To think, that from a young age children should be taught to behave properly around dogs?

[webbygeek91]

We are expected to be responsible dog owners, pick up, train them and keep them under control/well cared for, why don't parents teach their kids not to run screaming around dogs or run over to them and start trying to tug their tails/ride on them?

Also, to expect that kids should not be walking dogs on their own or at a significant distance from their parents with a dog that is:

A) Heavier than them
B) Has serious behaviour issues
C) A & B combined means said child has no control over dog.

Yes good point. If a child ran out in to the road you couldn't really blame the car driver for knocking it over. Ok I have changed my mind, yanbu op.

YANBU. I was taught from a young age never to run near a dog. It astounds me the number of kids that will run right up to my dogs.

that was easy!!

YANBU.

However behaving correctly around a dog doesn't mean you won't get bitten.

I am prepared to admit when I am wrong [ grin]

that is true saggars, but at least you are doing everything you can do to reduce the risk.

YANBU - have always taught dd how to act around dogs & that not all doggy's like little girls therefore no matter how cute said doggy is, you must always ask owner if you may come close to it.

When the time was right, i got us a dog, she is a spirited thing, and although very well behaved on a lead, will still not let dd hold the lead. If i'm honest i try to do most walking without dd there.

The child who prodded, poked or pulled my dogs' tails would have far less to fear from my dogs than from me.

this is also true in my house val.

My mum carries a bag of dog biscuits in her handbags incase she sees a "Big Issue" dog or a dog outside a supermarket. I'm pretty sure you shouldn't feed random dogs without permission.

YANBU, children should be taught about dogs in the same way as other situations they see daily e.g. roads, shops etc!

BUT I do find that some dog owners get offended when I stop my toddler from running straight to their dog. Presumably they think I am implying that their dog could be dangerous, when I'm actually just trying to stop DD from getting too excited and poking the dog.

haha, lady, every coat i own has cubes of cheese in it!! only for my own pooch though there are some doggies who can smell me a mile off and when i stop to chat with their owners i get barged!

Dog outside supermarket is a theft and abuse waiting to happen these days (or even a court case and potential death of the dog).

Far more importantly, if your mum fed my white German Shepherd anything without my permission I'd rip her head off and shove it up her ass. My white Shep is epileptic and being fed anything with preservatives/additives etc in it could bring on a fit and kill him.

You wouldn't go around giving sweets to random kids in the street would you? Or offer a young child nuts without checking with the parents?

Yeah my mother's mad though.

Oh (Booy*, not the smelly coat syndrome? I have a silly number of coats and every one, even my "going out" ones, has some form of dog treat mashed up into the pocket lining in it.

Most have a slip lead in the pocket too, in case I find a stray on my travels. :)

I think it works both ways. Personally I have taught my children from a young age that they should never assume a dog is safe, so they always keep a distance when they see one. They also know how to behave responsibly and calmly around animals.

However lots of owners seem happy to let their dogs come running up to us whether we've invited it or not!

yes, most of mine have nappy sacks and at least 3 clickers in the pockets. i look ever so classy when i pull out my money at the bar and along with a handfull of cheese, nappy sacks and a clicker. cue lots of questions about what am i doing to my baby with cheese and a clicker

I agree.

I'm not even a big dog fan (I don't dislike them either), but for the child's own sake, he/she should know how to behave.

I would rather dangerous dogs were just kept away from children, but some owners will always be irresponsible and some dogs will escape from even the best owners.

I've taught mine not to go up to dogs they don't know.

Shame really, that nobody has taught all the dogs not to go and jump up at them.

Boy 2 is a bit worried, after being knocked down more than once when he was smaller by a "don't worry, he's only being friendly" sort of animal.

Well, yes, friendly it may be, but it's still bigger than him, and now he's on his bum on the floor, thanks for that.

And don't get me started on the ones that piss on our sandcastles on the beach.

I agree that children should be taught how to behave around dogs, and if the child is too young, then it's the adults' responsibility to ensure that no prodding, patting, yelling, biting etc goes on.
Nice, clear space and no contact at all unless asked first.

I'd like dog owners to abide by the same rules.
Stuff the 'it's only being friendly' approach, the neuritic snappers at cyclists and the picnic thieves.
Taxidermy, the way forwards.

'neurotic'

Goblinchild

OP YANBU

Dog owners need to make sure their dogs do not run up to people. Parents need to make sure their children do not run up to dogs.

"Shame really, that nobody has taught all the dogs not to go and jump up at them."

i could turn that around and say "shame nobody taught all the kids not to go screaming at dogs"

and you would see that it is a bit silly.

nobody owns all the dogs the same way as nobody owns or is responsible for all the kids.

some kids know not to scream and poke the same way some dogs know not to jump. it isn't all dogs that jump.

we havent got a dog, but i have told my 3 year old that she should lways ask the owner if she can touch the dog before doing so, as that is what my mum taught me.

I agree that's dogs should be trained........but they are animals who can be unpredictable and as children can't be rented out it can be difficult to get dogs used to them. So op I agree with you it is a very good idea to teach children how to behave around them as you would with cars fires strangers ect