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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have treated children with letting dog out

239 replies

beakerclub · 12/10/2023 19:18

DH thinks I was OTT with this, I don't.

Basically as I was getting out of my car with my 2 year old child last night two kids, probably about 8 from their height, were stood right by silently in halloween masks whilst I was unclipping my son from his car seat.

I just rolled my eyes initially and completely ignored them but then as I walked toward my house and up my drive they followed me and at this point my little boy was starting to get upset. I told them to go but they didn't, literally followed me up my drive and to my door!!

In the end I said you have 3 seconds to get off my drive or I'll be letting my dog out to deal with you and you'll wish you had. They scarpered quick as I opened my door and shouted my dog outside.

Now my dog is pretty big and a bit barky and can be quite scary looking if he wanted to be, but he's actually soft as shit so there wasn't any real risk of him doing anything, still it did the trick and they ran off and my dog was confused as to what the commotion was ha.

DH thinks it was just kids messing about and I shouldn't have threatened to basically have my dog attack them (wouldn't have happened). I disagree, I think if you're going to be daft enough to make a toddler upset and follow strangers up their driveways then meeting a scary dog at the door is what you get and really all I did was just warn them I have a dog and was opening my door 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
SaySomethingMan · 13/10/2023 18:30

What you did was no better than what the children did. At least they have bring children as an excuse.

GreenAppleCrumble · 13/10/2023 18:46

TheCompactPussycat · 13/10/2023 17:15

I rolled my eyes at you because you’re not making any sense!

Well to be fair, you were talking about dogs reading calendars so if we are using rolly eyes to indicate when someone isn't talking sense my use of them was more than justified.

Okay, since you seem to need it spelt out in words of one syllable, a dog's hunting instinct may well be triggered by something (in this case two children) running away. The instinct is to chase.

Whatever the ins and outs of exactly how the dog was called outside, or how far off the drive the children had got, it was a risk that it was entirely unnecessary for the OP to take.

Show quote history

Sarcasm is lost on you then 😂

LolaSmiles · 13/10/2023 19:56

Quite a story you’ve invented there!

OP called her dog to her. The end.

Not inventing anything.

The OP threatened some children with her dog, then called the dog to give the impression she was carrying it out.

It was a very foolish course of action because of the multiple possible outcomes, some of which I've outlined.

But I am amused that on MN some neighborhoods are so awful that threatening children with a dog attack is totally a justifiable course of action because 8 year olds can be awful, but somehow there's no need to worry about said thugs' families coming back when their kids say "this is the house where the woman threatened to set her dog on us".

Let's be honest, the OP was fairly sure that the situation would be unlikely to escalate because they're a couple of kids being a pain, but instead of being the responsible adult she tried to point score against some kids.

Purpleyogamat · 13/10/2023 20:19

Lostcotter · 13/10/2023 05:46

Just read some more of this thread and can see things escalated - why on earth are some people describing little kids as “little bastards” and “scum” etc?! have a word with yourselves and don’t be so vile.

It’s not as if they kicked a toddler in the head or threw excrement at something or some other extreme act. They were in the wrong for sure but no need for such hateful language against 8 year old children in masks who took a joke too far.

Though it didn't sound like they ever intended it to be a joke from the outset, does it?

sandyhappypeople · 13/10/2023 20:56

LolaSmiles · 13/10/2023 19:56

Quite a story you’ve invented there!

OP called her dog to her. The end.

Not inventing anything.

The OP threatened some children with her dog, then called the dog to give the impression she was carrying it out.

It was a very foolish course of action because of the multiple possible outcomes, some of which I've outlined.

But I am amused that on MN some neighborhoods are so awful that threatening children with a dog attack is totally a justifiable course of action because 8 year olds can be awful, but somehow there's no need to worry about said thugs' families coming back when their kids say "this is the house where the woman threatened to set her dog on us".

Let's be honest, the OP was fairly sure that the situation would be unlikely to escalate because they're a couple of kids being a pain, but instead of being the responsible adult she tried to point score against some kids.

But I am amused that on MN some neighborhoods are so awful that threatening children with a dog attack is totally a justifiable course of action because 8 year olds can be awful, but somehow there's no need to worry about said thugs' families coming back when their kids say "this is the house where the woman threatened to set her dog on us".

Glad it amuses you(!) the reality is Kids that are up to no good generally don't go back to report to their parents that they were up to no good, their parents would either be angry at them in the first place for what they were doing, or if they did go round and kick off (slight possibility) but were told what actually happened by OP, the kids would probably get a hiding for making their parents look like fools, OR, they KNOW their kids are out up to know good and wouldn't want to advertise to OP who they are by going back there.

Besides, you presume these parents care that their offspring are out terrorising the neighbourhood .. they're just glad they're not at home with them.

So glad it AMUSES you though, the view from your ivory tower must be spectacular ..

Balloonhearts · 13/10/2023 21:05

I'd have done the same. They need teaching that they are not by far the scariest thing on the streets and its not big or clever to intimidate women and small children.

If I'd done that as a child, the neighbour would pull off the mask, clip me round the ear and if I told my parents I'd get a slap from them as well. Kids aren't disciplined these days and parents ineffectual. If it takes letting the dog out to scare them off, so be it.

LolaSmiles · 13/10/2023 21:11

sandyhappypeople
Those things may happen, or the parents take the view that their child was 'only...' and take an issue with the OP. Or the children go and tell other bigger and tougher kids what OP threatened.

A whole range of scenarios could play out from an adult being foolish enough to threaten children with her dog, and give indication they were going to follow through.

Given how many people on Mumsnet are clutching their pearls at the mere sight of an off lead dog in a park where they're allowed to be exercised off lead, I'm amazed so many people seem to think that threatening children with a dog is acceptable.

Kitkatcatflap · 13/10/2023 23:18

Hahaha OP that is hilarious. I am in my 50s and I have loads of stories like that from when I was a kid and played out in the street with a small gang. We were chased by barky dogs and had a women throw rotten apples at us. Happy days. The kids will be fine.

CamperPollyPop · 13/10/2023 23:54

Oh hells no!

I'd have done more than that. The kids (ages 7-12) in my area are fucking animals.

A group of 8 and 9 year olds got arrested near me last week because 5 of them got together and beat the crap out of a 15yr boy old walking home from school on his own. They picked up rocks and used his own school bag as a weapon against him all to take his phone. He ended up in hospital.

Thankfully at that age their skills at hiding their identity are poor so the teenager could identify them. Just because somone is 8 doesn't mean they are harmless or should be allowed to do as they please. If they are old enough to make a plan to hurt somone they are old enough for people to defend themselves against them if needed.

I think you showed great restraint. I'm edgy myself around kids being deliberately disruptive but if I've got my baby with me I ain't taking that shit.

momonpurpose · 14/10/2023 00:11

Balloonhearts · 13/10/2023 21:05

I'd have done the same. They need teaching that they are not by far the scariest thing on the streets and its not big or clever to intimidate women and small children.

If I'd done that as a child, the neighbour would pull off the mask, clip me round the ear and if I told my parents I'd get a slap from them as well. Kids aren't disciplined these days and parents ineffectual. If it takes letting the dog out to scare them off, so be it.

I could not agree more!

Robotalkingrubbish · 14/10/2023 08:46

LolaSmiles · 13/10/2023 21:11

sandyhappypeople
Those things may happen, or the parents take the view that their child was 'only...' and take an issue with the OP. Or the children go and tell other bigger and tougher kids what OP threatened.

A whole range of scenarios could play out from an adult being foolish enough to threaten children with her dog, and give indication they were going to follow through.

Given how many people on Mumsnet are clutching their pearls at the mere sight of an off lead dog in a park where they're allowed to be exercised off lead, I'm amazed so many people seem to think that threatening children with a dog is acceptable.

So it’s absolutely fine for kids to act in an intimidating and threatening way, towards a woman and a small child?

Jamie Bulger RIP. Think about that!

CobwebsAndCauldrons · 14/10/2023 09:08

Fucking hell. Are there no depths too low for people to sink to try and win and online argument.

Robotalkingrubbish · 14/10/2023 09:39

CobwebsAndCauldrons · 14/10/2023 09:08

Fucking hell. Are there no depths too low for people to sink to try and win and online argument.

It’s nothing to do with winning an online argument, some people just need a reality check. However, if my post wins your “argument” then my work is done here.

LolaSmiles · 14/10/2023 13:24

So it’s absolutely fine for kids to act in an intimidating and threatening way, towards a woman and a small child?

Jamie Bulger RIP. Think about that!

Bloody hell that is low!

For what it's worth, what I've actually said up thread several times is that it's totally reasonable to think the children's behaviour was wrong AND think it's unacceptable for an adult to threaten children with a dog.

But you bring absolutely awful tragedies up in an attempt to excuse an adult threatening to use a dog as a weapon. 🙄

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