I've had a number of toddlers lunge towards Cain....he's taller than they are I just shout "STOP!" in a very authoritative voice and put my hand out at them in a stop sign, it's always bought the kid skidding to a halt in it's tracks. Usually get a dirty look from the parents for shouting at their kid, but better that than a bitten child. And it's their responsibility to ensure that a dog is safe and approached properly, not just let a very small child charge up.

When I was up in Manchester, I got chatting to (well, acosted ) a man who also had a GSD x Akita who was about 9 months old. As we were chatting, a tiny little girl appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the dog either side of it's face and pressed her face up against it's nose I thunk she was giving it a kiss. I actually almost had a heart attack on the spot! Thankfully the dog was not Cain and didn't do anything, but I seriously nearly passed out with shock. The child then dashed off as fast as it arrived, still have no idea who her parents were.

When I was a child, my mother drummed into me not to touch a dog without the owners permission, to be calm and quiet around them and to let them sniff my hand then scratch their neck, not to put my hand over their head. It's not rocket science and could potentially save a lot of kids getting bitten.

I used to own a Rottweiler and children did it then! He was a big softy but the look on the parents faces was brilliant!

I don't have a problem with children, or anyone for that matter, greeting my puppy. Obviously she needs to be socialised with people of all ages, but its the manner in which children approach dogs that is my main concern.

I agree that it should be the parents role to educate their kids on dogs and how to approach them, but not all adults know how to act around dogs. I had a rescue Rottweiler with a very sad past who did not like men. There were quite a few men who would try to approach him despite me saying he hated men and they would reply "Oh it's okay, I'm good with dogs". If they were god with dogs they would have left well alone!

I would agree it's a problem. The amount of parents who actually instill a fear of dogs in their kids aswell as those that just don't care. My dog is bombproof with kids being that we have 3 young ones, but I either get the ones that are dragged across the pavement away from him by their nutcase parents moaning about those kind of dogs, or I get the kids that run up, I always stop them and say please ask your mum if it's ok first or just stop them by saying hello would you like to pat my dog and then show them how to do it. Bruno is same height as toddlers and loves to get a lick in so I prefer to have the parents permission first so theydontthink he is about to bite them.

I agree it's the parents responsibility but just as many things if parents don't do it, getting awareness into schools just like they do with road safety etc can only be a good thing.

I am currently trying to teach my daightr of 21 months not to try and talk to every dog she sees as she assumes all dogs are like her own, and want her to cuddle them!

This is what I do too. Once the child stops, I then invite in or not depending on the situation which is by then under my control

I stand still, put my hand out and bellow NO!!! in my best Head Teacher voice. Although these days kids usually run away screaming at the sight of animals.

Just on Saturday I had something happen. I was doing a meet and greet to raise funds for GG and Axel was with me and 2 children came over to pet the dogs. This in itself is no problem as all the dogs have good temperaments for meets and greets. The children petted Axel and then one tried to kiss him on the lips, before she could I put my hand in front of Axel's mouth and said she shouldn't kiss dogs on the lips. I'm pretty sure Axel wouldn't have done anything, but if he did Axel would have been blamed.
I kiss Axel all the time (not on the lips, on the top of his head), and our children might do the same, but I don't want strange children kissing my dog.

On the topic of parents instilling fear of dogs - I get this a lot! Just the other week I was minding my own business photographing Axel in daffodils and a young toddler or around 2 was playing with her parents at some distance. They were trying to get the child to go home with them but she wanted to look at Axel. They said, "If you don't come now, I'll get the dog to bite you"...that worked

I tend to block and will shout if I need to, parents should control their children just like I need to control my dogs.
Hocus would be quite happy to be fussed like that but Teg doesn't, he only tries to get away but I'm not happy for him to be put in that situation.

I take a different approach TBH as mine have to been child/people friendly I have no problems with kids or people stroking them. When Mojo was very small kids would run over in excited delight at her being so small (think they thought she was a toy) but instead of telling the adults I tell the children...something along the lines of..

Now your All very lucky that these are children friendly, but I think next time you should ask first before running over and trying to grab....for two reasons, the dog may notbe as friendly as it looks....and if its a puppy you may frighten the puppy, and you wouldn't want to do that would you.
Kids tend to be good little listeners even if their parents have failed to explain, and using the ''now what are you going to ask me before you carry on stroking them'' usually has the desired effect......after all they so desperately
want to touch

I just tell kids to stop, and tell them that they should always ask before stroking someones dog and definitely not chase them...as they were doing as I was playing ball with ripley, she is very friendly but was not interested in being stroked as she was training/playing.

All my dogs are great with children but the kids have one chance and one chance only, if they dont ask first ten they dont get to stroke them, end of.