I just witnessed a lucky escape - Toddler and Small Dog One

[OffDownTheGardenToEatWorms]

There was a small dog (Jack Russell sort of size) tied up at the school gate and a probably three year old boy was running ahead past the stream of people slowly filtering in to the school, then the boy went bounding up to the dog "hello doggy, hello doggy" - the mum was too far behind to grab him.

It all happened really quickly, but in slow motion IYKWIM, and when he got to the dog (who was kind of ducking by now) the boy threw his hand out to it's face. Luckily for all the dog just did a snappy sort of snarl, enough for the boy to pull back a bit quick, but didn't connect.

I've just been thinking, what if that dog had nipped him, or even bitten him hard, I wonder if anyone would have spoken up for the dog?

No they wouldn't. But it would have been 6 of one/half a dozen of the other. You teach your small child not to approach strange dogs (one of the first lessons for all of mine) but by the same token, if you have a dog that is likely to be spooked by being approached by small children you don't tie it up outside a school.

Trouble is that little dogs look approachable, but are often the most stroppy/ snappy and unreliable. (We had a biting JRT and a soft-as-butter BIG dog.)

One reason why I wouldn't tie my 9 month old lab x up outside school. 99% of the time he would be fine, but if he was spooked and snapped - or worse (never happened yet, but who knows) - it would be awful for all, including dog.

My two know never to touch a strange dog, but SO many of their friends rush up to Mouse without ever having seen him before, grabbing him around the head to stroke him and say hello, etc. I'm always there to intervene, but if I wasn't who knows??

What kind of idiot ties up a dog outside a school gate? That's asking for trouble, however good natured the dog is.

I would never do that to any dog. Not fair on dog or any child who tried to talk to him. I have never seen my dog snap or growl at anyone, he seems to be a very gentle dog, but I wouldn't take the risk. Dogs get nervous, tied up away from the people they know when approached by strangers.

This is why I really dislike dogs being tied up outside the school, it makes them nervous, and when you have 2/3 year old children who are yet to learn about not approaching unknown dogs in the rush that is the school crowd coming out, it's just an accident waiting to happen. There are a few owners who stand right at the gate to come out, so that even if you are holding your child's hand they are right in the dog's face, and it makes me so nervous with all those children going past, it must be quite overwhelming for a dog.

I did comment the other day as there was a guy with two dogs, one on a lead and one not, right there at the gate... I just felt it wasn't reasonable at all.

I wouldn't leave my dog tied up and unattended in public, certainly not outside a school. And mine is very gentle and good with children, so it's extremely unlikely he'd bite anyone (though it's never impossible) - but I still wouldn't want him to be bothered or tormented by kids, and of course there are other dangers like being stolen.

If anything had happened, it wouldn't have been the dog's fault, he didn't ask to be put in a situation he couldn't cope well with, and I for one would have spoken up for the dog. But it would at least in part have been the owner's fault.

This is a pet hate of mine. I wait across the road from the school in the middle of a patch of grass. There is a good 2 metres in any direction between us and the pavement, yet still some people let their tiny children run over to pet Jasper. Sometimes these tiny people come up from behind, and basically thump him on the head. Luckily for all concerned, he isn't aggressive. I don't think dogs should be right at the school gate, even if attended, because if a child is nervous I think it's unfair. But people also need to take responsibility for their small children, and not give them permission to just run up to strange dogs. If a child asks me if they can pet Jas, I always praise them for asking. It's amazing how many people don't protect their children in this way.

Actually I agree both that it's not fair on the dog, and that the children should be taught not to approach any dog like that.

I'm wondering whether to try to place it's owner and tell them what nearly happened - they probably aren't aware.

I would see if I could find the owner too and let them know. I'd hate to have seen that, not told the owner, then it hurt a child and the dog get pts for something that could have been avoided.

I think it's lovely for dogs to be a part of the school run - the problem is that most schools don't allow dogs inside the gate because a few idiots spoilt it for the rest usually and the option of tying them up along the fence isn't a good one, the school system here (not letting kids out unless there's a parent in the playground - not the system where I used to live)... it's difficult. I think if I was in that situation I would see if some/one of the other parents would collect both kids while I looked after both dogs and take turns with kids or dogs.

My dd was bitten recently on the school run. I don't blame the dog at all, I blame dd a bit and I blame the owner a lot. Dd2 is in Year 6 and was making her way to school with her bike. I have told her to walk with it (so alongside it) but instead she was sitting on it and sort of scooting along with her feet on the ground pushing her along. She passed a woman with two dogs going in the same direction as her. As she drew level the smaller dog jumped and snapped. Dd drew back (good) but then carried on again past them and the dog (by now totally spooked I assume) went for her leg. She was wearing jeans and it left a nip mark but did not break the skin. Despite this pretty obvious altercation and the snarl from the dog the owner said nothing. She pulled the dog back - she knew there was an issue - but she said nothing. Dd made her way to school in a complete state. School rang me and with my agreement rang the police. We haven't heard anymore about it so I assume they couldn't trace the owner. Dd and I have had a stern conversation about giving animals room and never even sort of riding your bike on the pavement. She knew both of these things already but kids in a hurry for school forget things. The dog is not to blame at all. I do blame an owner who doesn't control her dog though. So in the case you outline OP - I would speak for the dog.

Not a dog tied up at the school gates but this link shows the stupidity of people.
link

At about 45 secs watch the dogs body language -you see the dog freeze he is very very uncomfortable luckily he makes the decision to walk away but it could so easily have been a snap. You can just imagine the posts on Mumsnet if he had. He would certainly have got the blame. Some people just do not think of the consequences of their actions with regards to dog behaviour and ownership

I really dislike seeing dogs tied up outside school for just this reason. Every day there are about four at my daughter's school and loads of kids touching them without a parent in sight.

I would never tie my dogs up anywhere.

Massive pet hate of mine OP! Recently saw a little boy run up to a lab tied up at school to pet her- think arm stretched out, shouting and running full pelt. The dog stepped back and almost skunk to the floor, he still went over (no owner or Childs parent in sight!) to stroke dogs head, dog had ears flattened and was lifting up its lip in a snarl. Luckily someone else saw and blocked the little boy, saying the dog didn't really like that. Thank god they did, there's no doubt a snap was following.

I mentioned it to the head, not in "keep dogs away!" sort of way, just in a friendly way. In an ideal world owners wouldn't leave dogs at risk of this, but as they do I think it would be a great idea for schools to teach children how to behave around animals, in the same way they are taught stranger danger!

My 2 year old LOVES dogs. I am very wary but she hasn't lunged yet. My mum has a puppy and I found myself on the floor between them recently. She would not mean to hurt my DD but she is a puppy! I would never leave a dog tied up outside a school and am a little worried by some of the doggy characters who turn up at our school. One jumped up and ended up with my son's arm in his mouth. No teeth but scared the fuck out of DS. In my defence I was heavily pregnant and slow!

My lovely dog dylan has been a star for his whole life but now hes a proper old fart 13yr, Hes is abit more grumpy now and things bother him that never used to like sounds, people running around ect. I would have never left him outside a school even when he was younger, it could be as simple as someone stepping on there paws that would cause then to snap. Dylan had a very nasty wound of his head recently and the vet gave me a miffed look when I said to put a muzzle on him. Well if I had a massive cut on my head I would snap at anyone how tried to poke it!