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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dangerous dog near miss?

294 replies

volcan · 06/08/2023 23:59

I feel l Iike we had a near miss today and I feel awful about it. DC (5) was cycling around a housing estate where I was visiting a friend when he disappeared off round a corner with a group of kids. It was away from the main road so I wasn't overly concerned but when they didn't appear around the next corner I walked over to investigate. What I found was a massive bully type dog walking alongside my DC whilst it's owner was frantically trying to get it back into the house. The owner being a petite young girl holding a tiny baby. The dog was totally ignoring her and carried on tracking my DS. I told my DS to slow down so the dog would stop 'chasing' him and we got back to the car safely. My heart was in my mouth and still is. When I asked my DS what had happened he said the dog has escaped and he was trying to catch it to help the woman. I know this has been done a million times but my AIBU is that people should be prosecuted for allowing these animals out in public uncontrolled?

OP posts:
ToBeOrNotToBee · 07/08/2023 00:02

So nothing happened. The dog wasn't dangerously out of control. And you were not supervising your child fully.

Newname211 · 07/08/2023 00:05

So the dog was just walking?

Sometimes dogs, like children, don’t listen first time. I’d hardly call this a “near miss” - it doesn’t sound like there was any inclination the dog was going to harm your child.

My dog might behave in the same way, to be honest. She’s a border collie and actually, they are kind of known for this type of behaviour. But nobody would think twice because she’s tiny and cute.

PixieLaLa · 07/08/2023 00:06

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MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2023 00:07

ToBeOrNotToBee · 07/08/2023 00:02

So nothing happened. The dog wasn't dangerously out of control. And you were not supervising your child fully.

This. A five year old is at risk from cars on a bike. Much more than a dog.

Normally I'm with people on dangerous dogs but this one is just silly.

XelaM · 07/08/2023 00:11

My pug escapes sometimes and doesn't listen when I frantically try to get him back in the house because he thinks it's a fun game to play with me (I've ordered a baby gate for the front door 😬). He loves people and kids and might walk next to a child because he likes kids (and kids usually fuss over him). He's the least dangerous dog ever.

Nodeepdiving · 07/08/2023 00:14

Newname211 · 07/08/2023 00:05

So the dog was just walking?

Sometimes dogs, like children, don’t listen first time. I’d hardly call this a “near miss” - it doesn’t sound like there was any inclination the dog was going to harm your child.

My dog might behave in the same way, to be honest. She’s a border collie and actually, they are kind of known for this type of behaviour. But nobody would think twice because she’s tiny and cute.

I would! I've been bitten by dogs twice, both times they were Border Collies. I'm very wary of them now. I'm sure your dog is lovely but BC can be bitey

sonjadog · 07/08/2023 00:14

What a non-event.

Original poster
volcan · 07/08/2023 00:17

Child was nowhere near cars. And if the dog was just having a laugh why did it's owner look completely panicked? I think I'm capable of reading a situation.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 07/08/2023 00:19

So don’t let your five year old go off alone?? Dog follows child shocker. 🤦‍♀️

PixieLaLa · 07/08/2023 00:19

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HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo · 07/08/2023 00:19

So the dog walked in the vicinity of your child, and you're concerned it was a near miss? Seems a bit of an overreaction.

There are plenty of innocent reasons the woman would have been trying to get it into the house - for fear of it being run over, lost, chasing squirrels, eating litter or jumping up at people in an overfriendly manner... it doesn't mean the dog was moments away from savaging your child.

Mine got out of the house once recently, which resulted in us both legging it down the street shouting "Ffffiiiiiidddddoooooooooooooo" (not his actual name) and generally making a bit of a spectacle of ourselves. The reason we were so concerned? Twofold: firstly that he was chasing the neighbours cat (though he's never caught anything, I don't think he wants to tbh), and secondly the big main road. The cat wasn't in any serious danger and any kids were in zero danger.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2023 00:20

5 is too young to be biking off alone. I think you're probably feeling a bit guilty and turning that onto the dog because it's actually your supervision which was lacking.

And yes, dogs should be under full control but it happens.

TheShellBeach · 07/08/2023 00:23

So what was dangerous about this situation?
And can you explain the near miss again, because I don't understand.

ForestGoblin · 07/08/2023 00:25

Bully type dogs are bred to be dangerous.

PixieLaLa · 07/08/2023 00:25

TheShellBeach · 07/08/2023 00:23

So what was dangerous about this situation?
And can you explain the near miss again, because I don't understand.

I am also interested to know what was a ‘near miss’ and what the relevance of the dogs breed or the owner being petite has to do anything OP?

Pippa12 · 07/08/2023 00:26

She likely looked panicked as she worried her dog might get hit by a car or similar!?

In reality if you were watching your 5 year old, he wouldn’t have been trying to ‘help’. If you’d of been there you could’ve told him to stand still, and the owner could’ve retrieved her dog. He shouldn’t have been out of your sight at 5 imo.

Prosecuted?? 😵

Holidayvibes · 07/08/2023 00:28

volcan · 07/08/2023 00:17

Child was nowhere near cars. And if the dog was just having a laugh why did it's owner look completely panicked? I think I'm capable of reading a situation.

My chihuahua got out the house and I looked totally panicked. I was shit scared she wouldn’t come back, run on the road of get lost, not that she’d attack someone. Thankfully she came straight back but if u had seen me I was really worried and panicked.

Original poster
volcan · 07/08/2023 00:28

The point was that my son started chasing it on his bike (no experience with dogs) and then the dog started tracking him. The dog was clearly one of the Bully breeds that regularly appear in the news after attacking children. And the dog was not under the control of anyone and no-one there could have done anything if it had decided to get aggressive.

OP posts:
PixieLaLa · 07/08/2023 00:29

volcan · 07/08/2023 00:28

The point was that my son started chasing it on his bike (no experience with dogs) and then the dog started tracking him. The dog was clearly one of the Bully breeds that regularly appear in the news after attacking children. And the dog was not under the control of anyone and no-one there could have done anything if it had decided to get aggressive.

So you let your child chase a dog and have the audacity to think the dog is somehow out of control. Wow just wow.

StarryNightAddict · 07/08/2023 00:31

Please teach your child not to approach or chase strange dogs. 🤦‍♀️

Clefable · 07/08/2023 00:32

These threads are getting steadily more nuts by the day.

FlamingYam · 07/08/2023 00:33

volcan · 07/08/2023 00:17

Child was nowhere near cars. And if the dog was just having a laugh why did it's owner look completely panicked? I think I'm capable of reading a situation.

It's owner looked completely panicked because they knew what could happen and wanted to stop it whilst juggling a baby.

I'm very opposed to the Mumsnet view of Bully dogs. They are lovely when raised correctly. However, I tend to side with you on this. Nothing happened but it could easily have been something. Why was that dog out and off lead?! Dog owners now don't seem to understand the basic requirements of owning a dog.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2023 00:33

volcan · 07/08/2023 00:28

The point was that my son started chasing it on his bike (no experience with dogs) and then the dog started tracking him. The dog was clearly one of the Bully breeds that regularly appear in the news after attacking children. And the dog was not under the control of anyone and no-one there could have done anything if it had decided to get aggressive.

The near miss is your supervision AND lack of teaching DS about dog behaviour.

That's a great example of learning something. Teach him about dog behaviour and about not riding off.

Original poster
volcan · 07/08/2023 00:33

OK I get it. My 5-year old should be locked up and the bike binned whilst the dangerous dog is allowed to roam around unsupervised.

OP posts:
Clefable · 07/08/2023 00:34

How was it dangerous? What was the near miss? A dog was walking near your son. If that dog wanted to harm your son, it would have done so. Watch your child.

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