Protecting kids from dogs

[Yeen]

We live very close to some lovely woods where I take my DC walking most days. Lots of dog walkers as you'd expect, most dogs on lead and perfectly friendly (I haven't got a problem with dogs). However recently there's been a huge increase in very large pit bull type breeds (I think they're American Bully XL dogs), and they never seem to be on leads - owners often miles away. I find these types of dogs really intimidating and most of the recent dog attacks in the news seem to involve them. I have no idea how I would even go about attempting to protect my DC if one attacked. If one is nearby I make sure DC aren't running around and are standing with me. Are there any other practical steps I could take?! I am usually carrying a hot drink of some sort, is that going to be of any practical use against a dog if it attacks??

I don't think a hot drink will do much and there's no guarantee it will still be hot at the time the dog attacks your child.

The problem with a weapon is that the dog will be very close to your child if it's attacking it and you might hit your child as well.

Are you young and agile? You might be able to stab the dog in the neck if so, but obviously will need a knife thats probably illegal i guess it's up to you if you want to buy one and take the risk. Or a taser, again illegal.

Sorry I have no idea on practical advice, but may I ask what is a bully xl? Is it a type of pit bull or staff bull terrier?
The only thing I can think of is keep your little ones close. And if a dog comes running make yourself as large as possible and shout a lot (This could be terrible advice btw I'm not am expert, I read this about bears)

My hot drink is always boiling as my thermos is very good, TBH it's so hot that it's usually still too hot for me to drink by the time we get home 😂

It's not a staff, I think it's related to pit bulls.

Ahh I see. Report to dog warden? If you aren't sure if it is an illegal breed that would probably be the place to start. Or get pics and send to council or police?

As a sensible and normally proportionate dog owner I must say that if I were in the situation you find yourself in regularly, I would 100% avoid those woods. It's just not worth the risk that those dogs pose. If one did attack either your or your children realistically there is absolutely fuck all you can do about it, the attack will be very bad and potentially fatal within split seconds, the dog will be more powerful than you, and will not stop because of anything you do.

The likelihood of a dog attacking unprovoked is small, but it may only take your kid swinging a stick innocently or even just a trip splat fall to be misinterpreted by one of those and you've had it.

Absolutely not worth the risk. The only thing I would be doing regularly would be reporting the dog owners to the police. Every single time I saw them off lead.

As a general rule, calm voice, don't make eye contact, back away slowly, no waving arms and hands around.

Putting something between you/your child and the dog (coat, bag) can't hurt.

But reporting and trying to get some kind of on-lead rule/guidance is a good idea. People with XLs tend not to give a shit though.

I just looked up this breed so I can keep an eye out. I too have wondered what would be the best course of action in this situation, how on earth I'd get a dog off my child, especially one like that. I really don't think they should be allowed tbh.

If a dog is attacking a child/another dog/a person lift them up by their back legs. It disorientates them and they should let go

I get what you're saying but honestly we'd never go for a walk, everywhere I've been recently in all parts of the country I've seen these dogs out and about, off lead. And surely I can't report to police because it's not illegal for them to be off lead?!

Sad to say, I would walk my children elsewhere.

Where though? I see them everywhere, and I'm not in a dodgy area.

Well you've answered your own question then haven't you. Just take the lid off your thermous flask, unscrew the top, pour your hot coffee over the dog and everything will be ok🙄

I'd be walking my kids elsewhere too.

@SnappyDragony American XL bullies are a newish breed, with all the strength and temperament of a pit bull, but even stronger, because Americans did what America tends to do to breeds and made them bigger muscled. They are legal in the UK only because they are a newish breed that wasn't around when pit bulls were banned by the dangerous dogs act in 1991. The vast majority of dog attacks and fatalities in the UK are as a result of these dogs and similar bull breeds, and in all honestly it's fucking terrifying that there's a new stronger version on the block. They are also status symbol dogs, which means that their owners either encourage them to be aggressive and/or don't train them very well on the whole, and pay little heed to the law.

I highly doubt a hot cup of coffee would put one off attacking. Not a lot would. And if you square up to a dog who is looking for a fight, chances are you will push that dog into the fight.

The best defense against XL bullies is to stay the heck away from them.

I'm genuinely asking - where. I see them literally everywhere. There's been a huge increase in recent months. Even if I'm only walking down the road to Sainsbury's, I always see at least one and it's almost never on the lead.

I saw a man with a similar sort of dog walking without it on a lead in our village this morning whilst walking to do the nursery run.

I actually loudly (ish) told my little one to stay close as that 'doggy' isn't on a lead.

Obviously some people won't care but I did actually see the guy then put the dogs lead on a few minutes later. So was probably just a decent dog owner but worth a try!

I work in the veterinary profession. I would make sure my children know the rules…..you don’t approach a dog unless you have asked owner for permission. My children know this rule and follow it. In 17 years I have only ever been seriously bitten by one dog and it was a dachshund. Scars to show.
not all bully breeds are generally a problem. It’s just that once they bite it will be bad. But I wouldn’t judge generally. But that’s my personal opinion!

By law dogs should be under control of their owners. If the owner is not within sight, they're not under control. If you see the dog making a nuisance of themselves to other people or other dogs, they're not under control.

Where are you Yeen?
I walk my dog every day and she's always the nastiest one; she weighs 10lbs.

I'm in Bristol.

Luckily they're not really in my part of the country either.

If I lived in an area with a lot of them

My kids 100% know not to go anywhere near any dog without permission, and certainly not a strange dog off a lead. If we see one anywhere nearby, even relatively far in the distance, I stop them running about and make them walk with me holding hands.

The thing that worries me is the smallest thing seems to set them pff. If DS wandered past one waving a stick for example, would that be seen as threatening? He knows not to approach dogs, and to stay close when there is one, but I feel like the rules kind of go out of the window here, as they seem to be set off by the tiniest things.

Argh pressed send by accident

If I lived in an area with a lot of them I'd move because the breed troubles me that much I'd do the same as if I saw a man who looked or felt a bit off to me - cross the road, stop off to tie my shoelace and let them get ahead of me, that type of thing. Anything to keep my distance.

In fairness they've never made a nuisance of themselves, they generally just walk past us nonchalantly, but I'm so aware of their size and reputation that they make me nervous.