To request that all parents please ask

[SunshineAndShadows]

... Before you let your child loose on a strange dog!

I was just out with my two hounds, both friendly beasts but bouncy when out walking and neither enjoy contact with children as they've had unpleasant DC experiences and will avoid them as much as they can.

Both dogs off lead but under control by me when I see a nearby mum release her toddler (very small, no older than 2) in my direction. He toddles forwards and I put a hand on each dog's collar so that I have full control (no time to clip on leads) and mum cheers him on.

I eventually have to do a crazy toddler knee block whilst holding both dogs and saying 'no' very firmly, which stops him in his tracks. Mum then comes over and stands there expectantly. I was wordless with astonishment and eventually she pulled him away saying 'oh dear, the doggies don't want to play'.

I felt like asking her if she also let him play with knives and electric sockets (but of course I didn't)

AIBU to expect that my dogs and I should be able to walk peacefully without attacks from uncontrolled children?

Justaboy

Yanbu Yanbu Yanbu

I have two small dogs. One is a lovely and docile as one could ever hope. The other is the most ridiculously pretty dog but is a rescue who finds children stressful.

Guess which one acts as a child magnet?

Because both are small parents allow their children to approach willy nilly, unexpectedly and then they get annoyed because my rescue barks. Well how about you don't let your child touch her without warning?

It seems that there's a general concensus of wanting to protect either our children, our dogs or indeed both.

Which is exactly what having dogs on leads (and I would say muzzles, although I know that dog owners hate that) in places other than 'designated lead free' areas would go some way to do.

My preference would be, of course, for parents and dog owners to behave responsibly at all times, but this thread alone gives so many examples of that not happening.

christina

I would love there to be designated dog areas in parks! It would solve so many problems.

I'm sure it's been said already, but it's a courtesy that should extend both ways. My kids are terrified of strange dogs and I don't care if it "only wants to play because it likes children." My child does not like your dog!

But the approaching at random issue is generally not something which occurs in parks for us and so almost always happens when both dogs are on lead.

our I assume that everyone doesn't like dogs, ours or otherwise, unless told otherwise.

I can't do much about random petting though, I'm not in control of that.

Yes, I think so. Clearly marked as 'dogs and their walkers only' or the like.

It would mean that owners could let their dogs off lead without worrying whether there were any small children around.

I don't know what could be done about 'random petting'.

I thought it was well known/common sense/obvious that you teach children not to approach random dogs and definitely not to go near them without the owner's consent, but that's clearly not the case.

I'm increasingly wondering whether there is something not right about having dogs as pets. I do understand how much pleasure and companionship people get from their pet dogs and the difference between responsible and irresponsible owners but isn't even the word "owners" an indication that there is something a bit off with the way dog "ownership" has become a societal norm?

A child approaches a dog because they have only encountered benign dogs in the past and they've been sucked into the prevalent view that dogs are lovely, fluffy things. A naive parent allows it because they too have only encountered benign dogs before and have also been sucked into the prevalent view, bolstered by the sentimentality of our culture, media etc.

I don't think the child is at fault, nor the parent, nor the dog, nor the dog owner. I think the problem is our rather strange obsession with dog ownership.

Yanbu at all. I also have taught my Dds to always always ask before they stroke a dog. and we just "look how pretty they are" for many we see. they both know to never run up to a dog or cycle or scooter past them at speed.

dogs need to run around just as kids do and both sides need to "train" their charges to not run over.

In my experience, it is not just a handful of stupid people. Yes, in this case, the mother was shockingly irresponsible. My children are both terrified of dogs. This is because, since they could first toddle, it has been an almost daily experience that they are charged at by a dog off the lead with an owner who almost invariably says 'he just wants to play, he won't hurt you.'

My child does not want to play and NO ONE can guarantee that a dog will not hurt a toddler. This is before I even start on how much a walk with a toddler is ruined by having to constantly look out for dog mess.

Forgive me if several years of this has led me to agree with Christina that dogs should be on leads. If there were public footpaths (edge of a park, main walking route from a housing area to shops and schools, not open countryside) where adults were routinely being charged at by animals of shoulder height or even bigger, I'm fairly sure it would not be tolerated so why should children have to put up with it?

Keep your dogs on a lead especially around children.

YABU to not say something to Stupid Mum re your dogs not liking children.

If you think your dogs are such a potential danger to young children I cannot believe you wouldn't have them on leads. Unless you were reckless and irresponsible.

DC always ask.

Of they can't smooth them I understand but to keep them happy I said they can just say good morning or good afternoon to the dog and walk away.

Ds (4) and dsd (16) have been taught since the time they could understand/ speak to ask a dog owner's permission before stroking their dog. Ds no longer even needs reminding.

Both, however, have been knocked over by over exuberant dogs that were not on leads in a public area. It would be good for dog owners to extend the same courtesy to my children as I expect them to show others.

i am v nervous of dogs having been bitten as a small child (i interfered with my uncle's sleeping collie) and would never approach a strange one unless it was confirmed friendly, and i would still be on my guard for a few minutes while friendly contact wAs continuing. i also am keen to drum into dd that you do not approach dogs, she would be after every one we saw if i did not control her. i am usually worried that the owner will think i am casting aspertions on their dog by not letting her touch them so ii am pleased to read this thread :)

I would prefer to ban dogs from the UK actually than have issues like this one (I might allow a few guide dogs for the blind and police dogs but that is all).

And what about therapy dogs?

a very valuable role. shortens hospital stays reduces stress and works wonders with adults and children suffering a whole range of physical and mental conditions

I have to admit that I am getting less tolerant about uncontrolled children and usually ask parents to call them off but this is the first time I've had to physically block a child whist the parent just watched

To be fair though, I am less tolerant about dog owners that do not have their dogs on lead or under firm control either, and I've seen loads of them. The number of times that I've had a dog owner say "oh it's okay, they're friendly, they won't bite" to me when their dogs have bounded up to my dcs is unreal. I don't care how friendly their dog is, it really upsets my dcs to have the dog coming at them like that. Ds1 will start screaming and flapping (SNs) and it will take ages to calm him down. I'm also worried his screaming and flapping will startle the dog and result in an aggressive reaction by the dog. Not saying that's the dog's fault, but it's not my ds's fault either. It's the fault of the dog owner who is not keeping their dog under control.

Your dogs should not be off lead, if they are likely to bite children.