decides to encroach upon the dog's personal space while OP is indisposed.

The incident unfolds rapidly. The child's intrusion into the dog's sanctuary – OP's bedroom – while OP is in the shower, leads to an inevitable reaction from the dog.

Alarmed by the child's crying, OP discovers that her dog has bitten the cousin. Fortunately, the bite was not severe enough to break the skin, but it was significant enough to cause distress.

OP's immediate response, driven by the knowledge of prior warnings disregarded, was to assert that the child had brought this upon herself. The grandparents, upon hearing the child's side of the story, direct their frustration and anger towards OP.

OP's Chihuahua mix dog is not fond of children, OP's 8-year-old cousin stayed with her, and despite OP's warnings to leave the dog alone, she went into OP's room to play with him while OP was in the shower.

OP's chihuahua bit her cousin when the cousin entered the dog's space and didn't respect boundaries, leading to blame placed on OP for the dog's reaction.

OP can ask them why warnings and closed doors don't suffice for protecting her dog.

She received a warning and chose to ignore it.

OP could consider using a crate or locking the dog in her room when she can't supervise them around the child.

Luckily, the dog only gave her a minor warning, which might teach her to respect boundaries.

OP's actions were spot-on.

The grandparents need to become more assertive, or they'll end up spoiling her.

The child should have followed OP's instructions.

It's a lesson for her to learn about boundaries.

The cousin's parents could have reported the dog as aggressive.

The child should learn to respect animals and their boundaries to avoid such situations.

OP did the right thing in warning her cousin about her dog and trying to keep them apart. Luckily, the dog didn't hurt the kid badly, which can help the child learn to be more careful around pets.

To avoid future problems, OP could think about using a crate or keeping her dog in a separate room when she can't watch them with the child.

Most importantly, the child needs to understand that it's important to be nice to animals and not bother them too much. This way, we can make sure everyone, including the pets, stays safe and happy.

Damjan