AIBU to be upset after a dog jumped at our baby?

[KellyK2026]

Okay, so myself, DH and baby were at a country park the other week. Baby was getting hungry so we sat ourselves down on a park bench and got some food out. A woman was walking with her family and dog and the dog must’ve smelt the food as it suddenly
comes bounding over and is jumping at baby (who is on DH knee) to get the food. We don’t know this dog and don’t know what it's capable of. I scream at the owner that we have a baby and to get her dog under control. At this point, she’s pretty far away and is taking her time to come over. My DH then kicks the dog to get it off them as it just will not stop. The woman wasn’t particularly apologetic and seemed shocked. Did we overreact?

You said, in your own words, that the dog was trying to get to your food. Your husband (and baby) were in the way.

Was there a reason he couldn’t just stand up with the baby? The dog wasn’t interested in your husband or the baby, but it was interested in the food. Your husband didn’t kick the dog in defense of your baby, he kicked the dog because he was angry with it.

BIG DIFFERENCE.

I'd kick the next dog away too. Don't want dogs getting kicked, whinge at the owners for not training them.

Oh I believe you! My baby loves dogs and we’ve met some lovely owners and doggos.

Your story keeps evolving and changing, OP.

How did you shout for the owner when you didn't know their name, out of interest?

The dog wasn't aggressive. It was jumping around you which it absolutely should not have been (it should have been on it's lead) but nothing I have read here suggests aggression or danger. The only aggression shown was by your OH who kicked the dog rather than stand up and move away from it because your picnic was on the table!

If you really think this dog was a danger to the general public, I feel that you would have reported it by now, to the Police or the Dog Warden. Have you done that?

What exactly do you want people to tell you on MN about something that happened weeks ago that you cannot change now?

Yep, I too think this is the truth of the matter.

No, the owners of the dog are to blame. Dogs that jump need to be on leashes. I like dogs, but some owners? 🙄

The OP has already explained that her husband was straddling the bench, and that safely standing up while holding the baby was difficult.

You need to stop making up stories and start reading.

You know you can words that aren't names, right?

He wasn’t angry at all. My husband rarely gets angry as it’s not his nature. He wanted to protect our baby. I assume the food is why the dog came over, but that doesn’t excuse its behaviour. It shouldn’t be off its lead in a family picnic area if it’s going to jump up at infants eating food.

A lot of people on here have said it is disproportionate. Get one of those as a judge and it doesnt matter if you think they are 'a fool'

Fuck me, I remember this from when the kids were little. Out of control dogs and owners strolling along not bothering to try to get them under control. Until I threatened to kick their dog of course and then see the owners leap into action and animation. 'Don't touch my dog! Don't touch my dog!' . If you don't want someone to kick your dog then train it how to behave so that people don't want to kick it or keep it on lead.

We were eating on an outside table in a country park and a dog came up, put its front paws on the table and ate my son's sandwich. Owner didn't even apologise, let alone offer to replace the food. He just looked embarrassed and slunk off.

Eh? I didn’t say I shouted her name 😂😂😂

Kicking the dog is dreadful. What a drama queen. Could he not have just stood up with the baby?!

I would moan at the owner too. But my point was that if a bit better educated about how to handle such a situation kicking a spaniel type dog would not have been necessary.
Am not particularly a dog lover myself. But if such an occurrence happened I would want to learn how to best deal with it if it happened again. Which she seems at great pains not to do.

Love dogs, have three of my own that are fantastic off lead. Do not let them off lead in our local country park with families eating and kids wandering with ice creams as one of them is so food focused I don't trust her not to leg it, then chaos as the other two follow. They are animals, instincts and all that.

You did not overreact at all. I once had to beat one with a stick to attempt to stop it from attacking mine. The owner was mortified, very apologetic and paid for the vet bill fyi. Your DH only kicked at it.

Not read the full thread so wondering if you've had any of the nutters out telling you you are lying/shouldn't be eating in a public park/you need to apologise for your baby existing yet @KellyK2026 ? Any of them made up an entirely different story with you as Cruella?
Ignore them if so, the Dogs Come First Brigade are beyond reason.

He should have stood up. Stood with his back to the dog. She should have dropped the baby bag. And taken the baby.

Should’ve, would’ve, could’ve, eh? You weren’t there.

I wasn't asking you. OP has said she doesn't know the breed of this dog. So what was she shouting 'dog, bit like a spaniel but not, similar ears...' Seems a bit of a mouthful!

OP, perhaps you could enlighten us.

People are asking because it makes no sense, OP. Why don't you see this?

No, I wasn’t. But why are you so not wanting to learn what might handle it better next time ? What is that about.
And yes, I think the owner should have had the dog should have been on a lead.

I wouldn't worry about these trolls. And do not worry about having kicked the dog. I doubt it did any harm (and if it did then [shrug]🤷‍♀️).

I wasn't going to say because of the crazies on her but I did have to proper boot a strange dog once. My 2yo was in their pushchair holding an ice-cream when a dog jumped on them, front paws on their shoulders, swallowed the ice-cream and was licking their face. I tried to pull it off but it was too strong. My child was screaming, no-one was helping and I kicked the dog as hard as I could in its side which did knock it off. The owner was furious but fuck them and the fucking dog. Didn't even offer to replace the ice-cream.

Haha spot on! I’ve been told the dog just came over to sniff our sandwiches, that my DH has anger issues, that I could’ve easily done this or that, that I was in the wrong for alerting the owner that we had a baby because I was loud etc. it’s absolutely amazing that people seem to know more about what happened than I do.

What did you shout, then? You are sounding more implausible by the minute.

Are you thick? I've shouted at quite number of owners to get their dog under control. I do it like this 'OI!! Get your dog under control'

Also, presumably if he stood up the dog would have eaten all their food which he wouldn't have wanted. Also, if you are sitting at one of those park benches it might not be possible to stand straight up with a baby.

Kicking the dog to try to keep it away from the lunch is completely proportionate. I'd do it too.

Point is, dogs that nick food off tables should never be off leash.

I’ve literally posted it. I shouted for her to come and control her dog and that we had a baby.