To expect parents to teach their little children not to approach my dog?

[joystir59]

It happens all the time- young child screams "Little doggie" and reaches towards Dog with outstretched hands. My dog hates little children doing this and would probably snap at them if they managed to actually get their hands on him. Why don't parents teach their children to ignore strange dogs?

And I don't understand why, if you know that your child may dart and grab a dog, you don't keep a tight hold of him on walks for his own protection. Why risk your child being disfigured for lunging at a dog?
People have said repeatedly they are speaking about dogs that are ON THE LEAD and minding their own business with their owner quite content.

Seriously it's not hard:

1. Dog owners act responsibly and reasonably with regards to their dog
2. Parents act responsibly and reasonably with regards to their child.

I won't have my well trained dog run up and jump at children because I'm a responsible dog owner and I expect parents to use the same common sense regarding their children (e.g. don't let them run up to animals).
Honestly most of this thread seems to be dog owners advocating responsible dog ownership and parental responsibility and some parents thinking the world should bend around their child.

Get a staffy.

Some people cross the road when they see mine shame as she is super friendly and doesn’t jump up.

I think it’s a combination. The dog should be trained and on s lead but kids should be taught to not approach dogs.

I agree ... however parents should teach children not approach any strange dog.

That's what I said @Mileysmiley. As I said, I taught my own from a very young age not to approach a dog without asking first.

Ultra, the point that we’re all making is ANY dog may snap under the wrong circumstances. So by that logic, every dog should be muzzled.

I personally wouldn’t muzzle my dog, but if I believed there was a chance that he might snap with little to no provocation then I would be walking him away from his triggers, paying to privately rent a field if necessary, because I’m damned if I’m going to lose my dog that way.

However I defend other dog owners in what I believe to be right. Which is to expect that no one, child or adult, should approach their dog while it is on the lead and under control without permission.

And if they do or are allowed to by a parent in the case of a child, then it is not the fault of the dog owner.

Resident Collie has issues with children. These issues devolped when, as a puppy, parents allowed their children to run up to her and scream in her face. When I asked for them not to allow their children to do so, I was told to stop being nasty. As a result, Resident Collie is nervous around children.
Thankfully for her, I understand her worries. On walks, she knows she can rely on me to be scanning the horizon for the merest sign of children and to call her back well before they reach "Doggy!!!!" point so she can be on her lead and safely between me and the wall/or up a steep slope where she feels safe. Even having a muzzle on her doesn't stop children wanting to run up and scream in her face or pet her.
We went to La Rochelle last year. Resident Collie packed her muzzle because our apartment was in the centre of the city. We needed it once. For some reason, children in France don't feel the need to run up to a strange dog and shout at it or try and pet it, even if it isn't muzzled
Resident Collie enjoyed a stress free week exploring the stream of the park and being completely ignored by people.
So, it is entirely possible to raise children to respect boundaries of people and animals. Why do dog owners have to shoulder all the blame when our dogs are right next to us, minding their own business and you can't control your children enough to teach them not to run up to a strange dog, even when said dog has a muzzle on and is cowering behind it's owner who has asked you 3 times already to keep your children away?

Passmetheketchupplease
Exactly. It's hardly rocket science. Dog owners apply common sense and reasonable responsibility; parents apply common sense and reasonable responsibility. Everyone coexists just fine.

Funnily enough the only people who can't fathom such a simple concept are those irresponsible dog owners who allow their dog to run around with poor or no recall/allows them to jump up at people because "they're friendly" and irresponsible parents who think that "but they're a child" and "they don't understand" excuses their own refusal to take responsibility for their child's behaviour.

If your dog is not 100% safe to be out in public then it should be on a lead with a muzzle on.

No dog is 100% safe 100% of the time in 100% of situations.

My dog is safely in my control when out in public

There is really is no arguing with idiots.

Once more for the cheap seats in the back!!

THE OP’S DOG WAS ON A LEAD. THUS WAS UNDER CONTROL.

THE OP’S DOG HASN’T SNAPPED.

NO DOG IS 100% SAFE. EVERY DOG CAN BE STARTLED AND SNAP OUT OF SURPRISE IF PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE IT FEELS THREATENED.

Funnily enough the only people who can't fathom such a simple concept are those irresponsible dog owners who allow their dog to run around with poor or no recall/allows them to jump up at people because "they're friendly" and irresponsible parents who think that "but they're a child" and "they don't understand" excuses their own refusal to take responsibility for their child's behaviour

I don't take kindly to out of control dogs running up to mine, "He's friendly, he wants to play", says ineffectual dog owner. Yeh well I have spent many months training my dogs to ignore other dogs, unless I give them permission to interact with other dogs. I need to be able to weigh up the other dog before releasing them to play.

As far as children go I leash my dogs when approaching an obviously out of control child. (I can 100% trust my dogs to walk to heel when approaching other dogs, people, cyclists, joggers or children). My dogs are both very friendly BUT once I put them on a lead they have nowhere to escape from an over enthusiastic child/children, who approach them screeching, "Doggie!... Waffle!..." and proceed to jump on them, slap their noses, and generally hurt them.

A dog who is cornered and cannot escape will become fearful, and a growl and a snap is their way of saying, "I don't like this. I'm scared", however friendly and safe they usually are.

I wonder if those parents who fail to control their children around dogs will ever take the responsibility should a, normally affable, friendly dog snap at their dc?

Something tells me they will shout for a usually, calm, affable, friendly dog to be PTS for not kow towing to their out of control child.

Dog owners know their dogs. If people don't allow their out of control children, or out of control dogs to harass other dogs there will be no problem.

I'll keep my dogs under control. You keep your dog/kids under control and there won't be a problem.

I'll keep my dogs under control. You keep your dog/kids under control and there won't be a problem.

Excellent summary TwoPups