To think children should ask before running up and stroking a dog?!

[lovetheskinyourein]

I have a dog who is great with children, she loves them and would never do anything untoward to a child who comes up and says hello... HOWEVER after being in the park Saturday, I had 6 (!!) different children just come up and stroke my dog. (we were sat having a coffee and my dog was sitting behind my chair in the shade so very easy to sneak up behind me and say hello!)
It's all very well for a dog like mine- however I've had rescues before who may not have been so happy about it, and to be honest, ANY dog could snap if taken by surprise?!
AIBU to think that you should teach children to ask if it's ok before going full steam ahead and stroking a strangers dog?!

YADNBU. Yes you're dog might be friendly but they don't know that. Plus I don't care what anyone says even the friendliest of dogs can turn, especially in this sweltering heat and, if it does turn who'll get the blame

It's obviously going to be in very close proximity to a large number of people, if that dog isn't fucking bomb proof when it comes to being touched by strangers then you'd be a complete fucking moron to put it in that position.

No, people need to learn they can't just randomly go up to strange animals and touch them! Would you go up to a complete stranger in public and kiss them or pat them or stroke them? No? So why is it okay because it's a cute fluffy animal?

On the local news just yesterday, they were saying that a survey had been done and 80 per cent of parents hadn't told their children how to approach a dog and either 30 or 50 per cent (my memory is a bit hazy ...) had seen their children pull a dog's tail! I was pretty shocked by that.

I agree and if dogs could also ask before coming and sniffing and licking my kids, we're all good

I was always told by my Mum always ask the owner if you can stroke a dog because not all dogs like to be stroked and if a dog is not with an owner do not attempt to stroke them. I accepted this. I am getting two 10 week old cute puppies at end of month and know children will want to stroke them. Luckily they are used to children and have been handled since birth so enjoy being made a fuss of and stroked but I would expect a child or parent to ask before stroking.

We've taught ours to always ask before touching. However, I had rescue dogs growing up so appreciate the issues better than some parents.
They also had great training in school from the local RSPCA equivalent (not UK). This taught them about dog behaviour and warning signs, to ask before touching and what to do if a dog chased them or jumped up at them. Don't know if there are similar UK programs.

Yup and if dog does bite then it's child's fault and parents for letting them run around.
(Used to be dog owner).

Our 3yr old loves dogs but we always taught her to stop and ask owner first - she's not 100% verbal yet but knows not to just jump in.

Basic common sense.

I agree. I have a pug that children love, but he's had a bad experience after being bitten by another dog and he now tries to bite hands that reach for his face.

I wish parents would stop their precious darlings running over and trying to touch him, he even has a warning badge on his harness but they never care :( if he bit one of them I'd be devastated

It really should be basic common sense not to run up to random animals and stroke them. Even when I walk my dog and he's having a sniff with another dog, I would never stroke the other animal unless the owner said it was okay. Some dogs are great with other dogs but not people, for example, or don't like children, or men, or get defensive if they have food or a ball or something with them.

knobend perfectly illustrates the attitude of some parents that it is everyone elses responsibility to keep dangers out of their little darlings way and they have a right to do what the hell they want.
Dogs have a right to be exercised and socialise, they also have a right not to be approached and have physical contact forced upon them when they haven't asked for it.
A dog bounding about off-lead merrily ignoring its pathetic ineffectual owner is totally different to a dog with good command obeyance and on a lead. Just as a child bounding about doing what the hell they like and ignoring the indulgent parent is totally different to one who has been taught ask first before stroking and give dogs some space and respecting those boundaries.
Your dog, your problem. Your child, your problem.

Just as a child bounding about doing what the hell they like and ignoring the indulgent parent is totally different to one who has been taught ask first before stroking and give dogs some space and respecting those boundaries

Yes this, your child your responsibility. Where as my dog is mine. The attitude of some parents is awful :-/ (some not all)

Ah Knobend how charming. I'd expect people to be in close proximity and he was fine with that, what I wouldn't expect is a small person cuddling his head whilst his parent watched on from a distance. The dog went everywhere with me. Could be told to stand stay from a distance, etc. Bloody well trained and well behaved dog. I bet you'd have something to say if someone walked up to you and cuddled your neck without invite.

My dog is terrified of children. He had 3 years of tail pulling, ear pulling, fingers in eyes etc before we got him, (dogs trust).

Please ask before your children try to pet a dog.

Knobend, why is it always down to the dog owner? I have a very hairy dog (fairly unusual breed) that children just seem to be attracted to.

I am quite happy for them to stroke him if they ask me first. I get him to sit as he is pretty big and then ask them to stroke his back. I trust him and he loves children and people BUT you can never be 100% sure of any dog so I don't let them touch his face or head and I watch the whole time.

I am so fed up with children running up and throwing their arms round his neck or grabbing his tail or fur. One morning 6 young children ran at him screeching and screaming and literally surrounded him. I could see he was not happy and shouted at the childrens' mothers to call their children away. They were all too busy chatting to take any notice of me. If my dog had bitten one of them the mothers would soon have taken notice.

I have had to give up walking my dog around school times (I live near 3 schools) because of the amount of children running up to him.

2 children ran up to my cocker and threw their arms around him. This was when he was about 18 months old, and ever since then, he does not like small children near him and will give a growl if they crowd him. I really believe it was because of that incident.

I agree parents should always ask if it is ok for the kids to approach or stroke your dog . I also think kids with food should not go near dogs on purposes ( obv fine if they are just walking past in the street )

This is not just a dog problem though , I had two polecats ( think big ferrets ) me and my DH took them for a walk on their extension leads at out local park , sticking to the areas where not many people walk when a woman appeared from round a corner and immediately said "
oh how cute " and grabbed the normally very friendly boy that my DH was in control of, he bit her and drew blood she screamed and shook her hand around just making him more scared.
The woman yelled at me that I should have more control of him , imo if you grab any animal and yank it off its feet you are very likely to get bitten ! .

YANBU
Everyday I stand across the road from the playground with the dog sat nicely next to me, nobody has to walk past us to leave the school but children run up to him and stroke him without asking which is fine as he is really friendly and loves the attention but hes 63kg and if he didnt like small children crowding round him and touching him he could do serious damage so it amazes me that parents havent bothered to teach their children to be careful just in case.
A few weeks ago a child ran out of the plaground across the road (without looking) to stoke him (without asking) and her mother came out screaming at me and the dog for being near her child not screaming at her child and apologising to us that she wasnt able to controll her.

I totally agree with you OP

However, I have noticed an increasing number of people where we live who seem determined to take their dogs to places where children will be (eg school run, playground on a busy weekend) and then seem surprised when their dog gets attention from children and/or when children run around in the vacinity. There are a couple of parents who take their dogs on the school run every day, stand right in front of the gate (almost blocking it) then get annoyed when children run/shout near their dog.

By that I don't mean that they ask for children not to touch the dog, but that they seem to want children to keep a distance from it/not make a noise around it etc. If they don't want children near their dog (maybe for good reasons) why take it to these places?

Doesn't sound like this applies to you but I think dog owners also need to think whether the place they are taking their dog is suitable.

YY it's not just dogs - any animal needs to be treated with respect.

As well as a puppy we have two cats. One is friendly and will happily get a fuss off most people - and if not she'll just remove herself. She doesn't hiss and only scratches if you pick her up against her will. Our other cat is a right grumpy fucker, but because he's big and fluffy (part Maine Coon) everyone wants to fuss and stroke him. He's fine if he knows you and you approach him slowly and let him have a sniff, but so many people will just wander up to him and try and pick him or touch his face and then wonder why he hisses and lashes out.

Parents really need to watch their kids around animals - it only takes one wrong move for a child to get really badly hurt, and it's ALWAYS the animal that will get blamed, even though he's had his space invaded and has probably exhibited tons of warning signs before biting or growling.

If they don't want children near their dog (maybe for good reasons) why take it to these places?

Because socialisation is good for dogs and they need to learn to behave properly in situations where they might not be very comfortable. Lots of animals don't like masses of commotion and loud noise but it's not practical to keep your dog in silent isolation forever - they need to be able to me amongst noise, crowds and children without panicking. So people take them out and help them get used to it.

I agree there are some places where it's completely inappropriate to take a dog, but walking your dog in the park at the weekend is a completely normal thing to do, surely?

Taking a big gsd/rottie into a post office for god's sake! It's obviously going to be in very close proximity to a large number of people, if that dog isn't fucking bomb proof when it comes to being touched by strangers then you'd be a complete fucking moron to put it in that position.

Guff.

People need to teach their children to ask before touching. Dog owners shouldn't be expected to be the only ones taking responsibility.

Dont worry the only dogs my kids get involved with are the ones not on leads who come bounding up to them nearly knocking them off their feet. We don't have time to politely ask if we can touch the dog!

Hang on OP! You don't seriously expect some parents to take responsibility for their offspring do you?

It's much easier for them to tell dog owners off when their little darlings are asked not to touch the dog.

I have a one year old who is very well trained and although she isn't bothered about wanting attention from others now I am pissed off with the number of children who squealed "Look, cute puppy" and came running over to her when I was trying to get her focussed on me to pass people and dogs without wanting to greet them.

I picked up my new puppy on the weekend. I won't look forward to altercations with some parents when I request they call their children from harrassing my pup when he is in training.

Also when a nervous dog gives off warnings signals and are ignored it will, eventally, bite. Then the dog pays the ultimate price - because some parents do not educate their children about the consequences of running up to dogs and don't want to take responsibility for their children's actions.

Common sense and respect is needed on both sides.
Pet owners: keep an eye on you dogs.
Parents: keep an eye on your kids.

If you have both, develop a revolving head! We have a very pretty, unusual dog. I would say the asking-before-petting is about 50/50.If people see her out with my children, they seem to assume it's OK to launch at her.
We were at a busy park a while back, and I was sat daydreamin watching my kids. Dog was loafing around on lead. I heard a voice say "I'm going to show you that dogs are fine!!" and turned around to see a bloke hauling his squealing son (about 5?) towards my dog, trying to force his hands onto her! I politely said he should ask me first, his response was "Well you've got those kids with it, so it must be safe". The fact that it was OUR dog, which knew us, was a bit lost on him....!

I must say though that we really like it when a polite child comes and pets the dogs.

I have also had children who are scared of dogs come to us, I particularly like that. I make the dogs sit and wait until the child is ready to stroke them.