To be upset at a woman kicking my friendly 4 month old golden retriever?

[Marshmallowpops]

I am so upset. I've just come back from a walk with my puppy. She's a lovely friendly golden retriever. I've been letting her off leash in the local park as the trainer said it's best to do it early. She is really friendly and loves to play with other dogs- she often meets them all for a play date in the park in the morning- there are always lots of dogs off leash in this park. Normally when there aren't other dogs she trots along beside me, sometimes going off to sniff but coming back when called. She's not too bothered about people but will say hello and sit down (not jump up) as she is trained to do. Today it was dark at 8pm and I let her off as normal, she just trots along and comes back when called. But today she saw two women, one with a baby in a carrier) so went over to say hello (she's normally not bothered but today was a little hyper), but she just trotted over like she does, really gently and not aggressive at all. I said to the woman 'don't worry she won't jump up she'll just sit down and say hello', but before my puppy had even reached the woman, the woman started kicking her away! I could understand if the dog seemed aggressive but she's the sweetest thing. She kicked her repeatedly, my puppy came back to me, I put her on the lead, and the other woman started having a go at me asking if I thought it was acceptable for my dog to go over and attack her baby. She was smoking a cigarette. I wanted to say that is going to cause more harm to the baby than my dog ever would but I didn't. I know of course that as a mother you are very protective of your baby but I just would never attack a friendly dog. Maybe they've had bad experiences in the past. I'm just very upset. I know not everyone likes dogs but that park is so dog busy that I thought everyone was used to it by now. I think I'll keep her on a lead at night until she's really 100% with recall. She's about 90% now. So I know there will be people who say I'm in the wrong letting her off but if she had an aggressive bone in her body I would never let her off.

Thanks so much to everyone who actually seems to have read my follow up posts and has been supportive.

To the person who suggested my dog could run into the road- you clearly have the wrong image, I would NEVER let my puppy off leash if we were at all near a road, it's a very enclosed and safe park. She doesn't go up to people normally. I have decided to now try the long training leash that I have to help improve her recall when presented with distraction like another dog, as I've previously mentioned.

SemperTemper, there is absolutely no need for abuse, I’m reporting your post.

Really hate people who let their dogs off lead when they know that the dog can be a handful and nasty. I was having a nice walk in the Wye valley above Tintern Abbey last Sunday and a white collie came out of nowhere behind me growling and barking.
I managed to protect myself with my walking pole. Then in the far distance you could hear a whistle.
The dog had good recall.
But he kept coming up to me another five times with the owner nowhere in sight!
I was fully prepared to give a good whack when it came up the sixth time and I held my pole above my head.
Dog scarpered! Still didn't see the owner and this was deep in the woods.

My two year old DD was bitten on the hand by a (fully grown) golden retriever on the beach at half-term as it tried to steal her ham sandwich.

The dog's owner was halfway up the cliff path and had let her 'friendly' dog roam free.

I yanked the dog away from my daughter, lifted her up to protect/comfort her and then repeatedly moved the dog away with my foot while shouting whose dog is this, it's just bitten my daughter.

Daughter was hysterical, terrified and in pain. Owner eventually called her dog and bloody walked off. I sent my friend after her and she kept saying her dog was harmless/friendly etc.

I hate hate HATE dog owners who allow their dogs to approach other people, especially children. My eldest DS was terrified of dogs for years because a couple allowed their red setter to jump up at him (they were 20 metres away shouting, oh he won't hurt him, while my tiny four year old was screaming in fear).

You don't know what your dog is capable of. You don't actually know that your dog won't hurt my child. I don't find your dog cute. Keep your dog away from me and my kids, and if it is not well trained enough to recall immediately, keep it on a lead.

I think the OP acknowledges that she was wrong to have her off the lead (otherwise she would have retaliated with this woman at the time) – she is doing her best to train her (probably lovely) dog and is on a learning curve. Yes, it is best not to have a dog off the lead unless you know that they will respond to your recall and the OP has learnt this the hard way (without anyone actually getting hurt or even drooled on).
Dogs bring so much that is positive to our society (guide dogs, disability assistance dogs, sniffer dogs at the scenes of disasters, police dogs, companions for those who are lonely, family pets who offer years of unconditional love and joy to their owners and teach children about the responsibility of looking after something, to name a few examples) - I find it really odd that people see a dog and automatically assume that it is some kind of drooling, vicious pest that is out to attack our children and needs to be kicked away or talked about like vermin.
Even in the dark I think I could quickly make an assessment of whether I have a vicious, growling dog in front of me or an excited puppy who has not even made physical contact with me. Even if I acted in haste as it made me jump, I still don’t think I would then (once the dog was on the lead) start shouting at the owner saying ‘do you think it is acceptable for your dog to attack my baby?’– the dog didn’t touch either of them, let alone attack the baby. This dog didn’t jump up at anyone, chew anyone’s arm off, wipe its nose on her trousers, it just ran over and went to sit down when it was repeatedly kicked and shouted at, and then the owner was shouted out. There are ways and means of getting your point across (especially when the dog is on the lead and the perceived danger is gone) without being so irrational, rude and neurotic.
Yes, the OP did make a small error of judgement (that resulted in no one getting hurt) but a woman who goes around kicking puppies and blowing smoke in a baby’s face does not sound like my cup of tea.

She was very unreasonable to kick the dog but you are quite unreasonable thinking everyone wants to be greeted by your dog "just saying hello" . Some people have no interest in dogs. Some people are allergic, some are scared....regardless if your dog is friendly, cute, well trained or whatever.

I would never kick a dog but I dislike dog owners who allow their dogs to run at prams, small children and people carrying babies. My Ds is currently terrified of dogs because a large Labrador came bursting out of woodland with no owner in sight and made a grab for his toy. He wasn't hurt but he's gone from loving dogs to being petrified of them and I'm now having to slowly try and undo that damage otherwise he might grow up to be a kicker of dogs when they get too close.

Growing up, we had spaniels and they were on training leads until old enough (and trained enough) to know they stopped/came back when called for. With the last one, he was always on a training lead with my DM because he wouldn't obey her.

Daughter was hysterical, terrified and in pain. Owner eventually called her dog and bloody walked off. I sent my friend after her and she kept saying her dog was harmless/friendly etc
the dogs owner could be prosecuted for allowing her dog to be dangerously out of control, did you report the incident to the police Bicnod? I'd have asked the friend to get her phone out and film the woman

We didn't report in the end as DD's hand was bruised and red (with indents from teeth) but skin not broken so we thought police probably wouldn't do anything. It was all a bit of a rush/blur to be honest, I was shaking and DD was crying like I've never heard her cry. On reflection we should probably have reported it. I actually don't think the dog was being vicious, but that's the point really... Even so called friendly dogs can really hurt people, especially small children.

I think she sounds like a weirdo for kicking a puppy. My neighbour's cat is a real annoying git but I wouldn't give it a punch in the face. She could have gently nudged it or ignored it. It's a little puppy not a wolf.

Anyone that thinks dogs should have a 100% reliable recall needs to accept that NO dog has that. But if it's generally good and the dog isn't aggressive then it needs to be let off the lead to exercise and to actually train its recall.

Bicnod I'm guessing the staff at the hospital would have called the police in at the time, or encouraged you to? I would be mortified if my dog did this and would never have forgiven myself. I certainly wouldn't have walked off. I hope your daughter was ok after antibiotics, stitches and tetanus etc, it must have been a horrible ordeal to deal with a dog bite. Sounds dreadful. Not all dog owners are irresponsible like that lady and I hope you know that not everyone would act the same in her position x

Sorry Bicnod, we must have pressed post at the same moment, just seen that the dog didn't break the skin etc. Ignore me! Yes, think you should have reported it, not because the dog was vicious but because it would have made the owner think twice about letting her dog off - around food or people having picnics is a particular issue and one not to be taken risks with.

Op some people are just total arseholes...like this woman.

If people are so scared of dogs why go to a park with a baby? I love dogs and have always had large (well behaved ) dogs but when l had babies in a stroller or at toddler stage common sense dictated not to go to the local park full of dogs....as one will lick or snuffle in their faces, or accidentally knock them over....

Pretty much all parks have a grassy public area used for exercising dogs and an enclosed dog free zone for children, why the dog haters or those with small children cannot just use the enclosed areas l don't understand.

If the baby was in a sling there was no way a 4 month old puppy could possibly have gone near it, so she had no excuse...and yes the smoking IS far more of a threat to her baby.

I hope your puppy is Ok....

I am so sorry for you poor puppy

I don’t like dogs, I wouldn’t appreciate a large breed rushing at me no matter how friendly you think your dog is.

The lady who lashed out may well be phobic or have been previously savaged, yet you still think she is in the wrong!

You are in the wrong in this case. Keep your dog under control or put up with the consequences of your dog saying hello to people who don’t like dogs.

I didn't mind dogs until one attacked my toddler.
It was tied up outside a shop and went for DS as he walked past.

The owner came out and the conversation went like this.
Owner: Your son must have provoked him.
Passerby: No he didn't, I saw what happened. He was just walking past and did nothing to annoy the dog.
Owner: Don't worry, the bite is not that bad. (But I had to take DS to hospital for injections and to have the wound cleaned out).
Owner: He's never done this before. He's so friendly and loves kids. I don't understand.......

So to all those dog owners who have friendly dogs, who don't bite and wouldn't hurt a fly.... guess what .... sometimes they do! My biggest regret is not kicking the damn dog - maybe it would have learnt a lesson.

but skin not broken so we thought police probably wouldn't do anything. It was all a bit of a rush/blur to be honest, I was shaking and DD was crying like I've never heard her cry
It's very traumatic and hard to do the rational thing something like this happens.

As for whether the dog was aggressive, maybe not overtly but imposing itself on people, stealing food from strangers this is very dominant behavior.... the dog thinks it can boss humans around and that could include biting to show them who's boss.

Where are these parks with lots of dogs running around, jumping up on people?! There are some stories on here. Ive never actually seen anyone kick a puppy. Never seen a puppy leap to pram/arms height to get to a baby. OP I do think tho as a woman walking a small dog you have to be on alert - people generally won't start on a man, but they will on a woman. Hence after incident when puppy had already moved away, you then had to deal with aggressive confrontation. Just be careful, and mindful.

My biggest regret is not kicking the damn dog - maybe it would have learnt a lesson
it would have been better to report it to the police
the owner knew damn well that he was in the wrong and he took advantage of the fact that you were upset to try and make you feel as if it was your fault.

@DragonGirl10

If people are so scared of dogs why go to a park with a baby? I love dogs and have always had large (well behaved ) dogs but when l had babies in a stroller or at toddler stage common sense dictated not to go to the local park full of dogs....as one will lick or snuffle in their faces, or accidentally knock them over....

Oh don't talk such shit!!

So no-one with a child can go to a park now because of entitled arseholes who think the rights of them and their fucking mutts trumps everyone else's rights!

Fuck that! Get your (BADLY TRAINED) mutt on a LEAD.

OR TRAIN HIM PROPERLY!

This HAS to be a goady troll comment! Nobody can be this fucking ridiculous?!

Long lines are good for recall training in new environments but make sure you use with a harness to prevent any neck/back injuries.

Dogs bring so much that is positive to our society (guide dogs, disability assistance dogs, sniffer dogs at the scenes of disasters, police dogs, companions for those who are lonely, family pets who offer years of unconditional love and joy to their owners and teach children about the responsibility of looking after something, to name a few examples) - I find it really odd that people see a dog and automatically assume that it is some kind of drooling, vicious pest that is out to attack our children and needs to be kicked away or talked about like vermin.

Hear, hear.
I was at the hospital today and there was a sign in the clinic stating "You may be approached by one of our five therapy dogs in the waiting room". I was really hoping I would be but I didn't see them!

Brilliant post OP - [slow handclap]

You don't know what your dog is capable of. You don't actually know that your dog won't hurt my child. I don't find your dog cute. Keep your dog away from me and my kids, and if it is not well trained enough to recall immediately, keep it on a lead.

I could say the same about your kids...

Anyway, if anyone kicked a dog, let alone a puppy, I'd boot them up the arse. If the dog was growling or looked aggressive, that's a bit different. I can't stand hysterical women (and it is always women) going mama bear over nothing.

As for whether the dog was aggressive, maybe not overtly but imposing itself on people, stealing food from strangers this is very dominant behavior....

Or maybe the little darling thought it was fun to tease the dog with his ham sandwich. I've seen things like that happen more than once.

The dog owner would not give me her name or address so I couldn't report it. I did ask. But then my priority was to get DS to A&E to get the bite cleaned up.
What really fucked me off was her instant attempt to blame my DS. Not apologise. Or ask how he was. Nope. The most important thing was to make it clear her friendly, child-loving dog was not at fault.