I kicked my neighbours dog

[bumcakes1234]

We live in the countryside, I went out with 12mo DD in the carrier and my dog (who was on the lead) we walked round the corner from our house. In the distance we saw some people out walking with their four dogs, the dogs saw us and started all barking and racing towards us. I wasn't sure what to do because my dog was on the lead and theirs wasn't, I tried to pull my dog away and take a different route but she wasn't keen on turning her back on the dogs running at us (don't blame her tbh).

Decided to stay still and maybe they'd be fine after a sniff, one of the dogs was very aggressive snarling, it snapped at my dog and I just lost it

I kicked the dog and started screaming and shouting at it to get away.

It went off and I went on my way on the different walk. Didn't stop to have an awkward conversation with the dog owner. I should add the owner was trying to call their dog back and we do live in the kind of place where you can go for a walk in the fields and not see a soul so I'm not mad them for not having their dog on a lead.

I am however mortified that it was (I believe) a relation of the people who have just moved in next door 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

YABU - you overreacted and should apologies to your new neighbours

YANBU - that psycho dog went for your dog and you have to do what you have to do!!

I will never forget toddler DS kicked out at a dog that went running and barking up to him. It may have been a small dog but it was hip height on him. It was a natural reaction.

The owner shouted at my DS -who never made contact, just stuck his foot out- “don’t kick my dog”. I was in such shock, I wish I had managed to shout “well don’t let your fucking dog run at small children then”. It’s been 15 years and I’m still cross her bloody dog ran at my child. We had an impeccably behaved Lab so it’s not like he was unused to dogs.

YANBU. Dogs should be under control and, if they have poor recall, shouldn’t be off the lead in the first place.

@TabithaTittlemouse

Did the owners not try to stop their dog?

I’ve been bitten before after another dog went for mine but I still don’t think that I could physically kick an animal.

So next time I should just let it bite my dog and do nothing?

YADNBU. Other owners should have been mortified. I was when mine ran up to a lady for a simple pat recently. She is now back on the longline till she learns to pay attention again.

@TabithaTittlemouse

Did the owners not try to stop their dog?

I’ve been bitten before after another dog went for mine but I still don’t think that I could physically kick an animal.

Like I said in my post, they were shouting for their dog to come back, but they weren't running over. It all happened quite quickly to be fair.

Their dog shouldn't have been off the lead since the owner couldn't recall it without issue.

I'd have done the same ... you were alone with your own dog and a baby. needs must

YANBU you had no choice and if a dog is being like that then a quick shock can bring them out of it.

YANBU

I have 2 dogs - one has a reliable recall and the other one doesn't so she's on a long line. You have to have control of your dog, no matter what the situation, and if you don't then they should be on a lead.

If a dog doesn't have near enough perfect recall, it should be on a lead.

You must have been terrified OP - try to put it behind you.

@Butchyrestingface

I kicked the dog and started screaming and shouting at it to get away.

How big was that dog? Was it larger than your dog?

My concern would be, you were presumably holding your baby. It's understandable to want to protect your dog, but what if the dog reacted to YOU kicking it and YOU became the target of its aggression?

My mum said that to me when I rang her afterwards

I didn't even think about it, I just wanted it to get it away from my dog

The dog snapped at your dog probably because your dog was on its lead. It was, in effect, captive. Instead of walking off with your dog you decided to stand still, making your dog even more vulnerable. The fact that your dog would not walk away with you seems like you don’t have full control of it, just like the owners of the other dogs didn’t have control. The dog wasn’t attacking you. Did it actually have hold of your dog? I can see why you reacted as you did, but unless the dog was actually attacking your dog and would not let go, kicking it is unacceptable.

There's always one isn't there?

You did what anyone else would've done OP - glad you weren't hurt and very lucky for the owners (and the dog) too that it didn't bite you.

@Soontobe60

The dog snapped at your dog probably because your dog was on its lead. It was, in effect, captive. Instead of walking off with your dog you decided to stand still, making your dog even more vulnerable. The fact that your dog would not walk away with you seems like you don’t have full control of it, just like the owners of the other dogs didn’t have control. The dog wasn’t attacking you. Did it actually have hold of your dog? I can see why you reacted as you did, but unless the dog was actually attacking your dog and would not let go, kicking it is unacceptable.

Really? If my dog was being attacked, I wouldn't wait until it had hold of my dog before kicking it away. Why should I wait until my dog is actually injured?

‘ So next time I should just let it bite my dog and do nothing?’

That isn’t what I said. I said that I personally couldn’t physically kick an animal.

@vivainsomnia

I wouldn't kick a dog that was only threatening but not being physically agressive. For once, in all likelihood, this is what could make it become physically violent.

You should have turned away and your dog should have followed your direction.

Saying that, I would have had a word with the owners. A dog that snarls should be on the lead.

It snapped at my dog, not just snarling.

I probably could have got my dog to come along but I was worried too that I was leaving her completely vulnerable on a lead and with her back to them, so when she resisted I let her.

I didn't know what the right thing to do was, I just wanted it to get away from my dog and I won't just stand there whilst another dog bites mine. Sorry if you think that's unreasonable. But 1) I love my dog, she's part of my family and 2) why the hell should I be in a position with a traumatised dog and a large vet bill just because people like you think I should just stand there like a banana

Firstly, the other dog owner should have their dogs under control, in that sense they're in the wrong.

In terms of your response, I think this is all about scale: did you actually think the dog would attack your dog or did it just bark at your dog? Did you give the dog a nudge with your foot or did you boot it in the head as hard as you could? Big difference!

YADNBU

Don’t worry about any YABU posters, there’ll always be one or two. A dog has attacked a field of sheep adjacent our local park this afternoon. Multiple sheep bitten and brought down. There’s a loon posting (with their dog as their profile picture) that there should have been a sign.

@Soontobe60

The dog snapped at your dog probably because your dog was on its lead. It was, in effect, captive. Instead of walking off with your dog you decided to stand still, making your dog even more vulnerable. The fact that your dog would not walk away with you seems like you don’t have full control of it, just like the owners of the other dogs didn’t have control. The dog wasn’t attacking you. Did it actually have hold of your dog? I can see why you reacted as you did, but unless the dog was actually attacking your dog and would not let go, kicking it is unacceptable.

Bullshit.

I would do whatever it took to protect my under control dog. My dog is very timid and would likely freeze in fright, that isn’t me having a lack of control, that’s her being terrified of a snarling dog running at her.

Was OP supposed to wait until her, her infant or her dog was horrifically injured before reacting? What level of injury would be acceptable for her to react at?

@Nellle

Firstly, the other dog owner should have their dogs under control, in that sense they're in the wrong.

In terms of your response, I think this is all about scale: did you actually think the dog would attack your dog or did it just bark at your dog? Did you give the dog a nudge with your foot or did you boot it in the head as hard as you could? Big difference!

I really thought it was going to attack my dog 100%

Whether it would have or not, who knows, I don't know that dog

It was snarling and snapping at my dog, it's body language told me it was going to bite her

I kicked it in the tummy and it still tried to get at her and that's when I started yelling at it

Something along the lines of "NO! Get away!!!" And then it went back to its owner

@BobLemon

YADNBU

Don’t worry about any YABU posters, there’ll always be one or two. A dog has attacked a field of sheep adjacent our local park this afternoon. Multiple sheep bitten and brought down. There’s a loon posting (with their dog as their profile picture) that there should have been a sign.

The yabu posters are probably ones that have dogs they can't control and think it'd just cute. There's a woman in this area with a dog that has bitten a few people now and she screams at people if they ask her to put it on a leash. She'll eventually be caught by the police and the poor dog will be put down thanks to her stupidity.

Just remember that, anyone who doesn't care if their dog has bad recall. If your dog attacks someone, it gets put to sleep and it's entirely your fault. Would have thought if they actually cared about the dog they would train them better.

@BobLemon

YADNBU

Don’t worry about any YABU posters, there’ll always be one or two. A dog has attacked a field of sheep adjacent our local park this afternoon. Multiple sheep bitten and brought down. There’s a loon posting (with their dog as their profile picture) that there should have been a sign.

That's absolutely awful

Yanbu.

An out of control, aggressive dog ran up to you, your baby and dog showing signs that it was going to attack you and you defended yourself.

I probably would have waited to speak to the owner but understand that you were probably in a panic. If it would make you feel better then you could get in touch with them and explain that their dog was going for yours incase they don't fully understand what happened.
Do not apologise or admit any fault though.

I was told by a dog trainer that if a dog goes for your dog, the best to do is get in front of your dog, stamp your foot and shout "no!" really loudly.

In the heat of the moment, when a dog snapped at my dog I just kicked him too.

YANBU OP. Dog owners who don't put their aggressive, poor socialised, poorly recall trained dogs, on a lead boil my piss.

You should have just let your dog off the lead
Ah yes. You should have just let your dog off so it could either fight and potentially die, or run off and get lost and potentially die.

You did the right thing and I'd have been mortified if my dog had behaved like theirs did. Also trying to drag your dog away would have escalated the situation. In dog training we were always told not to pull at the lead in this situation, it makes it worse. You'd have ended up attached to two fighting dog with a baby strapped to you. Keeping your baby up out of the way and using your feet was the best way to direct aggression away from you but also to protect yourself and your dog.

They should have had control of their dogs. End of.

@SC215

I was told by a dog trainer that if a dog goes for your dog, the best to do is get in front of your dog, stamp your foot and shout "no!" really loudly.

In the heat of the moment, when a dog snapped at my dog I just kicked him too.

YANBU OP. Dog owners who don't put their aggressive, poor socialised, poorly recall trained dogs, on a lead boil my piss.

That's really good to know thanks, I will remember that

YANBU but I don’t think it was the smartest choice just standing still with your dog, and then kicking the other dog whilst holding a 12 month old, who presumable had limbs sticking out of the carrier (easily biteable). It could have easily caused the dog to attack you/your baby instead. It’s hard to no what to do in those situations though, and the main thing is you, baby and your dog are all ok.

Personally I’d have stuck around to shout at the owner too, they could see you have a child too they were out of order for not reacting more, I wouldn’t be embarrassed if I were you, I’d be furious and wanting to go find out if the dog was going to be around again. You arnt the one who should feel embarrassed at all.