Hello guys,
I have a general question here. I like to take my dogs out every where I go. It's gets a bit challenging sometimes when I go out and people want to pet my dogs especially kids. What would happen legally if my dog bites someone after I tell the person not to pet my dog or they pet dog my dogs without my permission?

You are on the hook. You are responsible for the behavior of the dog. You are responsible for protecting your dog. You are responsible for making sure your dog does not injure anyone, and that could well include frightening anyone.

You should be emphatic. No petting or otherwise interacting with your dog without your explicit permission, and all the liability that might accompany an incident with or without your permission.

I do not permit any casual interaction with my dogs. I do not believe my mutts need new best friends.

So much can go wrong in an instant even with the 'nicest dog in the world' that to not be overly cautious adds a risk to dog ownership that can be a costly mistake.

The last thing in the world you want is for your dog to bite a child, or even scratch the child out of exuberance or anything else.

You will be on the hook for any 'accident.' And your dog will pay the price. And even if you're lucky legally, you will regret an unwanted and preventable circumstance.

Two cents.

If your dog bites someone, you will be held accountable. Your dog will pay the ultimate price, even if it's your fault and not his.

Even though I would love to take my dog everywhere with me, she is reactive in some situations, and I don't want to put her in a situation where she might get herself in trouble. Therefore, unfortunately, there are just some places that other dogs can go but mine can't. If my dog had an issue with people, I wouldn't take her to places where there were strangers milling about. Why put either of us on the spot?

 Quote: Christian Cruz

Hello guys,
I have a general question here. I like to take my dogs out every where I go. It's gets a bit challenging sometimes when I go out and people want to pet my dogs especially kids. What would happen legally if my dog bites someone after I tell the person not to pet my dog or they pet dog my dogs without my permission?

AMEN to what Everyone Else has already posted -- If you want to continue taking your dogs all over the place with you (whether for the pleasure of their companionship OR for the purpose of "neutralizing" them to the presence of strangers & other dogs) IF there is ANY chance they might accidentally HARM another person or canine, THEN they should be kept In-Muzzle while on such outings (IMHO) for the sake of your DOGS' protection AND your own as well...

If I had the tiniest inclination that my dog might bite a child, I wouldn't be taking that dog to places where he might be forced to interact with children. Or anybody. The dog will always lose in a dog bite case, regardless of what prompted it.

If your think your dog would get so stressed that he would bite, then he's not enjoying these outings anyway.

yeah , aside from what has been said , all of it bang on by the way , i always think of it this way : if my dog did something bad , the subject of said badness is not going to sue my dog , they are going to sue me .

you are on the hook pretty much no matter what the circumstances .

I have one in my pack who is a big and powerful boy, who children, and for some reason, several men I have encountered out with their own dogs, seem drawn to, and while he has never bitten anyone, he is a nervous dog, who really can't cope with side winders, so for that reason, I put him and my female Boerboel in another room if strangers come to the door, and walk the pack at 4 in the morning when no one else is about, it's a pain in the arse to have a timid and reactive dog, but I will go to any lengths to protect him from a potential situation that could result in a pts order.

I completely understand your question, and I think it's a damn shame to have to anticipate an issue like this, but apart from a possible law suit, there is the horrible spectre of a child with a life changing injury and your beloved friend in the vets waiting for the lethal injection, so if you are in any doubt that dog is going to be a bite risk, make certain for all concerned he is never put in a scenario that ends badly.

It would be lovely to go about your business with your dog and have people and their children leave you alone, but there are some clueless people out there who have no concept of personal space, so as already said, better safe than sorry!

Muzzle train your dogs if you think this is an actual risk. Keep your head up on all walks even if you think there is no chance of meeting someone. Be prepared to be a real butthead to anyone who does not listen when you tell them NO. Do everything that you can, training wise, to have your animals under control at all times, and if ahead of time you think a situation may be too high traffic, leave the dog/dogs at home.

I have one dog who was happily mobbed by a group of children 2 weekends ago and he came out feeling like he had won the lottery (as did the kids, he was a rockstar) - the other dog was left at home because the same situation would have put his anxiety through the roof.

Also, muzzle train BEFORE you are going into a situation where you might need it. If you think this is an actual possibility, start training on a simple basket muzzle now. Don't introduce it when the animal is already stressed.

More good advice from everyone -- Has the OP replied to anyone yet ???