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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog snatched babies sandwich

342 replies

IsithormonesoramIamadcow · 02/04/2017 20:40

AIBU to think that it's not unreasonable to ask someone to put their dog on a lead....

When it's just come over to a family sitting on a bench having a picnic and chomped the sandwich out of a 17month olds hand - the whole of DS arm was inside the dogs mouth although the dog didn't actually 'bite' him.

I jumped up, shouted at the dog and asked the owner to put him on a lead. Explained he had just taken my DS hand as well as the sandwich. Dog owner paid no attention until DH lost his shit and threatened to deal with the dog himself... by which time our lovely relaxing afternoon had evaporated. Am I supposed to just be glad that DS still has all his fingers?

I am fed up with people saying their badly behaved off lead dogs are 'really friendly'. How am I supposed to know which ones are and which ones aren't.

OP posts:
StrangeLookingParasite · 04/04/2017 18:14

My dog walks off lead, and I am constantly on high picnic alert. He is a greedy mutt

One of these things does not go with the others.

hellswelshy · 04/04/2017 18:23

I do love dogs but yeah the owners sometimes! We were having a picnic at a NT property last year, me, DH and dds. Suddenly a Dalmatian came bounding up, trampled over whole picnic and tried to eat whatever we hadn't picked up quickly. Lady owner who was a walking towards me called the dog feebly. When she finally approached us I expected her to apologise, which may I add I would have accepted gladly, but instead she explained to me with a head tilt that dogs were actually allowed off the leads in this part of the property and that we probably weren'tfrom around there?! Shock
I was so gobsmacked I didn't reply but I have composed many acidic replies since in my head!!! Still cross about it a year on, haha!

Bunniesncats · 04/04/2017 18:24

My bf son once had a wotsit knicked out of his hand by a squirrel and was terrified of them after that. Hope ur ds doesn't develop a fear of dogs now. Yanbu

SharkBrilliant · 04/04/2017 18:53

Not too sure about geese, they can be vicious.

A little off topic, but raising your arms wide (so you're T-shaped basically) soon scares them off. Works every time... I was shit scared of geese before I learned that trick

Notthemessiah · 04/04/2017 19:00

Having been knocked off my bike, on a bike path, by a 'friendly' dog (who then proceeded to try and lick me to death as I lay bleeding) and having the same happen to my DS (aged 6 and still scared to cycle 5 years later) I think I'm fairly justified in saying that dogs in public should be on a fucking lead and if you can't control them on a lead, then they shouldn't be out in public at all.

Would it be ok to let a child run up to someone, jump up at them and then steal their food? Oh, "but he's only being friendly".

Tbh, if I could, I'd ban dogs as pets altogether.

curlilox · 04/04/2017 19:01

I teach the piano at home. One day I opened our front door and the next pupil's family were having a picnic on our front lawn! Our dog ran over and helped herself to a sandwich off the plate (and then weed on the grass next to them!)

caramac04 · 04/04/2017 19:09

I'm a dog owner. My dogs are used to children. However they would probably steal food. It's easy to stop them. I always put them on a lead if I see any children because 40 odd kilos of muscly dogs running towards anyone could be unnerving and especially to children. The owner was wrong and the dog was out of control.

Carriecakes80 · 04/04/2017 19:12

My dog used to be such a pig, she once got through neighbours cat-flap in their back garden (she would belly crawl under the fence!) and she nicked their Christmas turkey, scoffed pretty much the lot, and to add insult to injury, she then proceeded to go up onto their bed and throw up!, then fell asleep.
We spent a crappy Christmas A) Searching for her for ages, then B) getting the knock on the door from the neighbours who, invited us over for drinks! They were the loveliest friendliest family I have ever met, my dog ruined their Christmas dinner and their bed, yet they laughed like it was the funniest thing they had ever seen!

Going back though lol, if we ever see picnic-ers or any young kiddies, the dog goes on the lead. I trust my dogs implicitly, but you never ever take the chance. xxx

kkrpainmum · 04/04/2017 20:27

OP yanbu. I am a dog owner and dog person having had large dogs my entire life. Not one of my dogs would dare do this to a child.
I have a lab cross rescue dog, he is super greedy but I trained him from day one to have a gentle mouth when eating from hands as my kids like to give him his night time treat. Our neighbours both had labs. They had hard snappy mouths even though they were generally lovely gentle well trained dogs. My kids learnt the hard way that not all dogs have gentle mouths sadly. I understandyour point and concern about your DC.

Lunde · 04/04/2017 20:48

I have had a sandwich snatched out of my hand by a "friendly dog" - the owner came over and I expected an apology but instead got shouted at for allowing his dog to eat white bread! Hmm

Also a few years ago I got knocked over when out running my a "just being friendly" Alsatian that pinned me to the ground leaving me with scratches.

OrangePeels · 04/04/2017 20:52

I'm totally with you in this OP. My DD was just under 2YO and we took her to a car boot sale. I bought her a bacon sandwich to eat whilst I unpacked the car and waited for my dad to collect her. A dog off a lead took her entire sandwich leaving her very upset. The dog owner laughed Hmm I was far too shocked to say much in response but I was very clear that the dog had taken her sandwich from her hand!

DD was physically unhurt but I had to replace her sandwich at my own cost.

DD is now 7 and is still utterly terrified of dogs. Nothing I do can change it. I have tried! She doesn't remember the incident but something must have stuck within her instincts!

Octonautstotherescue · 04/04/2017 21:13

This owners behaviour was out of order.
If you've gone to the trouble of keeping a dog - do it justice and go to puppy classes and train it.
Pick up after it. (There is nothing worse than cleaning dog poo out a buggy's wheels.)
Keep it on a lead in public places.
Not everyone likes or will even tolerate dogs. Large dogs can be especially frightening for small kids on their size alone.
It's still an ANIMAL and even the mildest mannered family pooch can be unpredictable if provoked.
If you're not prepared to put the time in - and dogs take up a lot of time and energy - don't get one.

lozzylizzy · 04/04/2017 21:39

A large labrador on a long lead more or less got into my DS2s buggy when he was around a year old. He was a friendly dog but scared my boy. He has had an unreasonable fear of dogs ever since

IvorHughJarrs · 04/04/2017 21:52

You are absolutely right OP and your DH was not unreasonable at all. I hate dogs and hate irresponsible dog owners even more. The burning innermost core of my hatred is reserved for anyone that calls a dog a "furbaby"

My DS was snapped at when patting a dog whose twat of an owner had encouraged him and insisted the dog was friendly. Took ages before he got over it

NewYearNewLife53 · 04/04/2017 21:59

If I wanted a dog slobbering over my picnic food, I'd have one myself as a pet. I choose not to. Those owners who either can't control their dogs or who don't give a flying fuck about spoiling other people's pleasure need to reconsider.

Cherrysoup · 04/04/2017 22:03

Oh dear! That could've ended badly :( My greedy dog once disrupted a fisherman by knocking over and scoffing his sweetcorn Shock He is carefully monitored around picnics.

Yanbu to be cross.

JaimeLannister · 04/04/2017 22:15

The burning innermost core of my hatred is reserved for anyone that calls a dog a "furbaby'

Call me crazy but I reserve that sort of intensity for murderers and abusers.

optionalrationale · 04/04/2017 22:20

To the pp who thinks the anecdotes and experiences of dog attacks are bullshit... just check the news from Kent this evening. Another child left with life threatening injuries.

wineusuallyhelps · 04/04/2017 22:28

YANBU and I say that as an owner of a huge, friendly Labrador.

My dog is still young and training is an ongoing process. People, other dogs and food are his main joys in life and he is not yet able to control himself around them.

Therefore I would NEVER let him off the lead in a park, near children, near people eating, near any situation where he might give in to his impulses. Can't understand why people risk it.

Just because I love my dog doesn't mean anyone else wants to!

jellyshoeswithdiamonds · 04/04/2017 22:31

As an owner of a dog capable (and very adept) at opening zips I'm on the lookout for backpacks on the floor let alone people opening having picnics.

Mine's not a snatcher though (he's too small/short), more of a sit nicely and wait. Be mortified if he stole.

Tapandgo · 04/04/2017 22:51

Dog on long stretchy lead was allowed to bound up on me while I carried a tray of food and drink from cafe to outside seating area. No way was the beast under the control of its owner. Never offered to pay for ruined and inedible food strewn across the ground - let alone apologise for my scalded hand. Owner just acted like it was normal 'play'. Seriously .....

Maggiemoomoo17 · 04/04/2017 22:53

YANBU. I was on a deserted beach having a picnic when my children were toddlers with some friends when 2 large dogs bounded over and ate everything in the space of 10 seconds. Kids crying and us shouting. They ran off no sign of owners. I'm a dog owner too with a very greedy shih tzu. We came across some toddlers and mums having a picnic and before I could get her on the lead she had ran over and raided the picnic. I was mortified.

ShamefulDodger · 04/04/2017 23:03

True Doowappydoo

It was very much instinct.

I was on the floor, with a tiny four week old dd on my lap.

All I saw was a bundle of teeth and muscle pelting towards us.

I didn't know whether he wanted a sandwich or my face.

Beansonapost · 05/04/2017 00:50

@Booboostwo are you actually comparing my reaction to an ANIMAL to how I might react to another child?!

It's an ANIMAL... hope you never forget that.

And yes I will forever avoid dogs/dog areas. I hate dogs. I don't visit areas specifically for dogs so I expect in a shared space where seeing a dog cannot be avoided for it to be on a lead... respecting my right to be in the space. And even on a lead I am cautious around them. If you want your animals off lead take them to a dog specific park/place/area...

I don't expect you to love my children... but you will respect them. They don't run over to you or your animal disturbing you and getting you dirty with their hands. You love your animal... I don't and shouldn't have to tolerate how inconsiderate you are dog owner. It's an animal... it may be your best friend but certainly isn't mine!

@CustardOmlet ... a dog didn't just come near me... it ran from a good distance at a decent speed charged at the ducks. It looked aggressive coming over... what was my reaction to be? Wait and see? Then he tramples my child... what then?
I don't know this animal... I cannot assume it is friendly... if it attacked my child its irreversible and something my child will have to live with forever.
FWIW the owner only got up when I kicked it... he sat there looking pleased with his animal.

I don't know the intentions of these animals... my instinct is to protect myself and my now children. So I will do whatever is necessary.

Tls106 · 05/04/2017 01:05

I would be livid and I'm a dog lover.

My ds freaks out if a dog gets too close so who's to know whether his reaction would cause a dog to startle and bite. I don't care how friendly your dog is, don't bring it near us unless invited. My ds is like this because a family member won't control their dog around him and it's infuriating.

We live in the countryside and you can't go for a walk without a dog owner letting their dog run up. The owners always say you can stroke him he's friendly. Ok the dog might like it but what if we don't!!

So no in a public family setting I don't think it's unreasonable at all and if I was looking after my friends dogs, which I do, they would be on a lead.