Was I wrong?

[Hoppinggreen]

Took my soppy but quite bouncy Goldie to the park this afternoon with the dc. He looks like a teddy and quite a few children came to speak to him, always asking first and he behaved very nicely
As I was watching the dc on the swings a girl of about 6 or 7 came over loudly exclaimed " cute doggy" and started cuddling him. I very calmly said " please don't touch him without asking, you don't know if he's friendly" Woman with the girl very snappily asked " is he friendly?"

Of course you weren't unreasonable.

I was out last night with my 3 labs - one old and placid, one middle-aged and grumpy/unpredictable and the other young and VERY bouncy. I was trying to cut a route through the fields which kept them away from other dogs and small children - especially the couple with the small yappy dog and the 2 kids who looked about 3 or 4. But the young kids were entranced by my 3 and kept running after us shouting "doggies!!". Anyone with an ounce of sense would have seen that I was altering my route to keep my distance and that I was encouraging my dogs to speed up when the kids looked like catching us up. But oh no. Not these parents . I didn't want my old girl bothered by squealing kids - or to have to make her speed up - but I also didn't want a small child knocked over or snapped at.

Yes the thing is a dog has to be very placid and like children to enjoy a cuddle. Many dogs are sociable but a little nervous of kids and may not like being cuddled. I'm not saying they would hurt the child but why should the dog be put in an uncomfortable position. Maybe if the child really wants to interact with a less cuddly but friendly dog they could give it a treat or something which would be nicer for the dog and help its feel more comfortable around kids in future.

I get so annoyed with people who let their children approach dogs. I work with dogs so quite used to reading their body language. A wagging tail doesn't always mean they are happy and a dog that stands quiet to be stroked isn't always happy about it. You would be surprised how often I have to tell children off at work because their parents think it's ok to let their child get in poorly dogs faces. It's an accident waiting to happen and often owners are too embarrassed to say anything .

So well done for speaking up

I've drilled it into my kids to always always ask the owner first.

Most are genuinely shocked and thrilled to find kids politely asking if it's ok to stroke their dog.

I don't get why every kid isn't the same. It's common sense and good manners

You were right....some child with a parent ,picked my dog up this morning on her walk..ohh arnt you cute,she said ,yes she's a ...before I could finish my sentence the child had picked her up....she dosnt like being picked up and fought to go down.the girl got a lot of scratches to her neck ..I felt bad,it happened very quick...it keeps happening,I have a thread on it😩..I find parents very entitled these days.....they assume it's the dog owners responsibility to ensure the dog is happy to poked prodded whatever her little darling wants to do....what happened to teaching yr child to not approach strange dogs

Another thing that annoys me is when joggers and cyclists think it's ok to go past dogs at speed - especially when they appear from behind you with no warning. They make my old dog jump and run the risk of the other two jumping at them. Of course then it would be me unable to keep my dogs under control - even though I'm given no time to call them to me and tell them to stay

You were absolutely right.
I had three dogs on holiday last week and was very impressed at the number of nice kids who asked politely to meet them. Two ddogs are happy with this but one isn't especially comfortable with strangers, which I always made very clear.
Then one day a child suddenly ran at us and stuck out his hand - ddog snapped at him and tbh I was not surprised as it happened so fast I was quite startled myself. The parents didn't even see it happen.

You were 100% right

My dog is friendly and wouldn't hurt a fly. I still don't ever allow my nieces/nephews to hug her! It's not worth the risk.

What a silly woman allowing her child to hug a random dog.

With two snuggly Labradors I have this all the time. Luckily they are both soft as muck but if they weren't I would be in trouble because kids literally throw themselves at them. Thankfully Ddog2 is never happier than when rolling on the floor with half a dozen children.

My old dog was a lab very good with kids. A little girl once hugged her and tried to feed her some grass at a petting zoo and she ate it.
But it is important for kids to respect dogs and parents have to teach them that.

I have two golden retrievers, and get this all the time. The old girl is happy to be petted by any one but the younger one is more reserved. Not nasty, but she absolutely does not like strangers patting her head. She backs off and tries to get away if she is on the lead. I have had to be quite forceful with some entitled twats who think they know better than me, the dogs actual owner.

You were absolutely in the right.

Even when my dog is muzzled & on a lead, I get children trying to touch him. I've had parents get offended before, telling me their snowflake only wants to say hello.

It's like, ok sure, go ahead. Never mind the fact the dog would attempt to bite in the process. As long as your darling can say hello

I have been using a halti head harness with our 18mnth old lab. It has been the only thing that has stopped her pulling. Dog walkers and parents seem to think it is a muzzle and steer their dogs/children away from her. She is a real softy and very gentle with children and other dogs but like all labs still likes to gently mouth hands. I do wish parents would train children not to reach out to dogs when they pass them!
DS was brought up with our last dog but was taught not approach unfamiliar dogs unless given permission.

I have to remove children from mine every single day.
Most ask if they may stroke them, but often, and it's usually toddlers just go for it. They are friendly, but it does worry me sometimes.
Often I say "doggie want to go now" but parents don't get the hint.
I watch like a hawk.

You were correct- she was proabably annoyed at being called on her bad parenting.

I actually came here to post a similar sort of thread. I was on my way to work this morning and I pass by a supermarket on my way - somebody had left their dog outside and it was very anxious, ears back, whining, licking its lips and low slow tail wagging. A little lad and his mum were coming in the opposite direction and the boy broke away from his mum and ran straight up to the dog, crouched down and started cuddling it! I must admit I panicked thinking he was going to get bitten so I said to him come away from the dog you don't know he is friendly. He did do it but the mum stormed over and lost her shit with me! I scuttled away because i'm a wimp and I don't do confrontation but it just made me think how many people allow their kids to approach dogs all the time. I have it with my dog constantly, and he isn't a fan of kids and I often get called the "mean lady". No real point to my post I was just feeling sorry for myself after my telling off!

As a recent owner of a cute puppy I see your point. You are correct, but sadly some parents let their children think that dogs can be petted and cuddled just because the child feels like it.
I like parents to ask us if the child can stoke our puppy because she still is a puppy.
You are a responsible owner, but not all parents are the same.