To think if your child winds up a restrained dog

[rpickett]

it's their own fault if they get bit?
I'm so pissed off, just been and walked my 7mth old puppy and one mother has wound me right up.

I was walking on the grass (which was a small strip nex to a pavement) and stopped to pick up after the dog went toilet, which isn't the easiest task at 8 mths pregnant with the bending, and this girl about 7 years old came bounding up to my dog an jumping in front of him trying to wind him up and play with him, she scared my dog and his tail went down and his heckles went up so I took a tighter hld of the lea whilst trying to tie up the doggy bag, while the mother just laughed and was yapping on about how her daughter has got him all excited, passed comment on how he didn't want to play and tried to walk off but no the daughter was still trying to wind the dog up while the mother was just laughing, practically walkin next to me so on the grass so I couldn't move out of the way and get passed.

If my dog had of gone for the girl I would be the one in the wrong (he didn't go for her but why take that risk) am I BU to think this mother needs parenting lessons if she thinks it's funny to allow her daughter to go upto strange dogs and wind them up?

BTW my puppy is great usually with kids, my two toddlers included but jumping in front of him waving your arms in his face is not the way to make friends.

Laska very true point but I was trying to pick up dog poo, tie the bag up and restrain the dog all whilst having a contraction, so educating someone elses child wasn't as high a priority to me as getting on with the walk and getting home.

I remember as a child on a hot day, kneeling down and hugging a dog at the school gate...I then thought it would be funny to stare into his eyes and bare my teeth...I was only about 5 at the time - needless to say, the dog lost it and bit me hard on the lip...cue mum dashing me into school, blood everywhere etc

Owner was terrified that mum was going to request dog be put down but as much as Mum was upset that I was hurt, she maintained it was my fault for winding the dog up and poor thing was just defending itself

Never bloody did it again I tell you

YANBU. She should have noticed that you were struggling and she should teach her dd not to go up to strange dogs, even puppies.

Here in Switzerland the children get one lesson about dogs, and are taught what how to behave near dogs, and more importantly what to do in the event of a dog attacking them. It does not replace the education from the parents but it is good to have it reinforced by a professional.

You were armed with a turd. The power was all yours. You could have taught that kid a valuable lesson. I saw it on the dog whisperer.

LOLOL at "armed with a turd"

YABU unless you clearly said 'STOP winding the dog up or he WILL bite you'

spiritedaway - I think I love you

I've never had dogs so don't know much about them. I'm pleased that my dds like dogs though and aren't afraid of them, so I allow them to lightly stroke dogs (not to goad them obviously.) Now I've read this I will always check with the owner that it is ok though. YANBU by the way. Letting a child wind up a dog is not on.

alternatively you could have said 'puppies have teeth like razors and are very likely to pee on your leg'

that really would have done the trick

In my opinion YABU.

You didn't say anything to them.

These are people (especially the young one) who do not have a dog, and probably have no idea how to treat a dog, or what they are like. I wouldn't expect them to know.

Most people, especially those who don't look after dogs, see puppies and think they are cuteness and not capacble of biting.

You could have solved it by telling them that he was getting wound up.

I don't think there is ever any situation, bar actual abuse, where a person deserves to get bitten by a dog. It is up to the owner to ensure that the dog does not end up in that kind of a situation and does not bite.

I completely agree that the child should have stayed back and asked to stroke the puppy, and I am glad it was on a lead when it is so sensitive.

Now if only a few dog owners would realise that my kids don't want to be teased or approached by their dogs, just so many bad scenarios in the 7 years I have had kids. To the extent that I now think dogs should be on leads in public parks by law.

Slightly different slant, but the other side of the responsibilities we should have to each other.

giantpurplepeopleeater
"It is up to the owner to ensure that the dog does not end up in that kind of a situation and does not bite."

Exactly!!!

I hate this assumption by some dog owners that their dogs feelings/rights etc etc take precedence over peoples!

Its YOUR dog YOU need to be in control/charge of it all of the time.

I bet if you went up to many toddlers and jumped around shouting in front of them and waved your fingers in their mouths, they would bite you. And you would deserve it.

RPickett, You are SO NOT BEING UNREASONABLE

I had a grown man behaving in a similarly stupid way towards one of my German Shepherds recently.

I damn nearly bit the bloody idiot!

Btw, Esme is absolutely wonderful, VERY cuddly and affectionate and has settled in with the dogs and other cats here perfectly. (The one boy cat, a big ginger lump, is scared of her!).

I can't see her going very far from here... ! :)

Will email you some photos tomorrow.

"Its YOUR dog YOU need to be in control/charge of it all of the time."

In the vast majority of situations, I would say yes. Sometimes though, a kid gets too close to a dog, steps on it's tail and gets bitten.

Children need to learn that dogs aren't toys, that they can't just go up and stroke them. They need to understand that dogs need a degree of respect!

Odd to be one of the more neutral voices on a dog thread, I'm usually on one end.
I think parents have a duty to keep their children safe from cars and dogs and such.
I think drivers and dog owners have a duty to behave responsibly too.
The child was in the wrong IMO, probably because the parent hadn't insisted on respect for animals being instilled at an early age.
So it's the parent's fault.
The dog was under control and on a leash. It should have been left alone by random strangers, not bounced at and frightened.
If she'd been polite, stopped and asked if she could touch the puppy, that would have been more sensible.
What if the next dog encounter doesn't turn out as well for the child?

Why is there the assumption that everyone, regardless of whether they have owned/ looked after a dog or not, knows how to treat them or what to do when faced with one?

Are posters really encouraging people who don't own dogs to eye all dogs with suspicion and not approach until they have checked all is clear? What about cases where dogs are off lead/ allowed to approach other people which happens a lot in my area?

Every time there is a dog mauling incident or something similar in the press there are thousands of responses about how 'not all dogs are bad', 'not all dogs bite' and 'my dog would never do that'. What are non- dog owners meant to make of this?

Are they meant to be scared of all dogs, or assume that most dogs are well trained/ have responsible owners and therefore biting is not a worry?

Surely simply speaking up if someone approaches your dog or approaches your dog in a manner that it does not appreciate would be more helpful.

You are the owner, you know your dogs temprement and limits and you are bringing your dog to a public park. Or are we all meant to go about our daily lives in public places without interacting with one another?

Vallhala Thats great news I was going to email you next week for an update (in between hospital visits etc) been so bloody busy it's mad.

my nephew decided it would be fun to play in my parents' dogs' bed (apostrophe hell, sorry) My parents and my Sister laughed at how funny he looked. The dog nipped him (didn't bite, nipped)

Too bloody right. He shouldn't have been invading the dog space. DN was too young to understand this at the time but my family certainly weren't and know better. It's their fault DN got nipped, not the dogs.

NB, on the subject teaching children about responsible attitudes to dogs, a TA I know, who is also a rescue volunteer and dog owner herself, today led a presentation in her primary school's assembly on exactly that topic. Apparently the children were captivated with the Powerpoint presentation and engaged readily in the question and answer session.

Assemblies like this are a great idea and should be held nationally imho.

'Are posters really encouraging people who don't own dogs to eye all dogs with suspicion and not approach until they have checked all is clear?
Yes, that's what I tend to do, I do smile at owners, but studiously ignore dogs unless invited to stroke them.

What about cases where dogs are off lead/ allowed to approach other people which happens a lot in my area?'

If a dog bounces up to me or starts barking I stand very still, avoid eye contact and wait, whilst being very annoyed and sometimes scared depending on the size of the dog.
If I'm with children, I get angry and shouty.

the trouble is people don't seem to think of puppies as dogs iykwim

they just think they're cute little bundles of fun and behave- and let their kids behave- accordingly. Tis the most difficult thing about having a puppy I think.

I eye all dogs with suspicion, yes, and encourage my 4 year old to do the same in terms of always asking if she can talk to or pet a dog we meet. She loves all animals, btw. Because even a dog who is well-trained, well-socialised, knows about young children etc could still just get fed up with the attention. It's like toddlers. You can 'train' them all you like not to be suddenly unreasonable and antisocial but sometimes, just sometimes, they will have a screaming antisocial meltdown in the street for no proper reason that an adult would recognise and if they were a dog they'd bite someone. Because they have very little self-control. Dogs are just furry toddlers, really, however lovely and well-brought up! It's nuts to think that you shouldn't treat a potentially dangerous animal that you don't know with a decent amount of respect.

My nearly 4 year old knows and loves her 2 dogs at home. She has however been taught that she must not tease them and is always supervised with them.

She loves dogs, but has been taught that she must always ask a grown up if she can stroke another dog - be it me, her dad, other grown up (who will ask the owner) or the owner / person who has it on a lead.

She is aware that she must not touch that dog unless an adult says she can. I would hope i get the same back, but very often don't.

I have to say as a person who has never owned a dog or had many friends or relatives with dogs that it never occurred to me to tell my children about behaviour around them. Unless you frequently come into contact with dogs it is not really on your radar tbh. Obviously I will instruct them tomorrow!

If your dogs bites a person, regardless of provocation then it can have a destruction order placed on it. Owners should socialise puppies so that they are bomb proof. If temperament means the dog is unreliable around people than the owner must avoid public places when exercising their dog. Ideally children should be taught not to approach any dog but owners' can't rely on this. Many dog owners let their dogs jump all over my kids and me when we're in the park without asking our permission as to whether their pet can approach us. I find a can of mace handy in these situations...and maybe a bit of bacon rind to distract the dog. I have a well trained dog btw. It took time and effort to train him and I always scoop his poop....sometimes before it hits the ground.