Dog walker let dog put head in pram

[m4rdybum]

I have a 6 month old DD and she is now in her upright pram seat, so more exposed than the carry cot part.

This morning I was waiting for the bus when a man walking his dog approached (walking past on the path). The dog is what I would call a husky or a malamute so was quite large and was strapped to the man's waist. As they went to pass, dog stops and leans into the pram to sniff daughters face - I was just quick enough to put my hand there to block it.

Man gives a couple of half hearted pulls of the lead and does the whole, chuckling "come on you" thing. But dog doesnt budge - and man just stands there laughing.

I am clearly at this point showing the man I dont want his dog there and even say "off you go" to the dog. Eventually he tugs hard and off they walk.

IABU in that I didn't say anything directly to the man but honestly, I'm just seething that he didn't have more control over his dog or thought that it was okay to let his dog do that, no matter how friendly it may be at home.

Not sure if a PFB reaction though, as dog was only sniffing - IABU?

I am in both camps here I am a mum and a dog owner. There is a knob round here that walks 3 huskies attached to his belt as described, this way of walking does not give the person with the dogs any real control over the dogs and where they put their heads, his dogs are also not exactly friendly and as I said he is an idiot with no control and I can sympathize with you that you met a similarly stupid inconsiderate dog owner. But at the same time as a dog owner I have a 'pet hate' for parents that whisk their kids away from all dogs as all this does is raise children that are scared of dogs. For example my BIL used to pick up my niece every time my dogs (both super friendly and not at all agressive to people, kids, babies) went near her resulting 14 yrs later in a kid that is terrified of all dogs, this really annoys me because although their are idiots like the guy you described their are also many many responsible dog owners that would never let an agressive dog near a child. I am a stickler that when we meet kids when I'm out with my dogs I won't let kids stroke them until they ask me permission this is what children need to learn that they ask first as un (kid) friendly dogs are the ones that will cause problems. Likewise I don't let my dogs talk to babies in prams/pushchairs unless the parent says they can but as I say I don't agree with whisking kids away from all dogs

a klaxon to weirdos wow!

The dog owner in this instance was in the wrong imo.

Two of my dogs would go straight to a pram to sniff and possibly lick a baby/toddler, so they are never, ever allowed to go anywhere near prams. I would not want a random dog that close to my DCs when they were so little so I don’t do it to others.

Both dogs are likely to lick you if you pet them so I always warn children who ask to pet them. Some children think it’s really funny when they get licked, others think it’s disgusting but I wouldn’t let my dogs do this without warning either.

dog walking time

Is that a thing now in certain parks?

Pull/ turn the pram away?

He’s an idiot. I have a dog that would love to sniff at a baby in a pram, he’s very sociable and thinks everyone loves him ( which most people do ) but I understand that not everyone likes dogs and that for a baby, a big dog might scare them and their mum!

I would never allow my dogs close enough to a pram that they could stick their head in for a hello. It's not even a question of if the dogs over friendly, its just plain rude! I don't even like my dogs being close to other people on walks unless they instigate that they would like to hello and have a pat. Not everyone likes dogs and it's their personal space to be respected.

I have a small child and a dog. The dog walker in your story was out of order. I would never want the jaws of an unknown large carnivore near my child's face!
I run with my dog on a belt, and of course you are able to control the dog. You walk/run hands free, but can grab the lead at any time. Which is what I do, if I see people /kids approaching. I would never encourage my dog to approach an unknown child, or vice versa

Pull/ turn the pram away?

The dog was on one side of the pram, a bud shelf wall on the other and people behind me, so I couldn't.