Kids And Dogs

[dee136]

Yes, I walk them separately if I'm walking them alone. Emmy is still a puller and when we go for our walks, we are also training on her stop pulling. Charlie walks in a slow place. So walking them together at the moment can be dangerous! Plus, it's also my alone time with the dogs. Bonding time

I can see you holding out your hand and telling to stop.. and that's what I should be doing too. You're right, Emmy will continue being fearful if I don't show her that I'm a better pack leader. I feel silly because I know all this and I haven't been practicing it with Emmy

Yep that's all you need to do. Also kids also follow instruction better when you tell them what to do; rather than what not to do. Say 'walk slowly please' rather than 'don't run'.

We (DOLers) like dogs a lot; other people don't necessarily. People who have never grown up around dogs are unlikely to teach their children how to behave around dogs. That is comon sense.

I frequently walk my dog up to the school gates and we stand there while several hundred children (primary and infants) go past. And I have not had one problem using the hand out and 'stop' method. All the kids have been gentle with my dog.

It makes me sad to hear people talk about children with such venom we were all kids once! But I guess a lot of people on here were perfect when they were a kid

Couldn't have said it better myself. Agree 100%

I don't blame the kids, its the adults that have raised them that should know better. It is not an issue of the kids being perfect it is an issue of the parents being slack. Regardless of them being dog people a parent should teach a child not to touch something that doesn't belong to them. Also, even if a parent is not a dog person, surely a parent is aware of the risk of their child being bitten if they approach a strange dog, just as they are aware if there child runs on the road he/she may be hit by a car? With all the media coverage on dog attacks you don't need to be a dog person to be aware of that risk.

[Bjelkier]

Yes, I walk them separately if I'm walking them alone. Emmy is still a puller and when we go for our walks, we are also training on her stop pulling. Charlie walks in a slow place. So walking them together at the moment can be dangerous! Plus, it's also my alone time with the dogs. Bonding time

I can see you holding out your hand and telling to stop.. and that's what I should be doing too. You're right, Emmy will continue being fearful if I don't show her that I'm a better pack leader. I feel silly because I know all this and I haven't been practicing it with Emmy

Yep that's all you need to do. Also kids also follow instruction better when you tell them what to do; rather than what not to do. Say 'walk slowly please' rather than 'don't run'.

We (DOLers) like dogs a lot; other people don't necessarily. People who have never grown up around dogs are unlikely to teach their children how to behave around dogs. That is comon sense.

I frequently walk my dog up to the school gates and we stand there while several hundred children (primary and infants) go past. And I have not had one problem using the hand out and 'stop' method. All the kids have been gentle with my dog.

It makes me sad to hear people talk about children with such venom we were all kids once! But I guess a lot of people on here were perfect when they were a kid

No I wasnt perfect but I can tell you I was never allowed to run up and pat a strange dog without permission.

My parents taught us to always ask before patting another persons dog and never run up screaming.

How difficult is it for people to teach their children manners and safety?

No, its not the childs fault, its the parents.

[W Sibs]

Yep it's the parents fault!

[Diva]

What people don't seem to realise is dogs are not public property, just because they are out in pulic dosn't mean you can come charging up without any regard for peoples personal space and start messing with the dog!

Yep, the parents who don't realise your dogs are not there solely for their kids' entertainment get a short sharp reminder from me. Gentle kids and polite parents are more than welcome, and I'm happy to show children how to approach the dogs. But if the kids are rough and persist despite being asked otherwise the parents get a very blunt message - and so does the child if it's old enough to understand. I am happy to be an assertive bitch and send them packing.

I wasn't perfect as a child, but I certainly didn't treat other people's animals badly. There is no excuse for that.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Diva

[Hello Gorgeous]

I'm wondering if it's perhaps some kind of generational thing.. I'm only 21 but when I was little my friends and I always knew not to approach strange dogs and to ask the owner if we wanted to pat their dog... my parents would have choked me if they saw me running up to a dog I dont know and patting it without asking!

My parents would be putting ME on a leash if I simply ran off to any strange dog and threw my arms around it. My father was a registered Cocker Spaniel breeder though so I did have dog savvy parents and grew up with dogs around all the time

OP, Emmy's too cute and white and fluffy! She's an instant kid magnet!

Edited June 28, 2010 by Hello Gorgeous

[Kirty]

A child 4yrs and under can be 'taught' as much as you like, but they still won't remember it in the heat of the moment. Ever seen the ad with the kid who runs onto the road after a ball? Same thing. They have one track minds, even older kids.

However, having said that, the parents should be there supervising the interaction. We were molested by a child who would have been 18 months old on the weekend! The parents were nowhere in sight. I couldn't even ask the child to leave the dog alone because she was too young.

[Hairy Maclary]

As you might have guessed from my user ID, my dog looks like the dog from a children's book. It's not uncommon for parents to say "Look kids, it's Hairy Maclary!!" and the kids will rush over wanting pats and cuddles.

Luckily we haven't had any dramas (I try to give the ones on red cordial a wide berth), actually had a guy bring his kids over and ask if he could teach them how to greet dogs the other day

[corvus]

I dunno if it's a factor of where I live, but it is very rare for children to touch my dogs without asking first. The kids around here are awesome. If they are very young their parents tell them to ask us if they can pat our dog, or they ask us themselves, and if the kids are on their own or old enough they do the asking. I always tell them what they can do to which dog. "Cuddle that one, he likes it." and "That one doesn't like strangers so much, but if you leave him alone he'll come and talk to you when he's ready." They do crazy things sometimes, so I watch them and tell them if they are being too weird for my dogs that have no kids in their lives. I guess we're lucky to have a lot of kids around that have been well educated about dogs, and a lot of parents that are as eager to socialise their kids to dogs and teach them how to behave as we are to socialise our dogs to kids.

[cowanbree]

My dogs don’t have a lot of exposure to children and as a result I wouldn’t 100% trust them if a child lunged at them wanting to pat them so I am very firm towards any children even contemplating it. A firm no, don’t approach strange dogs has stopped even the youngest child without issue. I don’t encourage them to pat them although if they ask nicely I will sit the dogs and allow it. As a dog owner I am expected to have my dog under control so I don’t think it is asking too much for a parent to have their children under control.

[Loving my Oldies]

Yes, I give "directions" too , Corvus.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Mother Moocher

[DerRottweiler]

The unfortunate fact is that people don't know better. Not everyone is a dog person. And it was different when we were kids wasn't it? People assume that a puppy is cute and fluffy and they want their kids to have the pleasure of patting it. They don't understand about fear and the long term impact of that on your dog. They don't read doggy body language and they don't think a cute fluffy puppy would ever bite.

Most important post of thread.

You people automatically assume that people have been around dogs, know dogs and so on.

Many people have no clue, sure, it is annoying, but they simply don't know better.

Just like people who buy from BYBs and Petshops simply don't know better. If they knew that their child might get attacked, what sort of (normal) parent would still allow such behaviour? It isn't like they do it on purpose.

Rather then having a solid sook, put your efforts towards educating the public. Take the opportunity to speak to kids and their parents when it happens and so on.

[HeavyPaws]

When my first Dane was a puppy, I had a 10? year old boy pick him up by his back legs and 'wheelbarrow' him about half a metre, before my horrified shriek made his mother tell him 'now, don't touch the little puppy, darling'

Kids can be horrors, many of them raised by people that I'd be loathe to let own a goldfish, let alone a child.

[shells]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

[dee136]

I agree that parents are like dog owners and drivers in that there are good and bad. People complain about bad drivers and bad dog owners due to particular drivers/owners actions. Why can't the same be done with parents? I have no problem with the good drivers/dog owners/parents but I will vent about a bad experience I have had with any of these people. Saying I often get cut off by idiots in cars does not mean I'm anti-driver it means I'm anti-idiot-driver.

[Dame Aussie]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

Noone's complaining about children and parents who do the right thing

[whiskedaway]

I'm so thankful to Esky's breeder that she had a 5 year old kid.

Esky really LOVES kids, which makes my life so much easier.

Aren't Jap Spitz's meant to be timid of strangers by nature?

Poor Emmy, she's so cute, I don't blame people for wanting to pat her.

Too bad people are idiots

Same here, Akira's breeder had two little girls, so she's good with kids and really loves them. Every time we go out somewhere where there's kids, she's a kid magnet (look at the cute little puppy that looks like the one from Snow Dogs!) so whenever I see a kid approach I get her to sit and she lets the kids pat her. I stay fairly close and hold her by her collar just in case she decides to jump and knock some poor kid over, but so far she never has.

[twodoggies2001]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

I agree. I love my dogs, as much as anyone on this site, but, my grandchildren come before them. Admittedly, the children have been taught from a very early age, they must be kind and gentle to the dogs, and the dogs have learnt to be very welcoming to them when they visit. If they have had enough, they up and leave for another part of the house. My grandchildren have also been taught that they do NOT just approach a dog when they are out and about but ask the permission of the owners first. If denied, then just go away. Yes, there are some shockers for parents, and there are some wonderful ones too. But, as mentioned before in a previous post, I don't think people allow their kids to approach dogs the way some do, I think it is because they just don't know and don't realise what could happen. It's just plain ignorance, and I don't mean this in a bad way. They are just not educated about the facts. For instance, many kids will just go and pat a dog on the head. My schnauzers have eyebrows and I assume all they see is a shadow coming over their head. If they want to pat my boys, I advise them to let the dogs sniff their hands first as should be done with all greetings.

[Bjelkier]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

At no point did anyone have a go at parents who do the right thing.

For heavens sake settle down.

We have just as much right to vent about parents who do the wrong thing as someone who wants to have a vent about an off lead dog or someone driving badly.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Wolfsong

[Staranais]

I'm pretty lucky, since I have a dog who looks scary, and likes clack her teeth and bark (with excitement but very, very loudly) whenever she thinks she is going to make a new friend. Tends to put kids off running up to her, and even clueless parents generally stop their kids from approaching.

I am amazed whenever parents let their kids run up to or tease a strange dog. It's not common where I live, but I have seen it happen, and it shocked me. Sure, some parents aren't dog owners, and can't be expected to know exactly how to read dog body language. But to let your child tease or run up to a tied up dog is just plain daft. Even parents who don't drive know not to let their kids play on the road. This is the same, just plain common sense.

I am also very appreciative of the parents who do the right thing and get their kids to stand at a distance and ask if they can approach the doggie, instead of running up without asking.

[W Sibs]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

I don't think anyone is attacking any parents who's doing the right thing...

My parents taught me from a young age not to touch strange dogs, and even till today, as much as I think a puppy or dog is cute, I rarely touch strangers dog. Even if they give me permission too. But if the dog comes right up to me and shove their nose in my hand or stomach, it's hard not to pat them though

This morning, i took Emmy for a walk and there were kids and parents walking to school... the kids asked their parents if they can pat Emmy, and their mums were like saying 'only if the puppy's mummy let you' and they politely asked me if they can pat her. I said fine, but gave them instructions on how to approach Emmy because she is a little shy, within 5 seconds, she was on her back for belly rubs

You have those kinds of parents. Then you parents who just let their kids do whatever... then get pissy at me if I take Emmy away or simply say they aren't allow to touch Emmy.