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.

Nope. That is not it. Dog owners should be able to go for a peaceful walk with their dog without your child running at it.
Shocking news for you but the world doesn't revolve around you and your child. Maybe stay home if you're unsure of how to behave in public.

Why stop at dogs? I met a kangaroo at the wildlife park and just couldn't read his intentions at all.

How about both being true?

Just as obviously children should be trained never to cross the road without looking, and in the case of children too young to be reliable in this matter, parents should stay close enough to be able to stop them from doing so. But drivers in residential areas, and especially near schools and children's playgrounds, should keep to whatever speed limit is imposed and not drive so fast that they're unlikely to be able to notice and stop for a child, who crosses without sufficient attention.

Similarly, children should be prevented from running at or touching strange dogs; but dogs should also be prevented from attacking or knocking down children, even those who may have acted foolishly.

Train your dog
Get some perspective
Accept full responsibility for your dog
And give your head a massive wobble

P.S. I'm a dog owner

Yep totally agree. Parents should prevent children from running at dogs and dog owners should train dogs to not run up to children.
I just don't agree with a lot of people on this thread who think it's fine to allow children to run at dogs. There has to be responsibility on parents to teach children how to behave with animals.

My dog is perfectly trained thanks. And I would accept responsibility if she ran up to a child.

Sounds like you and your children need the same training! 😬

This 100%.

Perhaps parents could be taught to keep their children under control and away from dogs.

And just to add my children have never run at dogs, they dislike dogs - but the number of owners who don’t call their dogs back and just say ‘oh, he/she is being friendly’ - I don’t care, I don’t want their dog near my DC. Simple.

X-post - my children dislike dogs, DD was scared of them when she was little - she would not go near one and neither would DS because I taught them not to. My little sister was bitten by a dog when she was three, just walking with my mum and me - not running up to it. So I do not trust random dogs at all.

Or we could start a campaign to reduce dog ownership?

Dogs actually really are not a suitable pet for most families. Lots of popular ones sold as pets are from working or mixed lines and have traits that mean they will require a lot of training and specific exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Caring and training for one properly is time consuming and expensive.

The dogs are the problem, not the children.

Agree that that is totally wrong.
But as a dog owner I would say at least 5 times a week I have kids approach my dog to pet her, pull at her, pick her up(!) etc while the stupid parents take photos, encourage them etc. I don't mind if they ask first but she's been hurt a few times and I don't understand why parents can't teach their children how to respect animals so that we can all just enjoy going for a walk in peace.

Perhaps parents could be taught to keep their children under control and away from dogs.

We are humans. The children are more important than the dogs. The children's needs come first.

Great, another idiot dog owner who thinks the sun shines out of all dogs arses.

🙄

I live in an area with loads of dogs and i don't see any kids approaching dogs.

I see a lot of off lead poorly trained dogs jumping up at children (and adults!) though.

My dog is more important to me that your children.

@Melsy88 I congratulate you on training your dog but you definitely need to work on your (skewed) perspective.

If there are so many eager children running up to your dog and this causes issues, muzzle her.

There is zero information in my post about the behaviour of me or "my children" but thanks for the laugh at your poor attempt to irritate me; way too transparent to take seriously!

😂😂
You sound pleasant!
I am entitled to go for a walk with my dog without badly behaved children bothering her. Sorry if you are unable to understand that.

Also, most parents do teach their children to be behave cautiously around dogs.

I find the kids i know who confidently approach & pet dogs are the ones from families who have dogs at home!

Not my experience unfortunately

I am entitled to go for a walk with my dog without badly behaved children bothering her.

Legally though, your dog has few/no rights vs the child.

If a young badly behaved child comes and chases your dog, and your dog attacks/bites in fear in response, your dog will likely be put down.

Because human society places much higher value on the child than the dog.

Do you really think it's ok for a child to chase a dog?! Law or no law? 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Melsy88 step away from the red wine 😉
I don't currently have any young grandchildren to muzzle.

You keep saying most attacks happen at home.
that makes it even more the responsibility of the parent and dog owner. It’s not a random encounter. Both parties knew there was potential for issues. Holds double if parent and dog owner are one and the same.