Unfortunately dogs are expected to be bombproof these days. They're either great with kids and will put up with anything or they're dangerous and should be muzzled. No happy medium.

Sadly there will always be cr*p parents, as there will always be cr*p dog owners.

Although Loki is as soft as butter, I don't want kids throwing thier arms round him coz they might think ALL dogs will put up with it, and lets face it, in tabloidland it's always the Big Bad Wolf - never the innocent child or God forbid- the parent's fault!!! Young children can be very alarming for dogs who aren't accustommed to them, or who have been used as animated toys in the past.

Having said that it took AGES to train my youngest to ask first. She was three when we got Loki and fell in love with all dogs from that day forth. But it is ultimately the parent's responsibility and they should have their kids under close control - like we have our dogs.

I think I must have instilled the message in my kids, the other day they told me off for not asking before I stroked a dog!

But although it is irresponsible parenting to allow children to run up to strange dogs, parents are human too and toddlers can be very tricky little creatures, so I think it is every dog owners responsibility to do their best to socialise their dogs with children. If, for whatever reason, that isn't possible I do feel it really is the dog owners responsibility to keep the dog away from situations it can't cope with.

Like Catrinsparkles I always make a point of thanking children that ask first and then ask them to hold their hand palm up for the dogs to sniff first. At the same time trying to teach Pepper not to bounce all over the children, she's rather too fond of kids! She's the dog equivalent of the toddler that has a nice dog at home so thinks all dogs are friendly and want to play.

J

Your always going to get numpties who let their kids run upto dogs in the park.

I've had it a lot in the New Forest where I live, we got a lot of children who come up and pat the dogs if we stop at a pub with them, or even if we are out walking and stop near some people. Streams are the worst places. But I never have them off lead if I see people having a picnic as I know mine would want to join in ! We get loads of people coming straight up to the horses from their back end as well With both the horses and the dogs we get people who automatically assume they can come and pat them with no obvious risk.

Although I would have though horses were more of an obvious threat !

One ar$ehole, took his 3 year old daughter upto my horse when he was tied up at the pub, both my husband and I had ridden the horses over there and they were tied up away from the main seating area (other side of the car park) and whilst mine is fine, he only moves fast for his dinner my husbands one can be a bit unpredictable with his hind feet if he feels threatened.

As he approached, I was looking at something else, then turned to look back at my horse where this bloke had his daughters hand and was within 3 feet of his hind legs ! If my horse had kicked out, it was within perfect decapitating / killing height for the daughter ! I called out straight away for them to back away and please dont go near them. To be told straight away 'Then dont bring them to the pub ! We're only looking not touching' and took a step closer with a real 'What are going to do about it?' type look.

What I did next I wont say as I'll get shot down in flames but it did put him in danger and he got the hint

There'll always be idiots out there, sadly you cant shoot them.

Go on Willow, tell us what you did next ! It sounds like you were in a no win situation with that guy. Why do people think animals want to be petted, with the type of people there are about today, we are very glad that our cats don't go up to people outside they all seem to keep their distance,and although I think Brinley and Betty seem fine with kids in the park we don't have children visiting at home, and they are both rescue dogs, I don't really know that much about Brinleys past, although we have had Betty since she was about 12 weeks old, so its not likely she has contact with kids. There is a little girl who goes in the park who Brinley loves because she did the right thing and asked if she could pet him, and she always makes a fuss of both my dogs and asks if she can throw the ball for them .But those people yesterday were not being responsible.

Agree totally with all the comments. Sadly I think this will always be a problem. I always tell children of any age that they were very good to ask before they stroke the dogs. Dont meet many who do though. Even the ones who ask "do they bite" get praise for asking and a gentle reminder that they should ask "can I stroke your dogs"! Dont want them growing up to fear dogs and assuming they all bite unprovoked. I would never trust any dog 100% with kids, as they can be screamy, grabby, little ******s! Some people think that dogs have the same thoughts and perceptions as humans. They are dogs and act instinctively to given situations. Fight or flight.

I dont have children so its hard for me to comment, but I don't let my dogs wander up to strangers willy nilly, so I'm pretty sure I wouldn't let my kids do it either

All laughter aside though, it's a good job your hounds are child-tolerant!

No way! I'm totally petrified of horses, lovely as they are I'd never go wandering up to one that I didn't know unless it was at one of those childrens petting farms! Some people are nuts.

One of my dogs is 15 years old and is blind in one eye and also deaf now . I let her off the lead where we walk as one of her great pleasures in life is sniffing about . She does no harm to anyone and mostly doesn't even look at them .
I'm sick of adults allowing their children to go up and throw their arms around her , she gets a terrible fright . One day this woman with a toddler let her child kick her and then said , Oh he always does that to dogs !

Fernsmum, I don't know what your reaction was when the anklesnapper kicked your dog, but I know what mine would have been ! I'm protective of all my animals, the womans ears would still be ringing now ! How dare she allow her little horror to go around doing that !

Not at all, it's doubtful from the sounds of them but hopefully some of your advice will sink into their thick skulls and prevent a more nervous / aggressive dog losing it's life and their child being hurt because the child does the same again.

I'd have paid good money to see that!

Not fair, you have to tell us now!

Blimey, that woman would have been bruised for a long time if she would have let her kid do that to my dog.


I just don't understand why it is so difficult for parents to grasp the idea that they should not be letting their kids go marching up to dogs they don't know.

My neice and nephew both knew from an early age that if they wanted to stroke a dog they must always ask whatever grown up they are with first and then the grown up they are with will ask the grown up the dog is with.