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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

SallyDapp · 05/04/2017 01:16

My dd asked me to look after her dog when she was looking for a home. The first time he gently tried to take a biscuit from my 3yr olds hand as it was on the way to her mouth was the last time he came indoors, we rapidly found him an alternative home. As gorgeous and placid as he was he had to go. You can not take that risk. I was bitten through the nose at age 2 by my dgm's dog, I was blamed for teasing him! My DH spent 9months in hospital as a child following an incident with a family pet who was put down immediately. Both were food related, and both dogs were 'just pets'. One of my former children had her mouth torn apart by a 'lovely labrador', 'a gentle family pet' who was only after a biscuit. IMO all dogs should be on a lead in public and muzzled by law.

optionalrationale · 05/04/2017 04:50

To the "Oh he's just being friendly" super-entitled brigade kali110, chardonnay and others (who are aghast that many of us would be prepared to physically defend a child against an off lead and out of control dog...

What would you do if your dog was attacked by another?

I notice this seems to be a regular topic on In the doghouse. Suddenly all qualms about kicking a dog go out of the window.

Maxandrubyrubyandmax · 05/04/2017 05:26

Having just spent the last six months getting DS to overcome a get of dogs when some very badly behaved owner let his huge friendly dog jump up at DS in the park I hate it when dog owners trundle out the line he's friendly when the child clearly isn't keen. Some owners are fab though esp the guy we see every morning on way to school who having been told of situation has spent a few minutes of every day letting DS get used to dogs again!

Maxandrubyrubyandmax · 05/04/2017 05:36

Oh and re labradors. Yes they are bloody greedy but yes you can train them not to take food. Ours would never touch a thing without being told yes

ExpatTrailingSpouse · 05/04/2017 05:37

two stories:

first, my at the time 2 year old nephew was "knocked over" very gently by one of my dad's enormous but very friendly dogs. think, it came through a closed door unexpectedly and sniffed him in the face surprising him so he fell down on his bum. not hurt, but after that he refused to go near my golden (who is the most docile golden you've ever met in your life) for about 2 years, even though prior he'd absolutely loved him. even now at 7, he is hesitant around my golden, who is now 13 and mostly sleeps. so even a non-scary incident with a dog can affect little kids for a very long time.

second, my golden now won't touch peanut butter. will actually turn his head away, due to me hiding meds inside it, and him learning that trick... even if there aren't any meds.

Booboostwo · 05/04/2017 05:57

Beans humans are animals (said in a tiny whisper, as I don't want anyone biting my carotid - canine or human)

HandbagCrab · 05/04/2017 06:31

Wow all these anecdotes about people's dogs taking food and how hilarious or mortifying it is. It's not hilarious or mortifying what happened to op, it's terrifying.

Dog owners have decided where I live is a free for all as there are no cars. We have had dogs run into our house and run upstairs and steal our dc's brand new ball out of their hands and rip it to shreds. Dh had to rugby tackle one dog to get it out of our home and the owner of the ball ripper stood by helplessly as his dog ran round like a loon growling. Every single dog I see near our house off lead is a potential menace now unless it's small enough that I could defend my dc from it. Blame other dog lovers for being inconsiderate arse holes rather than the people that are wary of your pets.

Shockers · 05/04/2017 06:45

I have two dogs. One is a lurcher who is constantly scanning for food, the other is a lab/collie cross.

We have taught them both to take treats gently, but it either were to excitedly snatch a sandwich, I'd be really worried about the damage their teeth could do. In fact, our collie cross is always muzzled when out because she excitedly snaps at her 'brother's' side when playing chasing games, and once tore his skin.

As a very young puppy, she once stole a gingernut from a picnic on the beach. I learnt my lesson and would always put her on the lead if we saw a situation where she could steal... mainly because no picnicking family wants us standing 10' away saying "LEAVE IT" in a low tone while they're munching on their pork pie.

The lurcher looks scary because he's big and dark. In reality, he's the softest dog I've ever met, but if I didn't know him, his enormous head advancing toward my butty/face would scare the pants off me, so he would also be on a lead.

Iris65 · 05/04/2017 06:49

Years ago we had a hound who was ninja-like in his ability to snaffle a whole ice cream cone but leave the cone. 😂😂

manicmij · 05/04/2017 10:21

Surely dogs should be on lead on public parks. Any responsible owner would do this especially if area is busy, children running about,other dogs, it's common sense. I would have reported owner. I have had dogs for nearly 30 years.

ExConstance · 05/04/2017 10:55

Not relevant on the ethics and comments about dog training but Labradors and Golden retrievers are "soft mouthed" so it is part of their inherited characteristics that when they want to put something in their mouth they will be very gentle with it. ( the hand or arm that is, not the sandwich)

AnnabelC · 05/04/2017 16:19

I walk my dog in a park and when the weather is nice, it brings out families and children. Unfortunately some dog owners feel they own the space as they use it everyday whatever the weather. So they find these children and families just a nuisance. My dog is well behaved and would never leave me off the lead. I think it's great families enjoy the park.

alleypalley · 05/04/2017 20:24

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

Having had my dog run into by a cyclist; she was on a lead on a canal tow path, cyclist came up from behind us making no effort to make us aware of their presence so I didn't have time to pull my dog in close to me and leave space for the cyclist they just decided to try and barge her out the way instead, I would ban all cyclists.

My dog is very anxious and fear aggressive (from being kicked unprovoked), she wears a bright yellow 'nervous' harness yet I have more trouble trying to keep children away from my dog than the other way round.

That being said there is no excuse for badly behaved owners, they make me just as cross for giving responsible and caring dog owners a bad name.

Morphene · 05/04/2017 20:33

There appear to be a lot of responsible dog owners on this thread and a lot of batshit idiot dog owners too.

I'm afraid while the proportion of idiot owners continues to be so high, I'd prefer dog ownership wasn't a thing.

kali110 · 06/04/2017 01:07

I'm afraid while the proportion of idiot owners continues to be so high, I'd prefer dog ownership wasn't a thing

Well thankfully that won't happen.
I'd like to ban many things, but it's not going to happen

optionalrationale · 06/04/2017 04:59

I'm afraid while the proportion of idiot owners continues to be so high, more and more people will need to protect their families with physical / lethal force against attacking dogs if necessary. This is a sad indictment against irresponsible owners. But it may be the only way the owners will learn.

Happy now kali 110?

Goodfood1 · 06/04/2017 07:20

my 10 yr old labrador would do this, so I always look around to check there no kids/people eating, always ready to chase or put on the lead if necessary, he is very apt though at selling food from a distance and suddenly able to run fast despite his arthritis.
he is a good natured dog, but this is not acceptable and I would be mortified if he did this.
YANBU

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 06/04/2017 07:52

We all agree dogs have to be under control, though we seem to have different views on what exactly that means.
Children and anti social adult behaviour, with or without dogs, has to controlled too.

But we need more green spaces and more playgrounds. Our cities are getting more crowded by the day, more housing is being squeezed in, and there are no outdoor options for us to go. It's soul destroying and we end up fighting over them in bunfights here.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 06/04/2017 07:54

I have written to my MP about it and will write to mayor's office and I would urge more people to do it.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 06/04/2017 17:19

optionalrationale

To the "Oh he's just being friendly" super-entitled brigade kali110, chardonnay and others (who are aghast that many of us would be prepared to physically defend a child against an off lead and out of control dog...

What would you do if your dog was attacked by another?

I notice this seems to be a regular topic on In the doghouse. Suddenly all qualms about kicking a dog go out of the window.

If you were indeed a regular browser of the Doghouse section you would know that this is usually frequented by responsible dog owners and that this is a topic that comes up time and time and time again. In fact I have posted about it myself a few times. We are also heartily sick of irresponsible dog owners letting their badly behaved untrained dogs interfere, frighten and attack our well behaved dogs. In fact a lot of owners on there have dogs with behavioural and neurological conditions, from previous mistreatment or lack of training and an uninvited dog can absolutely ruin all their efforts at training and socialisation and rehabilitation.

I myself have had to kick away a dog that went for mine. We met it and passed it whilst it was on lead and it was slathering and snapping at us. We'd gone about twenty yards down the path when it either slipped its lead or was let off and it came straight for us. Thankfully it went in the direction of my dog, not my two small children, and I got my foot under it and sent it flying. It didn't know what to so at that and then it's useless owner got hold of it. I was so angry that all I could do was hiss at him to get it on a lead. Neither he nor his wife said a word. Utter bastards. So please don't assume that it's you versus us because I can bloody well assure you, we are not all like that.

kali110 · 06/04/2017 18:42

optionalrationale
If you'd been on many of these threads then you would know that i have never once said or agreed with the line 'he's just being friendly' or that i am even a dog owner, so you can take your entitled brigade badge back
I can however disagree with lumping all dogs together, and people threatening to kill/maim an animal simply for coming near them.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 06/04/2017 18:42

What on Earth is this nonsense about?

If a dog attacks a child, then of course you will defend the child, the best you can, and I hope any dog owner will help you do that.

But it seems that some people's definition of attack is when a dog walks past them.

What would you do if your dog was attacked by another?

I try to grab mine a pull it away. Or I watch and put him by my side on a lead if I see trouble coming.

Or I scream. Really loud, think horror film screams. Scares the living daylights out of everybody, dogs and owner.

I haven't kicked a dog yet.

user1489521504 · 06/04/2017 18:51

I have a very greedy dog (a boxer) and she's also deaf so if she was to be off lead and saw something she wanted it'd be very difficult to get her to come back . And that's why she is not let off lead , ever ! If for whatever unlikely reason she DID manage to get off lead and was disrupting or frightening people - especially those with children - I'd be horrified and wouldn't blame them for taking steps to stop her . Likewise , if I was out with my kids and an out of control dog approached us I'd have no qualms kicking it or doing whatever I could to get it to go away and quite frankly wouldn't give a shit what the irresponsible owner thought ! Some people need to give themselves a shake , it's NOT okay to own an animal and think it can just do what it wants 🙄

kali110 · 06/04/2017 18:52

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe i have no idea seemingly it was because we thought it was ott for a poster to kill a dog that was coming near her, that makes us entitled

Doowappydoo · 06/04/2017 18:59

**But it seems that some people's definition of attack is when a dog walks past them.

I don't think anyone has defined a dog attack as a dog walking past them. I think what lots of us are trying to explain is that when a dog bounds up to your tiny child, tramples your picnic or grabs your food people don't necessarily wait to see if it's going to attack before they react.

That's what's so irritating about the "oh he's just being friendly- he'd never hurt anyone" brigade". You know the dog I don't.

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