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.

How would you like it if a random toddler came up and started prodding or poking your dog?

I don't, and it happens all too often.

Especially of you have a soppy looking dog.

How to protect your toddler from dogs. Don’t let them near each other.
How to protect your fur baby from toddlers and nasty people with chocolate or pepper. Don’t let them near each other.
Seems so simple.

Not all dogs are surrogate children and dated know like furry humans! My sister dogs are working dogs.

I’d say get a dog yourself but even that doesn’t stop a strong willed dog determined on stealing your toddlers sandwhich and then her welly —as your own idiot mutt sits there and watches, thanks Ddog!—

Bloody hell, there's some weird responses on here.

busybarbara Oh how clever you think you are. The OP is trying to deter dogs not poison them by giving them chocolate; stupid response.

I don't know what the answer is tbh, except to develop a very firm way to tell people to call their dogs off NOW. Sod them if they don't like your attitude, and you don't, as SweetCheeks seems to think, need to pussyfoot around them.

I was 'told off' once by some stupid man because I was allowing my dog to play with her ball in the park and his dog kept running after us and stealing the ball.

There are some very stupid people in the world, some of them are dog owners some aren't.

When dogs run up and crowd or barge into my dog I have no hesitation in tell them to get their dog off. Can't see there's much else you can do tbh. Just be firm.

Sweetcheeks - you're the kind of dog owner that gives the rest of us a bad name.

It's not hard to understand that the OP isn't talking about your perfectly trained off lead dogs, do you really not know that there are loads of irresponsible selfish owners, just because you aren't one doesn't mean the OP hasn't got a valid point.

And the poster who would deliberately poison a dog, how stupidly selfish are you. I hope you're a keyboard warrior rather than a person who actually goes out in the real world.

Sweet cheeks

The law clearly states that a dog is dangerously out of control if someone is in fear of being attacked. That means it is legally classed as a dangerous dog.

A dog owner who behaves like an entitled ass with "don't worry he's friendly" is an utterly irresponsible dog owner. I sincerely hope you don't spout this nonsense when you have anything to do with rescue dogs.

OP, you've received some great advice especially with the arms up and turn your back. I have firmly said "if you don't control your dog I will" before when some idiots have let their huge dogs bound over to my toddler.

DD was fine with dogs til a German shepherd puppy bounded up to her and knocked her over (she was 3).

No malice but still unpleasant. Dogs don't have to bite to be a nuisance.

I've taught her to 'show her bottom' and tbh I do the same because I don't want muddy paws on my coat.

How about I take my pet snake out for a stroll and start letting it lose on random passer's by?! Some people are scared of dogs so fuck off you precious fn doggy do gooders!

You have every right to get stroppy with people who let their dogs charge at you or let them off lead in an on lead area! If owners got shouted at by every person their dog bothers, they might pop the lead on.

I shout 'please can you put his lead on' and if they start the 'just being friendly' stuff I tell them to get him under control (in a scary tone) and remind them it's an on lead area. If I'm feeling grumpy I tell them off for letting their dog jump up/knock my toddler over/generally be a nuisance. I don't want my child to be licked by an animal that's probably been sniffing fox poo or nosing dead birds! And I don't want it weeing on my buggy or scratching my shins either. I used to get furious when I had DD in the sling and somebody let their dog jump up or run around my feet.

I wish there were stricter rules re owning big dogs in particular. Nobody needs a Doberman or a Rottweiler or another powerful, intimidating breed! It's really selfish to let a big dog off the lead in public spaces. As a parent you want to protect your child. Toddlers are vulnerable as they're so small and fast and can trigger a dog's prey drive. I would never trust a stranger's dog.

On a practical level I put myself between dog and toddler, day 'go away, shoo' very firmly and if it jumps up get hold of its collar. If it showed signs of aggression I'd pick up a big stick or rock, use my handbag or coat as a barrier and shout for help. If it attacked I'd do my best to kill or incapacitate it.

If a dog attacks, you need to control its head, so get it by the collar and use your weight to pin it down. Or shove your fist in its mouth and grab its tongue (apparently they won't bite down if you have hold of their tongue). They also have weak front legs, so if it jumps at your chest in attack, grab its front legs and yank them apart.

"come and get it before I kick seven bells out of it"

what is WRONG with people? keep the bloody thing on a lead in areas where there are signs. If it stuffs up your day, you volunteered to have a dog. That means over a decade of limited activities, expense, daily exercise and picking up excreta. Enjoy.

Great advice so far, I only have two kids but we live by the sea. Often we go and have bbq on the beach (it's allowed here) my 3 year old is petrified of dogs, I'm allergic as well and so many times dogs have bounded over, trying to steal food, scaring my son. My husband usually is the one to shout but I'd say 80% of the time the dog owners are rude. One has said we shouldn't go to the beach if our son is scared of dogs

I've been very careful to ensure my children have been around dogs and done the "friendly doggy, silly doggy" thing. Doesn't mean a thing when someone's vicious, Barking monstrosity is off the lead while I'm walking with my 2yo, I tell her it's friendly, calm voice etc while looking for an owner and it snaps at her face because it's faster than me. She wasn't hurt but she's petrified of dogs two years later. I tell her not to scream, to stay calm, to cross her arms and ignore the dogs we see but it doesn't do a damn thing because one irresponsible owner let their dangerous dog out without a lead.

The "it's only friendly" brigade make my blood boil. I don't care if it's friendly, my tiny child is terrified. Keep it under control. When she screams and spooks the dog that you won't stop running around, jumping at and licking at her you can deal with that in peace.

Sweet cheeks is probably the woman we encountered at the beach the other day

Bloody rude do owners (not the nice ones) need to understand that their dog is not equal to a child, especially in the eyes of the law.

If your dog scratches, knocks over or bites my child I will report it. So, if you like your dog then keep it on a lead.

Dogs, like all other animals can be unpredictable. All it takes is a misunderstanding, a bad day or the wrong signals for a child to be permanently scarred. And for me to demand your dog be destroyed.

Your choice.

We were filming at the Dams we live beside and our daughter was rushed at by a massive dog. Grabbed her and threw her to Hubby who filmed the incident. Also grabbed the nearest stick and whacked it across the muzzle as it was growling.
Owner came across screaming at me so I called the police and reported it. Owner had to apologise and was ordered into a trainer programme as the Rangers saw what happened and he had been warned before.

A very loud whistle works too- used to be an owner but also an air horn in their face or beside their ears worm wonders and that's coming from Dog Branch of army.

Carrying an umbrella to use as a shield sounds like a good idea.

To be honest, if a dog jumped onto my child in a pushchair I would probably kick it as hard as I could in the head.

Actually I think feeding the dog chocolate is sensible for a few reasons - distracts the dog, it might motivate the owner to come and retrieve their dog, and a hefty vet bill could persuade them to keep the dog under control in future.

I adore dogs- I really do.

But I would be incredibly fucking pissed off if one jumped all over my child in an area where they are supposed to be kept on a lead - no matter if they are being friendly or not! Some breeds are big enough to make me loose balance if they jump up... let alone a small child ffs!

Those “oh he’s only being friendly” types piss me right off.

It doesn’t bloody matter how friendly your dog is, it could dance on rainbows and shit glitter for all I care, my child will still swell up if it so much as breathes on him.

OneStep

Never met a lazy, entitled owner of a big breed like Rottweiler’s and Dobermans. Nor do you see them often these days. I think there is an issue with huskies insofar as people buy them because they’re beautiful looking dogs but the level of exercise and training they need is a whole other level to what say, a labrador does. Which is why you see so many of them in dogs homes, from about 1 year of age. Sad really.

The issue is the trend for little dogs who a lot of owners seem to think don’t need to be trained in the same way.

French bulldog owners seem particularly guilty of this, from my general observations, not just the incident this week that was just the first time it had involved my child. They might be small but they’re actually pretty powerful

I have two dogs, small, super friendly, both daft as a brush. They are my babies. I adore them - I adore most dogs.

One absolutely loves kids - I don't know why but whenever she sees a baby or a toddler she's desperate to say hello. If left, she would absolutely run straight up to them - every time. I think it's the noises and clumsy attention she loves.

Because of this she never comes off the lead,** unless we are in extremely remote areas with zero chance of little ones.

It's called manners.

If a toddler came running up to someone and jumped all over them, shouting and licking, you would be wondering why the hell the parent wasn't looking after their child. It's the same thing.

OP - I would advise, no eye contact, no shouting/talking, no interaction at all with the dog. Walk calmly and quickly in the opposite direction. The dog - if not the owner is likely to get the hint pretty quickly. Dogs don't get positive/negative interaction - to them all interaction is great so if they are ignored they will give up.

What you need to do is take a sword and a shield with you.

In terms of sword I would suggest something quite light so that it doesn't get in the way. I'd suggest an epee.

The shield will come in very handy to throw over your DC while you deal with the ravening beast that is a dog

HTH

Some of us have both of those items within reach, but I could just use a longbow and avoid close contact with mess. Are you advocating a return to the olden days?