To think parents should teach their children to bloody respect animals!!

[Gumdroptears]

At an event today where there was a big crowd and loads of families, dogs, children in pushchairs etc.

I was playing with DD and saw a young girl (maybe 5/6?) with a Jack Russel on a rope lead. The dog was wearing a harness, and she kept lifting the dog up using the rope lead from the harness then started spinning it round!! The poor thing was trying to touch ground and eventually started snapping (more of a warning snap) to get down. I couldn't see where this girl's parents were so left DD with DH and told her gently to be carful as the dog obviously didn't like it and might get angry and snap.
She just smiled then ran off to her parents who didn't even look like they noticed she hadn't been there the whole time.

Felt really sorry for be poor dog

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Yanbu but I don't imagine anyone would say that you are.

[HeddaGarbled]

God yeah, parents are so neglectful. Let's judge them from every moment of inattention. 5-6 year olds should be fully cognisant of how to treat dogs who although on leads/harnesses, did not appear to have owners anywhere near them to intervene and needed protection from strangers.

[RJnomore1]

Hedda ypur point is?

A child who doesn't know how to care for an animal should be supervised at all times. That's awful.

[ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs]

The thing is, the kid will get a gentle telling off, but if the dog DOES snap it may well get euthanased. I feel more sorry for the dog than the child in this scenario. It has far more to lose

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

Hedda a 5/6 year old should be able to realise that swinging a dog round like that isn't kind, especially as it was presumably her dog or at least one she knows well for her to be on her own holding it's lead, it's not exactly a difficult concept.

OP, YANBU. Some parents don't seem to teach their kids these things though. I told a child at work off for pulling a cat around a few weeks back and got 'it's only a cat'

[Topseyt]

Don't be ridiculous, Hedda. 5 and 6 year olds are still in the very age group of small children who should not be left unsupervised around animals at all. What silly and irresponsible comments.

Also, presumably the child's parents were the owners of the dog, or supposed to be in charge anyway.

OP, you weren't unreasonable at all. The parents were neglecting their duty and the child was behaving appallingly.

[kali110]

God yeah, parents are so neglectful. Let's judge them from every moment of inattention. 5-6 year olds should be fully cognisant of how to treat dogs who although on leads/harnesses, did not appear to have owners anywhere near them to intervene and needed protection from strangers.
I'd judge too
When the poor dog snaps that poor thing will be put down.
I judge the parents who leave a small child with an animal.

[kali110]

No op, some parents do not teach their kids to respect animals.
I get fed up of seeing parents who think it's bloody delightful that their little one is chasing the birds in the park or the farm that people have come to actually see or the ones who think it's funny to hurt someones pets
I think to some people, animals don't mean much, so it's not very important.
It's sad.

[toffee1000]

Surely you should start to teach your kids from a young age not to mess around with dogs? Even a two/three year old could be told not to approach a strange dog without permission.

[Sionella]

YANBU. I can't stand it when parents let this happen. DD isn't 2 yet and even with placid animals like pigeons in the park, I never let her rush at them or chase them - I always hold her hand, let her look, and say, "we have to be nice to the birds," or something like that.

By 5/6?? Sorry but she should absolutely know not to do that to a dog. Her parents are irresponsible if they don't watch her and don't stop her. and hedda is talking rubbish!

[LedaP]

Ds was 5 when we got ddog. He is never left alone with her. He had to had to be taught how to care for animals. And lets be honest kids sonetimes do daft or dangerous stuff without thinking.

Op yanbu. Not a clue what Hedda is banding on about.

[Gumdroptears]

My DD is only 2.5 but knows not to bother animals in that way, we have a ddog and she isn't allowed to suffocate her with affection (which is what she wants to do!!) or annoy her when sleeping. Granted, if our dog 'snapped' it would probably be more serious as she's a big breed but nevertheless a dog shouldn't have to be put in that position.

I agree also about the chasing the birds in the park scenario - I hate that!

I wish I had maybe spoken to the parents and let them know how traumatised the dog was - just in case they think their angel child would never do such a thing.

The poor thing probably gets it at home all the time, it looked like it was definitely that families dog.

[perhapsiwill]

A friend of mine got some rabbits that were kept in a cage, the DD would scream with delight at them and drop them when they tickled. She was 5. I hated seeing her with them because they were terrified, parents never told her to be calm.

[Spikeyball]

Hedda if the child can't be relied upon to behave in a kind and sensible way with the dog, she shouldn't have been looking after it.
There are a few children/ adults who really won't understand how to behave around animals. I've had owners allow their dog to approach my child who has obvious learning difficulties when he is behaving in an unpredictable or distressed way and I think those owners are being stupid.
In this case I think parents of the child should have been supervising her properly and putting a stop to that behaviour straight away.

[SheSaidHeSaid]

YANBU, OP.

I'm genuinely shocked at the way I see some children manhandle animals whilst their parents are watching, let alone when parents aren't watching.

Respect for every living being should be instilled from a young age.

[RainyDayBear]

YANBU. One of my biggest pet peeves with children and animals is seeing kids chase pigeons or ducks thinking it's funny. DD will definitely not be doing that on my watch!

We have a cat, and he's a darling with her, incredibly good and patient, however I still keep a close eye on them because a toddler can't pick up on the signs that an animal wants to be left alone. With a dog I would be even more vigilant as they can potentially do more harm (not implying they are dangerous, I know lots of lovely dogs and lovely responsible owners).

[Frouby]

I completely agree OP.

I have several sisters. Of their dcs I have had to ban 1 toddler from my house because my dog hates him. Because 2 yeara ago I left my dsis in my house with him while I did the school run. Toddler hurt dogs leg.

A year later my mam babysat for me. Dsis came around while I wasn't home. Ddog snapped at her.toddler. immense pressure from dsis to get rid of dog as dogs shouldn't snap at kids and she didn't trust my dog anymore.

Simplest solution was to ban dsis and her ds.

Her arguement was that her dc could 'climb on, sit on, nip, smack and pull' her dog about and she wouldn't snap.

My arguement was that my dcs are taught to be kind and gentle to animals. And supervised properly to make sure they do.

Her ds was also snapped at by my other sisters dog too. And their cat bolts from the room when he enters. And they have rehomed their 12 month old pup because she was getting snappy.

Animals are not toys and not there to entertain dcs. If dcs can't respect and cherish them they don't get them.

Ds is 3.6. He is kind and loving to all our animals. He is responsible (with supervison) for feeding and cleaning his guinea pigs out, checking the dogs water and food bowls, and can hold the dogs lead on a walk when we aren't near roads. He is even kind to bugs and spiders and has been rescuing snails from the path everytime it rains by placing them in the hedge.

That kind of behaviour is taught. I can't blame a 5 year old. You have to blame the parents.

[Vinorosso74]

Completely agree OP. Sadly a lot of adults don't seem to have much respect for animals.

[RebelandaStunner]

Yanbu. Too many people have animals without thinking about all the extra responsibility, including teaching DC the right way of behaving towards and around them.
Poor dog. I would most definitely judge.

[bailz]

Did you approach the parents after when you saw her run back to them?

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

YANBU at all OP.

I tell children off who are chasing ducks etc. I'd bollock their parents if they dared to say I shouldn't. Allowing your children to treat animals badly is scummy.

[Nancy91]

That child shouldn't have been left in charge of the dog, she isn't old enough or mature enough. One day that dog might bite her and her parents will be to blame.

[Gumdroptears]

No I didn't bailz, although I really wish I had. I'm not a confrontational type but in this instance I wish I had been.

I also HATE it when children run up to my dog when we are out on walks and smother her - DDog is about head height with younger children so they automatically grab her round the neck. I've even had one child force sunglasses on her. I always tell them/parents that Ddog is nervous around children (which she can be) so not to pester her but it always seems to fall on deaf ears or parents think it's cute

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

Agree too, sadly for some parents teaching respect to animals is not seen as important just like learning manners and how to respect other humans.

[BitchQueen90]

Erm my DS is nearly 4 and my parents have a dog, he knows how to behave with the dog and to treat him kindly, not to tease or be too rough. Because he has been taught to. Also he is never left unsupervised with the dog and certainly would never be allowed to walk unsupervised with him on a lead. And this dog is the softest most placid dog I've ever met, I still would never take my eyes off them when they are together. No YANBU.