Tyler back to kindy in spite of dog bite

Tyler Hatton's father says he is getting back to normal and returning to kindergarten. Photo / Supplied

A 3-year-old Napier boy who was bitten by a police dog while at kindergarten will head back this week despite feeling "a little scared", his father says.

Little Tyler Hatton suffered a fat lip last week when he was bitten by the dog at Riversdale Kindergarten.

It was there as part of a lesson on dog safety.

The dog apparently turned around and bit Tyler while he was patting it.

And although Tyler has not been himself lately and does not want to be around dogs, it's back to normal - and back to kindy - for the youngster, his father, Matthew, says.

"He's going back to school. He doesn't like the sound of that - he's still a little scared - but he's going back to kindy this week."

Mr Hatton said the swelling in his son's face had started to go down and he was happy that Tyler was starting to get back to being his usual happyself.

"He's still not himself entirely, but I'm sure he'll come right soon. One of his friends from kindy came to visit him [yesterday] and that was really cool for him."

Riversdale Kindergarten has since suspended the programme, in which a police dog and its handler visited to teach children about dog safety.

Mr Hatton said he approved of the programme and did not want to see it suspended for long.

"I agree with the concept of it. It would be a shame if kids in the future could not benefit from a lesson like this.

"I would be more than happy to have our 1-year-old daughter Deanna go through the programme."

Mr Hatton said the accident had been a topic of discussion since it happened, but he was not looking for the dog to be put down.

He said police - who had apologised a number of times - had not yet been in touch about its fate.

But he said his family wanted the dog assessed and retrained if needed.