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?

lolol at 'why would you take a child to the park where there are dogs off leads'

I wonder about you I really do

i think this may go the way of the Shrek thread
i will step away now for my sanity and before i start beating my head against the laptop

yes deffo weirdy

but havent you noticed that she is the best parent in the world though?

what about visiting people in there homes do you expect the dog to be shut outside if you child is frightened or do you just not visit anyone with a dog

I will put my dog out if any one is frightened eg HV is terrified for very good reason

but I wouldnt keep doing it if friends wanted to visit often

I thought the kids fenced off playparks didn't allow dogs in?

Oh I don't know, children are naturally frightened/ suspicious of many things - brocolli/dogs being one of them.

Its up to the parent to teach them a healthy distance/circumspection of broccoli/dogs

I'm really happy with dog allowed parks and beaches - when we went to Cornwall last year it was lovely to let him run free in and out the water and still be together as a family.

i think haychee just likes a row

"Why would you take a child that is petrified of dogs to a park where there are numerous dogs running about off the lead - it just baffles me."

Are you genuinely saying that dog-owners have more rights to parks than parents do? So that if you take your child to a park where there might be dogs, that's your own lookout? Sheesh.

I think the basic issue here is which is more important - dogs (& leadlessness) or children. Sorry, but that's only going to have one answer here.

lol @ your fiend malory at school i wrote a letter to my 'best fiend'

My 3yo DTS are petrified of dogs. When we are in the park, why should I put up with some unleashed huge mut that runs up to them barking loudly? No way. How do I know that the the dog won't turn nasty and bite them?

My DH had a rough collie as a child that he loved dearly and he will not have a dog now because he knows they are unpredictable.

When I take my twins to the park, I should not have to keep scooping them up to protect them from unleashed dogs running wild. Dogs in parks should be put on leash when the owners see young children, imo.

Actually, you're right, laurie - only last week we were at the park and a gigantic piece of broccoli came lolloping up and slobbered all over ds2. He was upset but, really, I should be teaching him to get over his fear of broccoli as broccoli has as much of a right to roam freely through the park as he does.

Your dogs should either be on leads or immediately be called to heel and immediately obey you if they are not.

It is actually a perfectly rational human instinct to be afraid of a great big bounding strong animal who makes a loud scary noise and has sharp teeth which can hurt. Children are trained out of their fear by experiencing well-behaved, gentle dogs who are obedient to human beings.

Unfortunately many of the dogs they come across are not, thus leaving the kids still scared. Quite reasonably imo.

Maybe it syou they are frightened of ,not the dogs

LOL, thanks

pmsl Enid

Once I was in the children play area with the twins and there is a sign which says "No dogs allowed".

This irresponsbile woman came into the area with her dog to have a chat with her friend. I gave her 1 minute and then told her (note told not asked) to remove her dog as this was a dog free area and her dog was frightening my boys. She gave me a filthy look but did not say anything and left.

I am very intolerant of inconsiderate people like that.

My dog immediately obeys (or I wouldnt let him off). He's not interested in other people (just in bushes)so would never bound or slobber.

IMO its the people who are poor dog owners that are the problem cos they cant train them - and I don't want to be lumped in with them.

It annoys me if I do get lumped in with them and some idiot stares at me hardly from a mile away because my dog is ignoring them and playing in the woods.

He is part of our family, and knows his place in the pack.