Children...bah!

[MoonshineDad]

I do all that I can with my two boys. We go for walks, we do frisbee runs, both of them are in classes. Rum's class doesn't start up until saturday for his puppy training, but Whiskey is in agility pre-school. As a puppy Whiskey was very shy, I have a lot of resources for dogs, and people. So both of my two are socialized with dogs, men (obviously), and women.

What I lack...is children. I don't want children...ever. I have 0 patience for these small creatures. My dogs apparently...don't want kids either though.

So we were on a walk. Whiskey and Rum are split leashed and walking nicely. We've gone about two miles at a nice slow pace. When BAM kids come running. I hear from afar. "Mommy! Look...a puppy!" I thought about running, but lack of common sense told me to hold ground. So these three boys, holding orange tipped firearms and waving frantically as if my two dogs were an ice cream truck come barreling towards my boys.

I'm nervous, their nervous, Rum was freaked. He backed up the end of his leash and started growling. Whiskey's barking frantically. I'm trying to stay calm and help the dogs as well as ward off the 5 year old weapon bearing attack. As I'm saying "Please, don't try to pet my dogs, they are very shy they do not do well with children" The mom is just standing there...doing nothing... and I'm getting a bit hot under the collar.

My dogs are herding dogs...they are reserved...I'm okay with that. I didn't think it was okay for Rum to growl the way he did...I probably would have growled too, but he was intensley afraid. What I'm more afraid of is if a child comes running across the field when we're doing a frisbee routine or something like that. He's been having a bad week with fear stuff, he's just hit 13 weeks and I believe he's going through a fear period.

Whiskey...he barks. He barks, he's a talker, he wasn't AS afraid and I'm very proud of him for that. He's also graduated kindergarten and is used to the sounds of puppy agility so...I couldn't be more proud. What I'm wondering...is how should i go about, if at all, socializing my guys to children?

I don't know many children. I believe the total comes up to a whopping ONE. Whom I call to see if she is still in school before I make my visitation. I'm very bad with children too...I probably need socialized as well She has clinical ADHD and is off the walls so...its an avoidance thing.

Anyway, I'm seeking advice on this? Should I ignore this behavior? Will he grow out of it with his fear period? Its not a huge deal to me, for them to dislike children, but I don't want him intensley afraid of them, and I don't want him agressive with them.

 

[corbinam]

I see where you're coming from about not needing them to love children, but you want to make sure that fear doesn't turn into aggression. You can only protect them so much, at some point (probably the worst possible time) you will find yourself in an uncontrollable situation and you'll want your dogs to at least be somewhat civil.

What about taking them to a public park on a weekend where it will be busy? You can start by just walking them or working with them around the sounds of children. Tell anyone who asks that you're working with your dogs and please not to pet them. Slowly move closer to the kids' area. Once they are comfortable enough, you can have one or two well behaved kids try to give them treats.

Just that they aren't phased by kids. There is a chance that kids will come out to see frisbee competitions, etc.. and you don't want them distracted or thrown off their game because they are scared or even just worried.

 

[danisgoat]

You totally have to get your puppies used to kids while they are still young. Yes, that situation can be scary to certain dogs. But, when they get older, if they are ever in that situation and bite....well that would be horrible.

I would take them to a playground. Go find one that has just a few kids at it. Ask the parents if the kids are afraid of dogs and if they aren't, explain to the parents that you would like to get your dogs used to kids. Then....give the kids dog treats and ask them to nicely give the treats to the dogs. You want the dogs to get excited to see kids and think treat....not to freak out and be scared.

And....you need to make sure that you are not scared of kids, either, lol. Dogs can read your body language. Most kids don't bite so relax

 

[Sumac3890]

I hear you loud an clear and feel the same way. Our Maggie has always been okay with kids but some what reserved and I can see her snapping at one. Zak is a bit scared of some at the moment. The breeder we got him from had a 22 month old so he was somewhat used to them but lately he is unsure. We had a nephew (13) over last week and Zak was fine outside with him and was okay inside till Zak got tired and our nephew has had learning dissabilitys so he is not your normal 13 year, he kept throwing a ball of Zak's in the air and Zak did not care to be around him. His mom came to pick him up and it was her first time meeting Zak and he evenutally came to her but we did not want to be brutally honest and tell her that Zak would not come to her because of her son. OOPPS I got a bit side tracked here but could you take him close to a grade school so he could hear the kids but not get to close?

 

[Megansmom]

I am a mother of two teenagers and I don't like young little annoying kids either, .

You handled yourself MUCH better than I would have with the demon spawn, , I mean precious children, ha ha. I have NO patience with parents who do not teach their kids how to behave around animals, none..

However, like ther others have said, you do have to get the furkids used to all kinds of situations. I took and still take Megan for walks around the elementary school while the kids are out at recess. She hears them sees them and there not a threat. When young kids do approach, usually the parents ask ME if it's okay to pet Megan! When she shows nervousness, we just stand still.

I'm sorry but if I see obnoxious kids coming towards my little girl, I would have NO problem telling the kids to go away or telling them to behave nicely before I alllow them to pet Megan!

Sorry, that's bad advice, but you get the point..

 

[take4roll10]

I do worry about Bailey with children as well. She met my 2 year old cousin when she was 4 months old. After that, she didn't have any other experience with children until she was 9 months old. Twin toddlers tried to pet her and she was terrified. Since then, a few kids have pet her and she was indifferent. She let them pet her, but she wasn't excited. She just didn't care. She did play fetch when they threw a ball for her.

Last week, there was a toddler in the dog park. He pushed Bailey. Not enough to knock her down, but enough that she lost her balance. She just turned around, looked at him and continued on her business. I was so proud of her. I made sure I rough handled her a little bit as a puppy. I gently pulled her ears, tail, feet and wrestled her. You can touch anywhere on her body and she won't care. I think that definitely paid off when this kid pushed her.

Saturday, at the dog park, some clueless guy let his sons and dog in the dog park. One of his sons was develop mentally disabled and started freaking out. He took off his hat and was swatting at the dogs. All while the father was too busy talking on his cell phone. I immediately removed Bailey and put her in the other dog pen. I did not want Bailey to have any bad experiences with children since she hasn't had much socialization with them. The boy ended up kicking a yorkie.

So just make all your puppy's experiences with children are positive and play with their feet, ears and tail.

 

[Smudge]

I'm never having children either (has caused more than a few arguments, but it's nobody business but my own). I also don't care for children at all. My sister will probably never have children. The only kids I know are my cousin's two badly misbehaved children. I've never seen kids like these two. Very spoiled and allowed to do anything they please whenever they please. My cousin would disagree, but I know better.


So what do I do? Jennifer has a little boy who is around 3 or 4, I think. The great thing is he's been taught how to behave and treat pets. I've never seen a kid who was so well behaved around a dog. Smudge doesn't forget easily when somebody wrongs him, so meeting a badly misbehaved kid could end up in a bitten child and a terrified Smudge.


"Puppy...here!" Then he gave Smudge a liver treat. Her son and Fluffy were instant friends, because Fluffy loves to eat.

There are people out there with kids that are taught to treat animals right. Not everybody's kids tries to ride shetland sheepdogs like they are shetland ponies. You just gotta know where to look.

 

[Sumac3890]

Once when walking Maggie a small girl ran out into the street to greet her and before we could say anything here was this strange girl putting her face right into Maggies face...the grandmother finally ran and got the child and we told her she needs to learn that not all dogs will be friendly. I was so glad that Maggie did not nip at her, as Moonshines dad mentioned they are herding breeds.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

Parenting fail.

I find that yelling "MY DOG BITES" is the fastest way to get parents to rein in their kids. Kids also generally understand this. I don't try to rationalize to kids. I need their immediate behavior changed, and that seems to do the trick. Then you can explain to the parents the improper behavior of their children, and what the proper behavior is.

So yes, the dogs should probably see a kid or two, but only in a controlled environment, not at a park where kids are bouncing everywhere. I rented some kids from a lady at my moms quilt guild, that worked well. They came to the house, and played with my puppies when they were like 7 weeks old. I think the kids were 4 and 7, so old enough to mostly understand.

I can say that I only have one dog who would not react to small things running at him and screaming. The rest will bark once and back up, which I accept as saying "the conditions are unacceptable." Once the kids settle, then I will reintroduce the dog and it usually goes fine.

 

[Megansmom]

Parenting fail.

I find that yelling "MY DOG BITES" is the fastest way to get parents to rein in their kids. Kids also generally understand this. I don't try to rationalize to kids. I need their immediate behavior changed, and that seems to do the trick. Then you can explain to the parents the improper behavior of their children, and what the proper behavior is.

So yes, the dogs should probably see a kid or two, but only in a controlled environment, not at a park where kids are bouncing everywhere. I rented some kids from a lady at my moms quilt guild, that worked well. They came to the house, and played with my puppies when they were like 7 weeks old. I think the kids were 4 and 7, so old enough to mostly understand.

I can say that I only have one dog who would not react to small things running at him and screaming. The rest will bark once and back up, which I accept as saying "the conditions are unacceptable." Once the kids settle, then I will reintroduce the dog and it usually goes fine.

Ha ha Rachael that strikes me as funny to yell "my dogs bite" as a way to detour obnoxious kids away, ..