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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have commented on an unleashed dog

60 replies

Isthisthisreallife · 17/11/2024 19:08

Husband and I walking in the park today with our 2 year old, newborn in the pram and our on lead dog who can be quite nervous around other dogs.
A man came towards us with his small breed dog off lead who went straight towards our dog for a sniff - not horrendous but I don’t think dogs should off lead if they wander over to dogs on lead because you never know the other dog’s situation. Then it ran at our two year old daughter jumping up to her face, knocking her over on the second jump causing her to fall in mud and become upset. The man made no attempt to recall the dog or apologise when it knocked her over.
I responded to the incident in a clearly irritated tone (no shouting) ‘your dog should absolutely not be off lead if that’s how it behaves with children’. No response so we all just carried on our separate ways.

Husband then said I was a bit harsh as the dog only jumped up and wasn’t aggressive.
So AIBU for being annoyed enough to say something to this man?

OP posts:
TheBigSalami · 17/11/2024 19:17

YANBU. Our young dog is obsessed with other dogs and will want to run up to them. As soon as we see one, he goes on the lead.

Nikitaspearlearring · 17/11/2024 19:15

My dog is always on-lead unless there are other people around and I've noticed that usually, when people see that, they recall their dog and put it on-lead before walking past us. Usually. There are always ignorant idiots around and this man was one of them. Presumably he thinks his dog's right to run about where it likes trumps your DD's right not to be jumped up at. Good for you for speaking out. Hopefully it will make him think twice in future.

CarrotPencil · 17/11/2024 19:15

YANBU I’m sick of this crap. Once had to lift my 5 year old up above my shoulders to get him away from a boxer-size dog that was jumping up at us while owner ambled along with no acknowledgement.

BarbaraHoward · 17/11/2024 19:12

YANBU. This shit is why my children are terrified of dogs. No dog should be approaching strangers, especially not small children. If anything you under reacted.

pikkumyy77 · 17/11/2024 19:12

should have been harsher. I would have been.

B1anche · 17/11/2024 19:12

Any dog jumping up at my child would get a whack in the face. I think you were very restrained!

Mandylovescandy · 17/11/2024 19:11

Had very similar situation (minus own dog) and my 2 year old was knocked down. Still fuming about the response - oh the grandchildren love to play rough with the dog. I was not harsh enough and had I not been so shocked would have been far less polite than you. Dog owners should keep dog under control and I think YANBU

Womblewife · 17/11/2024 19:10

Your dh is happy for your child to be knocked to the ground then is he? The dog could easily have bitten your child’s face, I do not think YABU. People have to be careful dog owners and control their animals.

YourHazelMoose · 17/11/2024 19:09

If a dog can't be trusted to behave absolutely bomb proof it shouldn't be off the lead.

And I say that as a dog owner with a bouncy puppy who isn't off the lead unless in the garden or a local dog field that we hire.

K0OLA1D · 17/11/2024 19:09

YANBU

Dogs off lead should be totally under the control of the owner and not approach anyone or anything without checking first.

Our dog goes off lead