Kids And Dogs

[wagsalot]

I remember being at a dogs day out thing a few years back where a dad was walking along with his little boy - who at a guess would of been 2 or 3, and the boy came up and pulled riley's tail. We were sat watching the german shepherd dog league.

Luckily Riley didn't react, but I spoke to the boys dad about it, who didn't care less and kept letting the boy going along doing it to other dogs!!

I've been lucky around my area though - most kids that see Riley stand there looking like they really want to pat him, but will hesitate to do so until I give the ok.

Edited June 30, 2010 by wagsalot

[twodoggies2001]

I remember being at a dogs day out thing a few years back where a dad was walking along with his little boy - who at a guess would of been 2 or 3, and the boy came up and pulled riley's tail. We were sat watching the german shepherd dog league.

Luckily Riley didn't react, but I spoke to the boys dad about it, who didn't care less and kept letting the boy going along doing it to other dogs!!

I've been lucky around my area though - most kids that see Riley stand there looking like they really want to pat him, but will hesitate to do so until I give the ok.

Well, this is not a bad parent. This is an idiot. The problem here is that the child in the end will pay the consequences because of an idiot parent. Luckily, most parents are not in the same league as this one.

[aussielover]

Mindy is the opposite, she wants to rush up and say hi, her bum goes all wiggly, its very cute. But not as cute if the kid doesn't like dogs or is scared of dogs. I have to try get her to ignore the kids though. She's very good with them and doesn't do any mouthing which is strange as she does this to adults. I do get annoyed though when they rush over and start hugging her. At least I can say she is a guide dog puppy, so she needs training, that usually makes them listen and back off a bit.

[Simply Grand]

My parents never said anything one way or the other to me about dogs. Neither are dog people or ever had dogs, and it wouldn't have occured to them to learn about how kids should interact with dogs. They're not bad people, or stupid by any means, dogs just weren't ever even on their radar as something to think about re. their kids.

I know I did pat dogs either with their owners or just out on their own when I was little, so I guess I was lucky nothing ever happened. I still have a tendency to want to pat or cuddle other people's dogs, but since having my own dog I've learnt to read dog body language and owner body language hopefully well enough to know when to steer clear, when to ask first and when it will be ok.

Saxon was born into a house with three young daughters, plus their visiting friends and he has no problem with kids, even rough or noisy ones. I think though with my future dogs I will do what I can to expose them to kids and teach them to be comfortable with unpredictable behaviour. I'd rather rely on my and my dogs' behaviour than the behaviour of other people and their children.

[HeavyPaws]

I am going to stick up for the PARENTS on this site. Children bashing goes on far too much on here.

We arent all morons who let our children terrorize your precious dog.

Some of us do teach our children or restrain our toddlers not to approach strange dogs.

Just as there are irresponsible dog owners there are irresponsible parents, drivers, ect

Sometimes the anti-child sentiment on this site really gets to me.

I agree. I'm a parent myself, and am the oldest of 13 kids, so of course I was stand-in parent for a good 20 years of my life.

My point is, there are WAY more bad parents than good parents. In a school, there are 99 swearing, yelling, biting, kicking, fighting, spitting, nasty little monsters raised by "Oh, kids eventually grow up. That's when manners are learned" sort of parents to every 1 well-mannered, quiet, obediant, friendly child raised by parents who take the job seriously.

Sadly, pet owners often get the first 99 approaching their dogs.

I am amazed how many parents let their kids run up to Moon {my Dane}, while calling out from halfway down the street "Be gentle!". My dog's head towers over a four year old's head, and I can imagine how things would go if she was child aggressive and one of the little terrors clutched onto her like a bad mannered leech, which they do.

Even while walking past the local shops mothers don't hold their kid's hand when we approach.

[Simply Grand]

ooh, also when I'm a parent, I will teach my kids how to interact with dogs, and watch them closely all the time, regardless of what I think they know!

At the dog park the other week there was a family there with their dog and their two young kids. The older kid was intellectually disabled and the other one was probably about 4. The parents were chatting to other people and letting the kids run around doing whatever they wanted. The disabled one in particular clearly loved dogs but was showing this by running up to all the dogs he saw, grabbing and patting them. He "patted" Saxon by putting his hands on either side of his neck... I was quite freaked out, it looked like he was strangling my dog!! but I watched very closely and he was quite gentle, and Saxon wasn't bothered.

The thing that really worried me was he ran up behind a young husky who was about to have a drink from the water bowl (I know the dog well and he is very well behaved but still young and slightly unpredictable), wrapped his arms around the dogs middle and rested his head on its back. The husky turned around in surprise but tolerated it well and didn't do anything. The parents were nowhere in sight so I stayed to watch closely until the kid moved away.

I certainly think any kid should be watched closely and controlled around dogs, but particularly an intellectually disabled child who is likely not to have the skills to read dog and owner body language well enough to know how to interact with that particular dog. Sigh...

Oh, and CW_EW, please don't think I'm saying you're wrong in your behaviour with Emmy at all! I know I'm lucky not to have had the same issue with Saxon, as kids certainly like to rush over to pat the "little fluffy one". As I said, I will definitley watch my kids and teach them to behave around dogs, and I wouldn't think any owner who didn't want kids rushing at their dog was in the wrong at all! It's just that it's impossible to control others' behaviour...

[macka]

I'm not a big fan of kids. I found out today from my neighbour that the indigenous kids living down the road play in driveway and garage while I'm out. Will shut my garage from now on, lucky I keep the axe in the house!

When my family walks our GSDs we have no issue with kids as parents would be too scared to let them pat the dogs!

What are you going to do, axe the children? They're just kids playing, gees.

My dogs haven't had much interactions with kids. We have a four year old (and his parents) coming to stay with us for a little while in July so that should be interesting. His parents say he isn't afraid of dogs but they are not dog people really. I will be taking the precaution of having the dogs on lead initially and making sure I set down some rules for all concerned.

All you can do is be vigilant and preempt the kids' behaviour either by staying away or giving them clear instructions on what to do or not to do before they approach.

[corvus]

My point is, there are WAY more bad parents than good parents. In a school, there are 99 swearing, yelling, biting, kicking, fighting, spitting, nasty little monsters raised by "Oh, kids eventually grow up. That's when manners are learned" sort of parents to every 1 well-mannered, quiet, obediant, friendly child raised by parents who take the job seriously.

Okay, I don't have kids, but I strongly disagree with the above assertion. I love kids and I think they are great. Don't want any, but love interacting with them. I encounter brats that are unsupervised and think it's fun to throw things at or hit animals, and I've been in places where the average kid swears at you if you so much as look at them sideways. But by and large, I meet nice kids with attentive parents. A lot of my friends are wonderful, attentive parents with beautiful, well-balanced children that listen to them. Maybe you live in one of those unfortunate low socio-economic places where the kids learn to behave from parents that are at best negligent and at worse abusive, but I don't, and 99% of the children I know and meet are lovely.

[Lucy's mama]

Ummm... I think it's lucky the axe is in the house not the garage because it would be dangerous for the kids to play with it?

As a parent, I can and have taught my kids good doggy manner. 99 times out of a hundred my 4 year old will stand at a distance, call out to the dog owner can I say hello to your dog, and approach slowly with one hand slightly raised in front for the dog to sniff.

BUT despite knowing better, one day someone may walk past us on the path and on the spur of the moment he may reach out and pat it's rear as it passes, or worse, yell 'rarh''. He is a small boy who is generally well behaved and has been taught, but he IS a small boy and impulse controll is not 100%.

Edited June 30, 2010 by Lucy's mama

[aussielover]

Most kids are actually pretty willing to listen to you when you do tell them how to approach a dog, stroke it etc...

But sometimes the parents are not.

[Miss B]

When I was a child, we were always taught that you never approach a strange dog without permission. I have found most parents to be quite good, they will usually approach me first and ask for permission to let their children pat the dog.

Aren't Jap Spitz's meant to be timid of strangers by nature?

Poor Emmy, she's so cute, I don't blame people for wanting to pat her.

Too bad people are idiots

Not timid, wary. But you're on the right track

The breed standard describes the JS as "alert, intelligent, bold and lively" but also "slightly chary at first meeting with strangers". A JS should never be timid or aggressive.

They are wary of complete strangers rushing up to them without formal introduction. They prefer a gentle approach, after which you have a friend for life.

[Agility Dogs]

All you can do is be vigilant and preempt the kids' behaviour either by staying away or giving them clear instructions on what to do or not to do before they approach.

IMO this is the key. Kids are unpredictable and are going to do dumb things - parents or not. My dogs are good with kids, but I still don't trust them together (kids and dogs).

OH and I had a discussion the other week after she thought it was cute that our nephew (a well behaved 4yo) was allowed to play with our two dogs while she and her sister had a cup of coffee inside. Nothing happened and nothing was likely to happen, but if anything did I'm thinking it would not have been the child's fault. hmmmmmm.........

While in a perfect world kids would not harass our dogs or get in their faces, just like with other dogs - it is our responsibility to manage situations before they occur.

It is inconvenient to have to watch every thing every single second we are out with our dogs, but it beats the alternative......

Most kids are willing to listen and parents are happy if you tell them to stop and show them how to pat the dog before anything happens. If they don't then I tend to adopt a slightly sterner voice which never really fails to get the right result. Everyone goes away happy.

Banging on about it because I missed the opportunity to stop it before it happens only serves to upset everyone.

[dancinbcs]

Aren't Jap Spitz's meant to be timid of strangers by nature?

Poor Emmy, she's so cute, I don't blame people for wanting to pat her.

Too bad people are idiots

Not timid, wary. But you're on the right track

The breed standard describes the JS as "alert, intelligent, bold and lively" but also "slightly chary at first meeting with strangers". A JS should never be timid or aggressive.

They are wary of complete strangers rushing up to them without formal introduction. They prefer a gentle approach, after which you have a friend for life.

Yes, the standard mentions bold as well, so no they should not be timid but as puppies they can startle easily. With Emmy I would avoiding walking her where there are lots of kids and picking her up if a kid runs at her. Make sure though that you do not sook her or expect her to be worried. Just do it for her safety until you get the kids under control.

I take my dogs to pet expo, royals, etc for the public to pat, so my dogs are pretty bomb proof but I will not tolerate children acting agressively towards the dogs, ever. Any kid that roars, barks, waves their arms or trys to whack the dogs is met with me roaring at them "DON'T YOU DARE DO THAT TO MY DOGS" in a VERY threatening voice. Stops them in their tracks every time and the parents are usually too shocked that I would speak to their kids that way, to say anything. I then calmly explain why they shouldn't do it and how they should approach a dog to avoid getting bitten.

[MalteseLuna]

I have a similar issue with Luna - she is small white and fluffy so parents assume it's 'safe' and let them run up. Now Luna loves people including most kids however what she dislikes is young children who are very loud i.e. make squealing noises. My cousin does this and she is freaked out when ever he is around (not aggressive or fear biting just wants to avoid the squealing child).

If a kid approaches I generally say slow down please, make Luna sit and then say "let her sniff your hand" etc I also say stuff about how you should ask before you pat a dog and approach at a walk etc - try to educate a little

I did have an experience with 2 kids (maybe 6 and 8) running at Luna and the 2 other dogs I was walking and yelling, stamping, making growling noises at them - poor nu-nu my parents pug cowered on the ground she was so scared (and she grew up with me and my siblings so she knows kids). I was abit rude to them and their mother

[quickbrownfox]

What are you going to do, axe the children? They're just kids playing, gees

I think you misunderstood... I have firewood in my garage and use the axe to cut it. I was worried that the kids could had stolen it, or hurt themselves.

Edited July 1, 2010 by quickbrownfox

[RealityBites]

Have read this with interest as i am both a dog owner and a parent of 5 children (the youngest is 12 months) We have a doberman and are looking at getting a deerhound.Our kids are taught to ask before approaching strange dogs, BUT I also think dog owners HAVE to socialise their dogs to all situations. Children are way more important than a pet, they are our future, and as a good parent I try and do everything I can to keep them safe. BUT if my youngest happened to wander off (Heaven forbid and highly unlikely!) It would be nice to be able to trust that any dog they approached would be suitably trained and socialised. Our kids can do anything they want to our dog because he has been taught to put up with it! He is also allowed his own space and the kids have been taught their responsibility towards him as well. I would advise everyone to socialise their dogs with kids as accidents can happen, and little humans are our most precious possessions

[cowanbree]

To be honest I don’t really understand why dogs are expected to be good with children. If a young child got in a paddock and was kicked by a horse, who is in the wrong? The parent for not supervising their children. But let that same child wander up to a dog and get bitten and suddenly the dog is in the wrong?

I would think that unless raised with children a lot of dogs could easily be startled by a child and react badly. Personally mine find them very scary and aren’t overly child friendly which isn’t a huge issue in my life.

[Snoopy21]

I am totally at peace with you having dogs that hate kids on your own property. The same as a horse that might kick. But the fact is that dogs are often out in public, where there may also be children. If you stick to quiet areas, dog parks etc then it probably won't be an issue. But if you choose to walk a crowded street, or attend a busy social gathering, or walk past a primary school at 3pm, then I would think that your dogs needed to be good with kids. And the elderly, those in wheelchairs, men with beards, other dogs etc etc.