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The doghouse

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Original poster

Toddler knocked over by two dogs

17 replies

HellsBellsTrudy · 21/03/2025 12:07

This happened a couple of hours ago and I’m still shaken by it!

My DD is 20 months and LOVES dogs, I try to harness this as much as possible because I love them too and grew up with them although we don’t have our own now. So I’ll let her stroke and move her away or pick her up if the dog or owner doesn’t seem happy.

Anyway, today at the park she was toddling along and two quite large French bulldog types (possible cross) ran up and before I could pick her up, knocked her to the ground and licked her face, trampeled on her a bit! I grabbed one and my husband the other and pulled them off. I grabbed my DD and walked off as I couldn’t even look at or talk to the owners.

There seems to be more and more dogs off the lead who have zero recall and this experience has terrified me, one wrong move and they could have bitten her.

I’m kicking myself but she should be able to
walk through a park! 😭

Dont know what I want from this thread btw, just upset.

OP posts:
SummerFeverVenice · 21/03/2025 12:10

Yanbu
Dogs are everywhere and it’s really dangerous. Sadly it will be you that has to rush over and pick your child up whenever a loose dog appears.

Sofiewoo · 21/03/2025 12:11

You are not being unreasonable but I probably wouldn’t let my toddler of a similar age walk without holding my hand if there were dogs running about off lead.

Dogs shouldn’t be in public parks like this off lead, it should be illegal.

Isobel201 · 21/03/2025 12:27

I hope this doesn't scare her off altogether. We have a lovely dog who will never do this, but unfortunately you do get the owners that don't seem to know or care what their dogs do.

Original poster
HellsBellsTrudy · 21/03/2025 12:35

Sofiewoo · 21/03/2025 12:11

You are not being unreasonable but I probably wouldn’t let my toddler of a similar age walk without holding my hand if there were dogs running about off lead.

Dogs shouldn’t be in public parks like this off lead, it should be illegal.

Thanks, tbh I don’t think holding her hand would have made a difference as the two dogs came
out of nowhere, I always do keep hold of her around them initially if they’re off the lead.

Man, I was so so mad. It feels like everyone has them off the lead these days and I don’t understand!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 21/03/2025 12:46

We see lots of offlead dogs - but most of them have been trained and/or aren’t interested in bothering people. If you aren’t sure of your dog’s recall or that it will be minding its own business then yes, it should be on a lead. It doesn’t matter if it’s friendly or ‘just playing’ - an uncontrolled boisterous dog can hurt children, frailer adults and other dogs.

LandSharksAnonymous · 21/03/2025 12:50

Unfortunately, OP, the sort of people who have out of control dogs either won't read this thread or won't give a toss.

It's scary when it happens. But, I think children are much like dogs - if you show them you're shaken by something, they pick up on it and it makes it worse. Just go forward as normal and be vigilant.

Limth · 21/03/2025 12:51

YANBU

I'm a dog owner and dog lover.
This fucks me off immensely.
There are a few dogs in our local park that are the size of fucking horses, that bomb around like lunatics. Absolutely ridiculous. It gives dog owners such a bad name.

CaptainMyCaptain · 21/03/2025 12:53

I was knocked over by my parents' friends' boxer dog when I was 2. Everybody laughed and I have loved dogs all my life. @LandSharksAnonymous is right in saying that a lot depends on the reaction of people around the child at the time. Assuming no actual injury of course.

HappiestSleeping · 21/03/2025 12:54

Limth · 21/03/2025 12:51

YANBU

I'm a dog owner and dog lover.
This fucks me off immensely.
There are a few dogs in our local park that are the size of fucking horses, that bomb around like lunatics. Absolutely ridiculous. It gives dog owners such a bad name.

This 👆

And the one above it.

The worst offenders are the phone zombie walkers who have no idea what their dogs are doing.

lionbrain · 21/03/2025 13:14

I have had multiple dogs for many decades and can honestly say that my dogs have never knocked over or interfered with other people ever. Because they are trained!

So many dog owners dont have a clue about dogs let them run riot and ruin whole areas for so many people.

OP I am so sorry your toddler had to experience this. It was totally unnecessary and so easy to avoid. Unfortunately there are a lot of entitled rude and ignorant dog owners out there.

Original poster
HellsBellsTrudy · 21/03/2025 21:03

Thanks all, I needed to vent. I want her to be confident around dogs and love them like we do, thankfully she’s little enough that she won’t remember this incident! And I’m so grateful she wasn’t hurt!

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 21/03/2025 21:41

I was frequently knocked over by a very friendly lab one year on holiday. It was an old black lab dog. They are my favourite type of dog.
We have a relative with a few working dogs who are not used to children and my children have been knocked over a few times but I haven’t made a big deal of it and the children aren’t scared of dogs quite the opposite they don’t have any fear or caution around dogs.

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 21/03/2025 21:44

It infuriates me when dog owners allow this - it's very much a minority, but of course they're the ones you notice. My 4 year old isn't a big fan of dogs and I've encountered dog owners acting like it's a real inconvenience that he doesn't want their dog the size of him in his face.

I was knocked off my feet by a labrador running at full pelt when I was 8 months pregnant and the owner was first amused and then genuinely shocked that I was angry about it.

EdithStourton · 22/03/2025 09:15

Im really sorry this happened to you, OP.

One of mine, who I thought at the time wouldn't go far (she was about 5 or 6 months old and generally came bounding back very happily), decided she loved children and ran across a rugby pitch to greet a toddler, who she promptly skittled.

I was horrified, raced in behind her, caught her, and apologised grovellingly. The parents luckily were fairly practical types, who were briskly dusting off the kid and not making a massive deal of it. I slunk off feeling dreadful. The only excuse is that she was a puppy who behaved in way she never had before. Lesson learned, though.

It's the only time any of my dogs has ever done that and it still haunts me. The dog in question continues to love children, but she has excellent recall now and also knows to leave unknown DC alone.

NormasArse · 22/03/2025 09:30

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 21/03/2025 21:44

It infuriates me when dog owners allow this - it's very much a minority, but of course they're the ones you notice. My 4 year old isn't a big fan of dogs and I've encountered dog owners acting like it's a real inconvenience that he doesn't want their dog the size of him in his face.

I was knocked off my feet by a labrador running at full pelt when I was 8 months pregnant and the owner was first amused and then genuinely shocked that I was angry about it.

Amused? I’d be horrified if my dogs knocked anyone over, let alone a pregnant woman!!

Flowersforcharlie · 22/03/2025 09:43

Dogs running free can be surprisingly dangerous. My leg was broken by an out of control golden retriever. It ran straight into me in a field and knocked me over - caused a tibial plateau fracture that meant I needed a major operation after which I couldn’t put weight on my leg for 12 weeks. I’m definitely going to need a knee replacement at some point because I lost so much cartilage.

Original poster
HellsBellsTrudy · 22/03/2025 09:50

Autumn1990 · 21/03/2025 21:41

I was frequently knocked over by a very friendly lab one year on holiday. It was an old black lab dog. They are my favourite type of dog.
We have a relative with a few working dogs who are not used to children and my children have been knocked over a few times but I haven’t made a big deal of it and the children aren’t scared of dogs quite the opposite they don’t have any fear or caution around dogs.

This is fair enough but my little girl isn’t yet 2 and tiny, and she was knocked down onto concrete by two dogs at once. Whilst I know she wasn’t hurt, there’s too many ‘what ifs’ here for me not to still be angry about it.

We’re off to the same park this morning and hopefully have some better interactions! Thankfully the actual playground is dog free, not that everyone listens to that…

OP posts:
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