Roared at a child today...

[fackingsnowballz]

Questioning now whether I may have overreacted or not...

I’ve namechanged as I don’t want it linked to previous posts.

Interested to get opinions and a bit too scared to try AIBU..

So, I have a dog approaching old age, she is partially sighted but no one would know that to look at her.

I took her out for a walk today, she was on lead and a child, I’d estimate maybe 7, ran towards her and the parents called the child back.
I carried on walking and the child ran at my dog again, this time with a handful of snow and tried to get at her mouth.

I assumed the child was maybe trying to feed her snow and carried on walking away only to have said child follow us again and then quite violently hit her with the snow.
It got her shoulder but I think the child was aiming for her face.

Well, I screamed at the child not to dare do that to her and the mum came running over and grabbed her child.
I was absolutely frothing but she didn’t say anything and neither did I, just walked off absolutely raging.

But a small part of me is wondering if I did overreact a bit?
As in throwing snowballs, I suppose, is quite a normal thing for a child to do.
The child isn’t to know she is partially sighted.
Not the child’s fault if parents can’t control/haven’t taught polite behaviour etc

But then I think the child was more than old enough to know better!
Of course you don’t go throwing snow at random dogs.
And you certainly don’t smash it into them at close range..
She is getting on and doesn’t have full vision.
What if she had panicked?
Snapped even then I’d be blamed for having an out of control dog despite her being on lead and walking away.

What would you have done?

[quote 1950s1]@WorraLiberty

I don't appreciate your disrespectful behaviour and I hope that one day you learn to understand that it is unnaceptable to behave that way towards someone.[/quote]
I'm literally getting funny looks from my DS here for laughing out loud 🤣🤣

If you came across them again I hope you apologise genuinely
Absolutely not!
While I DO feel a bit bad for screaming at the child; I am a parent myself after all, I’m not a confrontational person and ultimately, any poor behaviour is the parents responsibility, I would do it again I think if a child behaved like that towards my dog again.

My dog was on her lead, she didn’t approach them, we were walking away from them on our way home and it was the child that followed us.

Not that the child realised of course, but they are lucky that my dog is a very kind, tolerant little soul.
I expect that a significant proportion of dogs would have reacted aggressively and I imagine it would have ended badly for all concerned.

Tbh, I’m not sure I care if the child was traumatised.
They’d be a great deal more traumatised if she had panicked and bit.

Child thoroughly deserved a bollocking and perhaps it coming from a stranger will shock her into learning a lesson she badly needs!

for you.

[quote 1950s1]@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

I can understand that but should that be taken out on the child, when they weren't taught how to behave effectively? Doesn't seem right to me[/quote]
A child of seven is old enough to know not to hurt an animal no matter who their parents are.

[quote 1950s1]@WorraLiberty

But would someone, in their right state of mind, have done that? She verbally abused them, it doesn't make it ok just because they're a child and it wasn't physical. Children deserve respect too.[/quote]
She didn't verbally abuse her FFS, she told the kid not to do it again

You really are quite OTT

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

I could in turn say that you're trying to act like my superior by telling me what to do as well.

I would have done the same I'm not afraid to tell children off if required and parents can't be arsed.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

the op said she screamed at the child.

As soon as that kid started running towards you the parent should have done something. You didn't overreact. My dog isn't visually impaired or deaf, I'd have reacted the same. In fact, if have probably knee jerked the way you did then berated the parent about their incompetence. A 7 year old is old enough to know you don't throw snow at strangers or animals. They're only 3 years from criminal liability, basic manners and respect should already be there. For all you know the snow could have been compacted into ice and hard. Your dog cannot reason why the little human is attacking them. The child can have their behaviour and the reaction explained to them. The child will not be traumatised.

YANBU. The child deserved to be bitten, and got off lightly, purely because your dog is so nice

She didn't verbally abuse her FFS, she told the kid not to do it again

In the OPs own words, she roared and screamed. I think if you had an OH you would understand the difference between them roaring and screaming at you and telling you not to do something.

I would have said something, but I do think you were unreasonable to scream/roar at a child. Wasn't necessary. I have an elderly, deaf and partially sighted dog.

@coldsunnydays

She didn't verbally abuse her FFS, she told the kid not to do it again

In the OPs own words, she roared and screamed. I think if you had an OH you would understand the difference between them roaring and screaming at you and telling you not to do something.

exactly

She didn't verbally abuse the child she used perfectly acceptable language in a raised tone out of shock which perhaps stopped the child continuing and getting bitten which would have been worse! If she's delayed as you put it she should have been being parented more closely.

@ellenleaves

I would have said something, but I do think you were unreasonable to scream/roar at a child. Wasn't necessary. I have an elderly, deaf and partially sighted dog.

I agree

YANBU

I wouldnt want anyone throwing snowballs into my dogs face nor would I want my child to do that to anyone elses! Good I'm glad you scolded the child. The parent ought to have apologized to you.

How can you respect a child when said child has blatant disregard for a strangers dog??

If that child had done that to my animal I'd have reacted in the same way. Too many entitled f**ks in this world!

@1950s1 has to be a wind up right? What the actual fuck

Oh your poor dog. I don't think you over reacted at all. What a cruel thing for a 7 year old to do. They definitely should have known better.

I'd have done the same. 7 is old enough to know this was wrong.

I think it was very restrained of you not to have also given the parents a full and frank run down of where they’re going wrong in their parenting, tbh.

@Ludo19

How can you respect a child when said child has blatant disregard for a strangers dog??

If that child had done that to my animal I'd have reacted in the same way. Too many entitled f**ks in this world!

circumstances meant that the 7yo behaved that way. It isn't their fault they're like that. If the OP is so skilled in social construction then I'd have exepected them not to behave cruelly towards a child

I would have roared too.

Years ago (my girl is nearly 11 now) when she was a pup, we were in a pub garden with my dog asleep at my feet on a lead (we have lots of v dog friendly pubs locally).
A nasty brat came over and spat on her. I wasn’t impressed. The child’s father was too busy with his friends to notice, so I told him! It still makes me cross.

I have a dog and a 7 year old
And if anyone did that my dog I'd be furious too! And would definitely have shouted too.