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.

[quote rrhuth]@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?[/quote]
No, but sometimes there is a reason for a bite.. and it is not because the dog is dangerous.
Is why, in the dog groups I am in, people always recommend seeing a vet and dog behaviour expert before coming to any rash decisions like rehoming or PTS.

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?

'fault' is not the correct word.
'responsibility' yes.

The dog owner is always responsible for the dog.

A dog biting a child is not legally allowed.
A child touching a dog is legally allowed.

These legal realities won't change.

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?

The overwhelming majority of interactions between strange kids and my dog in the park have been positive.. because the kids ask if it is ok to approach and pet her. I have a big dog, and she is often eye to eye with them.
But then one time, we were just walking through the park and some kid thought it would be fun to come up and practice a karate kick at her face. My dog got freaked out, and ran off. But if she had bit this child, how on earth would it had been my fault?

No, but sometimes there is a reason for a bite.. and it is not because the dog is dangerous. All dogs are 'dangerous', because they are animals who react like animals. With sharp teeth.

If your dog bites a person, it will potentially be PTS. It's a reality, and one that can't be changed, because whatever dog-obsessed people want, dogs are not equal to humans in the law or in the eyes of most humans.

@XenoBitch

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?

The overwhelming majority of interactions between strange kids and my dog in the park have been positive.. because the kids ask if it is ok to approach and pet her. I have a big dog, and she is often eye to eye with them.
But then one time, we were just walking through the park and some kid thought it would be fun to come up and practice a karate kick at her face. My dog got freaked out, and ran off. But if she had bit this child, how on earth would it had been my fault?

But if she had bit this child, how on earth would it had been my fault?

Not fault, responsibility. You own the dog, you're responsible if it bites. That is how it is, and how it has to be.

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?

Yes.

Keeping a dog is a priviledge- not a requirement.

@rrhuth

No, but sometimes there is a reason for a bite.. and it is not because the dog is dangerous. All dogs are 'dangerous', because they are animals who react like animals. With sharp teeth.

If your dog bites a person, it will potentially be PTS. It's a reality, and one that can't be changed, because whatever dog-obsessed people want, dogs are not equal to humans in the law or in the eyes of most humans.

Biting is their only way to say "I told you so", often after they have already displayed the signs of being uncomfortable, such as licking lips, whale eye etc.

That was the point OP was making.. those signs should be taught in schools.

Maybe people should have to do (and pay for) a training course before owning a dog. And do a refresher one every few years.

How to I train my dog not to bite when kicked in the face?

Dogs learn with repetition and positive reinforcement..
As far as I know, the only dogs that are learned to be placid when abused are dogs used for vivisection.

@speakout

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?

Yes.

Keeping a dog is a priviledge- not a requirement.

What a stupid (wrong) logic you have. Absolute madness! Same applies if it's my kid another child hurts? Or is that different? The onus is on the bloody parents

Biting is their only way to say "I told you so", often after they have already displayed the signs of being uncomfortable, such as licking lips, whale eye etc.

Do you really think we'll have trials for dogs, with their owner saying 'he clearly warned the child by licking his lips, but the child ignored him' and then they'll acquit the dog due to mitigating circumstances??

No. In the real world, dogs need to not bite, or their owners need to accept the legal consequences.

@XenoBitch

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?

The overwhelming majority of interactions between strange kids and my dog in the park have been positive.. because the kids ask if it is ok to approach and pet her. I have a big dog, and she is often eye to eye with them.
But then one time, we were just walking through the park and some kid thought it would be fun to come up and practice a karate kick at her face. My dog got freaked out, and ran off. But if she had bit this child, how on earth would it had been my fault?

Same here. My dog let's everyone have a go of his ball if they ask and children love to play with him.

It wouldn't have been your fault. It's the fault of the kids parents for letting their darling child do that

@speakout

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?

Yes.

Keeping a dog is a priviledge- not a requirement.

How is having children a requirement? Why do you think they should be allowed to hurt a living creature? What does this teach your child?

What about other animals?
Say you want to keep a venomous spider or an unpredictable monkey that you enjoy taking to the park.
A child is curious and gets hurt- is that also the fault of the child?

Same applies if it's my kid another child hurts? Or is that different? The onus is on the bloody parents

humans and dogs are different species, so yeah, a bit different.

But also - unlikely for a child to reciprocate by ripping a kid's face with their teeth. So a bit different.

@rrhuth

Biting is their only way to say "I told you so", often after they have already displayed the signs of being uncomfortable, such as licking lips, whale eye etc.

Do you really think we'll have trials for dogs, with their owner saying 'he clearly warned the child by licking his lips, but the child ignored him' and then they'll acquit the dog due to mitigating circumstances??

No. In the real world, dogs need to not bite, or their owners need to accept the legal consequences.

Exactly why children need to be taught how to behave around dogs. Just like they get taught not to play on railway lines, power stations, not go off with strangers etc.

Parents should teach this, schools have enough to do.

How is having children a requirement? Why do you think they should be allowed to hurt a living creature? What does this teach your child?

Childdren dont always have to hurt a dog in order to get bitten.
I am not suggesting it is Ok for a child to hurt an animal.
Often a child will be bitten by moving erratically or in a nervous way.

Why do you think they should be allowed to hurt a living creature?

No one said they should be allowed.

I think kids should also be taught at school how to avoid stepping in dog shit, to be light of foot, dance delicately around those steaming little turds, left by all those entitled dog owners who think the world revolves around them and rufus

Lets not pretend the we are wildlife warriors by keeping dogs- domestic dogs are bred to amuse humans, complex playthings.
They deserve respect, decent lives, but are an indulgence for the owner.

In the pecking order, humans come first, I'm afraid. You might not like it but that's the way it is.

That's why dog owners need to watch their dogs like hawks. Because a dog which poses an obvious danger to humans (even if provoked) is likely be destroyed. The reverse is not true... we don't PTS humans (including young children) who hurt dogs.

That may seem unfair if you view your dog as being on a par with humans, but most people (and the law) don't see it that way. They prioritise human life over animal life, including that of your dog.

@rrhuth

Same applies if it's my kid another child hurts? Or is that different? The onus is on the bloody parents

humans and dogs are different species, so yeah, a bit different.

But also - unlikely for a child to reciprocate by ripping a kid's face with their teeth. So a bit different.

Explain to me why it's the parents responsibility to stop their kids hurting my kid but not the parents responsibility to stop their kids coming up to my dog minding its own business to hurt him? Which will then 'stop their face getting ripped'?

Your logic makes absolutely no sense and you're making yoursen look awful silly

Great, another optional life choice schools need to prepare kids for.

They could give up swimming lessons, drama or cycling proficiency to fit it in.