What’s your advice?
Some people are cautious of dogs around their children while others have absolutely no problem with them.
However, one mum has taken to Mumsnet to ask for advice about when she’s out with her three toddlers.
She said: “I have 3 children 3 and under, we often go to the park, on walks to different places, our local reservoir with a play area, picnics etc etc..
“I am guessing most people could pick up their toddler if a dog came bounding up to them but I have 3, usually 2 in the pushchair and one walking. I thought this would be OK but I was in a situation a few days ago which scared me.”
She continued: “An elderly woman had a big collie which bounded up to us, on one of those extendable leads and she just let it run up to us, I shouted “please pull your dog away” and picked up my eldest but she just said “don’t be silly he’s being friendly” and I said “I don’t care pull it away” (sic) but she refused and it jumped up into my pushchair and scratched all my sons legs.”
She then asks? “Genuinely, how do other people deal with these situations? I feel like I can’t ever take the children out on my own and like we have to keep them in the pushchair all the time even if there is 2 of us. I’m finding I am avoiding going out now.”
Many mums have been posting their advice:
Teach children to fold their arms and turn their back on the dog. This works with exuberant, over friendly jumping up dogs. Owners can be such bloody idiots though, letting them do this.
While another said:
This happened to me once, with just my daughter, and I blocked the dog with my body; literally stepped in between it and her.
What do you think?
