To think parents should teach their children how to behave round dogs

[Xihha]

There have been a few posts lately about people needing to control their dogs more (and I agree, if you cant control our dog and clean up after it then you shouldn't have a dog imo), but is it unreasonable to expect parents to teach children to be a bit more careful round dogs?

Whilst walking my dog (on his lead) a child who looked about 10 ran up and stuck his head in my dogs face to make a fuss of him whilst i was picking up doggys poo, without checking if it was ok, there have been other times kids have just walked up and started pulling doggy around, this sort of thing happens a lot, especially in the summer when there are more kids out playing and the parents rarely say anything about it.

It's not really an issue with my great soppy lump of a dog because he loves kids and will put up with anything for a bit of fuss but shouldn't these kids know that you should check with the owners before approaching strange dogs and that even a nice dog can get pissed of if you start pulling it around?

No lazyjaney, you are wrong. If you reported that my dog snapped at your child and grazed his arm because your child ran at him and stuck his face in the dogs and poked at him while he was taking a shit, so you wanted something done, you'd be laughed out of the police station.

And you do have a legal obligation to keep your children under control it is called "neglect" if you let your free reign toddler play in a motorway, you'd be charged with neglect.

If you let your free reign toddler run up to dogs and screech in their face because you think it's cute, that is neglecting their safety.

kids shouldn't be touching dogs they don't know but the amount of dogs that come up to me friendly or not is the same thing, i feel harassed. i would guess dogs off leads approach other people far more often than lovely dogs on leads get poked in the eye by toddlers

I can't be bothered to argue with those anymore
I have brought my kids up safely anyhoo

d0in exactly the point i have made several times but apparently it is our job to parent lazyjaney's child

HamsterDam - my dog is always on a lead when there are other people around or anywhere I might expect people to be, that doesn't stop unknown children running up and trying to hug him, literally sticking their hands in his mouth and once licking him on the cheek

He adores people and children especially so, but I'm still having to grab his collar because a short lead still isn't short enough to stop him moving completely when a child runs up without stopping to ask if they can stroke him and I don't want him to accidentally hurt them.

HamsterDam, Im not sure on that, I can tell you that people harassing my dog happens more often that other dogs off the lead wandering up to us though

I would guess that depends on the dog in question, Hamster.

One of mine is particularly small and funny looking, we are stopped almost constantly during nice weather weekends and holidays. Most children ask, yes, but a fair few do not, they just run over squealing "Awww, a puppy" and then launch themselves at her. Luckily she is very tolerant and loves all children and would rather chew off her own tail to get away than to snap at the child holding her tail, but that is not the point. That's my dog, the next puppy the child meets might not be so tolerant. And I am certainly not tolerant enough to not send you off without a bee in your ear about child/dog safety if your child is too forward or rough with my dog.

The thing is op; many kids who don't grow up with dogs (because they are very expensive to own) are scared of them instinctively. The dog plays up to fear. IMO it is primarily the dog owner's responsibility not to react to said child (as they after all a domesticated wolf) but also please tell your kids not to play with unknown dogs.
Having said that, my friend's child played with a dog recently and got bitten, despite warnings from mum. Lesson learned.
I do love dogs btw but I am still instinctively wary of them around my child.

I just have doggy issues from childhood!

tabula - you sound like a very responsible dog owner, if all dog owners were like you and all parents were like me the world would be a nicer place for all.
i have always had a phobia of dogs so i get stressed if a dog approaches me and i remember it and seems like it happens quite alot. im teaching my ds to respect dogs whilst trying not to pass on my phobia

I also resent those owners with FUCKING HUGE DOGS who are obviously terrifing to small childern (and most adults) who then go '''Oh but he's so soft and wouldn't hurt a fly''. I just think ''sneak off and run fast!'' Yet I still do love dogs

superstar presumably as you are wary of dogs you teach your kids to be so also which imo means they should know not to approach one on a lead (ignoring the idiots who can't control their dogs off the lead for a min) and that is the point.

You don't want an out of control dog bounding up to you sane as my dog does not want an out of control child or adult bounding up to her.

FWIW they are more likely to.snap.when on a lead as they know they cannot escape

I am also rather bemused on occasions where the children do ask and then the parent says to the child "Okay, then, go and stroke the nice little doggies, stay away from that big one, he's too big" and I then have to explain that I'd rather they stay away from the "nice little white doggy" because he is merely tolerant of small children he does not actively like them like the nice big black doggy you've just told your child to avoid.

Size is not an indicator of temperament.

The thing is that we all have to live in a shared space, and if everyone just used some common sense, there would be so many less issues. I keep my dogs onlead in public places, I train them and I clean up after them. Likewise, I expect parents to do their part by not allowing children to approach without asking.

I have a huge dog and he is friendly, lol.

The thing is that it's just as annoying for most dog owners when a strange dog bounds up as it is for people without dogs, especially if you're walking your dog.

I don't mind if my dog does it to me because he's mine, just like I don't mind my DC running up to me and hugging me...that doesn't mean I'd let any of them do it to random people in the street.

I'm not sure why some people are struggling with the idea that their children should be taught to not fear dogs while also being cautious of them? Surely this is just basic two way respect and applies to lots of things, not just dogs.

superstarheartbreaker, I'm not saying that children shouldn't be scared of dogs, everyone's scared of something (I'm only just getting over a fear of small dogs, I love big dogs but anything jack russel sort of size has always scared me). I always keep my dog on the lead if there are people I don't know around and would never let him go anywhere near someone I can see is scared of dogs or who hasnt asked me if they can meet my dog.

A child doesn't need to have grown up with dogs to know not to run up to strange dogs.

It's basic manners, imo, olidus.

I might be in a rush and not have to time to deal with your child throwing himself at my dog's feet. If I had no dog would you still think it was appropriate for your child to run at me with their arms open wide while I was enjoying a nice peaceful walk?

The safety issue is of course very important, but surely it's also polite to ask if you or your child can interrupt my walk to interact with my property?

Safety is a big issue, but a dog on a lead only poses a safety risk if an irresponsible parent allows their free reign child to smother the dog without first checking if it is friendly. The onus to keep a dog under control s on the dog owner. The onus to keep the child under control is on the parent

It is indeed basic manners and does apply to all animals, the number of times i've seen kids winding up horses/sheep/donkeys etc is ridiculous, the little brats tapping on vivs/cages in the pet shop pisses me off too and dont even get me started on the bloody cow tipping!

D0oin, I think you've misunderstood me. My post was directed to those like EssexGirl who (paraphrasing) said that she didn't see why she should train her child to be both unfrightened and cautious of dogs, partly because she didn't understand why she should bother and partly because she didn't own a dog.

I disagree with her and agree with lots of others on here who have said that dogs are a part of life that children should learn to cope with, like lots of other everyday things children see whilst out and about. I think it's important that children should be able to interact safely but also comfortably and happily with animals.

Children have the ability to be (and should be) simultaneously unfrightened and cautious of lots of things, I think that it forms an understanding of two way respect and that certainly isn't just applicable to dogs.
I think it's a life skill all children need: to be able to be aware that something has the ability to cause you harm, but if that you are safe and respectful and polite, you're much less likely to be harmed.

That's why I disagree with Essex, because children need to be taught how to be safe and respectful and polite, alongside being taught that doing certain things can be dangerous, or how will they ever cope with the situation presented to them?

By teaching kids only half of being mutually respectful, you either end up with a bold, rude child who is comfortable running up to and disturbing dogs inappropriately, or contrarily a child who is very fearful of dogs, with that fear then impacting them day-to-day whenever they may see a dog.

The aim of me teaching mutual respect to my child is that if they see a dog that they would like to stroke, they will be comfortable enough to approach the owner to ask to do so. And if they are turned away with "I'm sorry, he's not very friendly", they will have the confidence to walk away safely because they know they minimised themselves being put at risk by 1. asking and 2. moving away from the animal safely and calmly without distressing it. And hey, if the owner says yes, they get to pat the nice doggy and then move on.

I'm not sure why you thought I was recommending children be thrown under the feet of dogs without thought for it or its owner, I was vouching for the mutual respect and politeness that you thought I was disagreeing with.

Sorry Essex if it seems like I'm singling you out, I just had to highlight some of your points for D0oin to understand what I'm prattling on about!
I hope my original post wasn't too confusing, and I hope that's cleared it up. Sorry for going on, I just wanted to make my stance clear. I don't own a dog, but I do love them to bits.

I've been taking my dog into town since I first got her for this very reason. She is becoming a very well socialised dog and has so far coped very well with unprovoked affection.

I have a 3 year old ds so my dog is also well acquainted with children and their rough play. So far she has been doing really well even with babies pulling at her, she just sits with her back to them so they can pet her.

numberlock Serious question..Do you not shit..no?

Yeah, in my own home, not on the pavement/grass for you to stand in.