Not to let small children stroke my dog

[Jellybeans101]

Hi all, just been dumbfounded whilst walking my dog a mum who was walking her children home from nursery allowed her kids to run over to me and my dog kids aged maybe (3&4) and try and stroke my dog.

I have a westie terrier and she is not trained and very aggressive towards other dogs and people she doesn’t know.

The little girl said ‘can I stroke your dog’ I said ‘not today lovely she’s a naughty girl’ and proceeded to tell her mum that I was unsure of how she would react and that she has a tendency to bite to which the woman proceeded to be absolutely fuming with me and call me a bitch... AIBU?
Who’s fault is it if my dog bites a little girl? Ps I’m 8 months pregnant and taking it super personally!!

@captain she would never try and jump at passers by or kids I just put her the other side of me if I’m walking her to be sure but if kids run over and startle her she’d definitely snap I don’t feel she should be muzzled either

Same here joll my very pretty happy little boy got completely mobbed by a group of small children he was terrified and the fuckwit parents did nothing. I say a blanket no now to all requests he is not a toy.

I tell children (and soft adults) very firmly that the dog is not to be touched or even approached. He is frightened of children due to prior experience. On the whole children are more accepting and sensible than adults who say “dogs love me”. I end up being quite firm, so they do finally understand.

You are not being unreasonable at all. Awful and frightening for you I'm sure.

@cherrypavlova - they're the worst! Also people with reactive dogs who insist their dogs are friendly.

You’re absolutely within your rights , we use a soft muzzle on ours when out in a crowded place as people just won’t respect his space - a couple of years ago in a pub an elderly man kept sticking his hand into his face , we warned him repeatedly not to and on the final time the dog snacked his hand a caused a small cut and blood. He said he wasn’t concerned but we were , people need to listen to owners and not assume their advances are welcome

@Jellybeans101

It's ok that you keep her safe from unwanted attention, you should be able to take a dog out without people approaching you to touch your dog, I get annoyed when people think dogs are public property. I was watching a dog trainer taking a class and what she said hit home: 'how would humans like it if a stranger just came up to them and started patting them on the head?'

My dogs don’t bite and I still don’t let people touch them especially kids who from my experience can be a little clumsy and rough. I’m just not willing to put the dogs in the position where they feel the need to be defensive to satisfy strangers. You’re not a bitch OP—the kids are entitled and the mother is crazy. You were polite to her child. I say the same thing—no, not today.

Its a difficult one.
Yes children should be taught to not approach random dogs.
Yes dogs should be trained and shouldn’t be biters or aggressive.
Trouble is, when out and about , in a park, on a footpath etc... little children often gravitate to furries, it’s totally natural.
If people are in charge of a snappy dog, then it should be muzzled and attend proper training.
Children should be discouraged from running up to dogs that they are not familiar with.
I fear that this is a conundrum that is going to get worse. So many people have dogs now but aren’t prepared to train them properly . Getting dogs to ‘sit’ or ‘paw’ isn’t training.

I don't like letting small children stroke my dog anymore, even if they ask to stroke the dog there are too many that are not taught how to act around dogs.

He has sore ears and I've had children stroking and pulling his head very heavy handed making him squeak. I've had children grab him around the neck and cuddle him like a teddy and I've had children try to climb on top of him. He's a lovely sweet boy but he doesn't like it and it's not fair.

I have a grumpy dog. He's never bitten but I don't trust him so he has a bright red lead with the word 'caution' all over it, his julius harness has a large patch that reads 'do not pet'. He has a red bandana that reads caution. He is muzzled in public.
Still there is a select bunch of morons out there who think it's their divine right to stoke him because 'oh be wouldn't bite me!'.

Idiots everywhere op.

Yanbu. I've had rescue dogs that were fine with dc, but nervous of the adult accompanying them. And older dogs that were past the stage where they appreciated random small dc patting them, so despite being perfectly safe with them, I'd say no.

Doesn't stop a minority reacting as though you've told their dc to get to fuck. Even when I've said they can pat another dog because that one is scared or very old. No doubt the same entitled arseholes that allow/ encourage dc to approach horses being ridden without asking first and go round randomly feeding those in fields.

Some people seem to think animals, and indeed the rest of the world only exist for their dc's benefit.

It's the parents job to keep their dc under control, not yours to muzzle a dog that isn't a danger.

YANBU. That parent was an idiot. Entitled? Thinks her child can do as they like regardless of circumstance? I always swap sides when walking mine, one of whom is not happy to be grabbed. I want to keep random dc safe and him!

I empathise with pp re the horse. People seem to think they’re public property, try to jump on them in the field, feed them and bitch when asked not to. I’m glad mine is wary of strangers.

YANBU the women's DC asked permission and were told no and even given an explanation. At that point her only response should have been to say ok and the DC encouraged on.

What she said makes me feel sorry for the DC, the fact that the second one then asked again makes me wonder if they are used to mum using aggression to get what she wants.

You have helped the DC see that
swearing at strangers doesn't get you anywhere!

I have the same issue, kids running up to him and he is wary because his been pull and prodded too many times. Thankfully he's very quick and obedient so I send him 100m away from the offending kids. I don't know if he would snap but I can see he's uncomfortable as they approach