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?

I can't believe all these posters with nasty dangerous dogs trying to blame children for just being children. Yes, they should be taught to ask but children don't always do as they're told (or aren't told to ask) they should still be safe though.

Who said any of these dogs were dangerous? Ken?

Google the yellow dog scheme. You can get yellow leads, harnesses, bandanas or ribbon to alert people that the dog needs space. You really should make it as clear as possible from a distance and then people won't approach.

While I totally agree with you that children should be taught from a young age how to behave around dogs as even the most docile and friendly dog can react badly if surprised or frightened, it's incredibly irresponsible of you to take your dog out without a muzzle if you know he is short tempered around children and likely to snap at them.

Happens to me too. Kids running after him is a daily occurrence, he tries to get out of their way. Occasionally he growls if they persist - most sensible parents call their kids back from running across the park after a dog who is simply ignoring them but not all, sometimes parents think it's funny . I tell them he isn't keen on kids, it has zero effect. I'm avoiding the park as it's holidays, once the weather turns I get it back to myself

Your dog doesn't sound very nice...

That's a very unjustified comment.

The dog may be nervous, or old, or just not happy with total strangers grabbing at him/her. A dog shouldn't have to put up with it -and anyway, it is only good manners to ask before you touch someone else's dog.

I have two very friendly dogs, and one anxious one. She panics if anyone she doesn't know, adult or child, approaches her. I have more trouble than enough with people who insist, "Oh - she'll be okay with me. Dogs love me". NOT MINE!

She's never bitten, but ends up shaking behind my legs and it spoils her for the rest of the day.

I m always delighted when people ask, complement children on their good manners and good sense, and tell them - you can stroke those two, but not this one because she's very shy."

OP- I don't think your dog sounds nasty at all. Just a dog that doesn't want to be manhandled.

I can't believe all these posters with nasty dangerous dogs trying to blame children for just being children. Yes, they should be taught to ask but children don't always do as they're told (or aren't told to ask) they should still be safe though.

What about the nasty, dangerous children? Or the nasty dangerous adults? Don't assume that dogs are dangerous, or that they will react aggressively. But dogs also have a right to be safe.

Sorry, but preventing children from getting injured is the priority.

Sure the child should not be near your dog in the first place, but if you know your dog is a biter and there are children in the vicinity you need to take steps to ensure he is under control and doesn't bite for his sake as well as the childs.

YANBU, I always drum into DS that if he wants to stroke a dog he must ask the owner first.

But dogs also have a right to be safe

More rights than an inquisitive child? Don't think so.

Any dog snapping at my small children would get a swift kick in the ribs. Train your dog or muzzle it in public.

My efforts are destroyed by dog owner going "oh no he s alright, doesnt bite" when i m calling back my child

I'd like to see dogs kept under control so that they don't try and lick a child in a buggy as happened when we were out with our granddaughter. The owner who had it on one of those very long leads was so angry when I kicked to dog to get it away, he was lucky that I didn't kick it much harder.

YANBU. I cringe when I see how some parents let their children rush at strange dogs. It's happened with my dog before - luckily she's not an anxious dog, but it boggles my mind that parents can be so laid back about it. Not sure if it's ignorance or genuinely that they just don't care

Theres always some arsehole frankly, be it dog owner or child handler.

My children are appropriately scared of dogs and wouldn’t dream of touching one. Yet, in the park dogs bound over towards them, jumping up etc. While some distant owner shouts ‘he won’t hurt ya’.

How the hell am I supposed to tknow that. It goes both ways. Some dog owners are shits. Some child handlers are too.

Preventing children from being injured should be the parents priority. Fixed that for you. They're your kids, not mine. Their safety isn't my responsibility I'm doing my part, keeping the dogs on their leads, away from kids. If your children come running over, you need to stop them.

If your kids are in public you should have them in a buggy or on reins if they cant be trusted not to endanger themselves.

Sorry, but preventing children from getting injured is the priority.

Exactly, hence why their parents should keep them away from unfamiliar dogs.

I can't believe all these posters with nasty dangerous dogs trying to blame children for just being children. Yes, they should be taught to ask but children don't always do as they're told (or aren't told to ask) they should still be safe though.

No dog is going to be perfectly trained in every single situation, though.

Some dogs are old and suffering from arthritis, or in pain from surgery. Some dogs are young and still learning how to behave. Dogs are animals and as such are unpredictable. They can jump and snap when they're scared or hurt or frightened by strangers - especially children who are often rough and unpredictable and do things like stick their fingers in the dogs ears or pull it's tail or touch it near the eyes or mouth.

Children should be taught to ask before approaching any dog. But then that's never going to happen when I have grown adults come up and try and touch my dog without asking

Twickerhun her dog is under control. It's the child that isn't.

Train your dog or muzzle it in public.

No. You stop your child from going up to strange dogs and touching them!

If your mutt snapped at my very young child, you and it would be very sorry indeed. Don't take it near other people if you can't trust it not to hurt them

OP didn't take her dogs near other people - other people approached her dog.

And if your child frightened my dog, and she air-snapped a warning and you "made us very sorry indeed", I can promise you that you would regret it, too.

Yes - we dog-owners have a responsibility to ensure our dogs are safe - but we parents have an even greater responsibility to control our children. Even the sweetest natured dog can take a snap if it is shocked or hurt.

After all - getting someone's dog put-down for biting is a poor consolation if your child has ended up permanently scarred, isn't it?

Personally, I taught my children not to approach strange dogs because it meant that they were less likely to get bitten/suffer pain - the same way that I taught them not to run across roads or go off with strangers. If your child is so young or disobedient that it can't be trusted not to rush shrieking up to a dog, then you should hold onto its hand.

Parents who can't trust their small children to not invade a strange dog's space should invest in a harness. It's all fine and well to say that the dog should be under control but they're animals at the end of the day and can be unpredictable. The only way to ensure your child's safety is to keep them away. Citing the law, pressing charges against, or suing the dog owner won't undo the bite.

All the people saying that the dog should be under control, it's on a lead, next to the owner. How much more under control do they need to be?
Do you let your children run up to cows or sheep to stroke them? Or a fox/cat/horse? Would you complain if those animals injured your child?

If a dog is likely to snap, then yes they should be muzzled, but any animal can be surprised and bite, even if they never have before. People need to teach their children not to approach any animals at all unless they know it is safe. Dogs aren't magical creatures that can be fully controlled.

My dog is really placid but she is often taken by surprise and startled by small children rushing up to her without warning. I have no issue with children/parents who ask if she can be petted but hate people who just assume that because she a cute looking lab their kids can just rush up to her without asking.