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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand what this parent was thinking?

461 replies

Frequency · 08/04/2026 20:59

While out with my rottweiler x this afternoon, I noticed he was panting more than I was comfortable with, so I abandoned our walk and took a detour to the nearest shop to buy him a bottle of water.

I crouched down at the edge of a very wide path to give him a drink. I wasn't paying attention to what was around me because I was watching the dog, and no one had any reason to be near us anyway. The pavement is about 8 feet wide on that street, if not wider. We were right at the edge, by the shop window.

The second I stood up, there was a toddler, eye-to-eye with my dog. He must have run up behind me while I was kneeling. He was literally nose to nose with the dog, reaching his hands out to grab/stroke the dog's face.

My dog is friendly but a little wary of small children, so I tend to keep him away from them.

Luckily, DD was with me and had spotted the kid and managed to hold his hands before he grabbed the dog's face and loudly told him, "Sorry, he's scared of kids, and he's just trying to have a drink, can you leave him alone, please?" She had to say it loudly because his mum and her friend had continued walking and were now a good 10 feet away from us. At this point, the mother then shouted at her other small child (around 7 or 8) to "get the baby," so the dog now had 2 kids to contend with while the mother kept walking away, ranting about how the young girl was supposed to be "watching the baby."

DD has anxiety and was really shaken by it, and can't stop thinking about how much worse it could have been if our dog were not friendly, or if the kid had managed to grab the dog's face and spooked/hurt him.

I still just cannot fathom what the mother was thinking, allowing her toddler to run up to a strange dog who was obviously eating/drinking, get nose to nose with him to try to grab him, and then send a second child over after she's made aware he is not a friendly dog?

Surely it is common sense to know that nose-to-nose with a strange, large breed dog, who is eating/drinking, is not a safe place to be, no matter how friendly the dog is?

OP posts:
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11
RockLobsterRockLobster · 09/04/2026 00:03

Llamamaman · 09/04/2026 00:01

Yeah, but this is just a typical aggressive dog owner comment. What do you disagree with about what I’ve said about safety? Why should humans have to tiptoe around dangerous breeds? Give me one reason for the latter?

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It’s not tiptoeing when a toddler tries to grab its face is it? You completely didn’t understand the original OP and you don’t understand dogs, or bad parenting by the sounds of it

Llamamaman · 09/04/2026 00:02

RockLobsterRockLobster · 09/04/2026 00:00

I think you need some sort of therapy!

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For? Be specific please

Llamamaman · 09/04/2026 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Yeah, but this is just a typical aggressive dog owner comment. What do you disagree with about what I’ve said about safety? Why should humans have to tiptoe around dangerous breeds? Give me one reason for the latter?

HortiGal · 09/04/2026 00:01

@Frequency he is stunning, please ignore the stupid comments on here, MN is well known for rabid dog haters.
Other than colouring he doesn’t seem to have rottie features, I’d think he’s a leonese cross

To not understand what this parent was thinking?
RockLobsterRockLobster · 09/04/2026 00:00

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:57

This is why we shouldn’t have aggressive dogs out on the street, you’re worried about the dogs fighting? Most of us just want to walk around without that fear.

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I think you need some sort of therapy!

TheTulipsAreOut · 08/04/2026 23:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:57

Frequency · 08/04/2026 23:54

So, if it happens again, should I just keep letting them snap at my dog's legs and say nothing until the owner eventually takes action? Who would be responsible for the vet bill when the non-lethal dogs cause a laceration to his legs?

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This is why we shouldn’t have aggressive dogs out on the street, you’re worried about the dogs fighting? Most of us just want to walk around without that fear.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 08/04/2026 23:56

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:55

Yeah. That’s not a flex mate. Muzzle it

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The toddler? Excellent idea

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:55

Frequency · 08/04/2026 23:51

If you don't bend down so you're eye level with him and try to grab his face while he's eating/drinking, my dog wants nothing more than to be your best friend forever. He won't introduce himself unless you reach out to him because he knows he's supposed to ignore all of the best friends he hasn't met yet while he's out of the house.

If you do bend down and get in his face while he is eating, it's me you need to worry about, not the dog. I was nice to the toddler because he was a toddler and didn't know any better. It's his mother I'm annoyed with for allowing it to happen.

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Yeah. That’s not a flex mate. Muzzle it

tachetastic · 08/04/2026 23:55

MyLimeGuide · 08/04/2026 23:03

This. How can a toddler be blamed in this scenario? Aren't these dogs supposed to be illegal anyway? I hope you have a muzzle on him.

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Oh stop it, of course they're not illegal.

Have you even looked at the photos of that gorgeous dog?

Original poster
Frequency · 08/04/2026 23:54

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:51

She helped intervene yesterday when two off-leash, aggressive terriers ran around the corner (on the same road, actually, maybe we should start avoiding that street), barking and snapping at our dog. She body blocked them while I controlled our dog's head and shouted at their owner to get control of his dogs.

oh op. Surely this here tells you what you need to know. If your own child needs to body block other dogs so you can control your own then it needs to be muzzled. Dogs can and do kill.

You shouting at random owners of small non lethal dogs doesn’t solve this

So, if it happens again, should I just keep letting them snap at my dog's legs and say nothing until the owner eventually takes action? Who would be responsible for the vet bill when the non-lethal dogs cause a laceration to his legs?

OP posts:
PuggyPuggyPuggy · 08/04/2026 23:54

How fortunate that the unsupervised toddler threw himself at a dog that had two responsible adults nearby, instead of a passing car.

Otherwise the kid might be dead, and some of the posters here would be calling for cars to be banned 🙄

TheTulipsAreOut · 08/04/2026 23:53

PilatesAndLattes · 08/04/2026 23:35

YABU for owning such a dangerous dog breed and expecting everyone else to fit around you because of your choice.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

yeah those viscous killer beagles

🤣🤣🤣🤣

RockLobsterRockLobster · 08/04/2026 23:53

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:51

She helped intervene yesterday when two off-leash, aggressive terriers ran around the corner (on the same road, actually, maybe we should start avoiding that street), barking and snapping at our dog. She body blocked them while I controlled our dog's head and shouted at their owner to get control of his dogs.

oh op. Surely this here tells you what you need to know. If your own child needs to body block other dogs so you can control your own then it needs to be muzzled. Dogs can and do kill.

You shouting at random owners of small non lethal dogs doesn’t solve this

I don’t think you understand dogs at all….

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:51

She helped intervene yesterday when two off-leash, aggressive terriers ran around the corner (on the same road, actually, maybe we should start avoiding that street), barking and snapping at our dog. She body blocked them while I controlled our dog's head and shouted at their owner to get control of his dogs.

oh op. Surely this here tells you what you need to know. If your own child needs to body block other dogs so you can control your own then it needs to be muzzled. Dogs can and do kill.

You shouting at random owners of small non lethal dogs doesn’t solve this

Original poster
Frequency · 08/04/2026 23:51

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:47

Exactly. So they should all be muzzled. I’m sick of being wary every time I go out because of some stupid persons’ mutt

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If you don't bend down so you're eye level with him and try to grab his face while he's eating/drinking, my dog wants nothing more than to be your best friend forever. He won't introduce himself unless you reach out to him because he knows he's supposed to ignore all of the best friends he hasn't met yet while he's out of the house.

If you do bend down and get in his face while he is eating, it's me you need to worry about, not the dog. I was nice to the toddler because he was a toddler and didn't know any better. It's his mother I'm annoyed with for allowing it to happen.

OP posts:
Sweetnessandbite · 08/04/2026 23:49

Some of the replies on here are unhinged.

Op, I am sorry this happened but really glad no harm was caused. Well done to your Dd too. It is completely the Mum's fault. The toddler could have just as easily run across the road, fallen down a drain, touched some shiny glass on the floor, knocked an unstable OAP off their feet, been kidnapped by some weirdo, however unlikely, countless things could happen.

Your very gorgeous dog was on a lead. The toddler should have either been holding hands or just infront of Mum so that she could keep safe supervision. She is at fault as she left her toddler unsupervised and even worse that she then blamed and sent the poor sibling. She should have come and explained to both children and apologised to you.

ThisOneLife · 08/04/2026 23:48

CaffeineAndChords · 08/04/2026 22:17

Oh don’t be so ridiculous. What a stupid comment. It’s usually the ‘intimidating’ looking dogs that are the most goofy and lovely. The little ankle biters are more likely to bite or attack you. Coming from someone who’s worked in kennels and a veterinary practice!!!

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So XL Bully dogs are really cuddly and gentle 🙄

RoaryLion1 · 08/04/2026 23:48

Pearlstillsinging · 08/04/2026 23:15

There are some strange/ridiculous answers on here, OP but the actual answer to your question is that some people have no sense at all.
We used to have 2 Rottweiler bitches, the softest, friendliest dogs you could ever meet, who had been very well socialised from being tiny, bred from parents with super temperaments.

We took them to an agricultural show one June, found a quiet corner to sit on the grass to eat our picnic. Along came a school.party, a class of 6 yr olds. The staff for some reason decided to sit around us, we weren't worried, we knew our dogs were trustworthy.

As is often the case, one child's name was repeated by the staff several times, he took no notice and the next thing we knew Harry did a somersault that put him and his sandwich right under the nose of one of the Rotts!

All ended well but who on earth decides that it's a good idea to sit other people's children that you are responsible for next to a couple of Rottweilers? And as for allowing the child who needs most supervision to be closest to the dogs! Words fail me!

I did have a word with the teacher in charge but he didn't seem to be able to see a problem.

You are not alone, OP.

Edited

I don’t understand what point you are trying to make here. So you took two dogs to a busy event, likely to have plenty of children/families around. You sat to have a picnic in a public area. A school group also sat down. And a child had the audacity to run around and fall over near your dogs? What is your point - groups of children should not attend public events if your dogs might be there? You want a child-free area for dogs only? Yes of course children should be aware of dogs but it sounds like the child didn’t approach your dogs, they were just running near them and fell, so unless you’re proposing banning kids from country shows this is a weird post.

jetlag92 · 08/04/2026 23:48

Jellycatspyjamas · 08/04/2026 22:43

Or parents could parent their children, the most placid dog will react if a strange person is in their face. That reaction might be to turn their head, move out of the way but it’s still showing discomfort. Children need to learn how to behave around unknown dogs, or be kept back by their parent.

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Of course they don't. Ours doesn't. Our friends dogs don't
Children obviously should not approach dogs, as they my not have decent owners but if they do - properly trained dogs should not snap at them

RockLobsterRockLobster · 08/04/2026 23:47

What a ridiculous post!

Of course toddlers don’t know any better. That’s why it’s the parent’s responsibility to look after it! The OP was being a responsible dog owner. The dog did not approach the child at all. The parent allowed the child to approach the dog. You have completely missed the point of the OP.

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:47

grizzlyoldbear · 08/04/2026 23:36

YANBU It is insane behaviour to allow a toddler to go up to a strange dog's face while it's drinking/eating. I'm wondering if this needs to be a public service announcement for dim people.
This has nothing to do with breed, I don't know a single dog who would respond well to this.

Edited

Exactly. So they should all be muzzled. I’m sick of being wary every time I go out because of some stupid persons’ mutt

tachetastic · 08/04/2026 23:45

He's gorgeous. Not intimidating at all.

Llamamaman · 08/04/2026 23:45

grizzlyoldbear · 08/04/2026 23:38

No, just don't go up to it's face while it's drinking. Common sense.

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Kids don’t have common sense. Not when they’re tiny. Doesn’t mean they should be at risk of a mauling.

Otherwise, put your kid in with a fucking gorillla at the zoo and demand the child knows how to safely interact. No? Because it’s not up to the child. You have to make the gorilla safe. Ditto the nervous vicious dog. Muzzle it

Bunnyotter1896 · 08/04/2026 23:45

Totally agree. My children would either be old enough to know not to do that or young enough to have me watching them and stopping them. Same way you would stop them walking infront of traffic. The dog is on a lead and in owners control. I hate it when an uninvited dog comes into my personal space and it works both ways. Dogs on leads and children supervised.