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Original poster

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

999 replies

Xihha · 19/07/2013 21:27

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?

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2013 15:07

Your family is awfully unfortunate MrButtercat

Nobody in my immediate family has ever been bitten,chased or attacked by a dog. Maybe because we know how to behave around them?

babyhmummy01 · 20/07/2013 15:08

mrbuttercat read the thread, you have completely misunderstood everything that has been posted. Everyone has condemned those sorts of owners and dogs. What we are talking about is dogs on a lead and under control being approached by out of control kids

D0oinMeCleanin · 20/07/2013 15:11

I despair, I really, really do.

NO-ONE has said that dogs should not be kept under control. Not a single, solitary poster has actually posted "My dog can do what it likes, that's my right" No-one. At all. Ever. On this thread, has said that dogs should not be controlled. No-one has posted that dogs have more right to enjoy outside space than children do. No-one.

What is being discussed is the rights or wrongs of allowing your child to approach a controlled and leashed dog, without the owner's permission and then expecting the owner, who did not ask for or want your child in his personal space, to take responsibility for your child's safety and behavior.

Lazyjaney · 20/07/2013 15:13

^^
"it is an offence to allow any dog to attack or cause serious injury to a person or livestock" is the relevant bit of the law you are looking for.

Control is a possible mitigating factor.

Of course, you are welcome to put it to the test this afternoon to convince yourself. Just be sure to look up the penalties first.....

BTW LtEve I suggest you update yourself on Texas law, it's no longer one of the few remaining One Bite states in the US.

MrButtercat · 20/07/2013 15:19

Soooo Alis it's our fault.Hmm

Says it all.

MrButtercat · 20/07/2013 15:20

Oh the 2 that bit me and DS were on a lead,we simply walked past.

D0oinMeCleanin · 20/07/2013 15:22

Which act is that from LazyJaney?

Or have you simply C&P'd it from here because that is not the actual law itself. It is merely a summarised version, subject to interpretation of the author.

The actual law, as written by parliament, regarding dangerous dogs is the one I posted.

Donnadoon · 20/07/2013 15:23

Oh lazyjaney just agree that you'll keep your out of control and or uneducated goady children out of my dogs face (who is under control) and everyone's happy yeah?

Donnadoon · 20/07/2013 15:23

Don't believe you mrbuttercat sorry

D0oinMeCleanin · 20/07/2013 15:24

Also livestock and people are protected from dogs under different Acts, not one and the same.

BMW6 · 20/07/2013 15:32

This is all getting rather silly.

Surely a responsible parent teaches their DC about the dangers that are everywhere in their nearby world i.e

DO NOT play with matches
DO NOT stick anything in the plug sockets
DO NOT get into a car with a stranger
etc etc

It is a given that dogs should be under the owners control - noone is arguing against that!

Dogs and cats are part of our everyday world and can cause injury and even death, just as can electricity, gas, fire, humans.

A little girl (approx 10) who lives nearby keeps asking to hold my dog's lead. I say no, he's strong (but small) and may pull you over/ pull the lead out of your hand (esp if he sees a cat).
The other night she grabbed the lead and before I could say Let Go he pulled and she complained of "rope" burn.

She didn't cry, she wasn't seriously injured, and I said well, I have told you not to grab his lead!

IMO SHE was in the wrong, not my dog, not me.

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2013 15:42

Mrbutter

Might have been your fault,might not, having not been there I couldn't say. But people who are frightened of dogs tend to have more trouble with them. Perhaps because fear clouds normal thinking. Like me with spiders.

Anyway the thread is about dogs on leads being approached incorrectly by children - not sure how what you describe is relevant.

crashdoll · 20/07/2013 15:42

"Makes me livid that people actually think dogs should have precedence and kids should be trained around them."

That is not what we are saying. Confused You should teach your children not to approach a random dog to protect your child. It doesn't take away the fact that responsibility lies with the dog owner. As you've seen, you cannot rely on dog owners to ensure their dogs are safe, so why the hell would you not teach your children animal safety?!

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2013 15:43

I don't believe you were simply walking by. I've seen snarly dogs on leads many a time - still didn't randomly bite anybody walking by.

LtEveDallas · 20/07/2013 15:55

Lazyjane, why on earth should I update myself on Texas Law? I live in Oxford. I am full acquainted with UK law, and the majority of people posting on this thread are in the UK.

tabulahrasa · 20/07/2013 15:59

People should be able to walk without being molested by dogs, friendly or otherwise...

But children still need to be educated on how to approach dogs if that's what they want to do and a bit of training on how to act when a dog approaches them wouldn't go amiss.

That doesn't lessen any responsibility of the dog owner to keep their dog under control, it just makes it easier for everybody.

Snugglepiggy · 20/07/2013 16:02

Agree it should be a two way street but sadly some people just don't want to see it see it that way.
The vast majority of dog owners are sensible and responsible and appreciate not everyone is as dog friendly.Just as the vast majority of parents are sensible and responsible,and even if they don't especially like dogs raise their children to not be irrationally fearful of them and teach them them not to provoke them.OPs post was about a well behaved under control dog but some posters just don't want to acknowledge that's ever the case.
And MrBuutercat how sad to loathe and detest any living creature as a generalisation IMO.I too was bitten as a child but went on to own a dog all my adult life .I also have grown children and I proud of their tolerant and nonjudgmental attitude towards both people and animals.Some humans cause untold and unprovoked damage to others.Some people children are badly behaved and out of control.Fact.Do you loathe and detest them too?

Original poster
Xihha · 20/07/2013 16:03

Hmm Mr Buttercat, your family seems to be remarkably unlucky round dogs, especially since you detest them and I would assume dont deliberately go out seeking dogs.

My parents have had lots of dogs at a time since I was born and still do, most of them have been rescue dogs, we have also always looked after/walked other peoples dogs for them, I'm one of 8 children and have 2 kids of my own who are also always round dogs.

Between all of us there has only ever been 2 incidents,

I got bitten on the finger when i was about 7 coz I was being a stupid little brat and ran up to stroke a dog i didn't know in the park whilst i had a chocolate bar in one hand and he nipped my finger trying to pinch the chocolate, which is completely my own fault for putting myself in that situation

The other was when my daughter got knocked over when she was about 2, however as she had been trying to climb on the dogs back shouting pony at the time I'm not sure the dog meant to knock her over.

OP posts:
glenthebattleostrich · 20/07/2013 16:04

Lazyjane, I was walking my parents mastiff / golden retriever cross about 2 years ago. He was on a lead walking to heel.

A child of about 6 ran over and poked the dog in the eye with a stick. It was an unprovoked attack by a vicious little shit. The dog needed surgery and is now blind in one eye. My parents successfully sued the parents for the cost of the vets bills. The said little shit is very lucky I didn't go with my first instinct which was to let the dog have a go at him because quite frankly he deserved it.

So to be blunt, and just in case you missed the point, fuck off with you no dog has been injured by a child bollocks.

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2013 16:09

glen

That is awful! Poor dog! Good for your parents though!

MrButtercat · 20/07/2013 16:11

Donna you not believing me is exactly the point,it's all the fault of others not dogs. Incidentally it's all on my son's medical records at A and E and we had loads of witnesses last weekend.2 lovely ones rushed up to check up on me.

When my DS had his tonsils out a boy was rushed in for reconstructive surgery after his springer just turned on him.Mother in shock as child did nothing to provoke.Dogs can and do turn nasty and laws need to be tightened.Attitudes on this thread illustrate exactly why.Owner arrogance.

Original poster
Xihha · 20/07/2013 16:13

glenthebattleostrich That's terrible, poor dog, I hope the spiteful little shit got in a fuck load of trouble from his parents!

OP posts:
harryhausen · 20/07/2013 16:15

I believe you MrButtercat. As I said before, the same thing happened to my niece. Totally unprovoked. An earlier person seemed to think the dog had been surrounded by children so was scared. Not so. She'd been staying at her friends house for the weekend. 12 years old, not stupid or silly. She'd been playing, running happily with the dog all weekend. She went calmly to the dog to say goodbye when leaving, crouched down and held out her hand. He just went for her face. She very nearly lost her eye.

I know most dog owners, would equally think this was awful - however the owners still have the dog, have children around it and think its really placid.

MrButtercat · 20/07/2013 16:17

Thank you Harry

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2013 16:17

Mrbuttercat

I own a dog and am not arrogant about it. I err on the side of caution and assume people do not like her so have trained her accordingly. I'd be beside myself in horror if she ever attacked anybody,adult or child.

Your wild generalisations are just that though.