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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:35

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:32

I was clear. Like I said, under the law my DH could’ve booted it or worse. And dog owners need to know that because the next person might just do that. We also could’ve reported it but didn’t. You decided long ago when you got irate that the dog was injured although that was never even implied and people have actually said it would be impossible to kick hard while in a straddling position on a bench. My DH used reasonable force, which is what I’ve said all along.

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If you really cant understand that there is a big difference between a light push and a heavy kick, i give up.
Yes, i think you were unreasonable.
Yes, i think the dog owner was unreasonable.

hangingplant742 · 15/09/2026 16:34

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:23

The animal wasn’t hurt.

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You don’t know this. You could have caused an internal injury to the dog.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:33

KaleidoscopeSmile · 15/09/2026 16:32

They must've looked like a pair of nutcases, sitting there whilst a wild beast was attacking their child.

Edited
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No, shouting ‘get control of your dog’ and ‘we have a baby’ isn’t exactly unhinged given the circumstances. Nor do most people think that.

OP posts:
JaneFoe · 15/09/2026 16:33

Viviennemary · 15/09/2026 13:11

I'd report it to the police. The dog is dangerously out of control.,

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Counter report for animal abuse. Kicking a dog is animal cruelty.

KaleidoscopeSmile · 15/09/2026 16:32

Vivi0 · 15/09/2026 16:24

So, you’re literally just sitting on the bench, screaming 😂

Jesus Christ, if you were so fearful for your baby, why didn’t YOU stand up and take the baby from your husband?

Two adults, and neither of you thought to do that.

You asked if you overreacted. Yes, you absolutely did. There were options available to you other than kicking a dog who could smell your food.

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They must've looked like a pair of nutcases, sitting there whilst a wild beast was attacking their child.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:32

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:30

Maybe you should be clear if you want peoples genuine opinions on a situation!!

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I was clear. Like I said, under the law my DH could’ve booted it or worse. And dog owners need to know that because the next person might just do that. We also could’ve reported it but didn’t. You decided long ago when you got irate that the dog was injured although that was never even implied and people have actually said it would be impossible to kick hard while in a straddling position on a bench. My DH used reasonable force, which is what I’ve said all along.

OP posts:
FoldItIn · 15/09/2026 16:30

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:24

True, you can’t reason with unreasonable I guess.

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No you can't. They will only get more unhinged too so have fun with that 😄

Vivi0 · 15/09/2026 16:30

nomas · 15/09/2026 16:26

82% of people don't think OP overreacted.

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Lol.

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:30

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:28

Maybe you shouldn’t have imagined that it was hurt when that was never said.

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Maybe you should be clear if you want peoples genuine opinions on a situation!!

Greedybilly · 15/09/2026 16:29

OP don't feed the trolls darling.
Owner was a dick.Hope ur OK. The end xxx

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:29

Monty36 · 15/09/2026 16:28

Not at all. And i do not want to argue. I never said he booted the dog. You told everyone he kicked it.

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He did. He kicked the dog away. The dog was fine. The kick worked temporarily until the owner came over.

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:28

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:26

Maybe you should have said that at the start.

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Maybe you shouldn’t have imagined that it was hurt when that was never said.

OP posts:
Monty36 · 15/09/2026 16:28

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:18

Because you want me to learn by admitting things that didn’t happen. Yes, me and my DH felt like our baby was under threat. You can argue with that until you’re blue in the face. That’s exactly how we felt. My DH didn’t boot the dog. As I said repeatedly, he was straddling a bench which would’ve made a full kick impossible. The dog kept jumping up at him and, since he had his hands full with a baby he was trying to protect, he used his foot to kick the dog away. The dog was uninjured and the owner wasn’t upset about that. Nobody was. Plenty of people witnessed it and many people shook their heads at the owner. These were people that were there and saw what we did before it even got to that point.

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Not at all. And i do not want to argue. I never said he booted the dog. You told everyone he kicked it.

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:27

nomas · 15/09/2026 16:26

82% of people don't think OP overreacted.

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On a 'mumsnet' forum. Really non biased!

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:26

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:23

The animal wasn’t hurt.

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Maybe you should have said that at the start.

nomas · 15/09/2026 16:26

Vivi0 · 15/09/2026 16:24

So, you’re literally just sitting on the bench, screaming 😂

Jesus Christ, if you were so fearful for your baby, why didn’t YOU stand up and take the baby from your husband?

Two adults, and neither of you thought to do that.

You asked if you overreacted. Yes, you absolutely did. There were options available to you other than kicking a dog who could smell your food.

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82% of people don't think OP overreacted.

Greedybilly · 15/09/2026 16:26

Hmmm if only there was some way of attaching the dog to the owner so that everyone is happy and gets their own space.?
Maybe something light weight and portable that you could hang by the front door especially for walks.....?.
Hmmmmm.......

ThreadGuardDog · 15/09/2026 16:25

Viviennemary · 15/09/2026 13:11

I'd report it to the police. The dog is dangerously out of control.,

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The dog jumped up because it could smell food. That’s not dangerously out of control, that’s poor recall. Dangerously out of control is running amok snarling and biting.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:25

Vivi0 · 15/09/2026 16:24

So, you’re literally just sitting on the bench, screaming 😂

Jesus Christ, if you were so fearful for your baby, why didn’t YOU stand up and take the baby from your husband?

Two adults, and neither of you thought to do that.

You asked if you overreacted. Yes, you absolutely did. There were options available to you other than kicking a dog who could smell your food.

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I wasn’t sat on a bench screaming either.

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:24

FoldItIn · 15/09/2026 16:21

I'm following the replies now. Good grief. It's sad, is what it is.
I know it's tempting to stay and stick up for yourself but honestly, leave the thread. You cannot reason with these people.

You and your DH were not unreasonable. People need to control their dogs. Keep them on leads if they have shit recall!

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True, you can’t reason with unreasonable I guess.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 15/09/2026 16:24

I think doggo types need to get their heads around the fact that they can't just assume that randoms will know how to handle their dog. We aren't all dog owners and someone with no intentions of owning one is going to have better things to do than learn about dog behaviour. Keep your dog away from strangers.

I understand why DH kicked it. I don't get why some people think that you should have just stood back and let the dog have your food either. You're not a free doggo cafe.

Vivi0 · 15/09/2026 16:24

KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:20

I wasn’t in a standing position. Jesus Christ. What is going on.

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So, you’re literally just sitting on the bench, screaming 😂

Jesus Christ, if you were so fearful for your baby, why didn’t YOU stand up and take the baby from your husband?

Two adults, and neither of you thought to do that.

You asked if you overreacted. Yes, you absolutely did. There were options available to you other than kicking a dog who could smell your food.

FoldItIn · 15/09/2026 16:23

FirmSnake · 15/09/2026 16:23

Yes, it's called a lead.

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Stop been all sensible will you. They won't like that.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 15/09/2026 16:23

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:22

I know that narrative is making you feel superior - but the 'nutters' are actually saying the dog owner was in the wrong but there was a solution that meant no person or animal gets hurt

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The animal wasn’t hurt.

OP posts:
FirmSnake · 15/09/2026 16:23

Melsy88 · 15/09/2026 16:22

I know that narrative is making you feel superior - but the 'nutters' are actually saying the dog owner was in the wrong but there was a solution that meant no person or animal gets hurt

Show quote history

Yes, it's called a lead.

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