Parramatta hooker Matt Keating said he doesn't want his family dog put down after it badly bit him on Monday and ruled him out of NRL action for six weeks.

In one of the more unusual incidents to ever put a player on the injured list, Keating was wrestling with his pet in the front yard of his house, when the Australian bulldog reacted the wrong way and bit his index finger.

Keating suffered a compound fracture and underwent surgery on Monday to insert a plate and wires to hold the bone together.

The 24 year-old admitted that reality had set in and disbelief had turned into disappointment as he contemplated time on the sidelines after he had just begun to find his feet in the team.

However, Keating stressed that the dog has never shown aggression in the past and doesn't want him to be harmed by authorities.

"I'm going to stay out of it, it's my mum and dad's dog, no one's approached them or anything like that, it was just an accident and I don't want the dog to be harmed. He's my pet so I'll stay out of it," said Keating on Wednesday.

"I just truly think it was an accident, he's never done anything before. People can have their own opinion about whether dogs should be put down but it was an accident and it's never happened before.

"I was just mucking around with the big dog in the front yard and he obviously thought I was going to do something to him and he didn't like it so he's latched onto my finger.

"If he's ever had a fight it's with my other dog and that's just over food and that's just like any other dog."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP