Dog bit my daughter's face - advice please

owlet

I have a 2 year old Shih Tzu & neices aged 4 & 5 who visit. So the girls were 2 & 3 when I first brought pup home.

I have never ever left them with my dog unsupervised . My neices love to play with her & I let them, for a short time - perhaps ten minutes , if my dog is in the mood to play but I'm right there supervising & gently instructing the girls on how to approach, how to play, staying calm & pointiing out the signs that say my dog has had enough or getting too excited.

Like any youngster (human or animal) , excitement leads to more excitement and before you know it things have spiralled out of control & my dog (being young) could easily bite in excited play. They could (without intending to) provoke her or try to pick her up etc , which would end in tears.

My dog doesn't use a crate but my nieces have been taught that if she is in her bed, on her cushion or eating, then approaching her is a no no. That's her place where she must not be disturbed ever. They do now ask if they can play with her & they listen well but they will be teenagers before they are unsupervised.