about children being allowed to run at dogs they don't know?

[Ellybellyboo]

I was out walking my dog earlier. We were waiting for traffic lights to change to cross a busy road. Dog is on his lead, sitting down at my feet. I had wound the lead around my hand so it was very short.

While we were waiting a mum with a young boy (not really sure how old he was, but was wearing local primary school uniform, so at least 4/5) were walking along the road, when suddenly the boy runs ahead and just flings his arms around my dog's neck.

Dog is very friendly and loves children, but it did make him jump. Dog kind of stands up and looks around, resulting in a bit of a bump of heads and the boy ended up on his bottom.

I immediately apologised, explained that it was an accidental bump of heads. The mum was furious, said that her son was only playing, that he absolutely loved dogs and just wanted to stroke him. I said that my dog was fine with it (at this point my dog was calmly sitting while her son stroked him) but not all dogs would be. She just ranted that my dog should be wearing a muzzle, that it should be expected that children would want to stroke him and that he shouldn't be out if he was going to attack.

Dog didn't attack anyone, it was a total accident. I appreciate it gave her a fright, but we've drummed into our kids that they should never stroke or touch dogs (let along fling themselves round their necks) they don't know without asking the owner.

Frightened the life out of me too.

[44PumpLane]

The woman is an idiot and one day her child may pay the price for her idiocy, as well as a poor dog.

I remember being stood outside Woolworths years ago with our Border Terrier when a small child appeared and threw herself at our dog and shoved her face in my little pooches face and hugged her. Nettle (my dog) was startled but ultimately thrilled as she was such a people lover- the mother thought it was the sweetest thing ever and I had to tell her how terribly wrong it could have gone if my dog hadn't been such a chilled out little thing- she just didn't see the harm in it.

Our current family dog is a very nervous rescue dog, she wants to ignore everyone but the people she trusts and walks on by- if a child was to launch at her she would probably snap at them- but I'd hate someone jumping all over me so I get it! We don't take her to crowded areas and are hyper vigilant. When people ask to pet her we tell them she's super grumpy and are very enthusiastic about telling them what a good job they have done for asking first.

Just as you would not fail to teach road safety to your child you should teach dog safety too!

[Creatureofthenight]

YANBU, that woman was being ignorant.

[Janey50]

The woman sounds like a complete loon! Ffs,saying your dog should be wearing a muzzle because it bumped heads with the boy,who had made him jump? Totally unreasonable and ignorant. Maybe SHE needs to learn to teach her child it is NEVER acceptable to even approach a strange dog,let alone fling your arms around it's neck?! I thought this was something that all parents instilled in their children. Obviously not!

[FairfaxAikman]

Parents are the first to shout at you if their kid is terrified of dogs (even if the dog is nowhere near them) but many don't realise it can work the other way - my dog will ignore all other humans and dogs but is terrified of kids running up to her.
I've been told I shouldn't have her out, but the war I see it, I wouldn't tolerate a stranger jumping on my back, so why should my dog (or any dog)

[Meekonsandwich]

Wow that's terrible! She's putting her child in danger but also, if a nervous or usually friendly dog was to bite, the dog could potentially be euthanized.

Could you send a message to the school to make give an announcement or some kind of lesson on dog safety? But I'm guessing at that age a lot of kids would just get excited and forget it all.

I walk my dog on a school route and kids regularly stop and squeal "it's a doggy mummy!" Point and charge, but my dog is trained to ignore everybody. So she dodges out the way and walks on, no sniffs, just walks past.
But I always have a moment of dread when a child gets excited and starts running towards her!! I had a little boy today start walking towards his hands out "come here doggy!" And holly looked at me like "here we go"
I said walk on! (Which is our command for walk past)
And she wagged her tail and ran past the disappointed child.

I do wish people knew more about dogs and how to behave around them.

[Spikeyball]

Porpoiselife I don't know about that poster but my child doesn't understand the potential dangers because of his learning difficulties.
Telling people to "teach them" when the person has told you that they watch and hold there child when necessary is a rude response.

[Ellybellyboo]

Thanks!

I did wonder about emailing school, but was umming and ahh-ing as to whether it was really their problem.

Dog could have accidentally knocked the boy into the road, it was pretty silly and dangerous all round really.

[5moreminutes]

YANBU

Though as an owner of children my experience is of off lead dogs running up to children - on beaches in particular dog owners seem to think this is absolutely not their problem

You sound like a good and responsible owner and the mother was totally wrong.

If you can be bothered and have the time it might actually be worth emailing the local school and asking them to put something in the newsletter and talk about safety around dogs in assembly, as you recognised the uniform and have had the same problem more than once.

[ScarlettFreestone]

The Mother is an idiot.

Our children have been taught that just as we don't touch people we haven't been introduced to, we don't touch animals we haven't been introduced to.

I'm frightened of dogs and trying extremely hard not to pass it in to my DC, therefore we often stop and "talk" to friendly looking dogs and their owners but only after asking the owner first.

[Hoppinggreen]

Silly cow, my children have known since they were babies not to approach a dog without a human and if they are with a human politely ask if they can touch the dog.
I have had to peel strange toddlers off my dog before - luckily he doesn't mind but he's quite large and could do damage without meaning to

[PebbleInTheMoonlight]

Both my children know never to approach a dog they don't know and even those they do to make sure the dog is calm/happy for an extra person to be near it.

That woman has a terrible attitude and I fear that her son will be the one that pays the price.

BTW thank you for being a dog owner that actually keeps their dog to heel on busy walkways/pavements

[Ellybellyboo]

Thanks all!

It does worry me what would happen if my dog bit in a situation like this. I don't think he would, but you never know. Dog could have been yawning/randomly had his gob open and teeth would have been involved

He's a bit of an airhead so we've really had to work hard with training and stuff like that is annoying. He walks to heel unless told otherwise and was focussing on me so he really wasn't expecting to be grabbed.

He has arthritis, so if the boy had grabbed him further back he might have hurt the dog and the dog may well have snapped.

Dog is super friendly and waggy and doesn't mind the attention. He'd never jump all over people, but he does throw himself down at their feet, roll over and present his tummy for tickling.

[crazyspaniellady]

You were more restrained than I would've been! What a moron she was! I've got two waggy tailed springers and everyone thinks springer = friendly, our oldest (7) is as dopey and friendly as they come and looooves cuddles from anyone, so would be fine in that situation. Our younger dog (5) is a rescue and was quite badly abused before he came to us and is quite wary of people, if a child were to do that he would most probably snap at them and then that's my poor dog getting the big pink needle because they couldn't control their child! Oh no, I'd have been like a banshee!!

[Moanyoldcow]

I don't especially like dogs and I don't really like owners who expect one to allow their dogs all over you. Unfortunately my son (4) loves dogs. I would absolutely not allow what you have described to happen and if it did it would not be your fault in any way.

We always ask before he pets a dog, he knows to be quiet and gentle and kind to the dog and not make a fuss.

The mother was totally in the wrong.

[Twinchaos1]

The woman is a numpty. My DS loves dogs and seems to have little sense of self preservation around them. We worked hard for years to get him to ask before going too close to dogs he didn't know and I think we have finally got there. But when he was younger and did touch dogs without asking I wouldn't have blamed the dog owners for being really cross with him and always explained that he shouldn't do it in front of them.

[BeastofCraggyIsland]

You were far too polite to her! I would have been furious if that had been me and my dogs. I have intercepted children who've come running at them before and given very short shrift to the parents. Both of mine are ok with kids but don't exactly love them; they're friendly but never choose to interact with strange children. I have to say though the majority of children/parents we've met do the right thing and ask if they can stroke them which is great and I always make a point of thanking them for it. It's just basic manners let alone common sense, and sadly that woman you met today is lacking in both.

[Godstopper]

F***g idiot parent.

It's happened to us, with my Staffy. She's quite small and is often mistaken for a puppy. You could just imagine a parent's reaction if she ever dared to express discontent at having her space invaded. Fortunately, she hasn't: she's shown herself to be bombproof, which is just as well given her breed.

But ... if you are a parent that allows this, please know that such behaviour makes most dogs uncomfortable: would you like someone charging and hugging you? Same principle. It's the carelessness of some parents that cause all manner of problems with dogs.

[ThaliaLuxurySpa]

OP,

You were definitely not the unreasonable one there!

Don't you just love people whose immediate reaction when their own actions backfire is to shout at the innocent party out of guilt or shock? Ludicrous blooming woman.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

With the greatest respect, big.
That was a bit harsh. I think most people would go up to a cute little puppy and fuss over it.

[StarryIllusion]

I have 2 waggy child loving Labs and the amount of children who who run up to them is insane. Dog2 usually gives them a massive lick up the face and a good whack with the tail which upsets plenty of parents. My solution for them is always to ask before approaching them.

[Porpoiselife]

My son absolutely loves dogs and will rush up to them as he doesn't understand the potential danger.

Then teach him!

That mother sounds like a right loon! You did nothing wrong OP. I hope she teaches her child not to do that soon otherwise he may well throw himself on the wrong dog next time.

[bignamechangeroonie]

I shouted at a woman on the tube once as she let her toddler run up to my puppy.

Puppy licked kids hand and she said 'it was a disgusting dog and had spread germs to her child'

I yelled 'then stop letting your kid run up to dogs if you're scared of germs'

Silly cow

[SarcasmMode]

My DH has a guide dog and this happens a fair bit. Not just kids but adults giving him a hug. If they asked DH he would be more than happy to let them. DDog is very friendly but as a lab cross is big and therefore if DH isn't prepared he could easily knock a small child down.

We have the added disadvantage due to his working status being distracted from working. Oh and also fed - no random man on the train he does not want your sausage. No lady, it's not cute that your 3 year old fed him a chip.

[SquatBetty]

Mother was a total fuckwit. You did nothing wrong. I've never allowed my DS to approach a dog without checking with the owner first.

[Proudmummytodc2]

She is unreasonable.

She is an idiot for not teacher her kids not to touch strange dogs.

She is lucky you had such a good dog especially as they got a fright at suddenly being grabbed runs the neck by a strange child.