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Original poster

Keep your kids under control!

36 replies

bookworm44 · 09/06/2023 08:27

Soooo many people on here love to hate dogs, but I am sure many dog owners would agree with me that people aren't raising their children to give dogs any respect at all. I took my two dogs for their lunchtime walk yesterday. One is off lead as very well behaved and perfect recall and likes everybody, the other is on lead as no recall and also really does not like small children. He is a rescue dog and I have no idea of his past experiences. Two adults were on the field I was walking on, I would assume Nan and Mum with two pre school aged children. I kept my on lead dog close to me and walked past them quickly. I thought that it was fairly obvious my dog was uncomfortable. I don't trust him not to bite if he is stressed and anxious although it has never come to that as I always have him under control. We got halfway across the field and one of the children proceeded to chase us. Neither of the adults did anything, despite me keep looking back at them (slightly stressed by now) until I called them to let them know that my dog does not like small children in his face and would probably bite them if they got close enough!

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 13:42

If you don't trust your dog not to bite, though, he should be muzzled in public. For his safety as well as that of members of the public

Dogs are animals - there's always a risk that they will bite if provoked, scared, attacked, poked and so on - just as every other animal will do, 'Trust' doesn't come into it.

Original poster
bookworm44 · 09/06/2023 13:48

SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 13:42

If you don't trust your dog not to bite, though, he should be muzzled in public. For his safety as well as that of members of the public

Dogs are animals - there's always a risk that they will bite if provoked, scared, attacked, poked and so on - just as every other animal will do, 'Trust' doesn't come into it.

Thank you, he has never once bitten and i don't see why he should be muzzled or pts as one poster suggested when he's done nothing wrong!! It would be a very different story if i allowed him to chase small children and torment them.

OP posts:
Knowivedonewrong · 09/06/2023 13:58

AuntieJune · 09/06/2023 10:40

If you think your dog might bite a child that comes close, in all honesty it should be pts or at least muzzled in public.

I agree kids should learn how to be safe around dogs, but child running in a field is hardly crime of the century. I teach my kids to observe animals they see, watch out for signs that they don't want attention, only touch dogs if owners say it's ok first.

But you shouldn't be out walking a dog that is likely to bite a child if a child does what a child is likely to do, in a place where children go. I'm pretty sure an insurer would see it that way too.

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Dogs
SpareHeirOverThere · 09/06/2023 13:59

SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 13:42

If you don't trust your dog not to bite, though, he should be muzzled in public. For his safety as well as that of members of the public

Dogs are animals - there's always a risk that they will bite if provoked, scared, attacked, poked and so on - just as every other animal will do, 'Trust' doesn't come into it.

This. Any dog might bite. So it's up to parents and carers to keep young children safe. No chasing or harassing animals. They could bite.

justme2022 · 09/06/2023 14:02

We have loads of dogs in our extended family so mine are perfectly comfortable being around them. Because of that I know they would run up to any dog they see to say hello. So I keep hold of them around dogs we don't know. Surely don't let your children approach unknown dogs is a basic of keeping them safe isn't it?

LadyMuckingabout · 09/06/2023 14:13

My dog is very friendly and really likes children. Most parents ask if their dcs can stroke him and Dog willingly obliges!

It’s important to teach children not to touch -let alone taunt - random dogs, but equally not to be hysterical around them. Dog and I were plodding along (dog on lead) and this woman and her child started screaming and flapping their arms. Of course this attracted Dog’s interest far more than if they’d simply passed by.

Totally agree that runners and cyclists need to behave better. Charging up behind people (whether they have a dog or not) is often horrible. I got a pasting on MN for saying this some years ago, but if you want to do power running with a ton of tech strapped to you, find a running track or sports ground and get off pavements and footpaths.

SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 14:57

@LadyMuckingabout I posted about my dog’s dislike of cyclists (esp ones that whizz past on narrow shared paths) on a Facebook page I’m on, looking for advice on how to help him. One helpful bloke who cycles a lot and therefore his dog isn’t frightened of bikes told me it was up to me to anticipate cyclists. I mean, what do you say to that? 🤷‍♀️

Coolblur · 09/06/2023 15:07

I hate this too. One of mine is unpredictable when out walking, although he loves kids when they visit DS at our house. The other is fine with everyone, but not other dogs.

I recently saw a family walking in a nearby field with their dog, another couple entered the field with their dog, the kids recognised it and ran toward it shouting excitedly. Their Dad immediately pulled them up saying they should never do that to dogs, no matter how well they think they know them. I thought it was great!

My pet hate is kids being allowed to walk dogs. Until they are strong enough and mature enough to handle their dog in the event another has a go at it they shouldn't even be holding the lead, much less walking them alone.

Hidingawaytoday · 09/06/2023 16:25

I don't have dogs, but I do have a toddler and YANBU. Mind you, the other week DD was toddling along a footpath when I saw an off lead dog pootling along towards us. Looked friendly enough, but as I didn't know the dog or the owner and DD is a normal unpredictable toddler, I caught up with her and kept hold of her at the side of the path to let the them go past. Apparently, I was overreacting 🤷‍♀️

Chypre · 09/06/2023 16:32

It baffles me how little attention some people pay to their own kids - letting them go on scooters along busy roads, run towards dogs, etc. So then dog walkers have to watch the kid so no dog would attack them, car drivers have to watch the kid not to run over them, but kid's adults are watching only their phones ffs...

SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 17:37

Hidingawaytoday · 09/06/2023 16:25

I don't have dogs, but I do have a toddler and YANBU. Mind you, the other week DD was toddling along a footpath when I saw an off lead dog pootling along towards us. Looked friendly enough, but as I didn't know the dog or the owner and DD is a normal unpredictable toddler, I caught up with her and kept hold of her at the side of the path to let the them go past. Apparently, I was overreacting 🤷‍♀️

That’s ridiculous - of course you weren’t overreacting! If my dog was off lead and I saw an adult and toddler coming towards us then he’d be back the lead straightaway. I don’t for for definite he wouldn’t react and I don’t know the toddler wouldn’t react - safest thing to do is to put the lead back on. Some dog owners are idiots though - I’ve met a few since I got a dog and they give the rest of us a bad name.

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