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?

Who said any of these dogs were dangerous? Ken?

All the posters who said their dogs snap or bite people. How would you describe a biting dog?

We have newish neighbours, and when they moved in I overheard one of their DC say to the other that they must not stroke our cat, who was sitting on the wall, because she would bite them. I was simultaneously impressed the parents have taught them to be wary of strange animals, and a little bit sad.

They are great friends now, and the DC ask if they can give the cat “a sweet” and dole out Dreamies to her!

I agree. I really drum it into my kids to check with the owner first. My ASD dd 7 is mad about dogs and it's taken a long time of watching her like a hawk and teaching her how to behave. The vast majority of dog owners I see are responsible and work hard at training their dog but children need to respect animals too.

Of course parents should teach their children not to touch strange dogs but dog owners with snappy dogs should muzzle their dogs. Or teach your dog not to bite children?! —Not to mention dogs off leads who run up to smaller kids —

Be realistic, toddlers are unpredictable and learning.

As PP have said the law is very clear on who is at fault if a dog bites a child.

Parents of small children should have their child next to them and not allow them to approach strange dogs. If your child liked crocodiles you wouldn't let them run up to one. Dogs just want to enjoy their walk without being ambushed

All the posters who said their dogs snap or bite people. How would you describe a biting dog?

My dog is only a puppy and has never bitten or growled or anything, but, say you were minding your own business, walking along the street when someone randomly came running over to you, yelled in your ear, flung their arms around your neck, pulled your ears, boshed you on the head - it hurt, you’re pretty shocked - how would you react?

Yes, the law is clear. So it doesn;t really matter what irresponsible dog owners think.

Everything else is victim blaming. Two year olds are excitable, noisy and unpredictable.

If you have a nasty snappy dog keep it muzzled in public.

And I get it from kids of 5, 6 and upwards as well

Not just littlies- in fact the older ones are worse than the little ones

All the posters who said their dogs snap or bite people. How would you describe a biting dog?

That is all dogs in the wrong circumstances.

Ah, mumsnet, where children are angels, parents don't have to teach their kids how to behave around animals and dogs get the blame for everything.

If I have a dog on a lead in public they are very much under my control. I promise you. I've worked with a few large breeds who had no manners. I've worked with traumatised dogs, or those who didn't get enough socialisation at the critical age. I also handle bold horses. If a horse isn't getting away from me to eat your small child my dog isn't.

Being in control in public doesn't oblige every dog to be a fucking saint when children run up to, shout/scream and pat/poke/tap/grab/squeeze the dog.

My job is to keep my dog out of harm and from causing any harm. Your job is to keep your child out of harm and from causing any harm.

So for the love of God teach your child not to run up to and pat enthusiastically on the head in a way which in dog language means they're being hit or hug grab and squeeze the life out of my dog. The same with my horse and the same with wildlife. You see me and my dog on a lead and work out the circumference of the lead + arm + dog and keep you and your child out of it, and I will keep my dog out of your and your child's personal space and put further controls on where my dog is and can go. By all means ask me if your child can approach my dog, but don't be a spoilt brat and say my dog shouldn't be in public if I decline, or if they act fearful or fear aggressive if you breach boundaries. If you don't want to learn dog and d to teach your child how to speak basic dog I'll think that's a shame but I don't particularly care, as long as you don't, as some of these posters seem to be saying, expect your child to be allowed into my dog's space to do as they would to a teddy bear without consequence- from me, if we are all lucky, and from my dog if I don't manage to successfully take evasive action.

Teach your children how to behave safely around animals. If you have any questions about that, feel free to PM me, my bark is worse than my bite, I want your children to be safe really and my inbox is animal-free

Sorry but yabu. If your dog is nervous it is your duty to control it. Put it in a nervous dog vest. Kids sometimes will do whatever they want.

Surprised the OP is getting a bit of stick.

Children should not do this. Unfortunately they do. Mine regularly gets cuddled without warning by children.

Muzzle your dog for its own safety and the safety of children if snapping is a genuine concern.

Toddlers should be with their parents. A child old enough to be running around away from their parent is old enough to be told not to touch dogs they don’t know.
Dogs that bite should, of course, be kept away from children or muzzled. Dogs barking is just a defensive action and nobody gets hurt but both parties get frightened.
Both the parent and the dog owner has responsibilities.

Why don't parents teach their children to ignore strange dogs?

I agree. And why don’t dog owners teach their dogs to ignore strange children? I don’t care if it’s “just being friendly”; neither I nor nor my kids want to be bothered/licked/knocked over by some random, over enthusiastic puppy.

YANBU.

PringleDog is a large, hairy and very appealing dog. Everyone comments on her.

She has never ever indicated she might bite anyone ever and she is 9 years old.

I can control her and always put her on the lead if we are near another dog on a lead. She has great recall, stop, sit, down and leave.

Small children often run at her because she looks like a teddy bear. 99 times I am able to get between said small child and PringleDog and say, ‘you have to approach her like this / pat nicely’ etc etc

I am pretty fucking good at reading my dog but there may well be one occasion when I’m unable to get between small child and dog and small child does something that hurts / annoys her. My dog has never indicated she would bite but she is an animal and I cannot guarantee that for ever and ever Amen. She would not be at fault or responsible.

Teach your kids to approach dogs with the owners permission and with respect.

As PP have said the law is very clear on who is at fault if a dog bites a child.

And as several of us dog owners have pointed out, the damage is done by then. None of us want our dog to bite a child, or an adult for that matter - or even another dog.

I don't want anyone hurt - and I don't want my dog destroyed, so believe you me I d everything I can to keep us all safe and happy - but although I can control my dog, I can't control other people's behaviour.

A dog doesn't have to be "snappy" to take an air-snap at a child that is frightening or hurting it - it's a warning, as is a growl.

Why should horrible children be protected at the expense of lovely dogs?

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

Put it this way, if a child approached my dog and it snapped I can guarantee you my dog wouldn’t be hurt by you in any shape or form. What I can guarantee is you’d probably come off worse because there is no way in hell I’d allow anyone to abuse my animals. Take from that what you want. ☺️

On another note, I had a random 5 year old in one of my fields today with 4 horses. Their parents were on the other side of the fence and wondered why I deposited aforementioned child beside them along with his apple. Fortunately for the parents they had not allowed the child to enter my field further along with my mare and foal in it. I never understand why parents allow children to approach animals that aren’t familiar to them.

Parents of small children should have their child next to them and not allow them to approach strange dogs. If your child liked crocodiles you wouldn't let them run up to one. Dogs just want to enjoy their walk without being ambushed

Not sure I see too many crocodiles being walked up and down the local park, on or off a lead.

@Daytimetellysucks exactly! I've been in the supermarket and had strange toddlers running over and wiping snot covered sticky fingers over me while the parents laugh and say "oh you've made a friend " no, i haven't made a friend and no i don't want your child using me as tissue. I feel sorry for dogs who have to put up with stuff like that

Exactly daytimetellysucks We have a husky/german shepherd mix. White fluffy cloud. Every walk she's harnessed up and on a lead and kept well away from children.

I wasn't feeling well so instead of a long walk we went to a local dog run that's in the grounds of a park but obviously gated off. Dog is running around happy as Larry chasing her ball and a group of 3 roughly 10 year old girls squeel and run shouting 'dog dog dog.' Our dog was abused as a puppy so shouting and loud noises make her nervy. She runs behind me and these girls have opened a locked gate to the run and are running at the dog. I've grabbed the dogs harness and shouted for them to stay back but would they listen? No because 'they just want to pet her, she's so fluffy'. DP has had to physically pick up the dog and carry her out of the situation because she's so scared. They did the same thing 3 days later when we went. Since then no matter how ill I feel we've done the long walk away from children.

I love dogs beyond all reason, but you can’t control the behaviour of other people. Muzzle your dog when you’re out, then you don’t have to worry. It’s your responsibility to manage the situation, as you are the one with the biting dog.

the law is very clear on who is at fault if a dog bites a child

Unlike some MNers who thought that 10 year old killed on the caravan must have done something to the dog. It beggars belief.

Parents do need to keep their kids under control but I am bothered more by off lead dogs than kids running around when I eg go for a run.

Dogs just want to enjoy their walk without being ambushed

So do a lot of humans.

I've taught my DC to ask first (although they're generally not interested in dogs they don't know).

But I'm fed up with dog owners thinking it's ok to have their dogs jump up on the DC, bark at them or even growl when they've done nothing more than walk on the same path. "Oh don't worry, he won't hurt them" not taking the chance thanks!!

(I also put PringleDog on the lead if a child / adult is obviously wary of her. Always)

Why should horrible children be protected at the expense of lovely dogs?

Because your dog is just a dog, not a child (no matter how much some dog-owners would like to pretend otherwise).