need a second opinion

[Luciann]

When i walk my kids, i will talk to people on my cell phone and they get to listen to me talking to my kids when i need to.

the other day on our walk, a kid (9-11 yo) appeared out of no where and started to run up to us "to see the dogs". I told him to not run at strange animals or he might get bitten. before i could say anything else he goes oh and walks off.

I was telling a friend about it, yes i was stern since i did not want my dogs to bite him and then have the legal problems that it can cause. She told me that i had been rude to the kid by using the very stern voice.

I don't think i was, i was trying to protect him and the dogs. what do you think was I wrong in doing it the way i did or should i have let him approach?

[Missy Stewart]

I think that you were completely in-line with what you said! It really aggrivates me when I go out and people allow their kids to run at my dog! Especially since my dog is not good with kids!

So often parents lead their kids to believe that all dogs are completely safe and that for some reason it is ok to run up to them waving your arms and squealing... this is why so many dog bites happen! You were protecting not only the child, but also your dogs. There is nothing wrong with that. I always tell people not to let their kids run at my dog when I am out with him. It keeps everyone safe! ;)

[Clair Taberner]

no u were most definitly right, i'm a mum of 2 and always ALWAYS tell them they must go up to the owner NOT the dog and ASK if they can stroke the dog. i have a hard time with my 4yr old as she thinks all dogs are like ours and love kids:shrug: I got bit as a wee child coz i didn't listen to my mum n dad.

I try not to put the frighteners on, i explain it as not all dogs are used to children...

but i probably over emphasize(sp?)
just look at it as the child u spoke to will hopefully think twice about running up like that, or will at least approach more quietly and ask next time, so saving him a possible bite. U def did right on that:p

[Cecile Vargo]

Bettere safe than sorry! I'd rather see a child upset at my words & tone of voice than upset because they got hurt by my dog! You did the right thing!

[Luciann]

thanks for understanding, the child did not seem upset just disappointed. when someone asks to pet them i always tell them to sit down on the ground and let them come up to the person rather than the other way around.

it bothers me that adults don't teach children how to deal with animals. I felt i was in the right but then i have several people tell me i was rude and harsh to the kid. I just wanted someone elses opinion.

my male is a little more people friendly than my female who has human/animal aggression. So i never really know how she will react and Frodo will snap if he feels threatened. Had the child allowed me talk to him a moment i would have explained about the size difference but he just walked off.

[Jesse Cruz]

Luciann,

You were 100% right in what you said and how you said it. Like mentioned before, better safe than sorry.

[Luciann]

thanks for the support in this. i hate to think i might have handled it better and didn't

[Jill Ramsey]

Luciann,
You are 100% correct. I often have kids & adults come up to me to pet finnegan. I have to admit, I'm very surprised at the number that do ask first. The parents will tell the kids that they have to ask if they can pet the dog. You'd be surprised at the number of adults who just walk up and pet the dog!

[Luciann]

Most of the time adults will ask to pet them and i have had one mother ask if her daughter could pet them. i usually hold me little girl and let frodo do the intros and then let tika down a little later since i have read you should not force them to meet strangers. Anyway this was the first time that i had this happen. we meet people on our walks regularly but not one person until this kid has ever charged us.

[Ed Weinstein]

Not only do I think you did the right thing, but if I were in your shoes and the kid approached anyway I may well have bitten him myself, just to prove a point.

[Andre Mendizabal]

I also think you were right, kids are always running to my dogs and sometimes when I'm not watching they pet the dog without even asking!!!! My dogs are kid-friendly, but what would happen if I got an aggressive dog or just a shy dog that would feel threaten??? If something happens to the kid the parents would definitely blame me and my dog for what their kid did!!!

I think is absolutely necessary to teach kids how to deal with strange animals... if they want to pet a strange dog they will definitely have to ask the handler first... just because its a dog in a leash don't mean it can't bite!!!

Don't worry, that harsh call of attention will remain in the mind of this kid, and it may prevent him from getting injured in the future!!!

[Luciann]

Believe me i wanted to snap at him but i realized that his parents probably never explained things to him. I know a lot of non-animal lovers have no clue and people who have animals don't always know.

Had a guy who has 3 large dogs talk to me one day and his dogs had scared Frodo and this guy just reaches out to touch him and almost got bitten.