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.

Berliozwooler
*Could you please train your children FFS and keep them indoors or on reins at all times, until they are a fully functioning well-trained adult?

A fair number of parents enjoy the fact that a child allows them to dominate public spaces and impose their choices and preferences on other people. So you had sex, did you? Oh well done.

Sit on the train, or café in a 'mumspreading' posture and you can take up extra space and impose yourself on the people either side of you, let your preschooler lose in a public place and you can have a much bigger effect.

hmm*

THIS EXACTLY

I love dogs. We plan on getting one in the next few years when kids are older. However, I have a massive issue with all the posters saying their dogs are friendly and well behaved. I don't doubt it but you can never be certain this temperament won't change suddenly, whether due to pain, fear or old age. A dog with the nicest temperament, who at 10 years old hasn't hurt a fly, could suddenly turn because they're suffering from pain undetected by the owner. Don't assume that dogs will always have the same temperament that you've always been used to. It's naive.

I like dogs and could never kick a dog. (though it seems doubtful whether the woman in the thread did either tbh)

But- on the occasions when a dog owner has assured one of my children that the dog is friendly and wouldn't hurt anyone, my child has got bitten. So while I tend to give dogs the benefit of doubt, I am instantly suspicious of any dog owner who starts the conversation with "he's friendly". Maybe I'm a cynical character, but I tend to suspect that particular phrase reflects a lack of control on the part of the owner.

It would be very interesting to see attitudes to pets, dogs especially, broken down in age, sex, area, education, occupation and so on.

I couldn't find any statistics, Has anyone seen any?

Just curious.

So you had sex, did you?

There's rather more to raising a child than shagging.

That said, it's clearly more than you've ever managed.

My ds has autism and is terrified of dogs. He would put himself in danger to get away from one and would in all likelihood kick at your dog if it was around his legs. I am constantly having to step in and protect him from so called 'friendly dogs'. They are probably all lovely dogs, but they are not lovely to him. I wish people would keep their dogs close to them and would put them on leads in parks where people are walking too.

Hopefully will be able to retire there and my well behaved dogs will be warmly welcomed in the park!!

The bit in bold is missing from all other examples of dogs annoying, biting or scaring adults or kids that you are criticising.

Not everyone wants your boisterous puppy running up to them potentially jumping on them (and at 4 months that breed of dog is a large puppy) or nipping them as puppies are wont to do, they like other babies mouth everything. My kids can testify to 'puppies being friendly' while they are nipping at them with their needle sharpe teeth. After his experiences my son would run blind if he saw a dog approaching him, it was terrifying for me when we were near a road and some idiot thought that their dog walking 20 yards in front of them was under control...it never was.

And round here every junkie, drug dealer, 'hard man', wanna be hard man has a bloody dog. All big cumbersome 'hard' looking dogs and never on a bloody lead. Rotties, 'bull' types, etc.

Dragon you are either very naive, have lived a sheltered life or a GF.

I'm not a big fan of dogs but would deffo kick it in the balls or fanny if it tried to attack me or my child.

I was a child in the 60s, dogs had a lot more freedom then. Ran everywhere, crapped anywhere and all breeds were acceptable.
Slowly, those freedoms have been eroded, and restricted over the following years. I foresee a happy time when it will be the law that dogs are muzzled, insured and on a lead in public. Because if dog owners don’t police themselves, the dog dislikers will.

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.
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Don't they just.

My first dog was a saint among dogs. Never put a paw wrong, and loved kids.

One day, I was reading a book in a pub while waiting for a friend, and the was lying under the table, when I heard him snap and snarl. I was horrified when I looked under the table and saw a small child under there.

I shouted at the dog and a man at the bar called out "It's not the dog's fault, love, the kid just poked a straw up his nose".

So I shouted at the man who was with the toddler, instead.

The 4 month old pup really, really shouldn't be off the lead. Particularly if it isn't recall trained (and it's 4 months old...i doubt that it is!).

She was a stupid, nasty bitch to kick it away, I've no time for animal abusers - but op was the one who set up the entire situation. Only the puppy and the baby are blameless.

NovemberWitch

Agreed, overpopulation of the UK means that people’s freedom is eroded. Coupled with that, too many people means there are more altercations.

The landmass of the UK can only sustainably support 9 million.

Only an irresponsible dog owner comes out with 'he won't bite you, he's really friendly '. If a dog has teeth - he can bite.

Once had a puppy/small dog come running out of its house, through a gap in a fence and went straight for me. Biting at my legs and made a hole in my jeans. You are damn right he got a boot up the backside. Owner went mad and said I must have wound the dog up. I won't repeat my response on here - it was very rude and aggressive.

I have had dogs in the past, but trained them well, taught them good recall and used a retractable lead.

Willow...whats a GF?

Keep your dog on a lead in a public place - simple.

I was a child in the 60s, dogs had a lot more freedom then. Ran everywhere, crapped anywhere and all breeds were acceptable
back then as I remember it was Alsatians that people were afraid of, the extended range of 'attack dogs' that we see today is a recent innovation.

There is an element of arms race going on ....if drug dealer/hardman x gets a bullmastif-people-eater then drug dealer/hardman y needs to find himself an equally or preferably more fearsome creature.

I foresee a happy time when it will be the law that dogs are muzzled, insured and on a lead in public
I live in hope, I think they should all be chipped and the chips scanable by apps available for your mobile phone, if you see a badly behaved dog scan it and send a photo to local 'dog enforcers' (paid for via a dog tax/dog licence)

@Willow2017 DG, is Definitely a GF.

Just for the edification of any dog owner who comes near me with their pooch, however "friendly" you deem it to be, I do not want: jumping up, slobbering, pissing near me, crapping, humping my leg, licking, barking.

I suggest you keep it away from me.

How was this woman with her new baby to know that your dog was harmless (by your definition)? What telepathic powers might she require and where can they be obtained? She was right to play safe.

Let us hope that you have learned about keeping your dog on a lead.

Oh - and I do not want it to stick its nose in my crotch thank you - fussy aren't I?

Peipeiping

Just looked it up.....nope these are my views...l like (under control) dogs and would never kick a puppy.....why is that so very surprising to you?

This has really degenerated with the dog haters on mumsnet out in force. I’m not surprised the OP hasn’t come back.

She was actually very gracious and admitted her mistake. What are you all hoping for from her???

You can wish all you like for dogs to be on the lead and muzzled at all times, but it won't happen, thankfully.

An under stimulated, under exercised dog is not a nice creature. Much worse than a friendly puppy.

I will continue to let my dog run around off the lead. If this stresses you out too much, I suggest getting a dog to stroke as it has a calming effect and clearly lots of you need to chill

I am a huge animal lover but think since you said but before my puppy had even reached the woman, the woman started kicking her away that the woman didn't actually kick your puppy but rather moved her foot towards her to warn her away and if her foot did come into contact with your dog there is a big difference between it being kicked away and being pushed away with the woman's foot. I'm pretty sure if your dog had been kicked, it would have incurred an injury of some kind, but being pushed with a foot isn't much different from being pushed away by a hand.

WTF the woman smoking had to do with anything I have no idea, except, of course, it helps paint the picture you want people to see of poor defenceless ickle puppy versus evil, smoking, puppy kicking female