Dog wouldn't let go of 2yo

[Cakeandslippers]

Hello, just looking for some advice as I was a bit shaken up yesterday. I was in the park with my 2yo, my baby, DH and a friend. There were lots of dogs as usual and we were just walking along not really near any of them when one ran up to my 2yo, jumped up at her and got a mouthful of her hair in its mouth and wouldn't let go. She was amazing and stood really still and just said 'ouch' a few times but didn't panic. Then it's a bit if a blur as I was a few steps from her but my dh, I think, managed to pull the dog off her with some difficulty as was still pulling her hair. Her face was covered in dog spit and muck but thankfully the dog didn't bite her, I was scared it had as it was very rough.

The owner appeared and did apologise, he looked shaken up tbh and said she was young and excitable and they were 'working on it'. I did say that wasn't enough, if the dog can't be trusted it needs to be on a lead and it just wasn't acceptable.

Just looking for advice from dog owners on how to deal with this kind of thing. This is the third incident in that park (and the scariest), another dog jumped up at her and knocked her over and once a dog got in the pram with my younger baby. We try and avoid the dogs mostly as tbh I'm quite frightened when they run up to us but there are so many it's quite hard. What can I do if this happens again, I don't want to hurt the dogs but I need to know how I can get them off my children for the next time (it's bound to happen isn't it). Can I push the dog away or will that make it more likely to bite? What's the safest way to get the dog away?

Thanks!

Depending on size of dog, pick it up from ground by collar from back so it has to let go. If dog is too heavy to pick up, twist to tighten collar so dog is forced to let go. Keep hands away from mouth to avoid being bitten.

I’m seriously sick of dog apologists. This could have very easily been a fatal attack and everyone knows this. ALL dogs in public should be under control on leads when out in public at ALL times. If that is the blanket rule, it is not open to interpretation. Dogs are not bloody people! How do I know? I have ALWAYS had dogs. Are they in my house? Yes! Are they members of my family? Yes! Do I take them everywhere I go? Hell no! Do I expect everyone to adore them? No way! I am sick of people anthropomorphising dogs and expecting dogs to think like people. They just don’t. My 55kg Shiloh Shepherd is happier left alone at home than sitting in a cafe being harassed by indulged, bitey dachshunds. I am more relaxed having a coffee without her than having to stop her from eating the bitey little furry snakes. Dogs don’t rationalize like we do and we need to stop.

That's scary...it sounds like your child was in an overrun dog park & not pets being walked in a public (human) park. Get on to your Council/dog warden etc. Tell them they need to get down there & start issuing fines if dogs are off leads. I love dogs, and children of course, but can see how a playful puppy could easily hurt a very small child especially if they not as calm as yours & would start shrieking or hitting which could end badly. I wouldn't let it go...it is the owner's fault & untrained uncontrolled dog should not be let loose.

@Cakeandslippers

On a practical level, is there a safe way to get dogs away from you/ your kids? Pushing, grabbing the collar?

I would first try and distract with a high pitched noise - many dogs respond to a "what's this?!" in a high pitched, excited tone. Another phrase many dogs know are "leave" or "drop it" - or you could ask the dog to sit or down.

If that doesn't work, you can try to grab their back legs and lift them up in the air. Most dogs will automatically let go to investigate what's grabbing their legs.

HOWEVER please be careful - an aggressive dog may re-direct their attention onto you and you could end up with a nasty bite, so I would grab the legs and let go as soon as possible, then fold your arms and turn away.

Personally, that's why I wouldn't go anywhere near a strange dogs' collar if they were biting or attacking. It means your hands are very close to their mouths should they decide to redirect onto you, and many dogs dislike being grabbed by the collar in the first place.

If possible, please report what happened. That dog was dangerously out of control and your DD could have easily been bitten on the face.

God I would've lost my shit at the dog owner. Lucky your dd was so calm.

My small dog was attacked by a huge dog that was off leash. He just ran over and picked my dog up around its neck and swung his head around. I thought he'd killed him. My dh picked the dog up by it's hind legs, dog dropped our dog, dh swooped on our dog and ran to our house to lay him down and check him over. Luckily he wasn't badly injured. Wish we'd reported him, it was all just suck a shock.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I'm so proud of my daughter for being so calm, she's a lot braver than me.

Its good to hear from dog owners. After this happened I was looking at her face and asked my husband if the dog nipped her and the owner said 'oh she won't have done' and it really annoyed me because the bloody dog was about 1mm from her face with a mouthful of her hair, so how could her know?! So I am glad I'm not the only one fed up with people saying "they're only playing".

I've looked up the dog warden but our council says they only deal with lost dogs. Everything else has to through the police, or if it's a noise complaint, environmental health, and there doesn't seem to be a way of contacting them other than a phone number for lost dogs. Annoying bit I guess it explains why it's such a free for all.

Thank you for the practical advice, it's so helpful. Because I've actively avoided dogs my whole life I have no clue. I at least feel a bit more clued up now. I do think all these incidents have been playful rather than aggressive but to me it doesn't matter, still very scary and could easily result in injury.

I would contact the police. I would also post on a local FB page and ask for the owner to contact you or someone who knows who it is so you can then pass their details on. It might be even worse the next time it gets hold of a toddler.

I have a dog and if she did that I'd be mortified 😱 and would probably rehome her! But she's grown up around young children and definitely knows balls, toys are off limits! I think they are just terrible dog owners!

I think your child did the right thing! God it's awful to think what could've happened...

I was once attacked by a dog while I was cycling past a house on a bridleway - it only nipped me, but caused me to fall off.

The owner appeared out of the house and recalled it, but made no attempt to apologise.

I reported it to the police because it happened next to a well-used Bridleway and I know that some horses are terrified of dogs - I didn't expect anything to come of it.

Turned out there'd been 3 other reports about the same dog and my report was the final straw, so they sent an officer round. next time I cycled by, new fencing up all along the path to keep the dog in!

So it IS useful to report these things.

Use the non-emergency number and file a report. Take the name of the owner and a description of the dog.

Sorry to hear this your daughter did extremely well I would have been mortified if my dog did this!

As others have said high pitch excited voice may distract if it happens in future I would be reporting it though. Young dog or not should be under control.

We have had a few out of control puppies jump up at our toddler he is used to a far bigger dog (our dog is taller then him) so he does just stand still and not react. Our dog on the other hand has pinned a few of them in protection of our toddler and I fully admit to letting her to do so!

Unknown dogs and toddlers should be kept far apart. All dogs are unpredictable and potentially dangerous to small children until they are trained not to be, and that takes up to a year.

A dog should never be allowed to be in a position where it can approach a young child (or anybody). There are far too many irresponsible dog owners around. Hope your LO is ok OP.

OP The dog that did that to your child wants reporting. There's no excuse. The owner should have had the dog muzzled and on a leash.