To as you to teach your child how to act around dogs?

[ToBeOrNotToBee]

I'm gobsmacked, truly, still around an hour or so after this event.
Dog and I have had a busy day travelling and exploring the countryside.
On our way home, coming off train 3 of 3 on the return leg, having been out for 12 hours, I walk to the lift (which is around a corner and obscured by a stairwell) at the end of the platform with dog to heel besides me.
We're waiting with a few others when this 5-6 year old child appears around the corner, running towards us, hands outstretched, literally beelining for the dog. I see what's about to happen and immediately put the dog behind my legs and put my hand out telling the child a stern 'No'.
The child then tries to go behind to reach my dog, who is cowering between my legs. I have no choice but to grab hold of the child's coat and physically stop them, letting go when the child stops trying to reach my dog.
After a moment or two, the Dad appears and then screams at me for touching his child. As he's midscream, the lift appears and I go into it with a few others and doors close as everyone else looks awkwardly at their feet.
The doors close, we go on our merry wall.
But I couldn't stop this feeling that the child will one day do that to the wrong dog and end up a dog bite statistic.
Say for example, I wasn't as switched on, and my dog as placid as he is, or in pain that day, and the child did poke him painfully causing him to snap and bite. Child would have been hurt, my dog potentially put down, and I get a conviction for having a Dangerous Dog Out of Control.
It's something I've noticed over recent years, people treating strange dogs as public property and not animals with sharp teeth and their own minds.
So please, teach your children not to run whilst on busy train platforms (or any train platform), to not approach unknown dogs, and if someone says no, to respect it.

Is that too much to ask???

personally I don’t agree with non-service dogs on public transport especially after seeing dog poo at my local station 🤢 and seeing a huge dog take up half of a 6 seater sections during a peak time busy train, but I think thats a separate issue. To be fair, this kind of incident could have happened anywhere such as a park or local street - the issue in this incident is the kid thinking she’s entitled to touch the dog without asking and totally disregarding the owner, as well as her dad for letting it happen.

Also @ToBeOrNotToBee I hope you needed to get the lift because as someone who often travels with heavy luggage or can’t always manage stairs for medical reasons, I’d hate to be cooped up in a lift with a dog. Especially as there’s always a risk of a lift getting stuck. I usually manage to avoid being in enclosed spaces with dogs but if I wasn’t paying attention and got in a lift with one where the owner could have used the stairs I’d be annoyed. I know it’s not the point of the post but just saying!

You were perfectly reasonable OP, and that stupid idiot of a father needs to actually put some effort into parenting and controlling his child.

My dogs are nervous rescues. There's only so much socialising you can do. They are no danger to anyone (although one would react if cornered/bothered by a complete stranger) but one in particular does not want to interact with strangers. She's a loving, affectionate bean with absolutely anyone if she gets chance to get to know them a bit. Even just 15 minutes. But she would not tolerate them walking up to her out of no where and touching her. How can you teach socialisation to dogs that strangers are ok, if strangers cross obvious boundaries that set the dogs back?

Neither would I tolerate a strange dog, or human, coming up to me, that I've never met before, and making physical contact with me.

My dogs are always leaded in a public place, although I don't go anywhere busy with them - I've had older children approach just when walking down the street (to get to the local woodland and fields) asking to touch the dogs. Said dog was cowering behind my feet, tail tucked between her legs, and belly almost touching the floor in fear because of the way this (very tall for her age) kid came barging over right up to her. I said absolutely not sorry, she's frightened of strangers and doesn't want to say hello. Said kid carried on trying to stroke her regardless, going behind me to get at her. It was on narrow pavement and cars using the road so I couldnt move away. I kept telling her firmly 'leave the dog alone' - 'you can't stroke the dog' until finally I snapped and shouted at her.

Said girl was about 13. There's fuck all excuse. There's even less excuse because she previously (she lives in one of the houses on the street) approached my gated and fenced back garden and reached over the fence to my dogs who were barking at her. Told her then as well to leave the bloody dogs alone - and said flat out, if they're barking at you, it's a sign that they don't want you near them - and she carried on, again until I told her to bloody well go away! They're not tiny dogs. I couldn't believe the absolute moronic stupidity.

This is exactly how children get bit by dogs. If I'm supervising my dog, parents can sure as hell supervise their children, it's not my job. If I wanted that job, I'd have my own kids.

Even if I 100% knew my dogs were absolutely fine with kids, I'd say no to a strangers child touching them - because of that 0.001% chance they may react out of norm and do something I absolutely wouldn't expect. I wouldn't even want to risk it with a strangers child. A dog biting a strangers child is a hefty responsibility to bear - it's not worth it for me, at all.

Literally none of your business why I take a lift.

I had to rescue an old lady once who’s dog was being pestered by a child in a shop, so was whale eyeing and licking its lips, mother hadn’t noticed so I stepped in and guided the child back to their parent and explained the dog didn’t want to be touched. It definitely could have escalated quickly to an incident and parent was oblivious.

If you can't always manage stairs due to medical reasons, why on earth would you assume anyone else using a lift isn't using it for medical reasons, and instead judge that the person looks physically able to take the stairs?

Don't you understand plenty of disabilities are hidden? In 2023, really? Just saying!

YANBU.

Parents who think it's acceptable to let their child bother strange dogs because they're not allowed to bite, are presumably the same parents who let their children play in the traffic because it's illegal to run them over.

Imagine if dog owners started touching children in the way that some people touch dogs - without consent in the street? They'd be calling the police, and rightly so.

I still think the dog shouldn’t be on public transport on the first place tbh whether they have hidden disabilities or not unless it’s a service dog. So in fairness I’d be annoyed the minute I see it on the platform/train/ station lift so I probably worded that wrong.

But anyway the main point is I’m asking the Op if she needed to use the lift . And I’m saying if she never, to rethink using the lift.

Ha, what? So you don't want any elderly non drivers to have dogs now? In case they need the bus to get their pooch to the vet?

And I honestly can't believe you are questioning the OP using a lift. Lifts are not for disabled only. OP could have just been fucking knackered, and not want to go up the stairs.

I never let my kids near other people's dogs. My 6 month old was attacked by one. However, I think it's dog owners that usually need to learn how to behave rather than non dog owners. I agree this situation was different though.

personally I don’t agree with non-service dogs on public transport especially after seeing dog poo at my local station 🤢

I agree. I'd missed that when I read the OP. Grim. Unless it is actually a service dog??

Absolute batshit that you are trying to make this about OPs appropriate use of the lift.

Was walking my dog yesterday. Two children (aged around eleven?) were cycling on the path towards me. The one in the lead stopped and asked if he could stroke my dog. I was impressed this young ruffian did this (and thanked him for asking).

I have seen human shit in my local train station so......

You've no right to ask anyone if the reason they're the lift is due to a disability, though. It's fuck all of your business and if you asked me, I'd tell you to leave me alone you weirdo. It's not your job to police who needs lifts and who doesn't. Just as sure as I am you'd be butthurt if someone questioned you on why you were using a lift.

The fact you don't like it that dogs are allowed at stations is unfortunate, because they are - so you've no right to question anyone using a lift, with a dog or not. Think you need to follow more societal rules yourself, by the sounds of it.

You're far from the only person entitled to use a lift. What a strange person.

Public transport means sharing with other members of the public - including those you don't like. If you don't want to share, then drive.

I don't know why you think having a dog and a disability are mutually exclusive. I can't manage a heavy case up the stairs even without a dog, so yes, the dog will be coming in the lift with me if I have a suitcase. Of course you wouldn't know by looking at me - it's a condition not visible to the casual observer.

If you don't want to share with a dog, or any other public transport user, pay attention and wait for the next lift.

You’re absolute batshit to conclude that when I even clearly stated I know it wasn’t about the use of lift but it was a point I wanted to raise.

If you read my other posts on this thread, more than one as well - I state clearly the dad and child were at fault.

It was a passing comment about the lift, someone responded to it and I made a counter response to clarify something.

If anyone thinks it’s not relevant they can always ignore as replying actually extends the discussion of it 😂

I would hope that any dog in a crowded station would be on a short lead and muzzle and if it was in any way a bite risk then it wouldn't be on a crowded station platform at all.

It was not relevant at all, and tbh it looks like you were just using the lift as another way to batter the OP (besides saying that dogs should not be on public transport).

It's sensible to teach your child how to behave around dogs, but ultimately it is your responsibility to remain vigilant and switched on when in control of a dog in public.

Ultimately you can teach children but that doesn't stop them from doing stupid things, and I do think the responsibility is still with the dog owner

Whilst I agree if the dog was a known bite risk, or likely to not react well (like in my instance - would I fuck take my dogs on public transport because I know full well they'd never cope with it - I barely cope with it at the best of times..) but in fairness, lets get real about animal behaviour here, even domesticated ones.

Every single animal can react unpredictably (look at owners whom have been killed by their own dogs). Even the dog that's never been anything but lovely with strangers, children etc can react out of nowhere.

Therefore, common sense tells you if you don't want to risk getting a dog bite, don't approach and touch or attempt to touch dogs you don't know. It's the number one thing we're all (or all should be if we've been raised right..!) taught as children.

I'm not talking about unleaded dogs, dogs known to be a risk etc - though these do grind my gears, is for another thread entirely. Dog owners can be an absolute pain in the backside, and I hate it as it gives owners a bad name. But people who cannot leave animals that aren't theirs the fuck alone, are a nightmare for everyone. Themselves, the animals, and owners of the said animals. And it happens far more often than you would think it does.

How are people without cars meant to travel then?, most cabs won't take dogs, some illegally refuse guide dogs even, my ddog uses buses and trains and has never had a problem, he is well trained though, the highest award in the scheme plus assistance dog training for autism emotional support which unfortunately isn't recognised in U.K.

I clarified in my response that I worded that wrong, my point really is if I KNEW there was no reason for them to use the lift I’d be annoyed. KNEW! Not assumed.
And I asked OP. They obviously don’t have to disclose but it’s a flipping question on an Anon forum.

Nowhere did I assume having a dog meant you weren’t disabled. Don’t know how you got that reading.

But let’s not pretend there aren’t plenty of people who use lifts without needing to and dragging their dogs in. One of my selfish dog owning neighbours let her dog foul in the lift and didn’t clean up. She was caught on cctv and has now been told to use the stairs. She does so. She clearly didn’t need to have her dog in the lift. Probably wasn’t enjoyable for the dog either.

So it’s not always about not paying attention, even if you don’t go in the lift at the same time with a dog you can literally still be dealing with the SHIT of the aftermath. The truth is I shouldn’t have to look out for dogs on trains, cafes, restaurants and libraries as well avoiding parks and beaches. It’s all gone too far.

i’m happy to share public transport with PEOPLE, not dogs especially massive ones that take up a huge amount of space in peak times. I can only hope that sanity restores itself and we go back to the 90s type of living where except for the odd guide dog you didn’t see dogs everywhere including on public transport. Or at the very least they have specific carriages for dogs on trains so those of who are allergic or who don’t want to be in a confined space with them don’t have to. I pay my fare, the dog doesn’t.

We get it, you hate dogs.

And getting annoyed by someone using a lift without "good reason"... get a grip. There are more important things in life to get worked up about.

What, like another child or adult human?

OPs dog wasn’t a threat, the bloody child was. Try reading the op and using your brain

Was your dog on lead or not OP