Would you let her walk your Sheltie?

I commend those of you who answered that you "would" allow this little girl to walk your dog with the proviso of your walking with her and employing a certain level of training before you might eventually allow her to walk the dog alone. That is (probably) the correct way to handle such a situation if the intent was (at least in part), to change her future behavior with dogs.

I can just as candidly say that there is no way this kid gets anywhere near a dog of mine without some intervening act. (This is assuming the OP's comments are accurate - that my dog hates her - because she has been caught teasing my dog - and she has been seen physically abusing another dog). An intervening act might be: I somehow get the opportunity to spend some time with her (without my dog) and come to find out that she truly is clueless about handling animals and not just a mean kid. I sort of wish that I were as evolved as many others here are (and I wish that I was), but I'm not. No way - no how.
 
No. For many reasons....If she teases the dog(s) then I would not trust her with a pet rock. SHows her character and poor judgement and immaturity. Who did she "sign up" with to be a dog walker? What kind of training has she had? I'd tell her not until she is older and has references. Or if she persists, let her walk WITH you around the block and see how she simply interacts with your dog(s) and you can monitor her general demeanor. Then, in time, if she matures and ina few years is responsible, then maybe. Until then. I'd say no thank you.
 
You are totally liable.

[QUOTE Would you be responsible for anything that could happen to her or the dogs? [/QUOTE]

Yup, you are totally liable. She's a 10-year-old. Turning a 10-yr-old loose with your dog on a public street is negligence.
 
No. For many reasons....If she teases the dog(s) then I would not trust her with a pet rock. SHows her character and poor judgement and immaturity

It's not her character, its her parents character that I would be impugning because obviously they did not teach empathy, and compassion. I know this because I dealt with this behavior all last summer when the kids on my block were 'allowed to tease my dog". The parents stated," these kids are allowed to do whatever (insert expletive) they want.
 
dblock said:
It's not her character, its her parents character that I would be impugning because obviously they did not teach empathy, and compassion. I know this because I dealt with this behavior all last summer when the kids on my block were 'allowed to tease my dog". The parents stated," these kids are allowed to do whatever (insert expletive) they want.
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Many times it is the parents, but not always. I've known many people that have given their children the best they can possibly give. But the kids think they know best, and rebel against the world. I've seen it happen too many times with friends, neighbors, and family.

But no, I would not trust her alone with any dog (and never a sensitive breed like a sheltie).
 
Well, it looks like it was only for a little bit that she was walking dogs. A neighbour saw her walking a black Lab and dragging it too. I don't see her out with any dogs now, so it may have just been an end-of-school thing (school was just out for the public schools here the end of June).

I feel sorry for her, but she is really a disobedient and disrespectful child. It has been either too wet or too hot to walk my three but I am hoping to get back to it in the fall. Sidewalks are just way too hot when I get home.
 
Emmasmom said:
Well, it looks like it was only for a little bit that she was walking dogs. A neighbour saw her walking a black Lab and dragging it too. I don't see her out with any dogs now, so it may have just been an end-of-school thing (school was just out for the public schools here the end of June).

I feel sorry for her, but she is really a disobedient and disrespectful child. It has been either too wet or too hot to walk my three but I am hoping to get back to it in the fall. Sidewalks are just way too hot when I get home.
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She's about ten, right? IMO, that's more than old enough to feel empathy for another living creature. She obviously does not. I don't feel sorry for her, I feel sorry for the animals she has contact with. I have known plenty of little brat children who are still fine to be around animals, so while maybe I could excuse her brattiness, I see no reason to excuse the cruelty. Dragging/kicking/taunting is way beyond tolerable behavior.
 
I was approx. 9-10 years old when I started walking the neighborhood dogs. I walked a couple of cocker spaniels (different homes), an old black lab and a ****-Zhou.

Personally, I wouldn't let a child under the age of 10 walk one of my dogs and it would have to be someone I knew and trusted. There is NO way I'd allow someone who'd been seen mistreating and teasing dogs anywhere near any of my three.

I'd be totally willing, with the right kid, to go out with them and teach them how to handle one of my dogs.

That being said, it would also depend on the dog's personality. I wouldn't give a shy or aggressive dog to a child to walk, or a large dog. I think the only reason I was allowed to walk the lab was because of his age, he was pretty old and slow (Such a sweet old guy, I have such fond memories of Bentley...)
 
I absolutely would NOT allow that young a child to walk my precious babies. Especially if I had seen her teasing ANY animal.

Knowing me, I would probably have tried to educate her, if she truly wants to work doing this. Her age (10 years?) isn't too young to be responsible if she were trustworthy and well trained.

Now, there have been some rare exceptions. My goddaughter Bonnie was brought up knowing my dogs practically from birth (both theirs and hers). She has always had an absolutely amazing rapport with dogs and cats. My Border Collies loved her, and would let her fall asleep lying with them in a big dog pile. And my first Sheltie adored her, and hated all other children. She has walked my dogs many times, and at the age of 14, now runs her own dog walking/pet sitting service during the summer vacation. She's gone with me to many a dog show, and I swear my dogs would always do better in the obedience ring when she was there. (She usually gave them a good pep talk before their turn in the ring.) She's in New York state now, and I miss her terribly. I fully expect her to be a handler, trainer, or veterinarian. (She also has trained house cats she won a talent show with last year.)

It's not impossible that a child this age could be a successful dog walker, but it appears that this little miss is not knowledgeable enough to be responsible.
 
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