Very sad - child screaming and running when out with my dog.

[YNK]

I have a very soft staffie x and there is a patch of grassland next to a pavement and postbox where we go for a run about.

Two little girls were walking on to the postbox when one started to scream and flap her arms and grapple with the other. My dog loves kids and ran in her direction at which point she started running and screaming even louder so Rita picked up pace. I called to her and she stopped.

Every time I called Rita she stopped running but this little girl became hysterical. I had to put Rita's lead on because the little girl didn't seem able to control herself and Rita thought it was a game.

I called the little girl over to see if she was ok (Rita was on the lead at that point) but she screamed louder when I started to walk towards her. The two girls ran off like lightning screaming their heads off.

At no point did Rita touch the children and she stopped everytime I called her but I'm so upset seeing this child so distressed. This has really shaken me up.

[AmberLeaf]

Mopswerver. children arent brought up to be scared of dogs, some are scared because of bad experiences!

Im not scared of dogs but two of my children are and one isnt. being bitten or jumped on is an understandable reason to be a bit put off them and yes scared IMO.

[MamaMaiasaura]

The op said her dog was running and wanting to play with girls.

And I do not believe parents are bringing their dc up to be scared of dogs. How fucking ridiculous! My ds1 is fine with dogs but ds2 isn't.

Clearly I have "made" my ds2 scared of dogs puts away sooty and sweep puppets

[AmberLeaf]

I think its sensible to bring your children up to be wary of dogs though and to never touch without first speaking to the owner etc.

[Elibean]

My dd2 was terrified of dogs, as she was nipped (aged 2) by an off-lead pup. Nothing serious, but enough to terrify a toddler - and thats all it takes, I'm afraid. So I do understand that some kids are very scared of dogs, and fair enough - they can't help it any more than the dogs can help being interested in flapping, squealy creatures

OP, you did the right thing, no one could blame you or your dog and I can't think why anyone would....equally, I feel sorry for the little girl as she quite clearly expected to be attacked dd1 has a friend who was dog phobic, and this child could have been her up to a year ago.

Thankfully, she is now no longer scared - in part because she had got to know our dog, who is big and a retriever/staffy cross, and more scared than any child

[AmberLeaf]

Hope you are feeling a bit better OP.

[HairyToe]

Mopswerver all 3 of my kids were terrified of dogs when they were little. I didn't "bring them up like that" and I did my best to reassure them, take them over to friendly dogs. I'm not particularly nervous so they didn't pick
It up from me.

DD1(8) still a bit nervy now, DD2(5) ok, DS (2) terrified, and I've often had to spend part of our visits to the park carrying him around crying because there are unleashed dogs nearby.

[MamaMaiasaura]

And the OP said the Two girls were at postbox when one started to scream and flap arms. So the OP was aware of them before they were screaming and surely the flapping arms coupled with screaming would alert most people that this child is distressed and clearly not wanting dog anywhere near her. Was the calling over, the hope to cure her phobia? Because it wouldn't, it would just scare her more.

[YNK]

FYI Rita stopped running and returned to me imediately when called 3 times. and only ran again in response to the girl looking round for her, screaming and running. Rita was out for a run in an open field. She was put on the leash when the child continued to scream even when we were going in the opposite direction.

When I shouted to the little girl I was telling her it was OK the dog was on a leash. I was not shouting aggressively ffs I even called her darling. I only walked toward her because I wanted to reassure her. there was nothing about me or my dog that I could see to cause this level of distress. Point taken that the child may have had special needs but her distress was such that she was running blind and could have gone onto the road.

Rita is not a 'pit dog' she is a staffieX! She is the softest dog you can imagine and completely bombproof with children. My 20mnth old grandson lives with me and she does not complain even when he is, erm, vigorous with her.

My fear is that this little girls behaviour will make her a target for less well behaved dogs and owners!

[MamaMaiasaura]

I think the op comment of " the little girl didn't seem to be able to control herself" irritated me. Up to owner to leash dog. And it didn't come across as this was done quickly but after calling several times to the dog.

[Voidka]

It does sound exactly how my DS2 reacts to dogs - they dont have to be anywhere near him, but if they are coming in his general direction he is petrified and cries.

All except the dog that lives down the road, its a tiny yorkie and DS giggles every time he sees him on his lead (thought that may be because he has a bell)

[HipHopOpotomus]

My DD has always freaked out around dogs. She has had no negative experience of them but they always freak her out - large or small. She is 4.5 now & is slowly getting better with them - we all work on it!

I wouldn't worry too much, but do be aware that as much as you love your dog, most people will prefer that you keep her to yourself - not everyone loves dogs, some are frightened for a reason, some, like DD just freak out because they do, and some people simply hate animals (not justifying it, but stating that people can be like that).

[MamaMaiasaura]

Pit dog was spelling mistake which I corrected to pet please read my post after. And you called 3 times to your dog and hadn't leashed it until them the girl was screaming again.

[MamaMaiasaura]

Ack put dog not pet dog. Bloody iPhone

[MamaMaiasaura]

And if it was by a road you should have definately had your dog on a leash

[HairyToe]

Yes i know they mean well but the number of dog owners over the years who've tried to bring the dog over to my screaming child saying " look give him a stroke he's very friendly" then shaking their head and frowning when it doesn't work ( poor over-sensitive child , over-protective mother).

[Pagwatch]

YNK

I have dogs. I am not anti-dogs but I am starting to be confused about your intention here.
If this child cannot control her fear - and her behaviour does suggest SN - then your concern that her behaviour may cause her to be a target sounds irrelevant.
What is your point ?

You should keep your dog away from her and what others do is neither here nor there.

[MamaMaiasaura]

hairy wonder how those with spider phobias would appreciate a frigging spider bring foisted on them by "well meaning person"

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

My son used to be frightened of dogs, starting when one knocked him over as a toddler. I have trained him not to flap now though, so when a dog comes up to him he just stands still and ignores it, usually they then go away. When he used to flap and squeal they'd chase him.

I still think it's up to the owner to control the dog, if it's frightening children. Regardless of how friendly the dog is. The number of times I've heard "don't worry, he's only being friendly, he won't bite". The owner may be fairly confident of that, but the small child who has had a previous scary experience with a dog probably isn't.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Mama - good point about the spiders. "Oh, it's only a hairy-kneed tarantula, it just wants to scurry up your arm, it won't hurt you...."

shudder.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

So your dog chased the terrifed girl while you tried to recall THREE times. Then your dog chased her AGAIN?! You then took your dog TOWARDS the terrified child. What were you thinking?

[YNK]

Neither Rita or me were aware of the girls until the screaming started, in fact we were going in the opposite direction.
The little girl who was distressed was clearly hurting the other girl who only screamed in response to her hair and clothes being pulled! She looked like she didn't know how to get the other girl home.

I'm ok now amber leaf - thank you, it was not a nice experience.

[Aboutlastnight]

Mine do not have SN but are very wary of dogs after DD1was chased by a Staffie when running across a field to put something in the bin. There was lots of ' he won't hurt you!' from the owner who seemed to have NI inclination to control her mutt. DD1 was terrified and is now very wary- to the point that she freezes if she sees a dog.

[pictish]

Am I the onl;y person wondering how this wee girl ever manages to leave the house?

Sounds like a massive overreaction tbh - I wonder if her parents know she behaves like that?

[MarySA]

I wish people would understand that not everybody loves dogs. Some dogs are very dangerous indeed. Some dogs are killers. Sorry if that offends anybody. All this he wouldn't hurt a fly nonsense is totally meaningless if the dog is not known to the child or adult. How can a small child or anybody for that matter tell the difference between a safe dog and a dangerous dog.

[MamaMaiasaura]

pictish yup I think you are. I think this girl was scared by the dog and likely SN. Maybe she was walking to post box with sibling, and that she doesn't go out much because of SN. And maybe the dog chasing her has set her back a bit.