Children and dogs

[CorvusCorax]

In light of recent posts, I would like to post, for younger people and parents, some things I was always taught as a child, about how to act around dogs.
(It is raining and I'd rather be tracking, but hey!)
This is a combination of things taught to me by my mother, a breeder and judge, and police dog handlers.

Never go up to a strange dog. If it is with someone, ask the owner first and always with an adult in accompanyment.

Do not poke or prod a dog. Also, try not to pat, pat, pat a dog on the head - pat yourself on the head, or a friend. It isn't nice on yourself, and I bet your friend won't like it either.
They much prefer an ear scratch or a throat tickle. If touching the head, do a smooth stroke instead.

When a dog is lying down, leave it alone, do not stand over it or lie down next to it., particularly in it's bed.

When a dog jumps up on you or looks like it might, do not raise your arms or try to guard yourself. Keep your arms by your side, or folded low, and turn around.

Do not scream or shout around dogs. For one, their ears are sensitive, for two, an animal they might chase would make a similar noise.

Do not carry food or toys near a group of dogs, or play with toys excitedly around dogs, especially do not have food and toys near a strange dog.

Do not attempt to take a toy or food from a dog, especially a strange one.

If a dog runs up to you, do not run, do not scream, do not shout, do not panic. Stand still with your arms by your sides or folded.
Dogs chase things that run, they cannot chase if you are standing still. Police dogs are actually trained to chase the person who is running, innocent or otherwise.

If you raise your arms as a dog walks past, or make any sort of defensive gesture, it is more likely to rush over and see what you are doing - always keep calm around dogs.

Do not 'walk into' a strange dog suddenly, they might get scared or threatened.

Please feel free to add your own.

 

[GinaB]

Don't touch a Beastie dog, she hates kids as much as me

 

[camilla4]

All good Cavecanem and probably those of us who grew up with dogs take all these points for granted. I can add one - I do see a lot of people who will go and say "hello" to a dog by bending down and eyeballing it - this is a very threatening gesture to a dog and can cause a reaction.

It does amaze me how many people will allow their children to go up to a strange dog without asking the owner. I was always taught to remember that the dog is effectively someone else's property - my mother always said "would you like it if someone else just helped themselves to your toys without asking?!". Not saying that dogs are toys btw.

 

[RuthnMeg]

As an owner (and mum) dogs need routine. They also need to have 'their' space. They need regular exercise on a daily basis, and need feeding about the same time every day. A sudden change can upset them.

 

[Jojo_Pea4]

Great advice Cavecanem.

Another 1 is if dogs are playing with each other dont get involved (try and join in) as dog play more violently with each other and can easily turn and snap at you.

 

[prosefullstop]

Nothing useful to add to the above wisdom, but you will not believe the number of kids who pet Stella on the street without asking. Luckily she likes kids a lot (a bit too much sometimes

) but why do people assume that small dogs are somehow more cute and cuddly?

What's more, there are parents who come into the dog park, dog-less, so that their toddler can say hello to "da pupppies"

 

[kirstyhen]

- Just because it has Floppy Ears and sad eyes doesn't automatically make it a people lover! They can be just as sharp (and often more neurotic!) than 'ferocious' pointy ears dogs!

- If it is a small rat shaped objest, steer well clear, it will have all sort of issues

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Really good points CaveCanem

I would add something along the lines of.. dont expect dogs visiting your house to behave in the same way as your own dogs do.

Case in point: my niece is very well trained

and will ALWAYS ask before she approaches a strange dog etc. But she got snapped at by Flick last time I visited my sister, as niece was crawling over Flick like she does her own dogs, and Flick didnt like it

Understandably IMHO, if I were a greyhound I wouldnt want several stone of child crawling over my ribcage

 

[kirstyhen]

Especially if, like your dogs, the poor things have nothing covering their ribcage

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yep, that's why I was never encouraged to climb over my own dogs as it would have made me think it was OK to try it with everyone's dogs - it is hard to explain to a small child that all dogs are different - this dog will allow you to use it as a climbing frame, but that one might not - best not allow any dog to be used as a climbing frame, just to be on the safe side!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Especially if, like your dogs, the poor things have nothing covering their ribcage

[/ QUOTE ]

But that is just because I starve them

I personally wouldnt let niece treat her own dogs like she does, but it isnt my call to make unfortunately

And oddly enough the CKCS seem to adore her

 

[Spudlet]

[ QUOTE ]
- Just because it has Floppy Ears and sad eyes doesn't automatically make it a people lover! They can be just as sharp (and often more neurotic!) than 'ferocious' pointy ears dogs!


[/ QUOTE ]

Could someone please tell this to all the people who grab poor Henry and put him in a headlock, he may not mind (although he often looks slightly shell-shocked!) but the next dog might!

In fact, if we could all just form a posse and hunt down that stupid woman on Southwold Pier who walked up behind me as Henry was sitting with us at an outside table, quite literally enveloped Henry's whole head in a huge bear hug and then walked off without ever actually saying anything to me, that would be great....

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]

Could someone please tell this to all the people who grab poor Henry and put him in a headlock, he may not mind (although he often looks slightly shell-shocked!) but the next dog might!

In fact, if we could all just form a posse and hunt down that stupid woman on Southwold Pier who walked up behind me as Henry was sitting with us at an outside table, quite literally enveloped Henry's whole head in a huge bear hug and then walked off without ever actually saying anything to me, that would be great....

[/ QUOTE ]

Happens to me all the time! Otto will be sat at my feet minding his own business and the next second a small child will have draped themselves over his head. Now Otto thinks this is the most fun a dog can have with dead animals being involved, but I have met so many snappy Spaniels to know that not all of them enjoy the attention in the same way!

 

[Spudlet]

This was a fully grown woman though

Henry is a little diamond with children, he was a star when we had an open day and made a mint with the collecting tin I had cruelly attached to his harness

The kids were queuing up to give us all their parents' money for a pawshake

I would rather he doesn't get suffocated though, on balance.... and I certainly know at least one spaniel who would remove your head before he let you get away with that, and a lab too - both rescues that have had bad experiences.

 

[numptynoelle]

Nothing to add from me - totally agree with all the above!

Especially the children bit - as Tilly is a rescue we were never sure how much interaction or what experiences she's had with them before, so I'm always wary when kids bounce up to her! I've had to speak to parents about it before - luckily they understood once I explained, but just ignorant! Cue "But they just wanted to say hello...." Fine, but my dog doesn't know that, please ask me first!

Phew, rant over!

 

[Patches]

When we were on holiday last year, we were playing cricket on the beach. The beach was pretty empty as it was later at night, just before dusk.

A woman walked right across our cricket pitch with two collies and one dived towards Hannah for the ball. Hannah put her hand out and said "hello" (something she probably did because we'd just had our Collie, Bess, then and this was a tri-colour too). The woman snapped at her not to touch a strange dog and then at me for not teaching her not to touch a strange dog!

Hannah did actually know she shouldn't do it, but assumed (wrongly) that as the woman chose to walk right between our cricket stumps, on an empty beach, that the dogs must be pretty sociable.

She has now learned her lesson and always asks before approaching other dogs, and generally only approaches the dogs we'd all generally consider as "soppy" anyway...although still asks first.

 

[CorvusCorax]

A dog literally hid between my OH and I on the beach in Sardinia because it was being tortured by the owner's grandchildren (I assume) when my OH tried to lift it to give it back to them, it started to growl and snap at him and the children when they tried to grab it.

It was cowering under my elbow. They were pushing it, pulling it, poking it, the poor thing, if I was fluent in Italian I would have given them a right bollocking.
Wish I could have taken him home, little scruff of a thing.