Page 6 | Dog attacking child - not stopping to help

Idioticparents · 2024-04-14T08:36:49+00:00

So, I’m walking my dogs on the beach. See a border collie on a lead being walked by what I presume is mum, dad and child. No problem - my dogs are trained to come to me whenever they see another dog (not that they go far tbh). BC is clearly not friendly. It’s frozen. Stiff. Licking its lips as I go by. No issue. Give it a wide birth (10 or so meters given the tide is high) keep half an eye on it. Owners don’t real it in and keep it on the log line (full length stretched with dog nearly choking itself). Child (about 8/9) walks up to dog as parents watch and wraps its arms around the dogs neck from behind. Obviously the dog attacks child. Parents wrestle dog off child. Now, here is my am I being unreasonable - I didn’t stop. I just kept walking. Kid had two parents with him and I had my dogs nearby waiting to walk on. As I walked away I got a tonne of abuse for not stopping. But why would I? IMO the dog had attack its owners child and if it’s going to do that then I am not going near it. Partner says IWU not to help.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 14/04/2024 19:31

Idioticparents · 14/04/2024 19:25

It was obvious because anyone who knows dog behaviour knows a dog that is stiff and licking its lips is going to attack. The child probably couldn't see the dog licking its lips. But its posture was a huge giveaway and the parents should have realised and known - no one has a dog like reacts like that and doesn't know what's coming.

No one should be approaching a dog from behind - not an owner, not a trainer and definitely not a child. The first two things I taught my daughter were never approach a dog from behind and never bother a sleeping dog. It's dog ownership 101.

There's nothing missing. I saw the dog. My dogs came back to me. I indicated for them to walk on my left (in the shallow water) they did so. I spent years training my dogs, because of their size and their strength, to try and avoid situations like this as much as possible.

I've had aggressive dogs before. They can be set off by other dogs just passing them. It doesn't require conflict or for the other dogs to have done anything. The other dogs (in this case mine) existing is enough to provoke a reaction.

Edited

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Hi

Many thanks for coming back with a detailed response, I respect that

May I ask why your OH felt the way you OH did? What was the reasons/s?

IMO, from what you have said and I have just skim read all of your other posts, you did the right thing

Did you report the abusive people for the verbal assault on you?

WhatACluster · 14/04/2024 19:28

I would have done the same @Idioticparents

No way would I have approached an unknown anxious dog that was attacking the owners child with my own dogs nearby.

I’ve seen some really bad dog owner ship over the years and what you have said doesn’t surprise me anymore. And the fact they are trying to blame you says to me that they know they are in the wrong and don’t want to face the truth, which can make the dog more dangerous in my opinion.

Original poster

Idioticparents · 14/04/2024 19:25

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 14/04/2024 19:16

Another case for all dogs on a SHORT lead and all dogs muzzled in public

OP, you say you and your dogs did "nothing wrong." Fair enough but I've not read all of the posts but I get the feeling that in the back of your mind there is something else you have not said. May I ask if your dogs were barking at the other dog???

You mention in your OP, "obviously the dog was going to attack." Why is it "obvious as I've been to clients hems where owners and kids grab dogs from every angle.

I'm 100% to have all dogs muzzled in public and on a short lead and the owner taking the dog for a walk and not the other way around

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It was obvious because anyone who knows dog behaviour knows a dog that is stiff and licking its lips is going to attack. The child probably couldn't see the dog licking its lips. But its posture was a huge giveaway and the parents should have realised and known - no one has a dog like reacts like that and doesn't know what's coming.

No one should be approaching a dog from behind - not an owner, not a trainer and definitely not a child. The first two things I taught my daughter were never approach a dog from behind and never bother a sleeping dog. It's dog ownership 101.

There's nothing missing. I saw the dog. My dogs came back to me. I indicated for them to walk on my left (in the shallow water) they did so. I spent years training my dogs, because of their size and their strength, to try and avoid situations like this as much as possible.

I've had aggressive dogs before. They can be set off by other dogs just passing them. It doesn't require conflict or for the other dogs to have done anything. The other dogs (in this case mine) existing is enough to provoke a reaction.

OP posts:

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 14/04/2024 19:16

Boomer55 · 14/04/2024 18:07

I would, and it probably will happen, sooner or later.

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Another case for all dogs on a SHORT lead and all dogs muzzled in public

OP, you say you and your dogs did "nothing wrong." Fair enough but I've not read all of the posts but I get the feeling that in the back of your mind there is something else you have not said. May I ask if your dogs were barking at the other dog???

You mention in your OP, "obviously the dog was going to attack." Why is it "obvious as I've been to clients hems where owners and kids grab dogs from every angle.

I'm 100% to have all dogs muzzled in public and on a short lead and the owner taking the dog for a walk and not the other way around

Londonrach1 · 14/04/2024 19:12

That poor child. I hope the dog was reported and put down. Owners at fault for not stopping this before it became past the point of no return. I take it police was called.

Upallnight2 · 14/04/2024 19:09

Not at all. You had dogs with you which wouldn't have helped the situation at all. Even if you didn't, you do t know the dog or what it's capable of.
The owners know the dog and should know its aggressive. They probably shouted at you because they were being defensive of knowing they were to blame for the situation. Having an aggressive dog around their child, and allowing the child to startle it when it was clearly uncomfortable.

Keychangeoff · 14/04/2024 18:58

BettyShagter · 14/04/2024 12:20

Too weird for words.

There are lots of very weird people and a lot of them own dogs. I had no idea until I got a dog and now have the misfortune of interacting with them.

5YearsLeft · 14/04/2024 18:53

@Jonismorf I’m so sorry. I’m sure something like that really stays with you (it obviously has). You know you’re weren’t at fault, but you also know the dog wasn’t at fault at all. I do hope the owners recognised their part in the dire consequences.

Delphiniumandlupins · 14/04/2024 18:47

I think even if you had put your dogs on leads you could not have given useful help. At best you would have one hand free and being closer to the collie would gave upset it even more! I would be asking your DP what they would have actually done if they were there.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 14/04/2024 18:47

What awful people. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Thank goodness you didn't stop. Since they tried to blame you when you where nowhere near the dog, I'm willing to bet they'd have had a go at you for hurting their dog or their child, and tried to make trouble for you.

wplaf · 14/04/2024 18:45

I would have got the fuck out of that situation.

-Their dog is clearly anxious and not doing well
-They haven’t taught their child how to behave around the dog (probably as they don’t know themselves)
-They were abusive

so they fucked everything up and expected you to have a magic wand to fix it?

they sound mornonic

you did the right thing calling the police from the car.

BarbarasRhabarberBar · 14/04/2024 18:45

He thinks that I should have left my dogs in a sit/wait and gone to check the child was okay given how serious dog attacks can be.

My argument to him is that dogs are still dogs. No matter how well trained I think my dogs are (and they really are very well trained), there is always a chance that if the other dog had attacked me they might have responded. We've all seen stories of dogs coming to their owners aid when their owner has been attacked- even usually placid dogs. Was I going to risk my dogs? No. Was I going to risk exacerbating the situation? No.

I can see why he says that. It sounds the correct action in black and white but you 200% did the right thing!!!

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 14/04/2024 18:42

I would have done the same thing as you - you did absolutely nothing wrong, There were two adults there to deal with the situation, not like the kid was on its own.

Jonismorf · 14/04/2024 18:40

We've all seen stories of dogs coming to their owners aid when their owner has been attacked- even usually placid dogs.
This is so true, and many dog owners don't seem to realise this. I was a paramedic for 23 years and was forever trying to explain this to dog owners when they objected to me requesting that they lock their dog away whilst I treated the patient. When "mummy", or "daddy" etc is whimpering in pain, the dog doesn't know that the stranger in the green uniform kneeling next to them is not the one causing the pain. One of the saddest moments of my career was when I had requested the owner to secure the dog and they didn't do it, even when they said they had. My patient screamed when I was treating them (not caused by me) and the dog attacked me and bit me badly enough to cause me to need 4 stitches. The police were on scene and they subdued the dog, and it was taken away and later destroyed, even though I had said that I didn't blame the dog, but its owners, and did not want it to be destroyed. I was devastated when I was told.

LuckyPeonies · 14/04/2024 18:39

You did nothing wrong! The parents were likely looking to blame you and your dogs for their own stupidity and negligence. It was prudent (and smart) to remove yourself and your dogs from the situation.

Dymaxion · 14/04/2024 18:37

If I was on my own, I don't think I would feel safe approaching two verbally aggressive adults ( and their bitey dog) regardless of the situation.

ilovesushi · 14/04/2024 18:35

What could you do with your own dogs in tow? Nothing at all and their presence might have made the situation worse. Best thing you could do was move out of the vicinity. I think I'd have moved off but had my phone ready to call 999 if needed. Hope the boy was okay.

Startingagainandagain · 14/04/2024 18:31

I would have done what you did.

You have your dogs with you and that should be your focus as well as your own safety.

It would have been chaos if you had got involved and their dog had attacked you or your dogs.

There were two adults there and I assume this was their dog and their child so it their responsibility. Sounds like irresponsible dog owners and shitty parenting...

What did they expect anyway? for you to wrestle their dog?

Some people are just beyond stupid.

watchuswreckthemic · 14/04/2024 18:28

I totally agree with you. They probably would have abused you for leaving your dogs unattended to help and you don't know what you getting closer may have escalated. Could have been your dogs coming to your defence, or the other dog attacking further.
Sorry this happened to you, you aren't at fault in anyway.

Dymaxion · 14/04/2024 18:21

I hope your dogs were on a lead OP, knowing that they would be passing another dog so closely, they should be on a short, tight lead. Leaving them roaming was always going to antagonise the other dog.

Shame the owner of the aggressive dog didn't consider doing the same, mind you they also didn't think to tell their child not to approach the dog when it was obviously on high alert, which is why it reacted the way it did to being hugged , a totally avoidable incident.

Stickysusan · 14/04/2024 18:20

Idioticparents · 14/04/2024 13:13

It was an attack. The child wrapped its arms around the dog, and the dog turned, jumped, and made contact with the child's body. The child screamed.

I kept walking.

The yelling eventually stopped when (I assume) the parents got the dog off. I wasn't looking at them any more as I'd walked past them and to do so I would have had to turn round and take my eyes off my own dogs.

'FUCKING STUPID BITCH', 'FUCKING COME BACK HERE' 'HER FUCKING DOGS STARTED IT' (whilst the charming parents yelled at each other over who was at fault...).

For ease, my dogs were in the shallow tide walking next to me. I was on the beach. The parents were by the rock face (it's cliffs on one side). Their dog was halfway between them and me on a long line. I physically could not get further away because of the sea unless I fancied a dip. Which I didn't.

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You did nothing wrong and if people were abusing me like that, I most definitely wouldn’t be helping them out.

Killeditwithkisses · 14/04/2024 18:08

Sorry this happened to you OP, it’s not pleasant being shouted at. Sounds like you did the right thing. irresponsible dog owners are the worst and I really wish those stupid long leads would be banned

Boomer55 · 14/04/2024 18:07

ExtraOnions · 14/04/2024 17:02

All dogs should be on leads in public places ..

It would be great if they were all required to be muzzled as well

I would, and it probably will happen, sooner or later.

HonoraBridge · 14/04/2024 18:06

It sounds as if the parents shouldn’t be in charge of a dog or a child! Their behaviour was totally bizarre. Best not to get involved, OP. It was nothing to do with you and people like that are dangerous.

0sm0nthus · 14/04/2024 18:01

I then get loads of shit from the owners, which I understand but they never seem to understand their part in the situation
Many (not all of course) appear to be overly enmeshed with their pets, seeing them as babies, not just babies but special fur babies. If the dog causes a problem they blame anyone but themselves or the animal.