Dog attacking child - not stopping to help

[Idioticparents]

So, I’m walking my dogs on the beach. See a border collie on a lead being walked by what I presume is mum, dad and child. No problem - my dogs are trained to come to me whenever they see another dog (not that they go far tbh).

BC is clearly not friendly. It’s frozen. Stiff. Licking its lips as I go by. No issue. Give it a wide birth (10 or so meters given the tide is high) keep half an eye on it. Owners don’t real it in and keep it on the log line (full length stretched with dog nearly choking itself).

Child (about 8/9) walks up to dog as parents watch and wraps its arms around the dogs neck from behind. Obviously the dog attacks child. Parents wrestle dog off child.

Now, here is my am I being unreasonable - I didn’t stop. I just kept walking. Kid had two parents with him and I had my dogs nearby waiting to walk on. As I walked away I got a tonne of abuse for not stopping. But why would I? IMO the dog had attack its owners child and if it’s going to do that then I am not going near it. Partner says IWU not to help.

Edit: In response to ExtraOnions

Always one 🙄 requirement for all dogs to wear a muzzle, really?

Twats not tears. Bloody typo.

I think it would be unwise to have got involved. They sound the type of people who would turn on you and blame you for interfering.

They just wanted to blame you for their failures to safeguard their child and control their dog.

You were right to keep walking; it was entirely on them, but they weren't going to take responsibility.

Meh, parents were at fault for letting child startle the dog.

You did nothing wrong.

You did nothing wrong- if you had gone over (to do what?) the situation could have escalated. Dad should have removed dog from situation /distracted dog.

They sound charming.

What a horrific situation.

In order to help in that type of scenario firstly you need to be prepared to put yourself in physical danger and secondly you need to be in a position to do so.

If I was out walking with my dog or with ds my first instinct would be to do exactly as you have, get my dog and child out of danger and away from the situation so they can't exacerbate it or be harmed by it and ring someone who can help like emergency services.

I can understand the family wanting you to help but realistically I don't think there was much you could have done without inflaming things with your own dogs. You also could have made a reactive dog you don't know feel more threatened by approaching.

Bonkers. There are two of them unable to control one dog and one child, but you, with multiple dogs on your own are supposed to be able to sort things out.

'FUCKING STUPID BITCH', 'FUCKING COME BACK HERE' 'HER FUCKING DOGS STARTED IT' (whilst the charming parents yelled at each other over who was at fault...)

So they weren’t asking you to please come back and help them, they were yelling at you to come back so they could “sort you out” because they blame you for their dog being aggressive.

You were right to walk away, you could have been thumped or your dogs hurt if you’d gone back. Doesn’t sound like their needed your help with the child, they just wanted to lamp you.

You did the right thing getting your dogs away. Baffling that they BOTH blamed your dogs for 'starting' it AND expected you to get nearer - but this all makes sense when seen through the lens that they are just projecting blame onto you, so they don't have to think about how much they put their child at risk. Even as someone without dogs I'd be wary of just 'helping' in a dog attack - more likely to call 999 from a safe distance - and if I had a dog with me I wouldn't approach at all.

So many idiots with dogs.

Saw a rather scruffy group with a strong mutt on a specialised lead and harness, that was given to a small child to hold.

Aggressive mutt tore free from the child and tried to attack a very peaceful woman's dog- the aggressive mutt's owners has zero control {they never do}

Only a completely clueless person would give a clearly powerful dog to a child to hold the lead - and only cretinous parents would allow their child to grab their nasty dog from behind.

Op, if you are certain that your dogs did nothing wrong and you were fine in the way you behaved, why does your dp say you were unreasonable?
We only have your side of the incident, but it does seem odd that your dp & the parents of the child think otherwise.
Perhaps have another think and hopefully this won’t happen again.

I agree with this. The problem is most people don't agree and even more have zero control over their dogs. I regularly have to kick dogs to get them away from my on lead, under control dog. I then get loads of shit from the owners, which I understand but they never seem to understand their part in the situation.

OP, sounds like these owners do not understand they need to control their dogs response to yours and are blaming you for how their dog decided to respond. I see why your DH says you should have stopped but honestly, what good would have come? Two adults are fully able to assist their hurt child and they only wanted you there to shout at you anyway.

He thinks that I should have left my dogs in a sit/wait and gone to check the child was okay given how serious dog attacks can be.

My argument to him is that dogs are still dogs. No matter how well trained I think my dogs are (and they really are very well trained), there is always a chance that if the other dog had attacked me they might have responded. We've all seen stories of dogs coming to their owners aid when their owner has been attacked- even usually placid dogs. Was I going to risk my dogs? No. Was I going to risk exacerbating the situation? No.

I hope your dogs were on a lead OP, knowing that they would be passing another dog so closely, they should be on a short, tight lead. Leaving them roaming was always going to antagonise the other dog.

I then get loads of shit from the owners, which I understand but they never seem to understand their part in the situation
Many (not all of course) appear to be overly enmeshed with their pets, seeing them as babies, not just babies but special fur babies. If the dog causes a problem they blame anyone but themselves or the animal.

It sounds as if the parents shouldn’t be in charge of a dog or a child! Their behaviour was totally bizarre. Best not to get involved, OP. It was nothing to do with you and people like that are dangerous.

I would, and it probably will happen, sooner or later.

Sorry this happened to you OP, it’s not pleasant being shouted at. Sounds like you did the right thing. irresponsible dog owners are the worst and I really wish those stupid long leads would be banned

You did nothing wrong and if people were abusing me like that, I most definitely wouldn’t be helping them out.

I hope your dogs were on a lead OP, knowing that they would be passing another dog so closely, they should be on a short, tight lead. Leaving them roaming was always going to antagonise the other dog.

Shame the owner of the aggressive dog didn't consider doing the same, mind you they also didn't think to tell their child not to approach the dog when it was obviously on high alert, which is why it reacted the way it did to being hugged , a totally avoidable incident.

I totally agree with you. They probably would have abused you for leaving your dogs unattended to help and you don't know what you getting closer may have escalated. Could have been your dogs coming to your defence, or the other dog attacking further.
Sorry this happened to you, you aren't at fault in anyway.

I would have done what you did.

You have your dogs with you and that should be your focus as well as your own safety.

It would have been chaos if you had got involved and their dog had attacked you or your dogs.

There were two adults there and I assume this was their dog and their child so it their responsibility. Sounds like irresponsible dog owners and shitty parenting...

What did they expect anyway? for you to wrestle their dog?

Some people are just beyond stupid.

What could you do with your own dogs in tow? Nothing at all and their presence might have made the situation worse. Best thing you could do was move out of the vicinity. I think I'd have moved off but had my phone ready to call 999 if needed. Hope the boy was okay.

If I was on my own, I don't think I would feel safe approaching two verbally aggressive adults ( and their bitey dog) regardless of the situation.