I was walking Jenna today and this family with two small children (my guess would be 6 and 3) came up from the opposite direction. The parents said nothing as their smallest came RUNNING up to my 75 pound GSD (kid was probably 30-35 lbs) and stuck her nose to Jenna's nose! The parents thought it was cute! Then, on my way back the other direction, I met up with the same people AND THE CHILD DID THE SAME THING! Now, Jenna is a SUCKER for kids, she just loves them. But the parents didn't know that. How did they know my dog wasn't a psycho, child hating, face biter? Just because she walking in public doesn't automatically mean she's safe.

I don't understand why people not only allow, but encourage this behavior in their children. Do they not realize how much damage a dog, especially a large one, can do to a child who's face is right at tooth level? Do they not realize that even generally friendly dogs may not tolerate such an intrusion on their personal space? Heck, if I were the dog, I would have bitten the kid! And probably then the parents for being so stupid! I should have said something to the parents, and honestly don't know why I didn't. I guess I was just so shocked that they were ok with their precious little child running up into the face of a big German shepherd!

Whew! that is shocking. where I am everyone tells their kids as you pass "come away, its going to kill you. you want it to kill you? dont go over there!" which is almost as bad; as a result you have all these kids who are just oozing fear and running away, screaming, from dogs and seem to stumble on every trigger to be chased by dogs because they are afraid of them. Ive done a little bit of work in the community with kids to show them how to interact with and read dogs but still!

I agree that parents seem to cultivate extremes - though it isn't limited to dogs or animals by any means. Thats a whole new subject not fit for this forum though hah.

I have encountered both the parents that don't seem to care and the parents that are telling their children dogs are evil man eating beasts.

When I had Cajun at fairs, the two largest we attended were Summerfest 2007 in Milwaukee, Wi, and The Midwest Horse Fair 2007. Some people were drawn to him and other times walking through a crowd or in a building was like Moses and the Red Sea. No lines for me!

ughh, luc and i had that at the vet this morning. luc is generally great w/people, i've never tested him w/kids, but this kid kept running over while his mother cooed about the 'doggy' (BLECH)

frankly i don't want some 2 year old mauling luc, even if it turns out luc is good with kids.

i ignored them, b/c i was grumpy, except i moved luc's head sharply towards me (with my hands, he thought it was just to pet him more, and he got lots of scratches) whenever the kid came close. the mother got the message and started to keep her kid away from luc.

whenever i'm walking the dogs and some kid comes barrelling at them, i do what i do w/strange dogs - i block the kid (NO, i don't kick them out of the way though, i just move in front). maybe i'm not a friendly-looking person, or it's the dogs, but i've never had a parent try to press their child on one of my dogs after that. perhaps they are think i have such unfriendly dogs i'm forced to the extreme of physically blocking their children instead of asking them to not bother the dogs, i don't know.

i should probably tell people i don't want their children near my dogs though and not be such a grumpy person. i just really hate it that people think it's okay paw at my dogs without asking my permission or speaking to me, so i guess i figure why speak to them. then there are the simperers :shudder:

So ..... since "rant" isn't one of the forums here on this board, what training suggestions are you asking for or giving?

QUOTE: whenever i'm walking the dogs and some kid comes barrelling at them, i do what i do w/strange dogs - i block the kid (NO, i don't kick them out of the way though, i just move in front). END

That's close to something I do when I see something ahead that looks wrong.... say, a big dog pulling his owner down the sidewalk toward my dogs and me..... I 've trained them all a "behind me" command.

well, that was my 'blocking child' advice

i want to teach my dogs a 'behind me' command! or at least a 'be back there and not so jumbled with your butts sticking out' command.

reminds of the saying "I hate dog people, they are people who are too afraid to bite people themselves" too true! and I say this with a laugh...most of the time I do feel like saying look and adore but dont touch! "for I am a jealous owner"

How about telling the kid and the parents that YOU bite?

Aside from that, I block the kid after putting the dog in a sit and generally say as my explanation that I am doing some training and don't want to break my dog's concentration. It tends to work and nobody thinks the dog is mean.

 Quote: jennifer mullen

... a 'be back there and not so jumbled with your butts sticking out' command.

I admit that the "behind me" command needs refining.

 Quote: jennifer marshal

...I block the kid after putting the dog in a sit and generally say as my explanation that I am doing some training and don't want to break my dog's concentration. It tends to work and nobody thinks the dog is mean.

Yes. I think "My dog is in training and can't be touched" is the best suggestion I have heard over the years about what to say to people who can't imagine why they (and their kids) can't maul your dog(s). No big discussion, no opening for their opinion..... just a flat statement in a courteous voice.

If they ask what kind of training, I guess you could mumble something about the CIA ...