To be unsettled by a four year old rescue Boxer being left to run free in the local playing field with an 11 yr old and a 8 yr old in charge?

[MitsubishiWarrioress]

The family have had him for 3 days and I feel very unsettled by it.
They don't know the dog.
I am very wary of dogs at the best of times and just don't feel comfortable with the whole thing.

I think you shold do tha tiredmumno1 because I think that atttude is very ott.

Why don't you meet the dog properly so that you can allay your obviously very real fears. I think that may be the best way forward

Tiredmumno1 I think it might be very different for the ownder of a rehoming charity. They have to err very, very, very much on the side of caution...but I would still say that was totally OTT point of view. To use that as the basis for outlawing dogs in families with young children is an irrational leap. So yes, I'd definitely let her know.

Were the parents anywhere around OP?

qp what was the Incident?

I wouldn't personally get a new dog when I had very small children, but that doesn't mean that other people might not do so very successfully (and I know many that have). But I see no rationale for not allowing dogs to be adopted to families with children except where it is clear that the reason for wanting to get a dog is that the children as opposed to the adults want one. Our dog is the responsibility of dh and myself, not the children (although they are expected to take him for walks on a fairly regular basis). That dog charity is severely restricting the number of homes their dogs can access which seems like a bad idea (lets face it there are more dogs needing homes than people wanting them - surely policies like that means more dogs in kennels and ultimately being euthanized?)

yanbu
I keep seeing unaccompanied children being pulled along by a dog stronger than themselves.

nooka good point.

Our rescue pup was a stray, god knows how long she had been wandering. She had been trained (physically judging by how scaredy she is, cowering if you tell her off etc) so she was owned for a while, someone somewhere just threw her out. Breaks my heart to think of it. She was a day away from being put down as the pund will only keep them for so long.

mrsc2010

YANBU - I went for a walk with my 4 yo DD and our West Highland White Terrier this afternoon. The Westie was abused by children prior to us owning him, and is quite headshy as a result. Also, he is a little scared of children (although generally absolutely tolerant of our 3 children who are 4.4, 2.8 & 1.0).

We were walking along a pavement, and there was a ?5 year old boy on a bike. He saw the dog and started to rush to him. I said "No, no, no, don't...." but he wasn't listening at all. I knew that our dog would be startled by his approach, and didn't want to risk him 'warning' the boy, and getting the blame. I had to say very firmly. "I SAID NO!". The boy stopped, and said sorry.

However, if Alex hadn't been on a lead, and I wasn't nearby, the boy rushing in to pet him could have been nipped because he ran over and lunged for Alex to pet him.

Of course, it would be Alex that got the blame.

I bristle at the knee-jerk fear that the dog is a potential risk to people BUT it is incredibly irresponsible to let off the lead a dog which only left rescue 3 days ago, for his own sake as much as anyone else's. IF the rescue assessed and homechecked properly (and sadly not all do), he should be fine with people and children as he's been homed to a family but he could easily run off.

I also agree that an 11 yo is not strong or savvy enough to deal with an emergency situation. As a rescuer I wouldn't hesitate to raise this politely with any friends of mine who have done as your friends have MW.

Perhaps point out that they would be devastated if their new pal got onto the roads and was killed or injured and that their DC would be even more so to witness it?

I know, the thought of either of my pups wandering the streets, confused and wondering where we were breaks my heart. I'm such a soppy git!

mrsc2010 my little dog was just dumped in the back yard,whilst the people moved house,the evil shits.she is so loved in our family though.

lou031205, I have a rescue boy like yours. People get very annoyed when I ask them not to stroke him, but I know he may give a warning snap and I don't want to put him in that position.
I was outside Asda ne day and a woman shouted at me when I wouldn't let her chldren stroke him.

I know, it is so hard. Alex is so good with our children, and equally they know that they must be gentle with him and give him space. If he gets overwhelmed, he is small enough that he can retreat to the top of the sofa, out of harm's way. The 1 year old can be a bit rough, but is learning quickly that she has to be gentle, or Mummy moves her!

The trouble is, so many children are not brought up with dogs, and so do not know how to treat them. They don't realise that they need respect and gentleness. And they get over-excited at a moving fluffy thing.

If children visit the house, I always put Alex upstairs now, for his own protection, after one girl was told to leave him alone, but persisted in putting her hair through the stairgate to him. He got stressed and nipped her . Nothing we could do, the mum was stood next to her. Fortunately she wasn't hurt. But now I take no risk for his sake.

lou so sensible my dog is great with kids, but I never like to put her in a position.Too many kids have no experience with dogs take op, I think it should be obligatory for all children to learn about pets at school,because wether we like it or not we share the planet with these creatures,and amazingly to some on this site they have just as much right to be here as we do,

make it illegal for young families to own a dog,dont be so stupid..I passed the local football pitch today, loads of kids ,plus adults, young lad plus Springer Spaniel both in goal,both covered in mud, having a brilliant time.

Well said, Darkandstormy!