Children...bah!

[MoonshineDad]

I agree with that Danis. Although I may joke about it, it is a big issue. I plan to tackle it as quickly as possible. I applaud you for being a good parent. I have one little girl in my family that has ADHD and when she is focused on something it is like talking to a brick wall to get her to listen to you.

I may have patience for dogs, but I couldn't train a kid if my life depended on it. I do know there are good parents out there, I'm sure you're one of them. My own mother was a great parent, and she taught us to respect dogs and always ask before approaching.

So I certainly don't mean to be critical of all parents, but I don't feel its appropriate to ignore your child like this mother was doing while the two kids were literally charging my dogs. On the contrary I have the most respect for parents I see them lugging in dogs, strollers, and a kid on each hip.

So yes, I think I'll start with quiet areas and work my way up, I'm sure they'll both catch on quickly, they have with everything else.

 

[danisgoat]

I agree with that Danis. Although I may joke about it, it is a big issue. I plan to tackle it as quickly as possible. I applaud you for being a good parent. I have one little girl in my family that has ADHD and when she is focused on something it is like talking to a brick wall to get her to listen to you.

I may have patience for dogs, but I couldn't train a kid if my life depended on it. I do know there are good parents out there, I'm sure you're one of them. My own mother was a great parent, and she taught us to respect dogs and always ask before approaching.

So I certainly don't mean to be critical of all parents, but I don't feel its appropriate to ignore your child like this mother was doing while the two kids were literally charging my dogs. On the contrary I have the most respect for parents I see them lugging in dogs, strollers, and a kid on each hip.

So yes, I think I'll start with quiet areas and work my way up, I'm sure they'll both catch on quickly, they have with everything else.

Distracted parents are a big pain in the butt! I totally agree. I run into that all the time when I take my human kids to the park. My boys got bullied so bad one day by a little girl I wanted to strangle them!!! UGH.

Anyway, I applaud you for being so proactive with this situation. Seeing something that could be a problem in the future and tackling it head on. So many people either blame the dog (parents) or blame the kids (dog owners), but do nothing to actually be proactive and find a solution to a potential problem.

You are a great dog owner....and what a fantastic topic to bring up on the forum!!!

 

[Strider]

I agree with Susan. Try Petsmart, Petco and Pet Zoo. make the rounds. Definately get them used to being around children. It's worth it for when they get older.

Talk to other dog owners in your classes also. See if any of them have children that have been taught how to act appropriately around puppies. The trick here is that you want the puppies sociallized in a positive way, not with a herd of unruly kids scaring the bejeebers out of them!


The only problem you face with 'My dogs bite' ruse on kids in te park is uhm.. Whiskey and Rum are slightly cute atm and aren't overly threatening..

 

[granite]

Worse case scenario:
You call out "my dogs bite"
Your dog actually does bite someone.

In NC, you would then
1. Lose your dog. Really. You KNEW it was dangerous and you took it out without a muzzle and someone got hurt. They will confiscate your dog, and its the end of the road for Fido.
2. Incur a hefty fine.

If you call out "no, stay back, my dog is shy" you may turn the rampaging horde of children. OR not. But you have warned off the KIDS behavior, not broadcast that your dog has a mean streak. If they then bite...you have a small window of defense for your pet.

We had a group of very rowdy children rush out at Newton on Saturday at the first yard sale stop. Newton went from walking in front of me to going behind my legs. I stopped; and called out to the mom "my dog is shy, don't let your kids run to him." She didn't do anything, so I immediately followed by saying to the kids "NO." (no other explanation..in my best mom/schoolteacher power voice) They stopped. I walked Newton on past on the far side of the drive. We, of course, ran into that same little family at two other stops; with the oldest girl (about 10) becoming more and more whiney/fake sobbing "but I want to hold the puppy" and the mom shooting dagger looks at me. Hey, the kid's behavior is HER problem....other children and people approached quietly and offered a low palm for Newton to sniff. He was quite cool with that.

 

[danisgoat]

Worse case scenario:
You call out "my dogs bite"
Your dog actually does bite someone.

In NC, you would then
1. Lose your dog. Really. You KNEW it was dangerous and you took it out without a muzzle and someone got hurt. They will confiscate your dog, and its the end of the road for Fido.
2. Incur a hefty fine.

Excellant point, Janet.

Thanks for bringing that to light.

 

[Emmasmom]

Here in Ontario if you put a sign in your window, beware of dog, you can be held liable if your dog bites someone because you knew there was a possibility. If you have a sign, guard dog on duty, you don't face the same consequences.

Getting your dog used to kids is so important because we run into them everywhere and see well-behaved and misbehaved kids. I am lucky that I have great-nieces and great-nephews that are good kids and come in and out all the time. The only one we have a problem with the the 5-year-old nephew with MD. He doesn't understand that Emma doesn't want to play or that she could bite him if he touches her wrong (i.e. pull her fur). He just loves dogs so much.

I agree that parents should ask if their children can pet the dog, but not all will. With my dogs, if I come into contact with children I don't know, I shorten the leash to have more control over the dog, and will even bend over to place my hand on the dog's neck or shoulder just to confirm with the dog that they need to listen to me and obey.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

At a dog park....a parent shouldn't have a kid there that is not dog savvy.

Very true.

In any other public place...it is the dog owners responsibility to have a dog that is friendly ALL the time. IMO.

Why? If my dog is on a short leash, in heel position, I have control of my dog. He does not have to be friendly. He does not have to acknowledge anyone's presence. I only expect him to not lunge and bite.

We have this problem with our first dog (McKay, now 13) who was given up because he bit a kid trying to ride him (duh?) He can not be trusted around kids, ever, period. So when we took our three dogs to a store, one person controlled McKay, and the other took the more friendly dogs. If a kid wanted to pet a dog, we presented the kid-friendly dogs, and whoever had McKay beat a hasty retreat.

After dealing with McKay, I strive to have dogs who will take anything in stride and just go with the flow. He was a good first dog, because he has made the rest of them look easy.

I equate people who don't keep control of their get equal to people who put their dogs on flexi leads and let them run all over with no control.

 

[danisgoat]

Why? If my dog is on a short leash, in heel position, I have control of my dog. He does not have to be friendly. He does not have to acknowledge anyone's presence. I only expect him to not lunge and bite..

To answer your question of why:

It is so you don't get into any type of liability issue.

It is your choice, of coarse. Just not a choice I would ever make.

I am just offering an opinion, based on my knowledge of why you do not want to take a dog in public that is not socialized and could bite.

You never know.

And if your dog does bite a kid in a public place, it will never be the kids fault. It will always be the dogs fault. Fair or not fair, that is just the way it is. Especially if you are yelling, "my dog bites."

So....Alex.
Awesome job on bringing this subject up, and want to find ways to have your dogs become well socialized. A well socialized dog is a happy dog.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

Worse case scenario:
You call out "my dogs bite"
Your dog actually does bite someone.

In NC, you would then
1. Lose your dog. Really. You KNEW it was dangerous and you took it out without a muzzle and someone got hurt. They will confiscate your dog, and its the end of the road for Fido.
2. Incur a hefty fine.

If the dog bites, the dog bites. That is the important part of that scenario. It doesn't matter if I yell "NO" or "MY DOG BITES" or "CHOCOLATE CAKE", once the dog bites, the deed is done.

Maryland is pretty specific:
"Dangerous dog" means a dog that:
(i) without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or
(ii) is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection (c) of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made:
1. bites a person;
2. when not on its owner's real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on
a domestic animal; or
3. attacks without provocation.

So once the dog meets the above criteria (actually does bite) then yes, you have a problem. Or maybe not. I know a person who had part of an ear and part of her scalp removed by a rottie/mix, and they still haven't classified that dog as dangerous.

 

[Smudge]

I think you have to be control of your dog, but at the same time I don't think you should let it get to the point of pointing out that your dog will bite. This is another reason my dogs are on leash at all times unless the dog is doing an exercise for a class. You are responsible for watching your dog and knowing the signs that it's worried or upset about a situation.

It's not just a safety issue for the dog. It's a liability issue as well. That doesn't just include children. The same applies for adults.

Having said all that I'm not above getting in somebody's face and telling them off if I think they are stirring up trouble. There was a man at PetSmart (on the same day as the apodtion drive) that had an UGLY mixed breed dog. He allowed his dog to snap and snarl at Smudge. If I went down an aisle - so did the man with the ugly dog. I went across the store - so did the man with the ugly dog. When I went to the checkout line so did he. I finally had enough, picked Smudge up and let him have it.