children that are firghtened of dogs and how i find some parents are encouraging their fear

[haychee]

I have 2 medium to large dogs and i get so cross when i come accross children that just lose the plot if the dogs go near them. I can understand that they are frightened and i call the dogs away from the child instantly. But what makes me cross is the parents responses, "that dog should be on a lead" or i just get looks that could kill you dead. My arguement is, that if the child is that frightened then why would you take him or her to a place where dogs are everywhere in a dog walking area. Why do parents encourage their childrens fear by making these comments? what good does it do for the child? I actually saw one mother once who picked her child up every time the dog was anywhere close (like 4-5meters away). The child got increasingly anxious and the mother ended up having a go at me. I know and fully appreciate that some dogs are dangerous but mine arent and i think that when parents react like this infront of their children the message they are displaying is that its ok to be this frightened of dogs.

My daughter was once frightened of thunder so i purposely sat up with her watching a storm and saying things like "wow, that one was very loud" and " cor, look at that lightening isnt it beautiful". Because of this time i spent with her and the way we watched it together has dulled her fear - infact she gets quite excited if there is a storm brewing now.
Any one else feel the same or can understand where im coming from? or maybe your one of these types of parents that react like this? I would like to discuss the issue if anyone has any comments?

but my dogs dont harrass people, they are just sniffing around in bushes etc. When a child screams and runs because there is my dog sniffing around, that gets his attention and he thinks its playtime and the child wants to be chased. Its when parents encourage their fear and shout at me for not actually doing anything wrong thats what gets me annoyed. I do not allow my dogs to carry on the chase and when its plainly obvious the child is worried i call them back immediately and they do. I always apologise and offer the child and or parent to pat the dog once he is back on the lead.

doodledootoo
Thats it thats the point, kids need to know how to react to dogs ie, not running about screaming and waving their arms about. Of course it is the dog owners responsibility to ensure the dog is controlled and controllable. But i do find some parents do not instill the knowledge of how to react and approach dogs, infact they encourage their kids fears.

haychee, onlry read half the posts, thread too long, but don't like your op. It is perfectly reasonable to be frightened of dogs. I hate dog owners giving me their opinion on how friendly or otherwise their dog is.

"When a child screams and runs because there is my dog sniffing around, that gets his attention and he thinks its playtime and the child wants to be chased. "

I have said it before but I will keep saying it

your dog is NOT adequately trained

that is NOT how a well trained dog behaves around children.

you need to sort it out, urgently and in the meantime keep your dogs on a short leash.

and my god if a dog went after my kid for screaming I would call the park rangers. I have done so before now, and would do so again.

The fact that the dog thinks the child wants to play and chases the child is the reason that the dog should be on a lead.

Dogs do not have the reasoning skills or social awareness that people have and therefore should not have the same freedoms.

If a man "thought" someone else's child wanted to play and chased him or her, would that be okay?

Also, I agree with the last poster - I don't care if the dog is 'friendly, soft or harmless' I don't like it and I don't want it near me.

Haychee, fear is very powerful - it is not simply a decision to run and scream. It is involuntary and instinctive.

Agree that a dog who chases a screaming child is NOT well trained.
I have friends with HUGE dogs who have them well trained and they would not do this. My children are totally safe with them, I think.

ive had dogs for years and id say 85% of people i come across do not have any issues or fears of dogs. Then there are the other 15%, the types who stay right out of the way - thats fine. Its those who take their kids to a park where there are numerous dogs off leads having a good run, when there is another park further down the road where dogs must remain on leads at all times. So i and all the other dog walkers out with their dogs off leads are expected to stop what they are doing and put their dogs back on the leads because some daft mother has arrived with a frightened child. If you do not do what she says then you will feel the force of her tongue and nasty glares.

Although having said that it seems i am the only person in the entire country that has parks that have either dog off lead or dog on lead rules.

haychee I have only read your OP but I have to say that you are not able to categorically state for a FACT that your dogs are not dangerous or will never harm anyone. Dogs are unpredictable - end of. You should keep them on a lead whenever children are anywhere close by. It is not rocket science you know.

Goodness, Haychee, there is such a thing as compromise! A little consideration is all it takes.

Haven't read whole thread. My sister was bitten on face as a child by a very calm and friendly dog she was stroking. Dog was totally unprovoked. Dogs can be very unpredictable. It's sensible for children to be wary.

Im sorry filly. My dogs are very well trained, they have the medals to proove it! Its because one of mine is only 11months old and he is still very playful and because i have children at home (and countless visiting children) that he has become accostomed to this chasing game, the kids love it! I can recall him in an instant and i always keep a very close watch for fear of him frigtening children when out in the park. But if he is just sniffing in the bushes and obviously not paying you or your family any notice at all, is it acceptable to demand he goes on a lead?

Haychee your aggressive view is why lots of people are wary of dogs (and their owners)

just popped back and had to pick out my most favourite post

By LittleLupin on Wed 11-Jul-07 11:55:38
I am roaring with laughter at this OP.

So it's OK for your children to be scared of adults, because you've taught them they are all potential molesters, but not of bloody great dogs with teeth?

Hilarious!

I too am PMSL at this. Absolutely spot on Littlelupin.

ds is terrified of dogs while dd loves them

i find that in a park or whatever they don;t bother him unless they come up to him ( one knocked him over when he was two and he been petrified ever since)

but i don not like how some people choose to bring their dogs to the school gates and then stand with them on a long lead blocking the whole pavement and you can actually see the kids that aren't keen stepping out onto the road to get away from them

haychee am confused

do ANY of your dogs chase kids when they scream? Am pretty sure you said that they did, earlier.

I don't care what excuses they have. I don't care how old they are. DO they chase kids? Yes or no?

If they do-for ANY reason-then they need to be on a lead when kids are around.

Utterly ridiculous!
I take it you do not have a dog filly?

he is not chasing because he wants to eat the child he is chasing because its fun! There are such things as nonaggressive dogs you know they do exist!

* ALERT - THE OP WILL NOT EVER LISTEN TO REASON *

I did not say it first here today that if a child is taught how to approach and how to react to dogs they would realise that mostly dogs are very friendly.

ah ha

so the answer is YES, your dog DOES chase little kids.

to sumarise then, you have a dog which chases children. In fact, you seem to have ENCOURAGED it to chase children, because you see it as a bit of a laugh.

I think its clear to all that these dogs aren't actually trained, because trained dogs just don't behave like that.

And you want to know if PARENTS who are a bit apprehensive about your "medium to large dogs" are being unreasonable?

lol.

You are clearly a very irresponsible dog owner who is giving a lot of responsible dog owners an appalling name.

Read the entire thread AWEN and do not judge me before you read it ALL.

Oh and if you are a staff nurse, I am bloody glad I dont work with you as I think your bloody minded, blinkered views would be dangerous.

Still PMSL at Littlelupins post