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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be upset after a dog jumped at our baby?

945 replies

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 12:14

Okay, so myself, DH and baby were at a country park the other week. Baby was getting hungry so we sat ourselves down on a park bench and got some food out. A woman was walking with her family and dog and the dog must’ve smelt the food as it suddenly
comes bounding over and is jumping at baby (who is on DH knee) to get the food. We don’t know this dog and don’t know what it's capable of. I scream at the owner that we have a baby and to get her dog under control. At this point, she’s pretty far away and is taking her time to come over. My DH then kicks the dog to get it off them as it just will not stop. The woman wasn’t particularly apologetic and seemed shocked. Did we overreact?

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:13

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:11

You clearly haven't read it.

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I have though and I also asked my uncle who is a police officer.

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:13

JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 22:12

To protect your baby from a dog so dangerous you think it warrants calling the police? Yes!

It's the ground not the floor.

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I like the way you edited it in there. Nice one.

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:12

JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 22:12

To protect your baby from a dog so dangerous you think it warrants calling the police? Yes!

It's the ground not the floor.

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No. The kick worked. That was enough.

OP posts:
JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 22:12

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:10

Great, so I’ll throw my baby’s blended food up on the floor for the out of control dog to eat and just pray that the cafe serves blended food and, if not, I guess my baby will be screaming for food for the next hour while we try to rush home to remake the food. But as long as the dog is ok, eh?

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To protect your baby from a dog so dangerous you think it warrants calling the police? Yes!

It's the ground not the floor.

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:11

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:11

Not when the dog is jumping up at an infant, but nice try

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You clearly haven't read it.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:11

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:09

Ok if you read the advice for the enforcement officers under the act, you'll see that in this scenario they are told to take no further action.

Obviously

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Not when the dog is jumping up at an infant, but nice try

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:10

JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 21:57

Why didn’t they throw the food away from them so the dog would leave and stand up? They don't need to know anything more than to remove the reason the dog approached them in the first place.

I am not a dog person. I wouldn't have sat there like a wet blanket instead of removing my baby from the situation.

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Great, so I’ll throw my baby’s blended food up on the floor for the out of control dog to eat and just pray that the cafe serves blended food and, if not, I guess my baby will be screaming for food for the next hour while we try to rush home to remake the food. But as long as the dog is ok, eh?

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:09

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:07

I probably would also report it to the police next time under the dangerous dog act.

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Ok if you read the advice for the enforcement officers under the act, you'll see that in this scenario they are told to take no further action.

Obviously

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:07

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:06

I'm interested to know.

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Well you can keep guessing as it’s not remotely the same!

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:07

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:04

No but I believe if you haven’t had children you perhaps don’t understand the natural instinct to protect them at all costs.

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But your actions are not protecting them! That's the big that's making no sense!

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:07

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 21:56

Ok and now that you've learnt that this is not the right way to shield a baby as a lot of dogs would become aggressive when kicked, what would you do differently next time?

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I probably would also report it to the police next time under the dangerous dog act.

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:06

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:05

It’s not comparable, so why are you asking?

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I'm interested to know.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:05

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:04

So what would you have done?

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It’s not comparable, so why are you asking?

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:04

This reply has been deleted

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

No but I believe if you haven’t had children you perhaps don’t understand the natural instinct to protect them at all costs.

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:04

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:02

Well I’ve never heard of a baby killing another baby. They also don’t have a lot of teeth and, while their nails can be quite sharp, they don’t quite compare to claws. Also, most babies aren’t 80 pounds. So this whole thing is a bit tenuous.

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So what would you have done?

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 22:03

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:00

I know. I’ll just throw my baby’s food on the floor. I’m sure the cafe will serve blended food but if they don’t, never mind, my baby can go hungry. Again, some of the mental gymnastics these people do.

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"dog nutters" - says the person who shouted and kicked a hungry friendly spaniel (type mix) 🤦🏻

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:02

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 21:53

If a toddler has come over and started pulling the babies hair/hitting the baby, what would you have done?

Well I’ve never heard of a baby killing another baby. They also don’t have a lot of teeth and, while their nails can be quite sharp, they don’t quite compare to claws. Also, most babies aren’t 80 pounds. So this whole thing is a bit tenuous.

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 22:00

WhatNoRaisins · 15/09/2026 21:58

So now the dog nutters think we owe their dogs free food?

I know. I’ll just throw my baby’s food on the floor. I’m sure the cafe will serve blended food but if they don’t, never mind, my baby can go hungry. Again, some of the mental gymnastics these people do.

OP posts:
BuildbyNumbere · 15/09/2026 22:00

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 21:58

I said it happened quickly and, unless you’re in that situation, you don’t know how you’ll react. I felt like my baby was under threat as the dog had made contact with it several times before my DH managed to block the dog with his body. And the worst thing you can do is run when a dog is doing that. Even I know what. And he’s not going to run with an infant in his arms. What is wrong with you?

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That’s called sarcasm lol

FreshJalapenos · 15/09/2026 21:58

BuildbyNumbere · 15/09/2026 21:43

Protecting it from what?? The whole thing is ridiculous.

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An untrained and out of control dog. Why take the chance?

WhatNoRaisins · 15/09/2026 21:58

So now the dog nutters think we owe their dogs free food?

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 21:58

BuildbyNumbere · 15/09/2026 21:55

But surely that was the most simple thing to try, thus giving your husband time to unstraddle the bench, stand up and run for the hills.

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I said it happened quickly and, unless you’re in that situation, you don’t know how you’ll react. I felt like my baby was under threat as the dog had made contact with it several times before my DH managed to block the dog with his body. And the worst thing you can do is run when a dog is doing that. Even I know what. And he’s not going to run with an infant in his arms. What is wrong with you?

OP posts:
JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 21:57

PancakeCloud · 15/09/2026 21:52

Yanbu at all OP. Ignore the entitled dog people. Even if the dog was harmless, you and your DH weren’t to know that.

Why didn’t they throw the food away from them so the dog would leave and stand up? They don't need to know anything more than to remove the reason the dog approached them in the first place.

I am not a dog person. I wouldn't have sat there like a wet blanket instead of removing my baby from the situation.

BuildbyNumbere · 15/09/2026 21:56

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 21:53

If a toddler has come over and started pulling the babies hair/hitting the baby, what would you have done?

Sent DH over to kick it.

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 21:56

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 21:54

I assume the food ran up to us because of food and that’s why it kept jumping up at my baby who had food on their face and bib. I don’t know if throwing a bit of my baby’s food would’ve distracted it and, frankly, I should’ve need to worry about that when I’m in a public space. My baby could’ve been nipped by this dog. My priority was to shield the baby like the dog owner’s priority should’ve been to get her dog.

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Ok and now that you've learnt that this is not the right way to shield a baby as a lot of dogs would become aggressive when kicked, what would you do differently next time?