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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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Smeegall · 08/04/2026 22:39

TeenLifeMum · 08/04/2026 22:18

Completely this parent’s fault and bad parenting but, if you think there’s any risk your dog may react badly in such a situation you should have a muzzle on him/her.

This - muzzle your dog. It's safer for the dog and for everybody else around you.

wanttokickoffbutcant · 08/04/2026 22:38

Aw he looks lovely OP! I taught my DD to be careful of strange dogs - she loves dogs but won't approach unless the owner has confirmed that it is OK. I prefer cats and cats have done more damage to me than any dog ever has......

Edited to add that I am aware that a cat doesn't have the possibility of killing a small child or an adult. I just meant that most dogs I know or meet are friendly but perhaps I am just lucky.

purpleme12 · 08/04/2026 22:37

Happyjoe · 08/04/2026 22:24

He is gorgeous! What a face :-)
We used to have a German Shep cross, she looked mainly GS though. Folk would cross the street to avoid walking near me, despite her being soppy and very friendly. Fine by me!!

Edited
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I love German shepherds

Hall84 · 08/04/2026 22:37

DD6 likes to say hello to dogs. We don't have a dog but friends/family do. We see a lot of dogs where we live but the rule is that we must ask the owner and give the dog a wide berth until they've told her how to best approach.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 08/04/2026 22:35

OMG (and I say this as someone who doesn’t mind dogs but prefers cats) - he’s GORGEOUS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

RedWineCupcakes · 08/04/2026 22:35

Nimonion · 08/04/2026 22:31

In what way would they ‘protect their families’ in a friendly and lovable way?

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You obviously don't understand the difference between inherent differences in breed behaviours, aggression vs guarding.

colloqneuro · 08/04/2026 22:34

Flamingojune · 08/04/2026 22:12

Why have a dog that looks intimidating?

What???

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 08/04/2026 22:33

I’m sorry this happened, OP, and I hope your daughter feels calmer soon.

we were always taught to ask before going near a dog.

But I see the dog haters are out in force - you won’t get much support here unfortunately

conflictednow · 08/04/2026 22:33

Does anyone else see Dobbie the house elf?? Those ears 💖He’s gorgeous

BauhausOfEliott · 08/04/2026 22:32

This reply has been deleted

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She doesn’t have a dog that’s known for aggression.

RedWineCupcakes · 08/04/2026 22:31

Hallywally · 08/04/2026 22:25

Yes the parent was an idiot but also your dog is your responsibility and needs muzzling. I don’t understand why people need to own unpredictable strong dogs.

Why does the dog need muzzling? Who has it attacked? What makes you say it is unpredictable or strong?

Looks like a fairly average sized mutt to me. And OP was with the dog, it wasn't left unattended, unlike the child.

Nimonion · 08/04/2026 22:31

RedWineCupcakes · 08/04/2026 22:26

Rottweilers are not aggressive. They are large and powerful but that is not the same as aggressive. In general, they are loyal and protective of their families.

The madness is allowing a small child to toddle up to an unknown dog, regardless of breed.

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In what way would they ‘protect their families’ in a friendly and lovable way?

BauhausOfEliott · 08/04/2026 22:30

Flamingojune · 08/04/2026 22:12

Why have a dog that looks intimidating?

I don’t think any dogs ‘look intimidating’. Rottweilers in particular just look like chunky, gentle-eyed dopes. But in any case, the OP’s dog isn’t a Rottweiler anyway.

It’s not anyone else’s fault if you think their dog ‘looks intimidating’ and it’s irrelevant to the OP’s post anyway because clearly nobody, including a toddler, was intimidated.

purpleme12 · 08/04/2026 22:29

He's very cute

Original poster
Frequency · 08/04/2026 22:27

I can see the Beagle in him, although he's much taller and chunkier than a Beagle, but I personally don't see much, if any Rottweiler in him, but that's what we were told he is crossed with. I usually refer to him as a rott x because Beagle x makes people expect a small dog.

If I'm talking about the fact that his nose turns on and his ears turn off when we get outside, then I call him a beagle x.

OP posts:
RedWineCupcakes · 08/04/2026 22:26

This reply has been deleted

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

Rottweilers are not aggressive. They are large and powerful but that is not the same as aggressive. In general, they are loyal and protective of their families.

The madness is allowing a small child to toddle up to an unknown dog, regardless of breed.

BarbiesDreamHome · 08/04/2026 22:26

I think the most important take home point is that you can never ever trust other people to be responsible.

For your own kids and dogs safety you have to be 100% switched on and alert all the time because being right doesn't mean anything if something awful happens.

TheBabyFatmoss · 08/04/2026 22:25

Gorgeous dog OP, unfortunately I think some of the infamous Mumsnet dog frothers have found your post. They will twist themselves up like pretzels to find a way to make you / your dog wrong in this situation, ( you weren’t though ).

Hallywally · 08/04/2026 22:25

Yes the parent was an idiot but also your dog is your responsibility and needs muzzling. I don’t understand why people need to own unpredictable strong dogs.

Happyjoe · 08/04/2026 22:24

Frequency · 08/04/2026 22:20

Are Reagles (I hate stupid, made-up names for mongrels, but that's what he is classed as at the vets) known for aggression?

Also, whether he is intimidating is a matter of personal opinion; I happen to think he is the dopiest-looking thing I've ever seen in my life.

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He is gorgeous! What a face :-)
We used to have a German Shep cross, she looked mainly GS though. Folk would cross the street to avoid walking near me, despite her being soppy and very friendly. Fine by me!!

CaffeineAndChords · 08/04/2026 22:23

Frequency · 08/04/2026 22:20

Are Reagles (I hate stupid, made-up names for mongrels, but that's what he is classed as at the vets) known for aggression?

Also, whether he is intimidating is a matter of personal opinion; I happen to think he is the dopiest-looking thing I've ever seen in my life.

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I see more humans scarier than him on a daily basis. Adorable.

Happyjoe · 08/04/2026 22:22

Moodnight · 08/04/2026 21:51

He’s scared of kids? Was he a rescue?

What has rescue got to do with this? Kids should be taught to treat all dogs with respect, they are animals. Wise to remember no animal can be trusted 100%.

CaffeineAndChords · 08/04/2026 22:22

Frequency · 08/04/2026 22:20

Are Reagles (I hate stupid, made-up names for mongrels, but that's what he is classed as at the vets) known for aggression?

Also, whether he is intimidating is a matter of personal opinion; I happen to think he is the dopiest-looking thing I've ever seen in my life.

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Oh my word. What a gorgeous dog. His eyes are so soulful ❤️

Original poster
Frequency · 08/04/2026 22:20

This reply has been deleted

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

Are Reagles (I hate stupid, made-up names for mongrels, but that's what he is classed as at the vets) known for aggression?

Also, whether he is intimidating is a matter of personal opinion; I happen to think he is the dopiest-looking thing I've ever seen in my life.

To not understand what this parent was thinking?
To not understand what this parent was thinking?
To not understand what this parent was thinking?
OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 08/04/2026 22:18

Completely this parent’s fault and bad parenting but, if you think there’s any risk your dog may react badly in such a situation you should have a muzzle on him/her.