Dog barked at my child

[Kitchendrama1]

We were at the park and two year old was having a moment so sat down on the pavement. Dog came over and barked at him. Dog went away. It felt ok and I was looking out.

We started to do a lap of the oval and big again started to stare and bark from us at a distance and wasn’t looking at the other dog he was playing with, or his owner. Dog was getting closer (but also stopped). I grabbed kid and went.

Was the kid in danger?

[MyLandlordIsAWOL]

Dogs bark for myriad different reasons.

Sometimes it's because they're excited.

Sometimes it's because they're scared and want the scary thing to go away.

Sometimes it's for attention, or because they're demanding treats, or playtime.

Sometimes it's because they're guarding something (e.g. barking at the postman).

Sometimes it's part of play.

Sometimes they're just joining in with other noise that's going on.

etc. etc. etc.

It's unlikely that a dog prone to biting children in an unprovoked attack is being allowed to run around the park.

Now, I wouldn't have recommended approaching this dog - if the dog finds crying children scary then you don't want to force it to interact with a scary thing - but there was almost certainly no real danger.

It would be worth doing a bit of research into dog body language, so you can understand what a dog is communicating - but it's also worth noting that there's lots of myths (e.g. a wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog!). It might help you to feel more at ease.

[SecretSpAD]

Reasons why my dog barks....

He sees a leaf
He sees something in the corner of the garden that no one else can see
It's windy
It's raining
It's sunny
He's saying hello
He's telling me that there's something strange going on and he wants reassurance
He wants to announce his presence
He's in a strop
He's happy
He wants the world to know he's a dog

[Mamamamasaurus]

A duck once quacked in the direction of my DS. I feel your pain.

[AntiSocialDistancer]

@Kitchendrama1

I’m not a dog owner but I just felt really uncomfortable with the barks and starring

Dog body language says staring is a very bad sign. It's very aggressive.

Any dog staring at my dog and I move away sharpish.

I think your instincts were spot on here.

[ClareBlue]

Dogs bark but owners should have them on a lead in public. A strange dog not under owner control barking at a child 2m away is not OK. Why did people actually think it is.
Whatever dog owners say, any dog has the potential to attack. I was brought up in a house that ran a dog boarding kennel so know exactly how dogs can behave. There's reasons, yes, why they might turn but those judgements are not down to children faced by a barking dog or their parents. People shouldn't have to become dog behavioral experts assessing if they are friendly bark, agressive, bored, welcoming etc. Just keep them on a lead.
They should be in a lead if there is any chance they can interact with children.
And you are absolutely correct to be concerned for you child by a dog 2m away barking at them with no owner control.

[ikeepseeingit]

Maybe it would be useful for you to look up a video on dogs body language OP? It sounds like you’d be frightened of any bark that a dog did, and while you’re completely right to exercise caution, there are lots of different kinds of barks that can mean happy, excited, concerned, aggressive, sad or anything in between. My dog gets worried when she sees a child upset, so she will stare, but not bark. I can imagine a dog that is more prone to barking would just bark to alert, but it’s hard to tell based on your statement.

[Maverickess]

@LateDecemberBackInLowB12

I still remember the time a cat meowed at my dc.

YANBU at all.

🤣

[AntiSocialDistancer]

I'm uncomfortable so few people know that a dog staring at someone or another dog is not ok. Most people dont have a fecking clue about actual aggressive dog behaviour.

[girlmom21]

What were you doing when your child was having a 'moment'? My dog is really protective of children so would've been telling you off for what he'd perceived as you upsetting the child (you being close to an upset child).

[ClareBlue]

@MyLandlordIsAWOL

Dogs bark for myriad different reasons.

Sometimes it's because they're excited.

Sometimes it's because they're scared and want the scary thing to go away.

Sometimes it's for attention, or because they're demanding treats, or playtime.

Sometimes it's because they're guarding something (e.g. barking at the postman).

Sometimes it's part of play.

Sometimes they're just joining in with other noise that's going on.

etc. etc. etc.

It's unlikely that a dog prone to biting children in an unprovoked attack is being allowed to run around the park.

Now, I wouldn't have recommended approaching this dog - if the dog finds crying children scary then you don't want to force it to interact with a scary thing - but there was almost certainly no real danger.

It would be worth doing a bit of research into dog body language, so you can understand what a dog is communicating - but it's also worth noting that there's lots of myths (e.g. a wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog!). It might help you to feel more at ease.

Seriously
You can not take your children out without studying dog behaviour...
It is unlikely that he is prone to bitting if he is running around....

[choli]

PFB by any chance?

[MrsCremuel]

I don’t trust dogs. In my experience, owners tend to downplay their dogs behaviour ‘oh he’s just friendly’ as he is jumping up and barking etc. I was bitten by one when young when simply walking nearby holding my mum’s hand. If I see a dog being very ‘vigilant’ I.e. staring/barking/guarded behaviour around my child I take precautions.

Was he in danger? Who knows, but that’s the point - better to be safe than sorry, especially with such a little one.

[Whywonttheyhelpme]

@CuriousaboutSamphire agreed. My dog also barks at tantrums because he hates the noise. If someone is genuinely upset he will snuggle up to them quietly and try to make them feel better. Barking = talking, Growling = get your child out of there now.

Clearly this dog was more intelligent than its owner though, who should have either had it on a lead or called their dog away as soon as it started to approach.

[Kitchendrama1]

@ClareBlue

Dogs bark but owners should have them on a lead in public. A strange dog not under owner control barking at a child 2m away is not OK. Why did people actually think it is.
Whatever dog owners say, any dog has the potential to attack. I was brought up in a house that ran a dog boarding kennel so know exactly how dogs can behave. There's reasons, yes, why they might turn but those judgements are not down to children faced by a barking dog or their parents. People shouldn't have to become dog behavioral experts assessing if they are friendly bark, agressive, bored, welcoming etc. Just keep them on a lead.
They should be in a lead if there is any chance they can interact with children.
And you are absolutely correct to be concerned for you child by a dog 2m away barking at them with no owner control.

Yep. And because the dog was playing on the large field with other dogs and lots of space, but again became obsessed with child and wouldn’t spend to owners call….

[ClareBlue]

@girlmom21 are you are actually saying the dog was barking because of how the child was being parented. New depths of surealism on munsnet

[Kitchendrama1]

We’ve been walking around the park and other dogs are of their lead but also not engaging with children

[shouldistop]

Barking isn't usually aggression unless accompanied by snarling, growling and aggressive body language (there are some good pictures online to show you what to look for).

Nothing wrong with moving your child away if you felt worried though.

[Cryalot2]

As someone who had a fear of dogs I understand.
I am a dog owner and think all dogs should be on a lead in public. It is irresponsible not to have, as for a start owners fail to notice when they toilet so don't clean up, and there can be so many dangers for the dog itself ( it could eat litter, food plants that are all toxic) and can frighten people or some bigger dogs could topple a child over.
Dogs do bark, but have different types of bark, it can have an excited bark or a curious one or in our case the postman special one.

[CatTerrier]

If you are concerned look into dog body language, it will tell you far more than a bark will.

[dorothygaleandtoto]

My dog loves children (and other dogs, and squirrels, and anything with wheels...) she thinks they're great fun. If my dog was barking and staring at a child it would probably mean she was drawn in by the noises he was making (I doubt she'd understand he was upset, just that he was vocalising) and was asking to play with him. I wouldn't let her, in any situation, unless invited.

If the dog was on a lead I don't think you've cause to worry at all. But even off a lead, there could be many happy reasons the dog would behave that way. Anyway, you did the right thing to move away if you felt uncomfortable. We all have to share the park

[Lorw]

@Mamamamasaurus

A duck once quacked in the direction of my DS. I feel your pain.

😂😂😂😂

[ClareBlue]

@Whywonttheyhelpme no, get your dog out of there now
Seriously, some of the replies are delusional.
Dog owners, it is your responsibility to control your domesticated wolf and you can not expect other people to know the intracity of their behaviour or evolution of their natural instinct to hunt in a pack, so keep them on a lead when there is a chance that they might actually make an informed judgement that somebody's parenting skills might not be up to Jungle Book standards.

[iamtheoneandonlyyy]

Nothing wrong with being wary of a dog round your kids.
I love dogs but I also don't trust them so any come near mine and I'm keeping an eye on it

[Somethingsnappy]

@AntiSocialDistancer

I'm uncomfortable so few people know that a dog staring at someone or another dog is not ok. Most people dont have a fecking clue about actual aggressive dog behaviour.

You're right about that, but was it staring though, or just looking? The OP said it was from a distance.

[godmum56]

@dorothygaleandtoto

My dog loves children (and other dogs, and squirrels, and anything with wheels...) she thinks they're great fun. If my dog was barking and staring at a child it would probably mean she was drawn in by the noises he was making (I doubt she'd understand he was upset, just that he was vocalising) and was asking to play with him. I wouldn't let her, in any situation, unless invited.

If the dog was on a lead I don't think you've cause to worry at all. But even off a lead, there could be many happy reasons the dog would behave that way. Anyway, you did the right thing to move away if you felt uncomfortable. We all have to share the park

this, I am a dog owner.