How do you defend your toddlers from dogs not on leads?

[Flatearthersphere]

I have 3 children 3 and under, we often go to the park, on walks to different places, our local reservoir with a play area, picnics etc etc..
Anywsy all these areas say dogs should be on leads but they aren't I would say about 50 percent of the time, not exaggerating but just seems the norm round here.

Anyway I am guessing most people could pick up their toddler if a dog came bounding up to them but I have 3, usually 2 in the pushchair and one walking. I thought this would be OK but I was in a situation a few days ago which scared me.

I had 2 in the pushchair, an elderly woman had a big collie which bounded up to us, on one of those extendable leads and she just let it run up to us, I shouted "please pull your dog away" and picked up my eldest but she just said "don't be silly he's being friendly" and I said "I Dont care pull it away" but she refused and it jumped up into my pushchair and scratched all my sons legs even though I was trying to push it away because I was holding a child.

This isn't the first time I've been in this situation, even me and my husband have struggled when we've been holding hands with all 3 and there was a big pit bull cross or something which knocked one of our toddlers clean off his feet.

Genuinely, how do other people deal with these situations? I feel like I can't ever take the children out on my own and like we have to keep them in the pushchair all the time even if there is 2 of us. I'm finding I am avoiding going out now and it's getting depressing.

Also for those who say they rarely bite, I stood between a child and a dog that seemed agitated by snow, but the owner didn't think to put it on a lead. The dog ran around a bit whilst we didn't move at all so as not to startle it, and then bit me, high up on my leg, the height of a young child easily.

I was wearing jeans and layers but had nasty bite mark bruises. If it was the child, or any other child, I dread to think.

I screamed at the owner, why was the dog not on a lead, control your animal etc. As in screamed! They said, oh it's just scared, I said then put it on a lead, it's your responsibility and your animal just bit me, what if that was a child.

I then said give me your details, you need to control your animal, it's dangerous. Then they became apologetic and put it on a lead.

I know it means being assertive, but shout at people who do this! The "it's only being friendly" crap is crap and dogs do bite if agitated. Children can be traumatised, I was shocked and scared by it!

If a dog left my child covered in scratches, goodness help that owner...

Ask for their details, take a photo, tell them if it happens again you'll call the police, whatever.

Children can be unpredictable as can dogs and no one should have to put up with a dog jumping at them if they don’t want them to. How would they feel if your child ran up to them, shouting and scratching them and miss-behaving? Just because it’s a pet doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. The dog might be perfectly fine but what if the child tries to push it away and hurts it by accident?

Hold the dog by the collar away from the kids followed by a shout to the owner of “I’m very allergic to dogs - can you get it away from me before I break out into hives”. I’m mildly allergic to dogs and am yet to break out into more than a mild sweat around one, but they don’t need to know that!

I'm a dog lover and owner for many years. However... I'm surprised at some of the reactions from both sides here!

In all walks of life you get sensible reasonable people and you get morons. It's no different here and just the same with dogs.

If a dog ran up to my toddler and scratched her I'd be bloody fuming. Likewise if a child ran up and starting pestering my dog without asking id tell them to back off.

I was bitten as a tiny child by a neighbour's dog, who was then put to sleep, which horrifies me. No doubt I was poking or annoying it. That was a complete overreaction.

I think we just need to calm down and be reasonable. The OP does sound reasonable and I completely agree as a protector of your DC you've every right to feel angry at this.

Equally, yes the people saying toddlers shouldn't be allowed to poke their dog, I agree. The OP however wasn't allowing them to do this so the owner should have kept better control of her dog.

I grew up with dogs, I love dogs and have no fear but my children do because of these incidents that happen. The majority of the people we meet on walks are fantastic but there are a few that think they don't need to control their dogs because they're 'friendly'. A big dog running towards you when you're only 2ft high is terrifying! My children have been knocked over and on each occasion the dogs have been friendly and playing but owners should keep their dogs close when around young children. After all if my children ran up to a dog and pushed it and I said to the owner, don't worry they're friendly I'm fairly certain they wouldn't be impressed. In answer to the question, I stand in front of my children or pick them up. I don't like doing that because I don't want them to be nervous of dogs but sometimes I've had to. Definitely not easy if you have 3 small children.

I went for a run along the sea front today and two dogs from different owners darted right up to me. Both owners just laughed

If someone punched or kicked my dog I would go absolutely crazy on them!

When my son and nephew were small enough to be in a pushchair, when I saw a dog coming out way I used to always instinctively put my big bag in front of him on his lap covering his face so the dog could not pounce on the babies face until the dog passed us.

It's funny how people are expected to smile and laugh about scratches and mouthing and being covered in mud by stranger's dogs, when they'd never be expected to welcome that from a human they didn't know!

Allnames - ''So you'll be happy in a world where you're legally bound to walk your mini daschund with a muzzle and not allowed let it off lead. That is what your legal proposal would end up with and it's not an unlikely thing. I find you very annoying.''

And i find you a bit thick but hey ho it's a public forum ....

If i had to muzzle my dogs and keep them on a lead i wouldn't be happy but i'd comply. I'd 100% blame the owners who forced the issue by not training their dogs and allowing dogs to become a public nuisance. So many dogs are allowed to be a bloody nuisance these days. I would not blame the people who had reported the problem dogs. Would you?

I have a massive, bouncy, friendly and delinquent dog. I also have 3 children under 5. I would never let my dog go near a pushchair or toddler when she wasn't wanted and even if she was, and on the off chance I might struggle to control her, I would make sure that I got her away as quickly as possible. I find that just as unacceptable as you OP, it's not you it's the rude and inconsiderate dog walkers/owners!

PS And I would apologise!!

I don’t hate dogs, I dislike interacting with them unwillingly.
Most laws tend to be a response to a problem, rather than proactive. When I was a teenager, there were very few laws restricting dogs, smoking, minor sexual assaults or drink driving. Now there are quite a lot, because times change and some things are now unacceptable that were perfectly normal in the 1970s.
Likewise, it’s not dog dislikers that fill shelters to bursting point with unwanted dogs. It’s those who call themselves dog lovers that are responsible.
The main fear most people have about dogs is biting. So I can see a time in the future where dogs are restricted from doing that in public, muzzles and short leads, backed up with microchipping and insurance. Dog parks and segregated areas will probably be a response to that.
If owners become more responsible, and that includes listening to the concerns of others and taking them seriously, then the situation may not become that draconian. It’s up to the dog owners really. All of you.

And by the way it's not my legal proposal.

Honestly I am getting so pissed off with those of you that aren't reading the op. @winniestone37 what do you mean my reaction is making is worse? What reaction? The one where I asked the woman to pull the dog away? No I don't think it is. What's wrong with you? If you can't be arsed to read the post don't bother replying, it's pointless and boring.
Also, no dogs don't have a right to be in that space off a lead, it says they must be on a lead and is owned by the council.

Glad that most people replying have given good advice and have similar experiences, thank you, even dog owners have similar experiences with other dogs. I grew up around dogs and my dog only died a year ago (heart failure) so I do know what behavior is acceptable.
Thank god the minority disagree and seem to think their dogs should be off a lead despite signs saying it is not allowed. I can teach my toddler to cross his arms but my little ones in the pushchair I can't. I will be getting that can of compressed air, taking a small umbrella and being firm in future. My sons scratches have become infected so he's on antibiotics now, totally disgusting and avoidable. Do not let your dogs jump up children. Next time I will definitely threaten the owner with harming the dog and will injure it if I need to, because my son has now got bloody nausea and diarrhea thanks to the antibiotics.

Sorry you got frothed at, Laiste, it was me they meant to growl at.

I haven't rtft but wanted to add that I completely agree with you OP. I have had a couple of encounters with dogs and my small children recently. reading your post made me so cross on your behalf

I remember the day my dad kicked a large dog as it bounded up to my little sister in the park the dog seemed unharmed just yelped and ran away but had he not intervened it would definitely have pushed her down. I think he just panicked to be honest and kicked it away. The owner came running up saying 'he wouldn't have hurt her etc' my dad just said how do I know that? Should be on a lead. And that was that. I don't condone kicking any animals but if a massive dog was charging up to my toddler like that I can't say for certain I wouldn't!

I love dogs and my 2 dc under 5 do too. We’ve never owned one though. I’ve always encouraged them to pat dogs with the permission of the owner and never want them to be fearful of them. What I don’t want to happen is they get friendly with a strange dog before me and get bitten. So every time a dog runs up to us I always kneel down and encourage it to come to me, pat him first and get their trust - they always come to me first. You’ll never change a dog owners attitude but you can change your own and try avert any fear or danger to your children.

nebulous Thank you.

I don't think so though ... They quoted me directly!

Report them to the police for assault on a minor. That should change their attitude. Sweetcheeks I hope you are just being provocative and are really a responsible dog owner and never put your dog's 'happiness' before a human's safety, particularly a child's. Why should anyone have to defend themselves against an uncontrolled dog when the owner is there, FFS!

Keep a ball in your pocket and throw it as far as u can in the opposite direction.

Keep a ball in your pocket throw it as far as you can in the other direction.

I always carry a couple of large stones if I go anywhere that loose dogs might be. Not to harm them, to warn them. It always works. I have never hit a dog with a stone. There’s a lot of dogs on the loose around where I live.

I love most dogs but agree, it has to be controlled.

Husbands dog is a guide dog so only gets excited with family, so it at worst sniffs people as we walk by and husband says sorry about that!

I used to be terrified of dogs but realised flapping my arms made them more agitated.

Had 2 dogs bound up to us today and one tried to follow us. I didn't mind because I'm out area the dogs are usually really well behaved, but completely get why some would dislike it.