How would you handle this? Large dog and teen interaction

[MirrorBack]

Firstly I don’t dislike dogs… but some owners I do. My kids like dogs, we walk a few occasionally or dog sit for friends. This isn’t an anti-dog thread before someone goes down that road…

My young teen was at the bus stop, looking for his bus that was approaching. A woman with a very large breed was next to him and the dog jumped up at my son. The dog was muzzled but the muzzle caused some minor scrapes and a mark to my sons hand. More worryingly the dog, a Belgian Malinois was large enough to knock him back. Especially as he was looking in the other direction, and hadn’t noticed she’d moved closer to him. He stumbled into the bus that was pulling away, today he has bruising to his shoulder and lower back from where the bus clipped him. It could have been worse.

She apparently asked if he was ok, he was abrupt and told her to train her dog. He was pretty shocked. She was then scowling at him and when the bus came she followed him upstairs with the dog and sat next to him. He told her to fuck off with the dog, which wasn’t being still, and went downstairs. She didn’t follow.

The dog is distinctive and so is she, a young slight woman with dyed hair. I’ve seen previous interactions. From the description I’m pretty sure I’ve seen her around. The dog is big enough to pull her around. Last time I saw them it struck me as a large untrained dog, maybe a big puppy, with limited training. I’ve seen it dragging her to chase after other dogs or into streams or to greet children. It wasn’t aggressive, but due to the size it’s a problem. She’ll be shouting at others like it’s their fault. I’ve never seen it muzzled before though.

My son is ok around dogs, not scared of dogs by the incident but he was upset by it and his bruised back from the bus is uncomfortable.

How would you follow this up? There won’t be CCTV or anything, or witnesses I believe. Son only told me when he was home around twenty minutes later. He’s an honest kid, admitted to swearing and bruising is what you’d expect from the bus. I don’t know how, but it annoys me as well as being dangerous. How would you follow up:

if you can’t control an animal that large, you have no business walking it in a public place.

I would have politely advised that the next time her dog attacked me I would not only use whatever force necessary to defend myself, but work to ensure the dog was taken from her. She might not appreciate unsolicited advice, but she will enjoy the legal liability even less when her dog inevitably injures someone.

I don't think swearing was offensive and you quoted me saying I understand why he did it - but de-escalation is about self-preservation.
SutWytTi, what is walking away [from an idiot who had followed him upstairs] if it isn't de-escalation?
Should the lad have bought her a cream egg?

Absolutely report it, the owner sounds like she doesn't understand just how bloody dangerous her dog is.

I say this as a huge lover of dogs & especially malinois & GSDs, but all irresponsible dog owners need to be held accountable, many of the horrific dog attacks in the media have turned out to not be a first time incident for the behaviour.

I for one am sick of being lumped in with useless idiots when I make a huge effort for my dogs not to irritate or inconvenience, let alone endanger, others.

Just wanted to add that I'm sorry your son had to experience this, & I would have reacted the same if it were me.

Or because she wanted to put him on her Xmas card list??