When people say their dog is fine and won't bite?

[marshamella]

Walking down the narrow road with my ds and hear a dog heavy breathing behind me. So I turn and tell the owner she can go infront. Her reply "it's ok he won't bite he's soft as anything" and stays behind us. With ds I couldn't walk fast so decided to cross the road when I didn't need to. Was this rude of her not to walk infront as she could see we were uncomfortable with a dog right behind us? I'd rather be the judge of weather or not I want the dog by us.

No. I'm teaching my children not go up to a dog they don't know and touch it. That's not instilling a fear that's just being smart. They aren't apprehensive like they used to be because they are older and also have become used to family members' dogs.

But dogs they don't know- don't touch.

Like I said, if you think that's ridiculous then that fine

Weird that she didn't just go past when you offered if she was that close to you. I would probably have stopped and pretended to sort out DCs shoe or something so she would have to go past.
Totally agree with hating that line though! I don't care if the dog is friendly, I don't want it running up to me. Same as I wouldn't expect my DC to put their grubby hands on strangers legs, but "it's ok, she's well-behaved"

No I meant one that's out for a walk. I never see dogs out on their own either.

Where are all these random lone dogs? I've certainly never seen one.

meand you are teaching your DC that dogs are dangerous, which is instilling a fear. There is nothing more inherently dangerous about dogs then for example, other children. Do you teach your children to never approach children they don't know because they may not be nice?

I don't know where all these random lone dogs are either Rat.

Parents can't win can they? Teach your children to touch a dog then you're not being a responsible parent because the dog might not like it. Remember parents and children get the blame when a dog snaps.
Teach your children to not touch a dog and you're instilling a fear ffs.

My children are free to approach other children and most children they meet are nice. I realise not everyone will be though. I'm not going to hold my children back from meeting friends.

Meandmy is not teaching her children to be frightened. She is using recommended methods to teach her kids that dogs cannot be trusted and to wait and ask before randomly touching one.

My dd is 3, we have 2 small terriers, my parents have 3 collies and my Dsis has a smaller Austrian collie. She is by no means frightened. She has been brought up to respect them and to understand that like her they have limits and safe spaces. She has been taught that she is not to go near them if they are on their beds/caged. She has also been taught that not all dogs like little people and that she has to ask the person with the dog if it is ok for her to say hello. This is not instilling fear. It is instilling respect and courtesy.

My Dsis dog is deaf. It is a genetic defect due to banned breeding combinations that people have ignored. She is hyper sensitive about her ears being touched and will snap. It is not my Dsis fault if some random kid walks up and strokes her without asking and gets bitten. By teaching your kids to ask you are giving my Dsis a chance to say, yes but please don't touch her ears as she doesn't like it.

My girl dog is terrified of men, she is also not great wth kids she doesn't know. She will cower and snap if it is unexpected. If you ask before your kid runs up to her I can tell you that and ask you to remove your child or I can hold her so that her head is near me and restrained and I can see if she is getting weary and then remove her when she has had enough.

Costa I couldn't actually believe this was still going this morning either and it's my own post!

To be fair I do have nothing else better to do today

You need a dog, get you out in the fresh air.

Noooo I have 3 kids for that. We've had a lazy morning so definitely need to get out this afternoon!

Most children that I know who have a fear of dogs have parents who are also afraid of dogs and/or don't like them. We have a dog and on several occasions have had friends over to play and been informed by the parent that little jonny is scared of dogs, only to find that the child is absolutely fine around dogs, they just have never had a chance to meet one properly.

My dc's have been taught not to approach dogs they don't know without asking the owner first, and to look for signs in the do that it is uncomfortable with being stroked. I agree that any dog could bite even if it never has before but there are lots of signs you can see easily if a dog isn't happy.

There are people who are afraid of dogs and then there are people who are intolerant of them and dress it up as a concern for safety.

I'm not denying dog attacks, or that they can be horrifying, but it's not my experience of encounters with dogs, which are daily and several. I'm very surprised by the tales of constant near-misses with slavering hounds.

Loving how you're trying to change your thread now op.

Was this rude of her not to walk infront as she could see we were uncomfortable with a dog right behind us?

So no you did want her to walk in front then got annoyed and crossed over the road to get away from her.

limited you are completely right.

I'm not keen on dogs but I wouldn't ask someone to move I would move as its my problem