To ask dog owners to be extra vigilant around younger children?

[ponderingthisthing]

At the weekend, we were out in the meadows and having our family photos taken by a professional photographer.

A dog came near us and started jumping on the DC, who are 2 and 4. DH tried to fend it off until the owner came and dragged the dog away with some difficulty. By this time both children were extremely scared and upset and were screaming and crying. The owner may have muttered a quiet "sorry" before leaving quickly. No genuine apology or word to check if DC were OK, even though they were obviously extremely disturbed at that point with tears flooding down their faces. She just didn't seem to care.

For us though, it really put a damper on things and unsurprisingly the photography session did not go well. Both children felt unsafe following this (there were other dogs around, many not on lead) and clung to us.

It's not the first time that it's happened, DD was already afraid of dogs due to similar episodes in the past. We try to reassure her that dogs don't normally harm people and that she should just behave normally around them, but I wonder if we should also think more now about safety. Just yesterday, I came across a photo on social media of a little girl who was mauled in the face by a dog. Of course no physical harm came of this episode involving DC, thank goodness, and the dog was probably just over excited. However, the incident is making me feel somewhat uneasy about taking DC to places where dogs can run free.

AIBU to ask that dog owners be extra vigilant with small children around? And obviously, if the dogs are likely to jump up at people, to keep them on lead around small children in public places?

Yanbu. I love dogs, have owned them in the past and will probably get one when DC are older, but I am very on edge when I see dogs off the lead and uncontrolled. DS is too young to understand how to respond to dogs, although I am of course teaching him as best as I can.

There’s been several occasions where dogs have come up to him and either taken a stick he’s been carrying, sniffed/licked his hands etc and I don’t want him to be snapped at, nor do I want him to accidentally poke a dog in the eye or anything. I don’t want to make him nervous of dogs but I need to protect both him and the loose dog!

Your dog, your lifestyle choice, your responsibility to keep it the heck away from each and every other member of the public. Dogs don’t have rights to be let off the lead. They are animals. If you can’t control your dog and want to let it off the lead, get a garden.

I agree @AngelinaFangelina That was all I was saying!

And yes, I am a dog owner. And no his recall isn't perfect in the face of balls, any and all balls. Yes he is excited and jumpy. And possibly might have wanted to reach OP and her photo shoot for a play. And no, I wouldn't have allowed him to get to her, I would have recalled him, put him back on lead until we were out of sight.

And yes, I would have complained that some daft bugger had chosen the local dog walking meadow for a photo shoot!

I'm another who fears small children who are not being watched by their parents. Too many aim for my 'bunny dog' and his face and ears with no parental control.

We all have our biases and perspectives.

Dogs shouldn't be running over to dogs/ adults/ children that aren't walking them, or in their group. It's literally that simple.

You should be able to enjoy the same places that dogs do off lead, without worrying about this.

I would say though that if you have children who are a bit nervous just at the sight of nearby dogs, you shouldn't expect all dogs to be on leads just because they happen to be in the same woodland or similar as you. As long as they don't approach you.

FourChimneys
why on lead all the time?

@DinoMadBoy dogs shouldn’t be in a child’s play park let alone off lead and chasing balls. You should complain to council if a children only area is being used by dog owners.

Let me guess. You only read the post title!

Whilst I empathise with the OP and dogs should be under control at all times, I can reverse this scenario. When my girl was a young dog, we were at our local pub. We were sitting outside, she was on a lead and sleeping at our feet. A delightful child ran passed her, stopped and spat on her.

the delightful child’s father was too busy boasting to his friends and drinking champagne to care.

Yes. Completely agree. I don't care if they're "friendly". Whatever that means. That your dog will lick and sniff my child?? Disgusting.

YANBU. Sorry this happened to you! I have a dog and whilst he's very calm and gentle with adults and children he occasionally doesn't react well to other dogs so I keep him on a lead and keep a close watch on him. When other people let their dogs run around unchecked it really grates on me. Just yesterday I was out running and some fluffy rat dog came running up to me and started barking aggressively and advancing. Although it was small and I do like dogs I was afraid and intimidated. Even small dogs can really harm you if they bite. :S I didn't get so much as an apology and the owners barely put any effort into calling the dog away. I was very cross and reported them to the park keeper whilst running away! Huffing and puffing down the phone, very embarrassing. Usually I'd forgive if the owners are sorry and actually try to get the dog under control but these women did not care at all. I think it must have flooded me with adrenaline as I got a new personal record on how quick I ran the route!!

Totally unacceptable, I’m sorry this happened to you OP. Incidents like that can give DC a life long fear of dogs. Do you have any friends with small gentle dogs who the DC could meet to help them get over the fright?

I however have the opposite problem of small DC running up to my dog. She has been known to get over excited and nip squealing jumping DC so is always with me on a very short lead in public, but SO many parents get annoyed when I asked them to recall their DC! I’ve had all sorts of abuse because I don’t want their DC to get hurt!

My children are really scared of dogs because of similar experiences. Once a dog ran up to our pram and took the bag of croissants from underneath it and the owner just laughed!

@SamphirethePogoingStickerist let me guess - you didn’t even read the post I was referring to (hint:it wasn’t the OP🙄 )

Sincere apologies, I have now. I missed it (being on my phone is no excuse).

And, now I have read it, I agree with you

No dog belongs in a play park, ever!

@Unphased just as a side note. I have a lovely gentle collie who loves to do this. He would drop his ball for anyone and I let him play with anyone who wanted too. One day someone was slow picking up the ball and the dog for some random reason went to get the ball at the same time and accidentally bit the man on the hand. Luckily all was well and the man was nice but I was mortified and very lucky he didn’t report me. I would say be careful because if an accident happened your dog would probably get blamed!

Dogs should be on a lead unless at home or in a designated dog field.
^this 100%

YANBU BUT it’s a two way street. I also get irritated by children running up and petting/pulling at my dog without asking/parents not asking. He actually won’t bite but how do they know?

Arenanewbie
Why?

Just an input as a dog owner - i have a baby myself who she is very good around. However outside around other kids i always keep her on a lead. She's is very excitable and although she would not bite I reckon she would jump up to play. Hence why she stays on a lead.

I always walk my dog on a lead and never let her near children ,I do however get lots of children running up to her wanting to pet her it works both ways 🤷‍♂️

I appreciate your point .However dogs are used to running in meadows! (They cant exactly go to the Photography Studio and run in there) .We have several pictures of our family when younger at the Studio with a white background . Maybe see if you can go in the garden maybe? Bit much to not expect some interest from the canines

Yanbu. I’ve had many, many experiences like this (minus the photographer!) and now my children who used to love all animals are terrified of dogs.

Sick of entitled dog owners mumbling “he’s just being friendly” or “he’s just a puppy still learning.” If he’s just a puppy still learning, maybe don’t walk him off-lead in a children’s play park next to a primary school?! Maybe walk him in the great big wood 10 minutes walk away instead?!

And sadly the children are correct. A dog that is out of control is not a safe dog and they are right to scream for help.

Sorry your photography seasion got ruined too.

Thank you @FT96 I wish all dog owners were like you!

YANBU, my nephew is so terrified of all dogs due to 2 large dogs offlead jumping at him and stealing food from his when he was 3. He is now 9.

We have a large breed and this is my biggest worry, we are working really hard on teaching him not to jump up. He's only 14 weeks at the moment and not out walking off lead yet of course.

I do agree with you, but I'll throw this in. I have a puppy who I am lead training. He is catnip to kids who want to pet him. Because he's a puppy this gets him excited and he jumps up. Obviously I stop him firmly, and get tutted by the kids parent. It's a bit no win really.