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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Put my foot out at dog running

219 replies

AlexForrestBunny · 17/02/2021 15:03

I was out with my 3year old daughter this morning at the field/ children’s park which is a couple of minutes walk from my house, all normal and fairly quiet as the weather isn’t great.
It’s a large enclosed area so there is a mix of people walking their dogs and children playing, all fine - dogs are allowed off their leads and never seen or had issues before today.
My daughter was walking next to me and I had my baby in a carrier on my chest, I heard a man shouting ‘he’s fine, don’t panic’ so I turned to see and there was a large dog running towards us, I like dogs so not one to panic if they jump up or come over to say hello but this dog was pretty big ( husky sort) and was running straight towards my daughter. Now I wasn’t thinking ‘omg it’s a crazed dog going to bite’ it was more ‘shit, it’s going to knock her off her feet running into her to say hello’ , I had the baby on my chest so my reaction was to stand in front of her and as it got upto us I put my foot to the side to stop it jumping on my daughter.
I didn’t kick it, but the guy went crazy saying how dare I touch a friendly dog with my foot, he doesn’t bite and he loves children.
I told him he seems very friendly, he was trying to jump up on a small child so I was stopping my child from being hurt, maybe he should train him not to run at children.
He then started a rant about reporting me to the police for battering a dog and people like me should be on a poster?!
AIBU that my reaction was to put my foot out to a dog?

OP posts:
winetime89 · 17/02/2021 21:59

not condoning what happened but I think a lot of dog owners say it's ok their friendly before calling them back. By them saying it they are not saying it's ok their dog went over they are just reassuring you. we've had lots of dogs come over to our children but they love dogs so it's not an issue. I've also got a dog and 99 percent of the time she's perfect but if she went near someone or ran past someone who then got scared I would reassure them she is friendly and call her back. I'd feel it would be more rude not to say that.

Biffbaff · 17/02/2021 22:07

YANBU I absolutely hate it when dogs approach my toddler and their owners always say "they're so friendly!" They're animals, they're unpredictable and for that reason they should be kept under control. I don't let my toddler run up to everyone they see!

DaphneDuBois · 17/02/2021 22:46

I have two well-trained dogs. He’s an idiot and I hate dog owners like him with a passion.

MasterBeth · 17/02/2021 22:52

He should be on a poster.

Whammyyammy · 17/02/2021 23:10

@MasterBeth

He should be on a poster.
Or a milk carton....
WoodpileHouse · 17/02/2021 23:12

As someone who is frightened of dogs following some bad experiences, it is really nice to see lots of dog owners on here saying they wouldn't let their dogs run up to people. I wish all dog owners were like this.

supernova21 · 17/02/2021 23:13

Did you explain that it wasn't a kick and that you didn't intend to harm the dog? His dog shouldn't be doing that but as a dog owner myself, I can understand the overprotectiveness. I wouldn't worry though. Sounds like the dog owner overreacted. Hopefully he'll be more aware next time.

Ding123 · 18/02/2021 00:02

Irresponsible, entitled dog owners make my piss boil. Unless it shits golden pellets or something, I'm not sure why they think their dog is so special and must be adored by the public.

Despite cries of how 'friendly' their dog is, if it's off lead and comes bounding straight at my DC or growls in an aggressive manner and is close enough it will get a fucking kick. Not everyone likes dogs and some people are fearful/allergic and a 2 year old won't understand not to panic. I would do the same to any animal or human deemed a risk.

My friend workplace is close to where two little girls were recently bitten by an escaped dog. She said police are investigating but the dog will likely be put down. It's sad. But any animal is considered unpredictable and I would not risk one I don't know so close to my DC.

DodgeRainClouds · 18/02/2021 00:24

You did the right thing. A dog ran up to me and jumped up putting muddy footprints all over my coat the other day. The owner just stood there looking! Dog ran off and came back and did it again ffs! I dont let my kids run up to strangers and jump all over them so no idea why people think it’s ok to let dogs do it Confused

supernova21 · 18/02/2021 00:26

People who think it's fine to kick a dog for giving them a sniff are putting themselves at risk of getting bitten. And no, it won't be the dog or its owner's fault. Not when you kicked an animal as that's provoking it to bite you.

mathanxiety · 18/02/2021 01:53

Have you read the thread, supernova21?

Sapho47 · 18/02/2021 02:05

You kicked a dog?

TheUnexpectedPickle · 18/02/2021 02:12

Ugh YANBU at all!!! People like this piss me right off. Not everyone wants a dog all up in their face!

My niece is scared of dogs. We don't know why- no negative experiences, just doesn't like them. When any of us are with her (I do childcare on my days off) and we see a dog we try to be super positive and generally good owners call the dog to heel and let her look and interact.

Took her for a walk at a popular spot. She was 3.5. Spaniel type dog comes bounding up us. Clearly friendly and happy but niece terrified and climbing up my legs. The owners were all "oh, sorry, he is friendly!" I pointed out that we have been trying to cure my niece of her fear and they have just set her back. Plus to a 3 year old even a spaniel is enormous!

They owe me for the ice cream I had to buy to cheer her up.

LadyMayoGoodway · 18/02/2021 06:53

If I thought it was going to hurt my toddler purposely or inadvertently by knocking them over I think putting your foot out was a mild reaction. I would have been less mild. His dog was out of control and you felt threatened - it's him that's in danger of being prosecuted

Porcupineintherough · 18/02/2021 07:40

At 18 months old my ds loved dogs. At 2 he was terrified of them thanks to a couple of "friendly" dogs in the park that sent him flying. Angry It took years to get to the point of being comfortable around dogs again.

MangoButterFingers · 18/02/2021 07:55

Covid has meant more first time dog owners but also meant more existing dog owners now walk their dogs that previously didn't bother.

Understandable maybe but it also means more people out with dogs that are not familiar with etiquette and more people who are likely to leave shit lying - ie the type of owner who hasn't previously cared to walk the dog until there was literally nothing else to do.

As someone who has always walked the dog in quiet isolated areas I now see so many people out walking that local fields look more like town centres. Many with dogs. And I think: what the hell were all these dogs doing for exercise before covid because they sure as hell weren't being walked here.

MangoButterFingers · 18/02/2021 07:57

Oh and any owner letting their dog get close enough to be kicked by a stranger in a park has failed their dog massively. It is in the owner's watch that the dog was allowed to be in that situation.

MrsBobDylan · 18/02/2021 08:00

One of our little dogs is a bit scared of small children (daftest dog in the world as we have small children). His instinct is to run and woof at them but we would never ever let him. He has good recall so we call him and put him on lead.

If he ever did slip past us and someone put their foot out to stop him, we would apologise profusely and tell our dog off.

He was a horrible aggressive man op - you did the right thing.

MeadowViews · 18/02/2021 08:13

I love dogs, I've had my own and fostered.

You were 100% in the right and the law says so, as a dangerously out of control dog can be reported even if no harm is done, but you feel harm might be done, which you did - you thought the dog may knock your child over.

www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

echt · 18/02/2021 08:29

Another dog owner who agrees you were absolutely in the right, OP.

drinkingwineoutofamug · 18/02/2021 08:46

Yanbu. Say this as a dog owner.
I have had to kick out at a pack of dogs . Not my finest moment, my dog was on lead and literally 7-8 dogs , small like corgis and terrier types came running up to my dog and tried to attack her. I pushed some way with my foot and had to kick out at others. The owner not arsed as the public footpath went through their farm and if they wanted their dogs running about off lead was fine with them.
Catch 22.
I was terrified tbh.
Dog is on lead in parks near kids.
I've now found a huge muddy field near us that dog walkers go to.

seashells11 · 18/02/2021 08:59

Dogs can do a lot of damage running at speed. Yanbu. As if the police would get involved too.

ooohbriefcase · 18/02/2021 09:13

@supernova21

People who think it's fine to kick a dog for giving them a sniff are putting themselves at risk of getting bitten. And no, it won't be the dog or its owner's fault. Not when you kicked an animal as that's provoking it to bite you.
@supernova21 people including children have every right to go about their day without being sniffed at by someone else's 'friendly' aka irritating animal. Your dog is your responsibility the end.
TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 18/02/2021 09:18

If the owner hasn't got the dog on a lead and it is running at someone, the dog is not under control. Any dog can turn into a killer, it's their nature, even if they are normally docile and friendly. So it's fine to take physical action to prevent an attack, you don't have to wait for it to bite. It's a bit like if someone runs straight towards you in the street. You are perfectly entitled to raise your hands to defend yourself, even if you don't know for sure if they are intent on attacking you.

Lochmorlich · 18/02/2021 09:18

YANBU. My dog loves dc but I always put her back on lead if I see them. She will sometimes jump and I can’t take the risk. It’s not just knocking the dc over its also muddy paws on clean clothes.

Dog owners should never allow their dogs to be jumping up people out walking.

In your situation I would have encouraged the guy to ring the police, he was the one in the wrong.