To think learning how to behave around dogs should be part of the national curriculum

[Itsadogsworld]

I think schools should teach children how to behave around dogs, canine body language and so on. I think it would significantly reduce the number of children that end up in A&E each year due to dogs bites. I’ve seen some dreadful behaviour in my local park where children will run up to my dog and one child was continually trying to bear hug her own dog. Children clearly aren’t being taught this at home so I think they should include it in schools. I welcome your thoughts on this.

Don't be ridiculous.

I'd rather see dog owners have to attend mandatory classes about picking up their dogs' shit, keeping their dog on a lead in public places, not letting their mutts run up to people and jump all over them, and generally how to be responsible dog owners, because a significant percentage of dog owners are complete twats.

Yes, good idea. I’ll teach my class about dogs. In return can parents teach long multiplication, subordinating conjunctions and their use in a diary entry and the push/pull factors of migration in relation to refugees from Iraq? That’s what I taught today instead of dogs.
FWIW I have a retired racing greyhound and I could definitely talk about him and being safe around him all day.

Great victim blaming OP.

I think schools should teach women how to behave around men, masculine body language and so on. I think it would significantly reduce the number of women that end up in A&E each year due to assault. I’ve seen some dreadful behaviour in my local pub where women will run up to a man and one woman was continually trying to bear hug her own boyfriend . Women clearly aren’t being taught this at home so I think they should include it in schools. I welcome your thoughts on this.

I'd rather see dog owners have to attend mandatory classes about picking up their dogs' shit, keeping their dog on a lead in public places, not letting their mutts run up to people and jump all over them, and generally how to be responsible dog owners, because a significant percentage of dog owners are complete twats.

This with bells on !!!

@whitehorsesdonotlie

Don't be ridiculous.

I'd rather see dog owners have to attend mandatory classes about picking up their dogs' shit, keeping their dog on a lead in public places, not letting their mutts run up to people and jump all over them, and generally how to be responsible dog owners, because a significant percentage of dog owners are complete twats.

You don't have to keep your dogs on lead in all public places. They just need to be under control. Dick's who own dogs and let them galavant up to anyone else if a dick. End of story. That is not mine or my dogs fault

Utter rubbish. Dog owners should be taught how to control their dogs.

Well I was going to agree with the posters that said it's not on to give the schools yet another responsibility that should be dealt with at home but let's be honest. How many children end up attacked by the family dog? Quite often I'm guessing because they've been left alone with the dog or hurt/frightened it in some way. I know there's a running theme on mumsnet as well to hate on large breeds but I think families of big dogs tend to be more careful. They're obviously more aware of the dangers because of the damage that can be done. Whereas some of those with small dogs seem to not be bothered in the slightest their dog is distressed and their child is in snapping distance.

@rrhuth

It is not a child's fault if a dog attacks them.

Owners need to take more responsibility - including not buying bloody dogs in the first place if they are not going to a) train them and b) use a lead.

It is not schools' job to put right every problem in society.

Even a well trained, friendly, passive dog can bite if they are backed onto a corner and have no way out. 9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault because they are too rough, pulling and tugging at the poor animal. If someone was pulling and tugging at you and wouldn't leave you alone you would snap too! The only problem is that dogs can do serious damage if they get pushed to that point, which is why children should be taught by their parents to be respectful of animals, the only problem is they don't and then the children and the dogs pay the price for their bad parenting.

Even a well trained, friendly, passive dog can bite if they are backed onto a corner and have no way out. 9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault because they are too rough, pulling and tugging at the poor animal. If someone was pulling and tugging at you and wouldn't leave you alone you would snap too!
The only problem is that dogs can do serious damage if they get pushed to that point, which is why children should be taught by their parents to be respectful of animals, the only problem is they don't and then the children and the dogs pay the price for their bad parenting.

This.
I am in a breed specific group on FB, and a member was ordered to have their dog PTS for biting the face of a child. The child was in the dog owners house and jumped onto their sleeping dog. Any dog would be startled and bite, but this dog was also deaf so would not have been woken by any noise beforehand.

I think you should keep your dog away from strange children.

I think people should keep their children away from strange dogs (including yours).

Where dogs and children interact because they share a home, it is the parent/owner's responsibility to make sure the dog is safe around the children (and the children behave appropriately).

So long as the children of non-dog owners are taught not to approach dogs, there is no reason why they need ever come into close contact with dogs if dog owners behave appropriately and keep their dogs from approaching them. So no need for schools to teach them anything.

@Gliderx

I think you should keep your dog away from strange children.

I think people should keep their children away from strange dogs (including yours).

Where dogs and children interact because they share a home, it is the parent/owner's responsibility to make sure the dog is safe around the children (and the children behave appropriately).

So long as the children of non-dog owners are taught not to approach dogs, there is no reason why they need ever come into close contact with dogs if dog owners behave appropriately and keep their dogs from approaching them. So no need for schools to teach them anything.

Yes but there are idiots that are dog owners and idiots that are parents so these things dont always happen

Just for a change, someone posting yet another basic parenting job and expecting schools to deal with it.

No, inappropriate behaviour should be dealt with parents. Parents should talk to their children about basic dos and donts.

And many dog owners should take more responsibility for their dogs too. Far too many are let loose, off lead and have little to no recall. And many dog owners do not take full responsibility for the actions of their pets.

I am in a breed specific group on FB, and a member was ordered to have their dog PTS for biting the face of a child. The child was in the dog owners house and jumped onto their sleeping dog. Any dog would be startled and bite, but this dog was also deaf so would not have been woken by any noise beforehand.

You're never going to get a change in the law that says a dog can bite a child's face without consequence, so dog owners have to ensure the situation doesn't arise.

9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault

@rrhuth

9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault

That should have been bolded - I was quoting, I don't think small children are at fault for dog attacks!

@rrhuth

I am in a breed specific group on FB, and a member was ordered to have their dog PTS for biting the face of a child. The child was in the dog owners house and jumped onto their sleeping dog. Any dog would be startled and bite, but this dog was also deaf so would not have been woken by any noise beforehand.

You're never going to get a change in the law that says a dog can bite a child's face without consequence, so dog owners have to ensure the situation doesn't arise.

How about parents watch their kids, and tell them not not to jump on dogs?

9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault

No.

Because there is no real reason to keep a dog.

It's like saying you keep a chainsaw in your bag with a faulty trigger mechanism- kids should learn to keep away.

Always the owners fault.

Well it's not the child who is biting the dog, is it?

Most of the time, it's dogs who pose a danger to children, not vice versa. Hence why the onus is on dog owners to take precautions.

@XenoBitch the owner of the dog doing the assaulting is legally responsible.

Moan all you like - the law is not going to change.

If you don't want your dog to bite, take responsibility for it.

@speakout

9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault

No.

Because there is no real reason to keep a dog.

It's like saying you keep a chainsaw in your bag with a faulty trigger mechanism- kids should learn to keep away.

Always the owners fault.

Ah, someone anti-dog. So, what do you propose we do with the millions of dogs already in existence? And some dogs are service dogs. Shall we just remove guide dogs, hearing dogs, alert dogs etc from the people who rely on them? I have a dog, and she gives me purpose.. is the only reason I am still here.

[quote rrhuth]@XenoBitch the owner of the dog doing the assaulting is legally responsible.

Moan all you like - the law is not going to change.

If you don't want your dog to bite, take responsibility for it.[/quote]
The dog was fast asleep. What harm was it?

@XenoBitch

I don't get your point. The dog bit a child's face. You know how it will end.

The law will not change, for obvious reasons.

What do you want people to say - that dogs can bite children's faces?

I don’t understand. There are loads of things the school teach which fall into ‘life skills’ or whatever is deemed as parent-terrain.
Sex Ed. Swimming. Nutrition.
I mean, around here in london my child has a much higher chance Of needing to know how to behave around dogs then knowing how to tread water

And some dogs are service dogs. Shall we just remove guide dogs, hearing dogs, alert dogs etc from the people who rely on them? Obviously not, this is irrelevant in this discussion.

@speakout

9 times out of 10 it IS the child's fault

No.

Because there is no real reason to keep a dog.

It's like saying you keep a chainsaw in your bag with a faulty trigger mechanism- kids should learn to keep away.

Always the owners fault.

So I'm minding my own business with my dog in a park and a child comes up to it without permission and hurts my dog and it's mine and my dogs fault just because he is there and I choice to keep a dog?