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?

blowing in its face or punching/kicking a dogs face can provoke a fear-induced reaction from the dog, which could result in a serious attack. It's simply not worth the risk.

Using your foot to push the dog away, or scooping it up from the bag legs, away from its teeth, would be far more useful, but always try for a collar or using a command first.

I know us humans operate on instinct, and it was a scary situation for the OP but it could have resulted in an even worse outcome if they dog had been frightened or aggressive.

If op is not familiar with dogs, she will not know this, all she knows is that this big animal which she is not familiar with is standing over her baby and is not moving, despite her trying to push it off! The owner, if responsible should have recalled the dog or physically get it away from the baby, and apologised to op.

I am a dog owner and was walking my dogs when my then 2 year old was knocked over by a large boisterous puppy. Even though my ds lived with and was familiar with dogs he was still crying and distressed. Puppy owners laughed - but I was distinctly unimpressed and told them in no uncertain terms (quite ugly verbals actually , not my finest hour)

I understand why you did it - it doesn't exactly build your child's confidence around dogs to be bowled over by one and even if you can tell the dog is 'friendly' your toddler doesn't know that. Having had a giant breed dog (a Bernese Mountain Dog) I can well imagine that you couldn't budge it with a shove either!

Rockabella's suggestions are good, although going for hind legs can equally make a dog feel vulnerable and you're in a clear range for a snap. None of these would be that work particularly on a Newfoundland.

Using your foot to push the dog away, or scooping it up from the bag legs, away from its teeth, would be far more useful, but always try for a collar or using a command first.

How is that going to work on something the size of a pony?
The OP said she couldn't move it.
The owner just laughed.

Andrewofgg

I already gave other suggestions of what she could have done to help her child. I am a dog owner and lover, in fact I have a staffordshire bull terrier, and have owned these breed my entire life. I'm well aware of of how people can react around dogs, and how dogs operate, especially since I own a controversial breed.

I have expressed sympathy for the OP and her daughter, but certain reactions can cause a dog to attack, if it wasn't already doing so, and the result could have been much worse for the OP if the dog got a fright and decided to bite her or her child.

I would shout NO or OFF at the dog first whilst trying to drag it by the collar, most dogs can be controlled with a collar (such as with a horse) as the generally move in the direction their head/neck is pulled.

If these doesn't work I would use my foot to push the dog off, or give it a right good shove whilst continuing to tell it OFF or NO. If that failed I would lift its lefts from the back.

I understand there isn't always a lot of time in these situations and adrenili doesnt always make you think clearly.

The only person at fault here is the owner.

I don't think anybody is suggesting this was the OPs fault, merely that there are better and safer methods if something similar was to happen in the future.

The dogs owner is an idiot, his reaction seems very very stupid but maybe he was embarrassed himself, who knows? Either way I would be questioning his ability to own such a large breed of dog.

There is an excellent article on the internet headed How to Handle a Dog Attack
Excellent advice! Personally under these circumstances I would like to have shot it! I Hate dogs!

OP hope your DD is okay now?

You did the best thing you could think of doing at the time OP.

The owner wasn't controlling the dog, you didn't know the dog, the dog did not know your daughter.

The owner got off lightly. Had his dog intentionally or accidentally harmed your daughter it would have faced a lot worse consequences than a punch.

Oh I didn't realise she was injured. Poor little love. Hope she is ok, do get her checked out.

To be fair, I think most people are only saying YABU for the punch in case it made the dog cause more harm that it did, rather than because they are worried about its welfare. Dogs are pretty robust. The owner was a complete and utter twat. I'd be mortified if my dog did that.

It sounds like a grown man used an animal to assault a baby.

The dog owner is undisputedly an irresponsible idiot, no one is questioning that. However, holding the dog's muzzle and punching it are both ineffective and potentially dangerous.

The best thing to do, which has already been mentioned unthread, is to show the dog a piece of food and then throw it for the dog to follow. Pulling the dog from the collar is another option.

I would also suggest reporting the dog to the dog warden.

Thank god I always have food on my person

Few people carry around random bits of food.

It doesn't sound as though this dog was being aggressive, but you aren't supposed to grab an aggressive dog by the collar because it can twist around and bite you which will generally mean you let go.

There aren't any guaranteed methods that anybody can use to deal with any dog and it sounds as though what the OP did was effective in the circumstances. Sometimes you just have to act quickly, not be trying to remember if you should or shouldn't blow in a dog's face or whether it's the right or left shoulder you should barge.

DD has had her eyes bathed and her shoulder X-rayed.we took photos at the hospital and contacted the police.

Jeez, poor kiddo. :( I'm glad you contacted the police.

for you and for you both!

I don't seen the dog was aggressive TBH.

They are big dogs and can be clumsy, the owner should have called it off though.

I am a bit surprised it managed to appear out of nowhere, surely a dog the size of a bear would be easy to notice.

OP If the police are taking it seriously I am very, very pleased to be proved wrong. or something stronger!

Figwin here, glad she's been checked out x

Dog lover here. Owner of toddler. You did the best you could under the circumstances, especially given you don't know dogs.

I hope your daughter is okay and not too traumatised. Owner was a dick. Not sure how there can be any other reasonable way to see the situation.

I hope she recovers quickly OP good for you getting her checked, I'd have been be worried about her eyes, if she were mine.

rockabella how exactly would you lift a Newfoundland's back legs? Esp when one of its front paws is resting on the child?