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.

Lots of weird threads being started tonight

I think it would be a good idea.

It is about general respect too

Er no.....this is a parents' job not a teacher's.

You're honestly victim blaming children for being attacked by dogs?

My children know only to wave at dogs. Even my two year old. Parents should teach their children long before they get to school. However I think the real issue is all the dog owners who refuse to put their dogs on leads. At least 3 the other week at the park. I picked my 2yo daughter up to ensure they didn't knock her over and was met with "don't worry you can put her down, the dog would never hurt a fly". The worst dog owners are the ones who insist they'd never hurt anyone. No one can know an animal, we had a dog when I was a child for 15 years. Never hurt anyone. Until she was 15 and big my younger sister out of nowhere.

If people are going to own animals they need to realise that animal is capable of behaviour which is out of character for them and potentially dangerous.

I think it would be far better to just bring in an application process/licence requirement for owning a dog. Or if you really want to teach something in schools, teach responsible dog ownership.

I see far more irresponsible dog owners than I see irresponsible people or kids approaching dogs.

Parents should be teaching their children how to behave, part of that is making sure their children don’t run up to animals and touch them, hug them, pull their tails etc.

We’ve had children hug our dog, chase him, throw food at him, he’s had his tail pulled while waiting to cross a road, we’ve even had parents encourage their children to touch him without asking us anything about him.

It is the job of a parent. Chemistry A level, BTEC Sport, GCSE Photography etc i agree should be left to the professionals but life skills should be taught at home.

Whenever things like this come up, i am interested to know what people would drop to fit in these extra lessons that schools should be teaching.

I also see things all the time about how things like personal finance and how goverment works should be on the curriculum when it already is.

I think it's a really good idea. Even parents who are very anti-dog can't ensure their kids never come across a dog - in a park, friends house or tied up outside a shop. Those parents are unlikely to be able to give their kids advice on how to act around a dog. Teaching kids how to deal with dogs would reduce fear/angst for them.

If a dog attacks a child the child is the victim. Train your dog and keep it on a lead in parks and busy places.

I'm not qualified to teach kids how to behave around dogs. I'm fearful of dogs and wouldn't know how to behave other than to keep my distance.

@Moonwatcher1234
Glad I’ve given you a giggle. Typo. Was meant to be schools.

@Howshouldibehave indeed. And disappointed

And just to clarify I am not victim blaming children that have been hurt or anything like that, I just think we could be doing more collectively to keep our children safe.

For every child that may approach a dog they don't know and behave inappropriately, there is a dog owner who has their dog off lead and lets them run and jump up on young children who are minding their own business. Its apparently ok for dogs to do that because they're "friendly and love kids". Its not always the children that need educating

But @MenoMom your logic leads to the natural conclusion that teachers do know how to behave around dogs. Which is silly because they are just people who all have different experiences wrt dogs.

Also none of us, however we feel about dogs, should be in danger of attack from one. If owners feel people are at risk from their dog then they need to get help not expect non dog owners to get help

How to look after dogs should be part of the curriculum seeing as how so many dog owners don't have a fucking clue.

YABU. Far more important things to be taught!

Much better for dogs to be kept on leads apart from specific dog areas.

And just to clarify I am not victim blaming children that have been hurt or anything like that, I just think we could be doing more collectively to keep our children safe. Really? Some of your posts indicate otherwise.

@Feelingconfused2020 keeping your distance in itself is good advice. Clearly, you don't want to pass on you anxieties but even simply explaining that some dogs can be nervous around people they don't know so it's respectful to give them plenty of room, and certainly never charge up to dogs even if you know them.

It's the same as stranger danger really. You can't tell who is safe and who is dangerous just by looking at them.

doing more collectively = let’s force the teachers to do it?

Nice.

I don’t think this will be happening any time soon.

What are parents actually for these days? Because it seems as though everything that used to be taught by parents is now expected to be the school's responsibility.

I've been bitten teeth twice. Never keen on dogs certainly didn't rush up to them

Don't know where teeth came from! Ignore that.

The second was a 'kiss bite' according to owner.

22:40Elphame

Glinsk

Seriously? It's the child's fault if a dog bites ithmm

Yes sometimes it really is.

Think about what you are saying. If a badly behaved child ran up and hit a strange adult on the back of the leg would it be ok for that stranger to turn round and attack the child? If that happened we would rightly think that adult should be locked up. Children (even badly behaved ones) have the right not to be attacked by dogs. Dogs who might lash out and hurt children (even if provoked) should not be out on the streets.

In my ideal world school would be for academic pursuits and parents/carers would teach their children 'life skills' but that seems to be an unachievable dream.

Also in my ideal world, only responsible and knowledgeable people would be allowed to own a dog.

@Feelingconfused2020 keeping your distance in itself is good advice

It may be good advice but it doesn't really constitute a curriculum and it won't help children who are in close contact with dogs. Me teaching them about how to be around dogs is like a ballet dancer teaching Marcus Rashford how to score penalities.

I think everyone who buys a dog should required to attend proper training sessions. Yesterday I had two random dogs jump at me without warning and then we were bothered in a cafe by a dog barking endlessly.

@AveryGoodlay

And just to clarify I am not victim blaming children that have been hurt or anything like that, I just think we could be doing more collectively to keep our children safe. Really? Some of your posts indicate otherwise.

I don’t see how.