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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to pepper spray a dog?

160 replies

happydazed · 05/03/2014 18:48

well not actual pepper spray, its intended specifically for dogs and tested and approved so I am hoping wont actually cause them any harm.
My ds has been bitten once, not badly just nipped, my friends little girl was bitten again not too badly but drew blood, my ds has also been knocked over twice, on one occasion he was only 18 months old, toddling along next to me and a dog ran over jumped up and knocked him backwards his head hitting a stone wall, he was dazed, very upset and had a big lump on his head. All this has happened in local parks, with owners saying oh dont worry the dogs friendly, and then oh dear he's not usually so boisterous...

Because of this I avoid parks with the kids, which is such a shame, I have a beautiful park at the end of my road and I haven't been in it for 3 months, today we ventured in to feed the ducks with 5 kids under 3 between us, a dog ran up knocked 2 of the kids over, it was a staffy type and very boisterous, the children were very upset, we picked them up but it kept jumping up at us, the owner said it was our fault because the children were playing with sticks and the dog wanted them.

I have tried to train the children how to behave around dogs, to keep calm, to keep their hands by their sides etc, I am used to dogs, but if a dog runs at any 3 year old I know especially one who has been hurt by a dog before they scream and run away, I really don't know what I can do about that, it s often suggested to me by dog owners that it is my fault for not having the children behave appropriately but if they keep their dogs with them it wouldn't be an issue!

Summer is coming up and I don't feel I can safely take my children to the park or the beach which is just as bad. I know there are plenty of lovely responsible dog owners out there but unfortunately not all are. over 6000 people were admitted to hospital because of dog attacks last year so I don't feel I am being paranoid. Am I unreasonable to pepper spay the next dog that runs towards me or should I just accept parks have been given over to the dogs and children should stay in the fenced in playground areas.

OP posts:

Goblinchild · 05/03/2014 21:41

Which reminds me, the dog shooting season is beginning on the Downs.
Lambing time, lambs and dogs off the leash don't mix.

mymiraclebubba · 05/03/2014 21:43

as for the beach thing, most coastal resorts have bylaws that prevent dogs being on public areas of the beach at peak season so check the places you are going as most have maps on their websites that indicate where dogs can and can't be

Owllady · 05/03/2014 21:47

I know, I can read :o

henrysmate · 05/03/2014 21:50

This probably isn't a good time to mention that the other reason I put a muzzle on my dog is because he's got a habit of stealing soft toys from children in pushchairs would it?

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 21:55

Henrysmate, you disgust me as a dog owner!!!!

It's well known, if a dog can see it, it's his!

Original poster

happydazed · 05/03/2014 21:58

in the area now local park in was in today it's specified as a child friendly area and several signs say dogs must come kept on a lead.
I reported today incident to a warden who said he know it's a problem but what can I do!
surprised how many people are up for attacking me if I sprayed kids doing, I would only an spraying a dog that was jumping up at or being appreciate to my preschool kids.
I like the idea of the container of stones to shake, going to try that first, but least I feel I have some defence. With one or 2 children you can put yourself between the kids and the dog. When we have more children it's harder to defend them.
Thanks for all the helpful advice.

OP posts:

mousmous · 05/03/2014 21:58

I know were you are coming from op but yabu for all the reasons other posters have already described.

imo opinion dogs should always be on the lead in public places.

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 22:00

Isn't that his job? As warden?

My dog didn't listen to stones in bottle. He did react to coins in the container water coolers keep water in. I realise that's inconvenient but just so you know...

CocktailQueen · 05/03/2014 22:05

Bloody hell, I have lost count of the number of inconsiderate shitty dog owners who shout 'oh, he's really friendly' as their giant dog knocks over or jumps up at my dc. They are definitely the rule rather than the exception round here.

henrysmate · 05/03/2014 22:07

I know EveesMummy, I disappointment myself.

Jolleigh · 05/03/2014 22:08

I have complete sympathy with your situation OP but it's a really bad idea. My dog is always both on a lead and muzzled in public as he is terrified of other dogs, so any way of getting owners to stop letting their dogs wander around willy nilly, I'd buy into.

The main danger here would be from the owner - if anyone physically harmed my dog if he was doing anything short of attacking, I'd be riled enough to act irrationally. And that's before considering the possibility that the dog could attack reactively.

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 22:09

It's your dog who should be disappointed!

BrokenButNotFinished · 05/03/2014 22:10

LB: But there is no 'rest of us'. I have children too. I don't want to go for a walk as a family in an area designated for dogs - not least because it will probably be covered in poo.

We do tend to go more for footpaths walks in the country. Away from other pesky humans...

I'm wondering how you can stop a dog poo-ing near others?? When ya gotta go... My dog usually gets an erection at the same time. Which is nice.

Jenz9 · 05/03/2014 22:10

I feel for you. Am both a mum and a dog owner. I would not pepper spray or shake things. Dogs that are aggressive or have any of training, (and you never know) will can enraged by that. Not most but I wouldn't risk enraging a dog near children. water spray in the face can work well and I don't see how you can get in trouble in any form with water spray. I confess to avoiding these sorts of areas with my children and my dog.

Original poster

happydazed · 05/03/2014 22:15

wow terrible spelling/grammar, I blame phone!

OP posts:

defonamechangedforthis · 05/03/2014 22:17

my dogs would never go over to a child because they are just not interested. However if you pepper sprayed my dog I would pepper spray you. lots.

and yes I would totally expect the dog to act in an aggressive way if you pepper sprayed it.

Original poster

happydazed · 05/03/2014 22:18

perhaps I could buy myself a bigger meaner dog.

cocktail I must live near you!

Have seen electronic devices that give out a high pitched noise that discourages dogs, anyone any experience of them?

OP posts:

Jenz9 · 05/03/2014 22:24

Sorry about that.

I have tried a high pitched device for barking control and that did not work at all.

ThatVikRinA22 · 05/03/2014 22:33

as someone who carries pepper spray can i just advise you NOT to spray a dog.

pepper spray is actually classed as a class 5 firearm. And even though i carry it would hesitate to use it on a dog - yes it does work supposedly but you would enrage the dog, and it could lash out simply because its in pain and cant see.

i have been in situations where an out of control dog has charged at me, i would baton it before i pepper sprayed it. The best thing is the little portable fire extinguishers that you can get for cars.....but again i would only consider hurting a dog if it was dangerously out of control.

i think you need to tackle the owners - does the park have a policy? at our park dogs need to be kept on leads. i use a long line so that if my dog does ignore me i can step on the line and he gets a shock when the line runs out....

zebbidy · 05/03/2014 22:35

YABVU an excitable dog should not be punished on their walk. It's the owners you should be speaking to about walking their dog in an area with small children if its over excitable. How would you like to be pepper sprayed when your just excited about your daily walk!
You really sound unpleasant.

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 22:39

And there it is... A typical mumsnet you sound... She's not unpleasant in the slightest. Just nervous of dogs.

LesterBurnam · 05/03/2014 22:43

Zebbidy, do you really expect the OP to do nothing but "speak to the owners" when a dog jumps up at her children?

Goblinchild · 05/03/2014 22:50

But it is over-indulgent and lazy attitudes by dog lovers that will get little wuffles and his bretheren and descendents more restricted as the years go by.
If self-regulation doesn't work, and dogs continue to deserve ASBOs, then the laws will continue restrict them .
By not having your dog under control, trained to recall, getting overexcited and jumping at people that don't want them to and threatening anyone who uses defensive measures against a dog with violence, dog owners are harming the future of dog ownership.
Give it another twenty years, how do you think the laws will have changed by then?

zebbidy · 05/03/2014 22:54

So attack the dog with pepper spray just because she has a fear? Hardly fair on the dog. Maybe next time an excitable child runs into me or nearly trips me up i migjt spray them too.

Original poster

happydazed · 05/03/2014 22:55

I would be very upset to be pepper sprayed but no matter how exited I have ever been to go for a walk i have never knocked over or bitten a child, if I did i would expect repercussions.

OP posts:

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