Judge Jocelyn Munro said Edwards had attended restorative justice sessions with the victim's family, which had been positive. She noted the family did not want any further penalty imposed on Edwards, other than destruction of the dog.
She said that while the boy had not suffered long-lasting physical damage it would have been a "truly terrifying" experience for him that could have turned out much worse.
The judge said Edwards' lawyer, Rachelle Cavanagh, had submitted not too much blame should be placed on her client because he didn't know the dog had been let outside.
"I do not fully accept that. You have a responsibility to ensure that dog is properly restrained and to simply leave it free in a house where there are children ... is a lack of responsibility on your part."
She told Edwards he could have been imprisoned for failing to keep the dog, which was not classified as dangerous and had not attacked before, secure.
The judge said as Edwards, who has previous criminal convictions, was already subject to 220 hours' community work she was only able to impose 180 more.
Sentencing will take place on April 11 for Rotorua woman Philomena Marcelle Matthews, 37, who has pleaded guilty to the same charge as Edwards. In a separate incident on December 15 last year, also in Fordlands, her pitbull attacked and seriously injured an 18-month-old girl.