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?

[tomatodizzy]

You should speak to the police, the man needs to get control of his fucking dog. I have four dogs, two are small and hate people but my German Shepherd and Labrador are massive and they adore everyone especially children. I would be mortified if my dogs ever did anything like that to anyone, especially such a young child. I have a 6 year old that was dog phobic until he was four due to a similar incident and people like this are ignorant about the damage their pets can do.

[UmbongoUnchained]

Thanks for the advice. She has a rates on the back of her neck and a bruise on the back of her shoulder so I'm guessing it had its paw there pinning her down? Should I get her checked out? How heavy are they?

[diddl]

I was wondering if anyone else had read that the child was face down, hence the not waiting for the owner!

[Figwin]

A shoulder barge to any sized do to its lower shoulder would knock it off balance or make it lift its leg enough to get to the child depending on its position which is unclear in this situation. Barging is a play move so it would not find it aggressive. It might try and play with you but you just ignore it, signals no play. Some dogs you can just throw something for them to chase or investigate, a stone, stick a glove but this won't always work if the dog isn't that way inclined. Scream at the owner "HELP! Get it off" etc. not sure if op did this, also unclear. Blowing in a dog's face can work and make them step back but difficult to get that much breath in that situation.
Scooping their front legs at the back of the knee will make them lift laws unless really stubborn

J

[moggle]

Thanks Melonaire.
I agree with others saying about seeing if you can find a friendly dog with sensible owners for your DD to hang out with a bit before the fear gets too entrenched.
My friend is scared of all animals and has passed this on to one of her children (although interestingly not her younger child) and it is silly really, when they come to our house with our two disinterested cats my friend hugs her son (now 4) close to her and says "it's OK we'll stay away from the cats". She says she isn't aware of anything happening to her in her past which would explain the fear. Don't let your DD end up like this it is so restricting.

[moggle]

And thanks Fig useful info that barging is playful.

[LeaLeander]

This is a tough one. I'm sure you were scared and panicked. The owner was a major ass for not having his dog under control.

From what I have always heard Newfoundlands are gentle and intelligent dogs; I don't think punching it would've been one of my reactions. Did it not have a collar you could have pulled on? I think I would've dropped to the sand and covered my daughter with my arms and body as possible while calling to the owner to get the dog away.

Punching it only escalated the situation and could've made it bite you in fright.

Then afterward, for the child's sake not the stupid owner's, I would have explained to her that it was a nice doggie that just wanted to play and perhaps even asked if she could pet it or something like that.

But who knows, it was a split second decision. As to your daughter - at a year and a half she could've well fallen into the sand/surf on her own so that part of it doesn't phase me too much. But dogs should be leashed and under control in public spaces like that. His fail, mainly. Not the dog's.

[Figwin]

My last post was to moggle

[G1veMeStrength]

If my toddler was trapped face down in wet sand by a large dog, of course I would do whatever I could to get the dog off!

In some alternate universe this might be asking a passing unicorn to help me tickle the dog away, back in reality land, punching or kicking the dog seems entirely reasonable.

I hope your DD doesn't have any lasting damage.

[MetalMidget]

They generally can weigh between 7 stone and 11 stone (males tend to be heavier), although the very large ones can go up to 14 stone (rarer though). They've certainly got some bulk behind them!

[UmbongoUnchained]

figwin I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE OF DOGS! How the hell would I know any of those things? I've already said that I pushed it and tried pulling my daughter out but nothing would work. When I shouted at the owner he laughed and said his dog loves children.

Lem I am not scared of dogs so that is not true.

[Figwin]

umbongo don't shout type at me! I was answering moggle's question!

[MetalMidget]

And as other people have said, I'd report the owner to the local dog warden at least - he shouldn't have put you in that situation in the first place.

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

Shame punching the owner wouldn't have helped!

Risky to hurt a dog who could get angry and hurt your child, but understandable. I'd learn how to get a dog off without angering it just in case, but considering the situation and your poor toddler, YANBU.

Newfoundlands are my favourite type of dog (& toddlers are my favourite type of little one, so no favouritism here!), luckily for this situation they are incredibly gentle and slow to aggression. Don't try the same on another breed as it could have gone horribly wrong.

[coffeeisnectar]

Newfies are gorgeous dogs but enormous. You shouldn't have punched the dog but understand why you did. The owner was at fault not the dog.

One of our friends has one which is 2 years old and was so overjoyed to see me on the beach recently he hugged me. On his back legs he's taller than me and weighs a ton. He's as soft as shit though.

One lives in our street and hates going for walks so if its owner stops to talk to me, my dd strokes the dogs head until it falls asleep on the pavement.

[JessicasRabbit]

You were protecting your child from a potentially life-threatening situation. Dogs who's owners have no control (and some that do have control) have seriously injured and in some cases killed small children. You were absolutely right to take whatever action you could to protect your child. Any injury the dog got from this is solely the owner's fault.

Any reasonable dog owner would keep their dog under control, especially around children.

I would get her checked out if she's got bruises from being pinned down. And I would report to the police via 101. Likelihood is they won't do much, but on the off-chance he tries to make a complaint the police may be able to pursue him.

[juststeppedoutofasalon]

In manner of ninja, I would have punched dog, scooped up child, and aimed kick at owner for laughing but would have felt bad about doggie afterwards . YANBU

[Waltermittythesequel]

People on here are fucking ridiculous about dogs.

I have a dog. I adore my dog.

I wouldn't stand there laughing if he'd knocked over a baby. (Which he wouldn't because he'd be on his lead.)

[Nanny0gg]

Newfoundlands aren't exactly common, so if he's a regular walker there he would be easy to find.

Report to the police.

[WhatWouldFlopDo]

You seem to be getting a bit of a hammering. If a very large dog had knocked my toddler over and was stood over her, I'd try to get her out from under it fast, any way I could, and that's what you did. YWNU to me.

[SquinkiesRule]

On her face, pinned down by a massive dog! The owner is a moron. She could have been badly hurt. I used to work in an Eye ward, we had lots of summer visitors with sand in their eyes needing medical attention, they'd end up with scratched corneas. Needing eye drops and follow up care. Also wet enough sand she could have drowned in.

[UmbongoUnchained]

My friend has a Newfoundland and walks on the same beach so she may know who he is. I'll give her a call.

[WoodHeaven]

Seeing that your dad HAS been injured (bruises and scratches on her back), I would take a photo and report to the Police.

Yes it's likely that they won't find him. But it's also possible similar incidents have happened (as per the owner, the dog 'loves' children....). And it would be a good reminder for any dog owner to have the dog on lead when near young children.

I have to say I'm at people who are having a go at the OP and saying 'you should never have done xxx'. Apart from the fact that in the heat of the moment, you never know how you will react, how on earth can you expect everyone to know how to act/react near a dog if they've never own a dog???
I would have had no idea (and tbh still don't because the explainations given on this thread means little to me. Plus I'm very wary around dogs I don't know, so the talk about 'playing' with them to make them go away just doesn't woke for me).
I do know that DH would have had no issue being even more ruthless with the dog. That dog, just because of its sheer size, DID HURT an 18 months old toddler!!!!

[UmbongoUnchained]

Think I will take her to hospital. Her shoulder is sore and her eyes are still red

[whois]

I'd be worried a punch would make it react badly and bite your DD but not sure what else you could do if you couldn't shove it off and you couldn't grab DD out.