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.

I don’t understand why teachers don’t line up outside maternity wards to collect the children and return them fully house trained and educated at 16.

No, it’s the job of parents to teach their children how to behave around dogs. I taught my children not to approach or touch any dog they don’t know. If they know the dog then you still ask the owner as it may have an injury or just not be feeling 100%. I say to them that a dog is no different from a human is needing it’s own space and how would they like it I’d random people starting touching them.

Of course I can’t protect them from dogs that are loose in public spaces and badly trained with no recall. Dog owners must take responsibility and train their pets not to approach or jump up on people.

It cuts both ways.

It's not a &bad idea, but I would possibly expand it to more than just dogs. It's important for kids to understand the world around them, and that includes the animals they will commonly encounter.

Maybe if the country wasn't over run with dogs it wouldn't be such a problem. I'm sick seeing them tbh.

This morning the dog and I came upon a man and a toddler. The man said to the toddler, ‘Look, a doggy!’ and the toddler started to run at my dog. I said loudly, ‘No, don’t grab the dog,’ and the man just stood there. I called my dog to heel and said to the man that the dog isn’t good with being grabbed at. He never once took the kid’s hand or made any move to stop it running straight at a dog. The kid was safe because my dog is trained to come to heel. Fucking stupid bloke.

Child behaviour is not the root cause of attacks by dangerous dogs.

@Viviennemary

Maybe if the country wasn't over run with dogs it wouldn't be such a problem. I'm sick seeing them tbh.

I think it is more over run with children. And I don't like them much either.

I think it should be dog owners should have to attend (and pay for) a course in how to control dogs, before they're permitted to buy one.

Many savaged children are too young to have gone to school yet.

I think it is more over run with children. And I don't like them much either.

Why the fuck are you on a parenting forum then?

100% the owner’s responsibility, not schools or children.

The vast majority of dog owners are responsible and dogs know how to behave, but the few who are not are a nuisance. Recently I’ve been approached by random dogs in park while walking - the owners response is always “don’t worry, he’s harmless”.

Recently a dog jumped in the pond at nature reserve and scared all the ducks/ bird life away. A guy shouted at the owner to put dog on a lead and she looked totally perplexed. Bloomin idiot.

Where I live, a lot of people got dogs during lockdown and a minority of the dogs have not been trained and are a nuisance unfortunately.

@WhoWants2Know

It's not a &bad idea, but I would possibly expand it to more than just dogs. It's important for kids to understand the world around them, and that includes the animals they will commonly encounter.

What animals?

Cows can be dangerous. Bulls, bullocks.

Snakes spiders so few dangerous as to be negligible.

The animal we are most at risk from by far is other humans. Thinking about it.

@MaryLennoxsScowl what an idiot. Hopefully he will think twice next time.

Yabu
The onus should be on dog owners to train and control their animals.
I’d welcome official training before people are allowed to own a dog and one year probation. (Don’t ask me what’ll happen to the dog if probation is failed . I haven’t thought that far ahead)

@simonjt

Lots of children are on reigns or hold an adults hand until they are capable of not running into the road

This thread is about school aged children and if most of us saw a 5+ year old in reins we would.see that as a safeguarding issue. Of course I'm not talking about toddlers.

Fine as a one-time workshop if schools don't have to find money to pay for it. But that doesn't absolve parents from actually teaching their child life skills themselves.

I have met plenty of NT children who can't dress/undress themselves, use a knife or fork, say please or thank you, tie shoelaces, even wipe their bums. As a teacher, I have done what I can. But there comes a point when you have to realise the curriculum is stuffed full and subjects like Music, Humanities, DT and Drama are already getting squeezed out in favour of more Maths or English/Spelling/Handwriting/Phonics/Grammar/Reading. What else would you get rid of to put in place life skills lessons? PE? Art? PSHE?

@mouseonmychair
I think it is more over run with children. And I don't like them much either.

Unfortunately you not liking them doesn't stop them from having more rights than any dog. I don't like Jacob Rees-mogg but I believe he has the right to walk through the park without being mauled by someone's pet.

Dog owners should take responsibility.

How about dog owners worry about controlling their animals instead?

Is this meant to be a parody on all the things women are supposed to learn to keep themselves safe from attacks from (some) men? The victim blaming is there along with the suggestion they shoulder all the learning and behaviour change that's required, the 'for their own protection is there', the not actually suggesting the aggressors need to learn anything is there.
No of course they shouldn't be taught in schools. (Some) dog owners need to sort their shit out and train their dogs to behave!

I'm amazed so many parents think it's my job to stop my dog from defending itself from them. Keep your entitled children away from dogs cats and horses (which can be much more dangerous)

I don't see why people are so against the OP.

It seems sensible to at least cover it in an assembly or something, in the same way that they'd cover firework safety.

It shouldn’t be part of the National curriculum but it would be a good subject for an assembly.

Mouseonmychair

I'm amazed so many parents think it's my job to stop my dog from defending itself from them

Maybe the parents you refer to just understand the law better than you do. If your dog attacks a child it will be you who stands in court not the parent of the child.

Teach the dog owners

I think it should be compulsory for dog owners to be trained how to handle their dogs around children (and wildlife) and how to not abuse and neglect their dogs.