To not want my 18 month old's face licked by a random dog?

[CitrusBun]

Every morning we take our five year old and eighteen month old children to pre-school through a small local park. The park has a concrete path on it, and we do not stray from the path to the grass either side.

Every morning, there are two adults there with Labradors who are roaming off their leads. I don't have an issue with the dogs being off their leads, but I do have an issue with one of the dogs consistently wandering over and licking my eighteen month old's face. We don't know the dog owners, I've never suggested this approach is welcome, and my eighteen month old simply freezes and has never giggled, smiled or welcomed the approach.

I haven't yet overcome my Britishness to say something, but I will do tomorrow. Before I do - AIBU to have a problem with this? I fully appreciate the dogs aren't dangerous (AFAIK) and that some people like dogs doing this. But doesn't my eighteen month old have the right not to just be licked by a random dog? Or by default is this just accepted behaviour?

I should point out that the owners seem to understand this isn't welcome, because they tend to say their dog's name in a disappointed voice. But they don't make a move to stop him or apologise or anything like that.

If the dogs cant be recalled around other dogs or people then they shouldn’t be off lead in public.

If the owner doesn’t realise that though then saying something probably won’t make a jot of difference!

(My old dog didn’t have reliable recall so he was kept on a long line. Current puppy is very much a work in progress. But YANBU)

Good lord of course you're not being unreasonable! What I think I would do is as soon as I see the bloody dogs I'd stand firmly between them and my baby and say LOUDLY for the benefit of the owners - Go away doggie, baby doesn't like having his face licked, good dog! - or something else equally passive aggressive and directed at the stupid, irresponsible owners.

Not unreasonable at all. I don’t mind dogs in general, but I hate being bothered by random ones. Same for my DC. Hope calling it out goes okay.

This has happened more than once? I'm a dog owner and that's really unacceptable. I don't let mine approach small children at all, simply because they could easily knock a small child over without even noticing (mid size dogs, not even big).

Although some owners are ok being licked by their own dogs, that doesn't (or shouldn't) extend to their dogs licking other people! I'd be mortified if it had happened once, there wouldn't be an opportunity for it to happen again.

You do need to overcome the Britishness to say something. "Please can you stop your dog licking my child; he doesn't like it" should be enough. If it isn't, put yourself between your child and the dog and say "no!" to the dog reasonably loudly and firmly.

If this is a daily occurrence why aren't you intervening before the dog gets close enough to lick your child's face?

I own a dog and he walks mostly off lead, but he had concrete recall and wouldn't approach people anyway. These owners are obviously twats who think their dogs are above everyone else. They shouldn't be off the lead if they don't have recall. Full stop

That's disgusting. I'm usually a wimp, but I would lose my shit at this! Yuk, imagine all the germs. Dogs li k each other's arses and eat shit. Omg how can you even allow this OP!

Yanbu but yes tell the dog to go

So the dogs come over daily and lick your baby's face?

Where is he? pushchair? walking?

This happened us once. A German shepherd came up to our 2 year old and licked his face. The owners then appeared and announced he loves kissing children. They were left under no illusion what we thought of them.

Grow a pair Op! this would have me RAGING. My child is autistic and absolutely hates being approached by dogs - if a dog EVER approaches me - I say straight away - please call your dog back we don't want to be approached.

I am almost struggling to believe you allow this to happen?!

ANy dog without immediate recall should be on a lead in a public place - clearly not followed but absolutely should be the case.

Well dogs lick their arses and any other revolting thing they find festering on the ground so your child is likely to end up with worms or an upset stomach if you let it continue. Why are you letting this happen? Pick dc up or get in between them. Dc is your responsibility whatever the threat.

This is gross and unacceptable. The dogs should be on a leash. Typical boorish behaviour from usually awful dog owners. Most of them don't clean up their dogs poo either.
A generalisation but a true one.

I would've gone ballistic the first time this happened! And no - you have no way of knowing that the dog is safe!
My DD was petrified of dogs for years because she got knocked over by random dogs off their leads 3 times!! The owners always made a point of telling me not to worry - my DD wouldn't hurt the dog! Of course not - a tiny kid flat on her back with a bloody great animal looming over her - how on earth would she hurt the dog?! They never apologised. And took no notice when I said the dogs should be on leads.
IMO dogs should always be on a lead in public areas.

I can't believe you've allowed this to happen more than once. You need to learn to stand up for your child.

Most dog owners seem incapable of understanding that not everyone is besotted with their animal.
I don't like dogs. I don't want to be slobbered on, jumped on, hurt when they clamber up my legs, have my clothes ruined, or be covered in mud.
If children were allowed to treat complete strangers in this way there would be outrage. I don't understand why it appears to be acceptable when it is a dog!

But op you've not answered. If you know these dogs have form, why are you not getting there before the dogs? They're labradors not greyhounds, surely you can stand in the way of your child before the dog approaches.

Obviously you shouldn't need to do this as the dog should be under control, but it's happened multiple times

I would never let my dogs anywhere any kids. They go back on their leads as soon as there are people about.

I would lick the owner and not stop until they either froze or cried.

I'm actually holding the toddler's hand at this point, I'm not far away. But clearly one too many times I have taken it on good faith that the owners understand this is unwelcome and will ensure it doesn't happen again.

I really don’t understand why you have let this happen more than once. There’s no excuse. Yes, the dog owners are at fault, but you’re neglectful too.

you stand around long enough for a dog to lick your kids face , every day! that's on you really, regardless of owners you know they are going to be in the park you don't say anything because "Brittishness" and then you let it lick the baby's
face whilst you stand there looking around for someone to save you ? have a word with yourself !

So you could stop it happening but don't?

Exactly this. Its the dog owners job to control their dog but it's your job to protect your children

But clearly one too many times I have taken it on good faith that the owners understand this is unwelcome and will ensure it doesn't happen again.

You are letting it happen - regularly.
Without saying anything.

Whilst for some dog owners, this situation should never happen, they do seem to be in the minority these days. How are the owners to know it is unwelcome without you showing some sign of this or saying something?