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.

If they bound up and lean on the kids or knock them over and are too much (or try to eat my picnic!!!) for them, going beyond playful wandering and looking I tend to hold the collar and shout the owner. We go to a forest school and frequently dogs suddenly run into games and chase kids with no owner in earshot. The kids were relaxed until a biter nipped their legs enough to bruise and scared them and now it’s pandemonium when loose dogs run up. 80% of those who let the dogs out of sight and ear shit also have no recall at all when they do rock up. It also gives me the opportunity to say something as they have to approach me and get it on lead before I let go. Normally along the lines of where were you and why are they Off lead if you can’t recall/ train them???

Chardonnay

Sometimes dogs are just running past people and aren't in the least bit interested in anyone's children.

This is what made me think you had missed the whole point of the thread. We aren't talking about the ones running past but the ones blinding over and climbing people and prams and knocking children to the ground.

Make people out to be snowflake dog haters is unfair. Don't you think it is bad form to let your dog run over to small kids and knock them over? If you do then you're essentially agree with what we're saying.

And I actually think it is the height of stupidity to bring children up to assume that every dog is friendly. Those are the kind of kids who run gleefully up to strange dogs and harass them.

Keep your dog away from my kind and I'll keep my kid away from your dog.

That's not true.

I do. I watch and if I see them approaching someone who is nervous I put the dog on my side.

Occasionally I can miss it though. I watch the dogs, not the people or the children. In that case, I need someone to tell me.

But honestly, I meet people who are spoiling for a fight. Not often, but I do.

Ask the owner to keep them away

What if the owner doesn't take you seriously?

If the owner can't control the dog?

You don't know who the onwer is? The owner isn't visible?

And anyhow, why do "we" have the responsibility of asking whether the dog could be taken away? Of staying calm and cordial when a dog is scaring a child and the owner apparently isn't able to understand that removing the animal is his/her responsibility?

Dogs are lovely. If they're well behaved.... Too many unfortunately aren't.

It's quite simple i don't want other peoples dogs near my kids. Why you have to justify it is beyond me .They love there dogs I fucking don't .Over the years we've been on the beach have dogs completely ruin picnics ,wet everything through ,piss on kids toys and all you get is a smile and a laugh with a half arsed sorry . Walking on the prom few years ago and a large dogs came bounding up i put my foot out to stop it jumping up and it ran straight into it. The woman was outraged I pointed out she saw the whole thing I didn't want here dog covering me in hairs and slavering all over me it had been in the sea and stunk. I do like dogs and take my parents out always on the lead and wouldn't let it go near anyone else. Your dog you control it and keep it with you .The cycle track has dogs running all over it seen many accidents cause by owner not controlling dogs one time a lady went right over her handle bars when a dog run out in front of her all the owner was bothered about was her dog , and shouting a cyclist told her it was her fault for not restraining dog and it was her that should be apologising to the poor woman on the floor.

watch and if I see them approaching someone who is nervous I put the dog on my side.

That's great.
You and people like you most likely aren't who some of the users on this thread have a problem with...

Then you are very different to the majority of dog owners we meet, Chardonnay. The fact you do listen doesn’t mean that ‘saying something’ will work with other people though unfortunately.

OP was taking about dogs "bounding up" Susan, so no, I have not missed the point.

I'm still not sure what in my post made you accuse me of "being cool with children being knocked down".

I've had more kids come bounding up to my dog than I have dogs come bounding up to my toddler.
Having said that if it does happen I can imagine it being annoying and dog jumping into pushchair is too much
However you must not over react or make quick over excited movements (you may not realise you re doing this though) as it will excite the dog more. Also second teaching your children how to react to an excited dog.
Be vigilant, if you see a dog bounding towards then get your children to turn around. If all three are ou then form a little huddle, if there is only one out then pick him up and turn the stroller. Trial and error

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.

From the OP Chardonny. Try reading.

So, you were saying...

Next time ask for her insurance details as you want to claim under her liability cover! She might think twice next time then. Dog owners are liable for any damage caused by their dog.

So where did I say I'm ok with children being knocked over, Susan?

Because you are so good with reading.

My son was grabbed by the shorts at 3 by a dog owned by someone who did not see the issue and did not apologise.

I was very cross!

Not sure why any of you think that a baby in a pushchair is able to turn it's back to dog. She has 3x under 3's so youngest can only be 1 year old.

But no, they deserves to be injured by passing uncontrolled animals because their to small to protect themselves. And clearly it's the op's fault for not teaching them to "take control of the situation".

At that age my DS was just learning to walk, not how to train other peoples dog's.

@SweetCheeks1980 you sound like an irresponsible dog owner giving everyone else a bad name.

My brother was almost blinded by an over excited Dalmatian when he was a toddler. That dogs owner said he was 'just being friendly too' while my 2yo brother had blood streaming down his face from his eye, screaming his head off.

I love dogs, not everyone does though and poorly trained extra friendly dogs and small children don't mix well.

OP, no need to defend your children, it's not fire breaking dragons, stay calm and tell the owner to keep them away.

Chardonnay

Here you are clearly heavily implying that the OP is over reacting to a dog jumping up on the pushchair and scratching her kids.

Which gives the impression that you are ok with that kind of behaviour.

It also gives the impression that you think any parent who is at all concerned about dog behaviour around their kids is over reacting. Or did you mean to imply something else?

Sweetcheeks - you would seriously wait and call your dog away "in your own time" because a mother is trying to prevent it doing further harm to a baby it's already injured?

Not wanting your child scratched by filthy paws is not been a drama queen

I don’t get this at all. I have a very well behaved friendly dog who loves to go up to people and say hello. He loves nothing more than being petted and fussed over by anyone who is nearby.

Because of this I always put him on the lead when I see anyone approaching. I’m always on the look out for small children and call him back.

If parents want their kids to stroke him I say yes but he will kiss you and might jump and then I sit down with him and hold his collar so they can pet him etc.

I would never let him run up and approach people. You don’t know who will be scared or not impressed.

However I’ve been lucky and never met anyone who didn’t want to pet him. He’s so cute I guess!

Three cyclists once came up behind me suddenly and I didn’t have chance to get him on the lead. He stopped each bike in turn, standing in front until they petted him and then went to the next one for a fuss. I was but luckily they thought it was funny!

I love my dog but he can be over excitable and I keep him on a lead. I agree op having a dog bound up to particularly little ones is not on. What is this latest trend of always having dogs off the lead??? I've heard so many times oh he's never done that before after their dog has run up to mine and jumped on him. As mine is on a lead he can't get away!! Therefore op I understand how infuriating you must feel with your little ones being jumped on.

Nonsense, Susan.

I have a 17 week old puppy and get just as irritated by the ‘he’s just being friendly’ brigade. She is very frightened of large dogs and hides behind us while the owner laughs and says it’s good to socialise her. I am teaching her to sit when other dogs or kids (or cyclists,joggers etc) approach us while we assess the situation. It’s a learning curve for me as she’s my first dog as an adult and I’m no spring chicken. Just hoping I’m doing the right thing.

I said "Ask the owner to keep them away".

now why didn't we all think of this, just ask the owners to call their dogs back, problem solved

only it isn't, because the stock answer you get from these selfish entitled cunts is, "hes only being friendly, he wont hurt you", seemingly oblivious to the fact that the child is frightened and possibly screaming, which could easily scare the dog and make it nip. The considerate thing to do is keep the dog on a lead, unless you are in an area where there are no children or other people for your dog to hassle

Nonsense

Is what you are talking. You jumped on to this thread to defend dog owners without properly reading the OP and tried to have a pop at parents who, quite reasonably, don't want their children physically assaulted by some wanker's out of control beast.

It is not dog hating to want people to keep their dogs under reasonable control. If you don't know that then you shouldn't own a dog.

Aaaah it must be summer.

I recommend shouting, shrieking, screaming in terror that the dog is evil and nasty and should be put to sleep because it's on a lead wearing a muzzle and therefore must mean that it's a canine psychopath on a murder spree. That one always works well... well it causes my dog to be stood there looking utterly confused about what the hell's going on (dog is muzzled as a precaution because it's an ex-racer who's been beaten up by a cat previously). Also encouraging your child to utterly fear the muzzled on lead dog as the ultimate number 1 threat in the world... that one's a good intelligent tactical move too. Oh yeah and on occasions you can add a bright pink onesie with love hearts on to the vision of canine terror. Nothing screams terror more than a pink fleece love hearts onesie (never let your 5 year old pick your dog's clothing).

Also recommended from the "dickhead parent school of stupidity" local to us is screeching "KEEP WALKING TARQUIN KEEP WALKING I KNOW THERE'S A REALLY NASTY DOGGY THERE BUT JUST KEEP WALKING!!!"
Evil nasty doggy had been pulled to the very side of the pathway, put into a sit and was looking at me and away from the footpath with the utter levels of devotion and concentration only a dog knowing there are dog biscuits in my hand can achieve.

My kids have all been taught to fold their arms and turn their backs if they're uncomfortable with dogs approaching and to make themselves as boring-looking as possible (rather than jumping around yelling and screeching). Then to ask nicely and approach dogs appropriately.

someone once told me (or I read it on here can't remember) to open up an umbrella as the dog is running towards you. apparently is confuses them and stop them in their tracks