What are you thinking!!!!!

[Sunflowers]

When Hans was about 5 months old, I was walking him in an outdoor shopping center area.
A couple with a toddler rounded the corner. The child was barely walking, about 10 months old.
I tried to go around them, but they pushed the baby right at Hans's face and asked if the baby could pet my dog.

The child's face was literally 2 inches from Hans's snout. Good thing he is such a gentle boy.
Still makes me nervous when I think about it.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted by huntergreen

can't teach your kids what you don't know, parent most likely doesn't know any better. imho, it is up to the owner to protect your dog from stupid people, comes with owning a dog. all of my dogs have been kid friendly and i have always stopped children from running up to the dog and schooled them on how to approach a dog. the most important thing to teach, "always ask before you try to pet a strange dog". seems parents do not teach "common courtesy" anymore.

True, and I actually bring my dogs to my husband's school and we demonstrate how to pet dogs and how to ask to pet a dog. But you can't ever be prepared for every single scenario, like a kid darting out of a crowd and jumping onto your dog before you even realize what's going on. As much as I will protect my dog I'm not going to thump someone else's kid with a stick either. It's not the kid's fault, they don't know any better.

[Sunflowers]

Yeah, then you go to jail for assaulting the kid...

[sashadog]

Some parents honestly believe everyone and everything should love their kids... On a hiking trail one time when a young child ran up to my dogs and the mom yelled at them and apologized to me, the dad came up behind them and chastised the MOM for scolding the kids saying that if a dog can't handle kids they shouldn't be in public. I was stunned, just thanked the mom and kept walking... Some people truly believe that their kids should be able to do anything and the world should just tolerate it.

[Gharrissc]

In a perfect world I guess ALL DOGS would be alright with kids,but that's besides the point. If your dogs were to bite the child then they would pay the price for it and the kids could possibly have lasting effects from it not just physically. All because the parent(s) thought every dog in public should be good with kids.

Originally Posted by sashadog

the dad came up behind them and chastised the MOM for scolding the kids saying that if a dog can't handle kids they shouldn't be in public.

[GSDolch]

First, under no circumstance to I agree with the mother letting her child go on like that.

I have a four year old child, he is a bolter. Only parents who have children who bolt will understand. Hes small and fast and gives no warning when he decides he wants to run and go somewhere. He's got so so much better, but not 100% and I am pretty good at keeping my eye on him and hovering to make sure he doesn't run. But, it happens.

What upsets me as equally is that you said your dog put the child to the ground. What do you mean by that exactly? Regardless of the situation, that is NOT something you should be letting your dog do, ever. I wouldn't be yelling at the mother, I'd be making sure I correct my dog for taking over a situation that you should have been handling, because it doesn't matter what the girl did, it all falls back on you and your dog.

I would be furious if a dog did that to my child, BUT, I wouldn't be sitting back going "aw cute" either. I think both of you have things you need to work on. Use it as a learning experience to be more pro active instead of re active.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted by Gharrissc

In a perfect world I guess ALL DOGS would be alright with kids,but that's besides the point. If your dogs were to bite the child then they would pay the price for it and the kids could possibly have lasting effects from it not just physically. All because the parent(s) thought every dog in public should be good with kids.

I think the responsibility is shared. I don't bring dogs in public that can't be well behaved in public and can't handle strangers (politely) petting them or being crowded by people and that sort of thing. When I take a dog in public I expect that the dog is going to be "crowded" (touched and jostled as we move through a crowd) and pet because people are going to stop to pet it and that's fine. I wouldn't bring a dog to a public event if I thought the dog would bite a kid (even if to us the bite is fair). But I also don't really train my dogs to accept random kids poking their eyes and jumping on their backs and do expect for the parents to at least step in and take their kid away if they aren't going to teach them not to jump on dogs.

[Caledon]

Originally Posted by GSDolch

I have a four year old child, he is a bolter. Only parents who have children who bolt will understand. Hes small and fast and gives no warning when he decides he wants to run and go somewhere. He's got so so much better, but not 100% and I am pretty good at keeping my eye on him and hovering to make sure he doesn't run. But, it happens.

A friend of mine had a child who was a bolter too. As unpopular as it may be (even was 25 years ago) she put her child in a harness (back from her childhood). She also had one of those wrist attachments and used it when they went to crowded places like amuzement parks.

Her comment was that it was better to get dirty looks from others than have her child hurt because he bolted. She also had other young children.

I'm not shy any more about telling parents to keep their kids away from my dog, which is fine with kids. I don't like the assumption on the parents behalf and I don't want the kids to think all dogs are friendly. If the parents don't have the sense to educate their kids then I will if the circumstatance arise.

But everyone is right, kids and dogs move fast and although you can pre-empt some things you cannot pre-empt all.

[GSDolch]

Originally Posted by Liesje

I think the responsibility is shared. I don't bring dogs in public that can't be well behaved in public and can't handle strangers (politely) petting them or being crowded by people and that sort of thing. When I take a dog in public I expect that the dog is going to be "crowded" (touched and jostled as we move through a crowd) and pet because people are going to stop to pet it and that's fine. I wouldn't bring a dog to a public event if I thought the dog would bite a kid (even if to us the bite is fair). But I also don't really train my dogs to accept random kids poking their eyes and jumping on their backs and do expect for the parents to at least step in and take their kid away if they aren't going to teach them not to jump on dogs.

[GSDolch]

Originally Posted by Caledon

A friend of mine had a child who was a bolter too. As unpopular as it may be (even was 25 years ago) she put her child in a harness (back from her childhood). She also had one of those wrist attachments and used it when they went to crowded places like amuzement parks.

Her comment was that it was better to get dirty looks from others than have her child hurt because he bolted. She also had other young children.

I'm not shy any more about telling parents to keep their kids away from my dog, which is fine with kids. I don't like the assumption on the parents behalf and I don't want the kids to think all dogs are friendly. If the parents don't have the sense to educate their kids then I will if the circumstatance arise.

But everyone is right, kids and dogs move fast and although you can pre-empt some things you cannot pre-empt all.

For a long time we had a double stroller (I have a three and four year old) but now they are to big for that. I'm in the market for a good harness, something he CAN'T get out of lol. He is his fathers child (his father can wiggly his way out of a straight jacket, long story...ha). We're a bunch of home bodies, but I would like to have one for in cases like if we go to the zoo or something.