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.

a small hand held device about the size of a mobile phone that was powered by a 9 volt battery
That sounds interesting, I found one online might get it and try it out

What, my one other thread about circuses being creepy?

You are a compulsive liar. I just searched you and saw all you talk about is dogs, it's almost perverse.

She obviously wasn't talking about me being as I haven't mentioned a cattle prod or knife. @Thesearepearls I think you need psychological evaluation.

Kursk I am pretty sure in America if you murder someone trying to defend their children from an animal attack you would be on death row never see the light of day again.

That's not true. I'm mainly to be found on the leaving school thread and the Oxbridge thread as DS is currently doing his A levels and has an offer from Cambridge. I do have a dog and occasionally post on doggy things. Oh and I'm on the cleaning thread ....

See - I stuck up for you down thread. I said you didn't deserve to be shot. Sheesh - there's no gratitude nowadays.

One thing I meant to ask you OP is whether or not you have a job. The thing is with jobs is that they help when you have an unhealthy fixation with dogs things. I find work very fulfilling in that respect.

Walkingdeadfangirl

Animal attack is one thing, someone attacking a family member another.

No I wouldn’t be on death row. We don’t have that in our state

Just trying to get to a good place old love

Have you ever had an idea? Something worth pursuing? Something that doesn't involve hating something? Doing something constructive? Building something? Being kind?

Let's build consensus.

Kursk, if the USA gives priority in law to dogs over protecting children and life from them, then no wonder they voted in Trump. God help us all.

Perhaps Thesearepearls would be happier living there? I am so glad in this country (the UK) we have rights to protect humans from such nonsense.

Let me sum up.

Dogs shouldn't hurt anyone, those that do should be put down and their owners should be criminally liable.

People shouldn't hurt dogs unless they do so in self protection. This means you can:
protect yourself ‘in the heat of the moment’, including using an object as a weapon. You do not have to wait to be attacked before defending yourself

Anyone suggesting that dogs have more protections than humans is batshit crazy.

Are we done?

OP just stop responding, it feeds on you getting wound up and indignant. We can all see what's going on here. No one is really that stupid/crazy.

Yes walkingdeadfangirl I'd say that's a wrap!

have it your way - I was trying to be conciliatory

Animal abusers step this way

If you ever wanted to kick a dog but were too scared of the consequences - your friends are here

If you ever wanted to hit a dog with a brick or dash its brains out against a wall - your friends are here

If you wanted to shoot a dog or knife a dog or feed it poisonous substances - your friends are here

Sick people

Most people won't be going out of their way to find a dog to kick, it may be something they do in a panic when a dog runs at them.

Most people won't be arming themselves with cattle prods when they go out for a walk.

Welcome to the thread of complete lunacy

It’s really unpleasant and disappointing to see so many people advocating animal cruelty. Whatever an animal may or may not do, they did not choose to be in that position. We put them there, and we must take the blame, not them. That moot point seems to have completely escaped the morons on this thread.

I think it was a backlash to this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3277959-How-do-you-defend-your-toddlers-from-dogs-not-on-leads
I see both sides. There are irresponsible dog owners and irresponsible parents.

Wrong thread ^^ I’m an idiot 😂

Nope if your dog is on my child or making my child and I think we're in danger of getting injured I'm not waiting for an irresponsible owner to morph into a responsible owner.

A cattle prod was also be useful in crowded areas

We had couple of incidents when dogs were running barking towards my son (then 2 y.o.) at our local park. I was guarding him with myself (stepping in front protecting) and the dog owners looked annoyed with the fact we have been there (at playground, where their dogs should be on leads !) Never apologised. Some people have just fantastic attitude..

I'm mainly to be found on the leaving school thread and the Oxbridge thread as DS is currently doing his A levels and has an offer from Cambridge.

Oh God fucking hark at yourself! Oxbridge? Know who i am? 'Reporting the thread' to the RSPCA? My kids are all going to x y z ?!?!?

Honestly these you're coming across like an utter twat. Seriously. Do yourself a favor and stop, people are laughing at you.

Well said @Laiste this MNer sounds like she(?) is trying to convince herself she has a wonderful life never mind a bunch of strangers on the internet!

We get this sometimes, a quick warning that DS is wearing plated boots and liable to kick anything that jumps at him gets some offended looks but they do put them back on lead