For "hurting" his dog

[UmbongoUnchained]

Took my 17m DD for a walk on the beach today. We were walking along near the shoreline when an enormous Newfoundland appears out of no where and bounds up to my little one, knocking her onto her face. She was face down in the wet sand, screaming and crying and this dog was just stood over her snuffing away into her neck. I could reach under it to grab her out and it wouldn't budge when I tried to push it off her. The owner was just stood there laughing about how his dog loves children. So I punched it really hard in the head and it finally moved off. Poor DD had sand in her eyes and mouth where she had been screaming and is now probably going to be scared of dogs. Owner went furious saying he was going to report me to the police. Surely the police would see that I was just protecting my child though surely?

[Jesabel]

YANBU, I'd have kicked it as hard as I could in the rib.

Whoever said you made your DD scared by reacting is talking complete bollocks, what a bitch.

[tabulahrasa]

That's one next to a labrador...yes they're big, they are a giant breed, but they're not the size of bears or horses.

As for whether it's ok to punch one, as other people have said, it's not the wisest of actions - but I'd assume you're panicking at that point and not rationally thinking out what is the best thing to do that's not going to possibly make it react.

[Babymouse]

Poor you that sounds very scary. YWNBU given the situation - especially as you are unfamiliar with dogs - and hopefully this thread gives you ideas on what to do if something similar happens again (hopefully it won't!)

I love dogs - but I'm so sick of owners who just stand there laughing when their dogs are misbehaving. While I was biking I once had a dog head straight for my wheels. First I thought, crap I'm going to crash and secondly, I thought I'd run over the dog if I couldn't stop in time. All the while the owner stood there laughing that he 'liked' bikes. I told her that the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her dog, and luckily I didn't - but if it came to me or the dog I'd pick me. Honestly, if your dog chases kids, bikes, cars etc they need to be on a leash! (rant over)

[SheSellsSanctuary]

I love dogs and I have one. BUT absolutely YWNBU. I would be enraged if an out-of-control dog knocked over one of my DCs. And in that situation, especially as your DD was trapped underneath it, you'd do anything to rescue her!!

To my eternal shame, my dog knocked over a friend's DD once three years ago. He was excited, off the lead during a forest walk, she was jumping up and down and squealing and he ran to her, jumped and pushed her over. She howled but was OK physically. I was mortified, angry and so ashamed of myself for not preempt ing what had happened. It all took place in the space of about four seconds. In my dog's brain, the little girl was playing and he tried to reciprocate.
Her mother was amazing about it but I felt terrible. I went to their Josue later and left a little cuddly toy dog and a card 'from' my dog, apologising.
Happily, although she was a little wary for a while, that little girl eventually quite liked my dog and enjoyed giving him dog treats and making him 'sir' and 'give paw'. But I still cringe when I remember the incident.
I probably would have done exactly the same as you, OP, although my DCs are much older. You must have been terrified and I hope your DD is ok.

[SheSellsSanctuary]

Damn autocorrect!! I went to their HOUSE not 'Josue'

And she made him 'sit' not 'sir'

[PenelopePitstops]

This has to be one of the most ridiculous threads on here.

OP yanbu.

Some of you are putting a dog above a child.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Exactly penelope, they are also stating the op should have done this! or this! to get the dog off. FGS ok knows nothing about dogs, not everyone is. The only person at fault is that irresponsible dog owner. I don't think he would be laughing if his dog attacked op dd, that could happen. I read a while ago of a horrific incident of an friendly Old English Sheep dog attacking a 7 year old girl who just stroked it. She knew the dog and the owner, but one day it just went for her. Her injuries were horrific.

[GruntledOne]

Punching the dog was stupid

Clearly not, since it had precisely the effect that OP wanted.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Op said, the dog was stood there sniffing into her neck, he could have blooming turned and bitten into her neck, injuring her or even killing her. Op punched the dog, after trying to move it away, it woulden't move, op actions had the desired effect so what she did was totally right, and any sane person would. Don't blame op, blame the stupid dog owner.

[Aeroflotgirl]

My child comes first, if I was in the same situation as op, I would blooming do the same.

[WottaMess]

The detailed responses with options of what one could have tried were in response to a question about what action might be sensible if anyone was ever in a similar situation. It allowed for how to tackle a dog. Some options wouldn't have worked with a Newfie. But for those like op with no experience of dogs it provides a series of possible choices which may be less likely to potentially cause a dog to go from 'playing' to aggressive, as while all worked out ok this time it could've made things worse.

So while several people have been unhelpfully smug, others have really been helpful in response to specific questions and I've found out it very helpful.