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?

(have also restrained myself from pointing out that "viscous" actually means, a bit thick

though if you'd rather characterise your dogs as vicicous then do not let me stop you

i agree, dogs should be on leads if chldren are around. i dont own a dog personally but my mum has 2 huge dogs. my children arent bothered by them, but when out at a park if any dog runs up to dd that she doesnt know she freaks.....this hasntr come from me, im not at all nervous, but its a bloody great huge scary thing to a 2yo isnt it?

keep your dog on a lead or find somewhere with no children around. End of.

I think a healthy respect for dogs teeth is advisable. In that children should be thought not to approach strange dogs or to stroke a dog without asking the owner first.

I think that some parents do go overboard and instil irrational terror of all dogs in their children.

I have a big beautiful fluffy dog. When I take her out I am constantly stopped by adults and children wanting to stroke her and I always say yes as she will take any amount of fussing that people are prepared to give her. I dont let her run off the lead unless the beach/park is deserted as she could easily knock a person over by accident.

I think its plainly obvious when a dog is playing and when its being aggressive. As i said my dogs are highly trained - have always done obedience training on a weekly basis. And yes they are very good around children i do have 2 kids of my own and several neighbours children who visit daily.

"No they dont run up, they trot."
Well if a dog 'trotted' up to me, I would be afraid for me, and for my DCs.
I am terrified of dogs, but I am doing everything in my power to make sure my DCs aren't, so if my DS1 sees a dog on a lead and wants to go up to it (after I have okayed it with the owner) I lead him up to it. I am the first one to pat it, etc, even though I would rather throw up.

All of that is undone when an out of control dog (if it's not on a lead it's not under control) trots up to us and catches my son unawares and frightens the crap out of him.

YOu, as the dog owner, have the responsibility in this case. Dogs. Lead. Simple.

It's not plainly obvious to a small child.

This thread has to contain some of the best misspellings ever

taught not thought lol

your dogs are obedience trained and yet they chase a kid who scream?

oh pull the other one

you sound like exactly the sort of owner who gets all the rest a bad name

Haychee you obviously dont ever listen and you ar clearly deluded and of the opinion you are always right.

You are being unresonable. Overwhelmingly so infact.

Why dont you ever swallow whay pride you have and admit when you are wrong, because yet again you are.

But they can still be unpredictable as I mentioned in my post. You should never trust a dog totally, they can turn quite quickly and totally out of the blue at any time. You are being naive if you think 'your' dog never will.

Well if your dogs are highly trained, why the hell are you allowing them to approach small children who may be frightened by them?

What is the matter with you?

feck more spelling mistakes. My spelling is shite (well actually my typing is )

oh man. You are being totally unreasonable.

Your dog chases my child (who is not scared of dogs btw) and I will chase you and I you won't know whether i will bite you or not wolfish. Totally out of order.

And you you the person who tied their precious mutt up at the door of the shop yesterday. You are a half wit to tie your dog up so it sat in the doorway to the shop. I had to be v v careful coming out dd2 in buggy to avoid hitting it/it's paws. Was seriously worried about it snapping if i hit it by accident.

I think it's the haychee effect, Awen

Those of you that hate dogs and do not trust them or their owners, then take your kids to places where dogs are either not allowed at all or to a place that does not allow dogs off leads. There are places locally to me where dogs are allowed off leads and i get such looks for letting them off to run freely from parents.

You probably get odd looks from parents because you allow 2 'medium to large' dogs to run around in an area where there are children playing.

When we go to the park I want my kids to be able to run around without (a) them falling in dog shit or (b) an over excited dog chasing them.

And I don't want them being licked by a dog who 5 minutes before hand has been licking it's arse.

In parks/play areas that are designed for kids keep your fecking dogs on their leads. And muzzle them too.

So what if you had an over excited child who decided to climb all over one of your dogs, pull its tail and just not leave it alone.

What would the dog do? What would your other dog do?

o hand forgot to say YABU

My point is that if children react to dogs with terror , screaming etc. Then that dos n't make the dog any less likely to attack them and the child has a horrible experience. Teach children to behave well around dogs and dogs around children and there will be less terrible outcomes. I have treated many dog bites in children and adults in A&E, but many more scalds

I mean a horrible experience being terrified not mauled !

wolvish? wolfish? oh ffs

why would they need a muzzle if they are on lead

LittleBellatrixLeBoot
I dont let them approach. 4-5metres sniffing in bushes and the floor is not in anyway being threatening or aggressive.