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.

The only issues I have encountered have been dogs approaching children rather than the opposite. When DS was a toddler we were in the fenced off children's play park and some entitled, arrogant dog owner wanted to let them run loose in there for some reason. To note, the park is surrounded by green fields and areas, no reason at all to bring them inside the park and not bother to keep an eye, hence the children all leaving as it was too stressful to try and keep them away from this feral dog and its owner.

No. It is YOUR responsibility as a dog owner to coach your dog not to bite children. If you can't do that, you're not fit to own a dog, nor should that dog be among the civilian population.

I teach my kids to never approach a stranger's dog and if it's someone we know then ask first. Not sure this requires much national curriculum space. Other than that it's the dog owners responsibility.

Why isn't it also the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to behave around animals?

Years ago my dog snapped at a kid. I was walking her on a lead and he ran up to her and shouted 'doggy' and hit her on the nose. She reacted and snapped and I can't say I blame her. The mother actually apologised to me so all was well but it's not always the dog or owners fault.

I agree with this. Yes, dog owners need to take responsibility for their dogs, but it’s important for children (and adults!) to know how to behave around dogs too.

Thanks. And 3 simple words for you "control your child".
My dog is perfectly under control.

Finding this thread unbelievable. I know it's on a parents forum so is going to be biased but even so... 🤦🏻‍♀️
All dog owners want is for children not to terrorise their dogs. They all seem to completely accept that they are responsible for keeping their dog under control and agree that dogs should not approach children.
But some parents on here seem to think their child can behave in any way they like.
It's useful for children to know how to treat animals. And if parents don't want to teach their children then maybe there is a role for schools to play.

All dog owners want is for children not to terrorise their dogs. They all seem to completely accept that they are responsible for keeping their dog under control and agree that dogs should not approach children.

That's what all dog owners seem to say on MN, because all MN dogs have perfect recall and all MN owners put them back on a 10cm lead at the slightest hint of a child's frisbee or ham butty in the vicinity.

That definitely isn't my experience of dog owners, though, nor is it the experience of a lot of posters on here. I walk a lot, and I've never seen a child 'terrorise' a dog. I acknowledge that it must happen (I've heard stories, seen videos etc) but the far more common sight is dogs knocking over toddlers, licking faces, jumping up, putting muddy pawprints on coats and scratches on arms, trampling over picnics and stealing footballs.

I think the parents' bias you're seeing is probably the result of many of these encounters leaving kids apprehensive and scared, parents having to deal with that time and time again, and getting frustrated that so many owners can't or won't control their dogs.

@takealettermsjones so what was I supposed to do when my dog was on the lead and hit across the nose by some brat? I was doing everything I was supposed to and some people would still have blamed my dog if she'd caught the kid when she snapped.

And I completely agree that this should not be happening.
But I don't see how that mitigates the benefit of children knowing not to approach unknown dogs.
It doesn't have to be dog owners v parents. We could all just agree that it would be better for everyone if dogs didn't approach children and children didn't approach dogs 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nahhhh ridiculous.

...I don't think I said that was your dog's fault?

I agree with you, I'm just saying that I think the reason why there's a lot of "just control your fucking dog!!" etc on this thread (and others like it) is pure frustration at the sheer amount of irresponsible, and sometimes downright dangerous, dog owners there are.

You didn't, but your post implied in most cases it's the dogs fault and I was using my dog as an example of why sometimes it's the kids fault. Or rather the parents fault for not parenting.

Yep and equally the dog owners are frustrated by the sheer amount of children that harass cute looking dogs on a daily basis. (Not blaming the children as it's nearly always being encouraged by parents).

I acknowledged that children must also run up to dogs, but I said that in my experience, it's far more common the other way around. I was making a point about the reason why this thread may seem biased, to a dog owner.

Right, but does that really happen as frequently as dogs approaching people? All I'm saying is that in my life, it isn't even close. Fair enough if it's mostly kids approaching dogs that you see, but honestly, that would surprise me.

In my experience as a parent and a dog owner, I have much more instances of children approaching my dog, touching her, pulling at her etc than I do of other dogs approaching my children.
It is a big issue.

What planet are you living on where you think people want to touch your inbred rat dog?

In my experience its only other deluded owners who want to interact with your inbred darling.

Nice.

I would imagine its the planet where people do exactly that.

Christ how much more parental responsibility will be abdicated to schools?!?? The curriculum is overpacked as it is 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I have never - ever - seen a child run up to a dog that does not appear to be theirs. Dogs run up to my kids all the time. It’s so infuriating. Your dog, your lifestyle choice, your responsibility to keep it well away from me and my family. Get a short lead and keep it on it when in public.

Personally I don't want snotty little kids anywhere near me

Agreed