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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:
Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:36

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:35

I will use reasonable force against a dog that is repeatedly trying to get at my baby. Thanks.

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I just hope the poor baby isn't the one that gets harmed when you do this to the wrong dog.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:37

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:36

I just hope the poor baby isn't the one that gets harmed when you do this to the wrong dog.

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Well if a dog attacks my baby I will be throwing the full force of the law at the owner and make sure that dog is destroyed.

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:38

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:37

Well if a dog attacks my baby I will be throwing the full force of the law at the owner and make sure that dog is destroyed.

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Unfortunately that won't help your baby.

Lacksie · 16/09/2026 10:38

MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:27

Ok - so neither of us were there and because I have a different view on what i've read than you, my comprehension is bad.
Are you this entitled in real life or just when you can hide behind a computer?

I merely disagree with you. It's not entitled to disagree with someone. I would say it in real life, and often have to have conversations with dog owners in my local country park, asking them to get their dog away from me and my grandchildren. I'm not exaggerating. There is a designated area for off lead dogs and many signs saying dogs must be on leads in the main area. But they rarely are and a good proportion of them are not trained at all.

People are sick and tired of entitled dog owners who are clearly not in control of their dogs and the op struck a chord with me because it happens so often when you are out with small children. How can we make it stop?
It's also entitled to tell us to go get some lessons in dog behaviour, and dog language and the like. If people just kept their dogs and their unwanted attention away from strangers then there would be no problem at all.

You think dog owners are entitled; I think it is also entitled to assume that you should be able to move through shared public spaces without ever being inconvenienced or bothered by a dog.

We all have to live alongside one another.

Where dogs are required to be on leads, I agree they should be on leads. But in places where off-lead exercise is permitted, a dog may occasionally approach or annoy someone despite its owner’s efforts. That does not mean the dog is dangerous or that it's going to hurt your children. It's also useful to teach your children not to be afraid of any dog that might approach them, for their own wellbeing.

Dog owners should do everything reasonably possible to prevent their dogs from bothering other people. I apply the same principle to raising my children. But neither dogs nor children behave perfectly at every moment, and occasionally both can be annoying. Shared public life requires reasonable consideration from everyone; there's no guarantee that no person or animal will ever inconvenience you.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:39

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:38

Unfortunately that won't help your baby.

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Again, a world of ‘what-if-isms’ 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:41

Lacksie · 16/09/2026 10:38

You think dog owners are entitled; I think it is also entitled to assume that you should be able to move through shared public spaces without ever being inconvenienced or bothered by a dog.

We all have to live alongside one another.

Where dogs are required to be on leads, I agree they should be on leads. But in places where off-lead exercise is permitted, a dog may occasionally approach or annoy someone despite its owner’s efforts. That does not mean the dog is dangerous or that it's going to hurt your children. It's also useful to teach your children not to be afraid of any dog that might approach them, for their own wellbeing.

Dog owners should do everything reasonably possible to prevent their dogs from bothering other people. I apply the same principle to raising my children. But neither dogs nor children behave perfectly at every moment, and occasionally both can be annoying. Shared public life requires reasonable consideration from everyone; there's no guarantee that no person or animal will ever inconvenience you.

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But she didn’t say that?

OP posts:
MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:42

I've never told you to get lessons in dog behaviour.
I've also agreed that dogs should not be jumping up and the owner was in the wrong

I was speaking generally, not about you personally. Maybe you missed that nuance.

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:43

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:39

Again, a world of ‘what-if-isms’ 😂

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People are trying to help you - surely you can see that kicking a genuinely aggressive dog would be a bad idea, especially when you have a young child with you. Its not about the rights and wrongs of the dog owner at that point - its about protecting your child in the moment.

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:43

MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:42

I've never told you to get lessons in dog behaviour.
I've also agreed that dogs should not be jumping up and the owner was in the wrong

I was speaking generally, not about you personally. Maybe you missed that nuance.

Yep missed that nuance when you replied directly to me.

concertinacornflake · 16/09/2026 10:44

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:38

Unfortunately that won't help your baby.

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I think this is a very unpleasant post.

If any dog attacked any baby that would be its owner's fault.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:45

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:43

People are trying to help you - surely you can see that kicking a genuinely aggressive dog would be a bad idea, especially when you have a young child with you. Its not about the rights and wrongs of the dog owner at that point - its about protecting your child in the moment.

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By people you mean a very select few who just will not let it go? What we did worked. I don’t need to be educated on dog behaviour. People buying dogs need to be educated on dog behaviour. Why don’t you focus on that?

OP posts:
OonaStubbs · 16/09/2026 10:45

Why can't dogs just be banned? It would save so much conflict and trouble, just look at this thread for an example. There would be no thread if dogs were banned.

Melsy88 · 16/09/2026 10:45

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:45

By people you mean a very select few who just will not let it go? What we did worked. I don’t need to be educated on dog behaviour. People buying dogs need to be educated on dog behaviour. Why don’t you focus on that?

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Ok, lets agree to disagree. I wish you well.

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:46

This reply has been deleted

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MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:46

You carry on kicking friendly dogs and ignoring advice. Let see where that gets you

Theoretically speaking, an under control dog shouldn't be close enough for a seated person to kick.

Gloriia · 16/09/2026 10:47

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:32

To be honest, my main take away from this Thread is that people, including myself, need to start reporting instances like this and holding dog owners to account. I’ve read some horrible stories on here from people who have been hurt by dogs. I don’t blame the dog, it’s the owner, but I suppose the only way they will learn is if they are held to account.

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Totally agree. So many stupid, irresponsible owners about. Of course this dog should not have jumped up at your baby. I bet if it had bitten your baby the gormless owner would've said 'oh it's never done that before!' Take a picture next time and either publicly shame on social media or report to a police community officer.

We have a dog, she is on a lead in busy public places as all dogs should be.

Lacksie · 16/09/2026 10:47

This reply has been deleted

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

Dear OP, if you post on AIBU there will be a range of opinions. Some people may disagree with your perspective and challenge you on your interpretation of things. It is not reasonable to respond to that with personal insults.

PurpleBadgers · 16/09/2026 10:48

Hard to tell from description alone. Dog owner completely in the wrong. However the kick seems unnecessary and cruel. Just stand up with the baby and move away. If the food is left on the bench then dog won’t follow.

MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:49

But neither dogs nor children behave perfectly at every moment, and occasionally both can be annoying

I don't think any baby or toddler has sent anyone off to A&E
It's not 'annoying' that concerns me. Dogs are unpredictable. They shouldn't be jumping up at anyone.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:49

Lacksie · 16/09/2026 10:47

Dear OP, if you post on AIBU there will be a range of opinions. Some people may disagree with your perspective and challenge you on your interpretation of things. It is not reasonable to respond to that with personal insults.

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So you think it’s reasonable for someone to make a comment like that about a baby? Do you think that’s going to win people over to your cause?

OP posts:
Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:50

PurpleBadgers · 16/09/2026 10:48

Hard to tell from description alone. Dog owner completely in the wrong. However the kick seems unnecessary and cruel. Just stand up with the baby and move away. If the food is left on the bench then dog won’t follow.

You may have missed it but I’ve said many times we couldn’t easily stand up.

OP posts:
BishBashBoshDumpling · 16/09/2026 10:51

If you actually sent your boot into the dog's tummy/face etc with such force that you intended to seriously injure him/her then that was probably quite a dangerous (not to mention unkind) action that could have made the situation escalate very quickly with an unknown dog.

I understand that blind panic and reflex, BUT It was a dangerous thing to have done if you were trying to protect your baby and de-escalate the situation.

Far better to stand up (you were not chained to the bench I dont think?) and walk away with baby while the other one does their best with the dog.

And of course - the owner was entirely at fault.

Original poster
KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:52

BishBashBoshDumpling · 16/09/2026 10:51

If you actually sent your boot into the dog's tummy/face etc with such force that you intended to seriously injure him/her then that was probably quite a dangerous (not to mention unkind) action that could have made the situation escalate very quickly with an unknown dog.

I understand that blind panic and reflex, BUT It was a dangerous thing to have done if you were trying to protect your baby and de-escalate the situation.

Far better to stand up (you were not chained to the bench I dont think?) and walk away with baby while the other one does their best with the dog.

And of course - the owner was entirely at fault.

Edited

Not at all. The dog was entirely uninjured but it did succeed in pushing the dog away from us.

OP posts:
BishBashBoshDumpling · 16/09/2026 10:54

KellyK2026 · 16/09/2026 10:52

Not at all. The dog was entirely uninjured but it did succeed in pushing the dog away from us.

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That was lucky then. But it could have made the situation escalate so much worse if it was a different dog with a more sinister intention.

MiggyWoods · 16/09/2026 10:54

Yep missed that nuance when you replied directly to me

Other people have contributed to this thread, suggesting we take some lessons in dog behaviour. They were whom I was referring to, within my post to you. Pointing it out to you that this is what we are told we should do. Maybe you haven't read those posts.

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