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AIBU?

For "hurting" his dog

236 replies

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 15:08

Took my 17m DD for a walk on the beach today. We were walking along near the shoreline when an enormous Newfoundland appears out of no where and bounds up to my little one, knocking her onto her face. She was face down in the wet sand, screaming and crying and this dog was just stood over her snuffing away into her neck. I could reach under it to grab her out and it wouldn't budge when I tried to push it off her. The owner was just stood there laughing about how his dog loves children. So I punched it really hard in the head and it finally moved off. Poor DD had sand in her eyes and mouth where she had been screaming and is now probably going to be scared of dogs. Owner went furious saying he was going to report me to the police. Surely the police would see that I was just protecting my child though surely?

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honeysucklejasmine · 13/01/2016 15:11

YADNBU. At all.

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Figwin · 13/01/2016 15:11

You punched the dog!?! Surely a shove would suffice, even with a Newfoundland!

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Mrsmorton · 13/01/2016 15:11

I think the chances of him speaking to the police are slim. He WBU but let's not do the dog hating thing on this thread!

You've done nothing wrong. Hope dd is ok.

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Palomb · 13/01/2016 15:12

Well I'm not sure punching it was ideal but you're a mum protecting your child so no-one would blame you. I guess it was instinct.

The punch would have probably been best aimed at the dogs owner.

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UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 15:13

figwin have you ever shoved a Newfoundland? The thing didn't even flinch.

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Figwin · 13/01/2016 15:14

Also as above the police would do nothing. He sounds like a prick (owner) and you might have been too much but you went mama bear and that's understandable. As a dog owner I would never let my dogs do that but would go apeshit at someone punching them. But that's a whole other circumstance as I wouldn't be standing by.
I just don't understand how a punch would occur rather than shoulder barge

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theycallmemellojello · 13/01/2016 15:15

YANBU, and did the right thing. The police would be more interested in the actions of the owner than you.

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Figwin · 13/01/2016 15:16

Yes, I worked at an animal rescue and have worked with a stubborn Newfoundland who wouldn't walk

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coconutpie · 13/01/2016 15:17

YANBU AT ALL. And this is coming from someone who adores Newfies. Yes they are a gentle giant but you still cannot trust ANY animal (even a Newfoundland) with a child in this situation.

I would report the man to the police actually. What an absolute dick he is since he thinks it's funny that a little toddler is shoved to the ground like that by their pet. That is awful. Hope your DD is ok.

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Palomb · 13/01/2016 15:18

well yes because being hacked off with a dog because it won't walk and being hacked off with a dog because it's pinned your toddler face down on the floor are the same Hmm

Most parents would do whatever hey had to to get the dog off.

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Klaptrap · 13/01/2016 15:18

YANBU.

I love dogs and in this instance it wasn't the dog's fault, but the idiot owner, but you clearly didn't have any choice to get the dog off of your child.

The owner should be ashamed - he clearly didn't have his dog under control and it's people like this that give all dog owners a bad name.

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BestZebbie · 13/01/2016 15:20

YABU. Punching it was a stupid idea - apart from anything else, what if that turned playful behaviour into self-defense and it then bit your DD or yourself?

YANBU in general to be upset by it knocking over your DD and try to get your DD out of its way asap, though.

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EponasWildDaughter · 13/01/2016 15:21

I could reach under it to grab her out and it wouldn't budge when I tried to push it off her.

You mean couldn't reach under it to get your DD.

It wouldn't move when you pushed it; so i'm saying YWNBU.

We act quickly when our kids are in trouble. There wasn't time for a chin wag.

Owner should have better control over such a large dog.

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AnUtterIdiot · 13/01/2016 15:22

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Melonaire · 13/01/2016 15:24

You acted on instinct but in the future please don't ever risk causing pain to an animal that has it's teeth so close to your child.

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RidersOnTheStorm · 13/01/2016 15:25

I'd have given t a kick as well. Of course YWNBU. I'd think about reporting it to the police myself.

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MrsAxewound · 13/01/2016 15:25

You absolutely did the right thing OP - your kid comes before anyone's dumb fucking animal. The owner of that dog sounds like an absolute bell-end, I would've wanted to punch him too Wink
Hope your little one is OK!

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UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 15:26

I am very lucky it didn't eat me after punching it, but as we were right next to the sea, I was worried she would drown in the wet sand.
Yes maybe I should report him but I don't know his name or anything.

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thelouise · 13/01/2016 15:26

YABU to punch the dog and lucky that the dog didn't get a fright and cause harm.

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lilone1234 · 13/01/2016 15:27

Agree with PP. YWNBU. I would have done the same and reported the owner to the police if he had threatened to do it to me. He clearly was not in control of his animal and so should not have it off a lead.

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thelouise · 13/01/2016 15:27

That said, I'm not sure what I would have done, probably similar. I think, on balance, the risk of the dog causing harm was bigger.

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LunaMay · 13/01/2016 15:29

Sorry I think ybu. Why not tell him to get his bloody dog off? Snuffling your daughters neck hardly puts her in immediate danger, poor thing was understandably a bit shocked and upset at being knocked and getting a face full of sand but I wouldn't punch an animal unless there was an actual threat.

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SuperCee7 · 13/01/2016 15:29

It was really stupid to punch a dog that was stood over your daughter with its head looming over her. YABU

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YesYABU · 13/01/2016 15:34

I agree that the owner was being unhelpful/a bit of a prick and should have had control of his dog but please don't punch or hit animals, can't condone that. Is that the kind of example you want to set to your DD? This is more likely to give her a fear of animals than being bumped over by a dog tbh.

Also, if it was an aggressive or unruly dog hitting it is far more likely to provoke a response.

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MrsDeVere · 13/01/2016 15:34

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