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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be very annoyed by this incident? (prompted by Staffy bull terrier thread)

143 replies

thatsnotmymonster · 19/10/2008 22:17

Reading the other thread about Staffordshire Bull Terriers reminded me that I was going to post about this so...

My sister was visiting last week with her 2 children. We went for a walk around the woodland footpaths across the road from my house. She had a backpack with her 1yo in and I had a double buggy with my 6mo dd in it. My 3.5yo ds was on his scoot bike and my 2yo dd and dneice were walking. These 3 were about 10 metres ahead of us on a straight footpath when suddenly from behind us a dog came tearing past us, it ran straight to the children and knocked my niece to the ground and stood over her. She was screaming and the dog was nuzzling all round her head (we couldn't tell what it was doing). My sister and I screamed at it as we ran towards them. I pulled the dog off and held it (it was wearing a studded leather harness) while my sis comforted her hysterical child who was thankfully physically unharmed, however she was scared of dogs BEFORE this happened.

After a couple of minutes the owners arrived, running and breathless, saying, 'oh she would never hurt anyone'. I said, 'well she knocked a child to the ground and stood over her and you never know with a dog.'

They acted very indignant and said, 'You don't walk round here much do you? It is basically the local dog park.'

It IS NOT any kind of dog park- it is just an area of public footpaths.

The dog looked very much like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier although I am not an expert so I'm not sure.

Should we have been keeping better control of our children? We were quite shaken by this and I was really annoyed at the couple and their attitude. My ds now wants to be picked up whenever we see a dog when we're out and goodness knows what my niece will be like now!

OP posts:
onager · 20/10/2008 12:50

pucca >

I know you said you kept yours on a lead, but I want to make the point that those of us with kids the size of cats would rather not rely on any dog 'choosing not to'

wotulookinat · 20/10/2008 12:54

Oh god, yes, any dog can turn. They are, after all, dogs.
Did you see that thing on This Morning the other week where the lady was mauled by her dog in her sleep? They dog did it in its sleep. They are animals, not people. I love my dogs dearly, but appreciate them for what they are. It's a shame that so many people treat them as their babies - it's not fair on the dogs!

Original poster
thatsnotmymonster · 20/10/2008 13:10

Pucca, I am sure your dog is lovely and that you are a responsible owner.

I am not singling out SBT it just so happened that it was that type of dog. I don't blame the dog AT ALL, it's the owners- and, above all, their total lack of apology or concern.

It wasn't just that the child was knocked over (which can easily happen if a dog brushes past them- even a small dog). The dog jumped at her, bowled her flat on her back and then stood square over her- i.e. her feet were sticking out under the dog's tail and the dog was face to face with her. It must have been sniffing and licking her all over the head and she was screaming and rigid with fear. IN THIS TYPE OF POSITION it would not surprise me if any dog suddenly decided to 'play' as in grab and shake, especially a dog that has been bread for aggression.

This is why we were so scared and so angry at the owners. I would have felt the same way towards the owners no matter what type of dog it was.

OP posts:
FfreckleFface · 20/10/2008 13:11

NotDoingTheHousework - was that post aimed at me?

Original poster
thatsnotmymonster · 20/10/2008 13:11

oops- meant 'bred' not 'bread'- lol

OP posts:
NotDoingTheHousework · 20/10/2008 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

needmorecoffee · 20/10/2008 13:27

just read this. I'd like to see compulosry dog training and lead laws so all dogs were on a lead in a public place - and yes, maybe fenced off areas for them to run around.
I've lived in a country where no dog was allowed off the lead and it worked just fine.
And then we get on to dog shit.....
I've had dogs, grown up with dogs and unless they are thoroughly trained they are a bloody nuisance and a dog that doesn't sit in instant obedience when told or come instantly when called is out of control.

salsmum · 20/10/2008 13:31

snowleopard.
Rational arguement?
Sorry thought this was a discussions board and as such I am entitled to my opinion .
If we are discussing SBT and I own 2, one of which I've had for 15 years then I guess I have had 15 years more experience of the breed than most of the posters on here so NOT using delay tactics .
I know my dogs and keep them under control YES they have the potential to bite.
A Dog that has had several 'bad owners' will have no boundaries and be a danger and that applies to any breed.
If a small fluffy dog bit someone it would'nt make the local rag...just the same as if a jack Russel on Doggie Borstal chases postmen it's seen as a bit cheeky and a little scamp BUT if a staffy there would be gasps of Put to sleep .
Ask the local postman and he'll tell you that they get attacked more often by Collie/labrador types.
Im off now because I have better things to do than join this unfounded Staffy 'witch-hunt'[Goes off to polish oversized staffy harness LOL .

onager · 20/10/2008 13:42

If a small fluffy dog bit someone it would'nt make the local rag BUT if a staffy there would be gasps of Put to sleep>>

We covered that already. Running someone over in a truck is different from running somone over in a kids tricycle. Can you really not grasp that?

And as I have said elsewhere I don't know what the breeds are called. I just know that there are dogs I could kill easily if they attacked me (or a child) and those I'd have a struggle with.

I think it's a pity that caring about children isn't enough incentive to keep dangerous pets under control.

pamelat · 20/10/2008 13:42

I love dogs.
You are not unreasonable at all.
The owner should keep the dog on a lead if they can not control it.

slightlycrumpled · 20/10/2008 13:46

I have no particular views on dog breeds as a whole because I don't know enough about them.

However DS2 was in hospital recently and in the same ward was a young teenage girl who had been attacked by their family dog (SBT). It was serious enough to need surgery on her leg, although not as bad as the other person it attacked (family member)ended up in intensive care. Her mother told me they had had the dog for years with no problems.

I know a small dog could have attacked them but really they wouldn't have needed as many people as they did to remove a small dog.

needmorecoffee · 20/10/2008 13:46

lots of woners think calling your dog 50 times and it not coming and then coming to fetch it is 'under control.'
It isn't.
Dogs should be trained to instant obedience and if they are not then should never be off the lead. But most owners see them as family members and rarely train to proper obedience.

redrobin · 20/10/2008 13:46

snowleopard....i just wanted to say that i agree entirely with everything you say. My dd (3) was attacked by a lunatic dog recently, DH had to drag it off and we were all traumatised. I am too placenta brained to formulate any articulate posts, but you've done it for me. cheers!

snowleopard · 20/10/2008 14:12

How awful for you redrobin. But I'm glad my rants articulate thoughts make sense to someone!

Ashantai · 20/10/2008 14:53

It wouldnt be so bad if the owners of any kind of dog that bounds up to your terrified child didnt utter the "it wont hurt you" reply.

I'd like to think that if i ever owned a dog (and hell would freeze over before that happened!), i'd be mortified and so apologetic, instead of not really caring about the effect this has had on people who are terrified of them.

loobeylou · 20/10/2008 17:24

recently we went to a Thomas the Tank engine day at a steam railway.I was amazed to see a rottweiler (sp?) sitting on the platform with all these excited kids nearby screaming at the punch and Judy and the balloon man/clown. OK It was on a lead, and was being good as gold while the owners ate their meal outsided the cafe. BUT, I just thought it was an inappropriate environment for a big powerful dog like that, without a muzzle on, because you never know what one day might cause a dog who is usually very good to snap at a child. They have "bad days" just like us I expect!

exasperatedmummy · 20/10/2008 18:12

i wasn't going to get sucked in by this - but here i go AGAIN! loubylou - i would imagine that you might not have posted had it been a labrador! I used to take my rottie everywhere with me, if there were children around i would keep him on a lead, as i would any dog. Just really pisses me off that rotweillers are stereotyped all the time - they are, IF well trained a very stable breed of dog with a very CALM temprement. Yes, if they are untrained their size makes them a danger, but they are not actually a naturally aggresive dog.

OP, i would have been STEAMING MAD if i were you - it might well be the local dog park, but their dog could have injured your child, even if it wasn't being aggressive. I love staffies but i have had similar incident where a staffie bounded up to DD and made her cry. Truth be told Staffies are mostly just mad bundles of fun, but they are HEAVY and strong bundles of fun nevertheless.

But hey, i don't know why i am bothering to post - the HATE DOGS brigade seems to be out in force and not listening to reason.

wotulookinat · 20/10/2008 18:23

Loobeylou, whilse the Rotty being there wouldn't scare my son, I think it is unfair on the kids who are scared of dogs, especially such big ones. I like dogs, but am very scared of Alsatians (don't know whay, always have been) and I would not have been impressed at one of them sitting there!
I'm not sure if any dog should be allowed at such an event, to be honest. (especially my naughty beasts!)

pamelat · 20/10/2008 19:47

I was about to reply that SBT's have a stronger jaw and "lock on" but a quick google has proven me wrong

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/928

"Rumours about ?Lock Jaw? in Pit Bull Terrier Type Dogs

Scientific research has proven that the pit bull terrier and related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed of dog. Dr Lehr Brisbin and colleagues at the University of Georgia have shown that there is nothing in the skeletal structure of the pit bull terrier jaw that is any different from that of any other dog in respect to locking"

HOWEVER, I would not be happy with any dog running up to a child.

My parents have a cross between a collie and a spaniel and she is highly strung. I would not let her off her lead around children.

googgly · 20/10/2008 20:10

Our local park (which is very large) has a dog area. It's not fenced, but it seems to be the main place that people have their dogs off the lead. I think it works very well.

That said, the first time I had a problem with a dog was at a market with ds1, aged about 1yo in a pushchair. There was a woman with a medium sized dog on a lead chatting to someone, and inexplicably the dog leapt up onto ds with its jaws wide open. Luckily, just as it was about (apparently) to sink its teeth in to his face, I screamed, and she turned around, noticed what was going on, and pulled the dog down. DS didn't really notice, but I got a big fright. The whole thing was over in a split second but could have been horrible.

The second time, ds1 (again, poor love) ran from a dog, because it was quite big and he was scared of it as it wasn't on a lead. The dog, who was just a big pup, ran after him all excited, and leapt up and bit him on the arm. It didn't cause any damage, but ds was terrified out of his wits. The owner was really apologetic, but he should have had his dog on a lead, particularly since it was right by a main road which either the dog or my terrified ds could have run straight into .

smartiejake · 20/10/2008 21:01

THe trouble with staffies is that although generally have good temperaments (as long as the owners are sensible), they are quite solid and powerful.

We went to a family party recently where the hosts had quite a big staffie. Soppy old thing he is and doesn't mean any harm but spent the whole party knocking all the kids flying (including my 10 year old who is quite tall)

The hosts laughed saying how playful he was and he "just wants to play" . Yeah- ha ha I'm sure my dd thought it was great fun to have a lump the size of an egg on the back of her head from when she was knocked over as did my 4 year old nephew who was knocked down no less than three times.

All they had to do was shut it away as I always do with my excitable young sheltie.

Lovesdogsandcats · 20/10/2008 21:06

Staffs are not more likely to attack than any other breed of dog.

the problems arise WHEN they attack, because their jaws are designed to never let go. The clue is in the name BULL TERRIER. It is not just staffs either, its any bull terrier.

Lovesdogsandcats · 20/10/2008 21:09

pamelat I have heard that too, however I have seen staffies ragging toys etc, and let me tell you, they do not let go.

dittany · 20/10/2008 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cheeseandseveredfingersarnie · 20/10/2008 21:27

yanbu.stupid owners.