Aggressive dogs in pubs

[spookyastic]

Me, my husband and my 18 moth toddler were just in a pub for tea, arrived at 6ish and in the corner of the bar were two cocker spaniels who were absolutely fine with everyone in the restaurant except our 18 month old child.
Our 18 month old was exploring (this might be unreasonable on our part) it was a small pub and she was around our bar stools, always within reach but these cockers kept lunging, barking and growling at her, at one point I had to pull my daughter by her arm as she was about to get lunged at, it made the whole experience in a very small pub really intense.
I genuinely don't know if I'm being unreasonable, these dogs were on leads and if my toddler did get bitten it would be because she went in the dogs space.
We don't hate dogs btw, we own trained gundogs ourselves who we trial to a high standard, cockers too, none would ever bite or show aggression:
We didn't say anything, we just were on guard in the bar area until we were seated but what's everyone's thoughts on this? She didn't even apologise for her dogs aggressive behaviour, but equally we didn't apologise for our toddler walking past the dogs or playing near, but it's a small pub and they were in a doorway

I realise I might have contradicted myself by saying they were in a corner AND a doorway but they kind of were, the door that led to the restaurant area was in her corner and you had to walk past to go to toilets etc

A bit of both I think. Pub customers rightly expect kids to be under control, but the dogs should have been told to shut up by their owner.

"Our 18 month old was exploring (this might be unreasonable on our part)."

Might be unreasonable? MIGHT?

It's a pub not a playpen

I think I wouldn't have had the child wandering about whilst you guys were on bar stools, could the child not have been held / taken outside / sat on a stool / distracted? If the dogs were on leads and calm until the toddler was wandering about near them, then it's the toddler who probably needs to be kept away.

No one needs to apologise to anyone surely as nothing actually happened?

I have a very friendly dog who is terrified of small children as many dogs are, particularly toddlers, as their movements are jerky and unpredictable. If your dc was bitten it would be considered the dog's fault, although in reality it would be yours for letting the child wander, especially if the dogs were on lead.

A toddler shouldn't be wandering about a pub. By your own admission, the dogs only had a problem with the toddler, no one else. So it seems evident was invading their personal space and they felt threatened. I think dogs in a pub is even more reason to not let kids wander about.

Probably the dogs are not used to small people walking past them.

Even without the DDogs I wouldn't let a toddler "explore" in a pub. There are just too many hazards.

We were always holding her hand but she wanted to look at things as normal little humans do. We couldn't even walk through to the seated area without carrying her.
I must be strict when it comes to dog behaviour as I wouldn't put up with it. We have 15 dogs and none show aggression on any level, it's definitely owners who cause it

The dogs felt cornered. You can't let your child wonder around and get close- you wouldn't do this in a park or any other setting surely? I have a 3 year old and two greyhounds. One isn't keen on her going near him to cuddle to I have to keep a close eye and remove her if necessary. You can't blame the dogs if the child was in their space.

They should have at least apologised.
They probably think that because they are cocker spaniels and not XL bullies it's okay for them to be agressive, bark and growl. Most people with small dogs think this way

People don't correct their dogs agressive behaviour then wonder why the dog bites someone

Pubs by their nature tend to be loud, crowded & often have children in the daytime and early evening. The dogs really shouldn’t have been there if they were likely to be uncomfortable in that situation.

You're a parent. It is literally your job to parent your child. What would've happened if someone wasn't paying attention to what's happening at foot level accidentally booted your child in the face?

I'm confused the pubs I've been in with my dog have a separate area for dogs . In any case 18months is very young to let your child explore the pub . I think both parties were at fault here .

You have 15 dogs?!

Absolutely not the case that aggressionis caused by bad owners. A lot of aggression is genetic or caused by bad experiences out of the owners control.
My dog lunges and barks at bikes because one came around a corner too fast and hit both of us when he was 14 weeks. Not my fault at all and it's something we're working through.
Even if I didn't have my dog in the pub I'd still be irritated by a toddler wandering about and I have one of those too

@VeniVidiWeeWee i could accidentally boot her dogs in the head

Yes we have 15 dogs and can walk them all to heel tote in any situation.

@Daveismyhero I can guarantee if I owned your dog it would no longer lunge at bikes

All 15 dogs together???

Well you are clearly very knowledgeable about dogs so why do you think you might be U?

You shouldn’t be letting an 18 month old ‘explore’ a pub. Think about other customers who want to sit in peace.

How do you correct fear reactions to certain triggers like bikes?

15 dogs yes, we also professionally trai other peoples,
This may be why I am a bit sick of other peoples aggressive dogs.
My toddler might have upset the dogs with "jerky movements" but she's not lunging at them trying to sink her teeth into their faces

I think the dog owners are in the wrong. Ive had dogs all my life. And never would I let my dog behave like this. They should have corrected them, or not taken them to a public place, or at least apologised/moved the dogs somewhere else.