A toddler from the village of Nieuw-Buinen in Drenthe has been severely injured by four Rottweiler dogs while out playing.

According to media reports, the child was with other children in the garden of his neighbours and the dogs had been confined to a small compound. However, the dogs jumped over the fence and attacked the three-year-old, biting him several times. The other children were unharmed.

The owner of the dogs managed to drag the dogs off the boy, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The owners are rottweiler breeders and sell them via the internet, Dutch media said. The four dogs will be put down and two other dogs in the compound have been sent away for observation.