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Original poster

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

567 replies

Flatearthersphere · 14/06/2018 16:39

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.

OP posts:
TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 22:52

Report a dog for being bouncy, scratching, scaring children? For barking in your face? An anonymous dog with an unidentifiable owner?
Pointless.

Wolfiefan · 15/06/2018 22:56

Take pictures. Dogs and owners can be identified.
Or do nothing but whinge in here. Nothing changes. Your choice.

Thesearepearls · 15/06/2018 23:01

I don't know whether or not the laws are more serious about kicking toddlers or kicking dogs. There's an awful lot of posters on this thread who want to kick dogs. I'll just nip off and check whether it's more legally serious to kick toddlers than it is to kick dogs. .

I'm not sure kicking is an appropriate response TBH. I know a lot of people on here endorse it, But don't go kicking toddlers. They are almost certainly harmless and even if they are a bit grubby, it's not their fault. I blame the owners.

TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 23:02

Things are changing.

Sophisticatedsarcasm · 15/06/2018 23:03

I am a dog walker who sometimes lets thier dog off a lead however I always Judge my surroundings if thier are too many people or kids around she goes back on a lead. My dog loves people in general so gets really excited but I make sure to move her a distance away just in case people don’t like it. I hate other dog walkers that disregard others thinking thier dog is like another human.

Usernameunknown2 · 15/06/2018 23:05

Your not being unreasonable OP. Your son was scratched by a dog which, had it a decent owner, should have been both on the lead and trained.

Dogs on leads here, while toddlers are wearing reins. Win win.

My friend's dog was slaughtered by one of these friendly dogs. It had to be PTS as it was too injured. But apparently he had never done it before so it was just an accident...

Original poster
Flatearthersphere · 15/06/2018 23:06

Why are people comparing kicking a toddler and kicking a dog? Here's a clue... Ones a human and one is a dog.

OP posts:
Thesearepearls · 15/06/2018 23:07

Ah so you endorse cruelty to animals OP?

Just so that we know where we are.

TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 23:11

Only some. You know, the nasty ones.

TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 23:12

To continue the human/ dog analogy, bit like kneeing a groper in the balls.

Wolfiefan · 15/06/2018 23:12

Well they won't if you don't report nebulous.
We live fairly rurally. Why should my well trained dog be muzzled and on lead in a quiet field? Or in the dog friendly section of an arboretum? Or in the local park when nobody else is about?
By a road or when kids are playing? Of course she should.
Next you'll be banning cars and alcohol because of drunk drivers. Hmm

MeyYael · 15/06/2018 23:13

Ah so you endorse cruelty to animals OP?

Self defense isn't animal cruelty. Instinctive reactions to badly behaved dogs aren't either...

Wolfiefan · 15/06/2018 23:15

Kicking a dog that comes close isn't defensive. It's aggressive. And may get you bitten too. Stupid suggestion.

TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 23:19

I’m all for the alcohol limit being 0. No cheeky pint or just a glass of wine. And drunk drivers losing their license forever. So how about dogs that are reported and found guilty of being a nuisance being destroyed? Do you think owners might care more, or would they just get another dog?

MeyYael · 15/06/2018 23:19

But we're not just talking about dogs that come close.

We're talking about things like this:

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.

Thesearepearls · 15/06/2018 23:22

YY you are right. Kicking a dog might have very immediate physical consequences. OTOH kicking a toddler might not. You could always claim that you were falling over at the time. Logically therefore kicking a toddler makes more sense than kicking a dog. Are we all agreed?

Gildedcage · 15/06/2018 23:25

I agree Wolfe, kicking random, unknown dogs is likely to result in far worse than a dog jumping up. I don’t condone people having their dogs running about out of control but some common sense needs to be utilised here! Anyone who knows dogs would not use physical force if it could be avoided. This would be frankly dangerous with an aggressive dog.

celticprincess · 15/06/2018 23:25

I was in a local nature area with my 2 children a couple of years ago. Eldest loves dogs and always asks owners if she can touch them. Youngest is petrified and keeps a wide birth. Anyway one day about 10 dogs came bounding over to us with no owners. I even feared for my life. The eldest who loves dogs was crying and the youngest had to be picked up and was hysterical. We all stood very still and I told them to not look at the dogs and be as quiet as possible. Now I don’t believe any of these dogs were looking to hurt us but a couple were jumping up and the others sniffing round us. After what seemed like an eternity 2 women came into sight. From a distance they shouted once for the dogs and basically ignored us and kept walking past. The dogs eventually caught them up. I believe these were dog walkers. I’d love to have known where from as I feel this is irresponsible. Yes it’s a nature are where they can be let off leads but the number of them with the women seemed excessive and the distance they were allowed to be from us was too. I was also fuming that they didn’t even come over and apologies/acknowledge us and kept walking.

My mum lives in a bungalow facing a burn with grass alongside and people walk their dogs off the lead. We sometimes sit and play on her front drive with the kids and dogs are forever coming onto her garden to have a sniff etc and we always get ‘don’t worry he’s won’t hurt you’ by again, the child is petrified and also the dog is on my mum’s property. If she had grass I’m sure they’d pee or worse too!! I keep my children off peoples front gardens so people should keep their dogs off them and on leads til they get to the field!!

And finally I had to complain to the school once about the dogs on the playground not on leads. Even on leads they shouldn’t be on the playground but then they’re tied up at the gate barking as we try to get out.

TheNebulousBoojam · 15/06/2018 23:29

So you avoid eye contact, cross your arms, stand still whilst taking photos to report the dog and owner? Whilst comforting your children?

noroutine3 · 15/06/2018 23:32

I’ve had a situation albeit in a family members home - first time visiting. Massive dog came and jumped on the bed and started sniffing my 1 year old getting in her face and excitedly running around the room. The second time he jumped on the bed to get to her again I just said his name followed by a stern loud “no” and we had a bit of a stare off, then he bounded out the room. Don’t know if it was coincidence or if the command actually workedConfused he wasn’t trained

Thesearepearls · 15/06/2018 23:33

Or you could kneel down and welcome the dogs and have a big cuddle with them. Ruffle their heads and tickle their tummies.

Your response to dogs is up to you in the main. I fully appreciate that some people don't like dogs and as I say mine generally avoids people. But being terrified of a few dogs - that's a genuine fear of dogs - it's not a rational response. It's like people being scared of spiders - when generally in the UK at least - spiders are entirely harmless. You can't legislate for phobia

BITCAT · 15/06/2018 23:36

Its actually entirely against the law to allow your dog to do that. It comes under the dangerous dogs act. Any dog that isnt under proper control, injures or makes someone fear injury is breaking the law.
Hence you child was injured as he was physically scratched. Id remind said person of the law and take pictures of dog and owner if need be. For reporting, i dont want dogs jumping up me, my skin does not like dog or cat hairs. Also if it states dogs are to be on leads then that is also breaking laws and can be reported to local council. In fact OP id ring council and say there are signs but they are being ignored, they may send someone to patrol the area for a short period of time.

Original poster
Flatearthersphere · 15/06/2018 23:41

No way on God's earth would I be welcoming a random dog or tickling ones belly.
I didn't say I would hurt a dog that came near, I said if it jumped up and scratched my child, which is what happened. Again, as my child is now on medicine because of some dirty animal harming him, I will be preventing that happening ever again. It's not animal cruelty, if a dog jumps up I will defend my child.

OP posts:
IWantMyHatBack · 15/06/2018 23:42

Well, this thread has gone predictably batshit...

Stop dog, protect children (she says, as a long term dog owner)
If that means kicking a dog that is about to jump up and scratch your 2yo, so be it. Owners should have better control of their animals.

cheval · 15/06/2018 23:43

I was a dog owner, a small breed. Always made sure I was in charge of him around picnics etc. He never bothered children. But can’t tell you the number of times he was monstered by other huge dogs. Also as a horse rider, the number of times been chased by out of control dogs on bridleways - they’re meant for horses! Owning a dog is a huge responsibility which some just do not get.