SUGAR LAND, Texas -- A child was seriously injured after being attacked by a dog Wednesday afternoon, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Authorities said the Doberman was in the back yard of a home in the 4400 block of Chipping Court at Amersham Way in Sugar Land.

The family was not home, so the housekeeper went to the house with her 4-year-old son, Steve Maldonado, to check on the dogs.

The Doberman attacked the child moments after they began playing together.

"The mother said she heard a ruckus of some sort in the back yard. The child came back to the back door to come back inside the house and that's when the dog bit the child in the head," said Capt. M.C. Lund with the Sugar Land Police Department.

"The big male was a championship show dog and has been friendly with kids since we've known it for 10 years," neighbor Patrick Berger said. "My daughter, who is 10 years old, was over taking care of that dog yesterday. It's just an unfortunate tragedy -- didn't see it coming."

Lifeflight Helicopter took Maldonado to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The boy has severe bites to his head and face. Doctors said he is expected to survive.

Sugar Land animal control officers took custody of the Doberman and said it will be tested for rabies.

It is not known why the dog attacked the child.