rottweiler at school gates - opinions?

Looby_Lou · 2 December 2009 at 5:36PM

I recently asked a dog owner if she could keep her dog under control and on a lead as it was jumping up at my kids (the dog was a Labrador and as big as my kids, it had already run into the middle of the road). This was outside the school at going home time. The result was a mouthful of abuse. Not all dog owners are sensible, or reasonable to requests.

rocketdog_2 · 2 December 2009 at 5:36PM

!!!!!! wrote: »

Using your logic then, dogs should not be outside the house between 08:15 - 09:00 and 14:30 - 15:45 in case they meet a child.

Should we ban vehicles for those periods as well. They kill and injure more children in a day than animals do in a year.

We should have done and ban people with this threat of Swine Flu!!!

lostinrates · 2 December 2009 at 5:39PM

Looby_Lou wrote: »

I recently asked a dog owner if she could keep her dog under control and on a lead as it was jumping up at my kids (the dog was a Labrador and as big as my kids, it had already run into the middle of the road). This was outside the school at going home time. The result was a mouthful of abuse. Not all dog owners are sensible, or reasonable to requests.

Absolutely, they are not. but not all are as ...unreasonable as this woman sounds!

emlou2009 · 2 December 2009 at 5:52PM

i actually laughed when i read the OP! if it was a labrador the OP would blatantly not have posted this! both working dogs with very similar temperaments, but people are so ignorant towards what they consider to be "dangerous" breeds!

flybynight · 2 December 2009 at 6:00PM

in terms of askig about dogs, the most amusing one i've had was a small boy of about 2ish (im not great with ages) who was shopping wiht his mum who saw our first lab retreiver cross and waddeled over to about 3 foot away and announdced " i stroke" which i took to be a request. So i sat her down and he waddled up to her ( she was soft as you like and adored kids) and threw his arms around her and gave her a hug and kiss. he then anounced " fluffy dog". his mum then explained that her parents had a large doberman "something" cross who was smoothcoated. apparantly he really liked talking to dogs in the street so they had taught him to ask first rather than trying to stop him altogether, whihc i thought was a cracking attitude to take, even if i did have to wipe the bits of squashed wotsit off her that he had been eating.

borokat · 2 December 2009 at 6:06PM

Quote: i actually laughed when i read the OP! if it was a labrador the OP would blatantly not have posted this! both working dogs with very similar temperaments, but people are so ignorant towards what they consider to be "dangerous" breeds!

Sorry i don't know how to quote properly

A labrador used to live in the house opposite mine when I was a kid and I was scared of it, it was big and used to bark a lot and come running over and bark. As a kid I was intimidated by it and used to avoid going outside when it was out. The owners could have just kept it on a lead as it used to run away and not respond to calls etc but I digress.
I am wary of all strange dogs, almost regardless of breed. Not all labs are perfect! although most I'm sure are lovely.

mikey72 · 2 December 2009 at 6:15PM

Looby_Lou wrote: »

I recently asked a dog owner if she could keep her dog under control and on a lead as it was jumping up at my kids (the dog was a Labrador and as big as my kids, it had already run into the middle of the road). This was outside the school at going home time. The result was a mouthful of abuse. Not all dog owners are sensible, or reasonable to requests.

You shouldn't ask, if it jumps at my kids, it gets belts on the head, grabbed by the collar, and twisted down, then pushed away towards the owner.
My kids don't approach strange dogs, dogs shouldn't approach kids with stange parents.

maggied_2 · 2 December 2009 at 6:27PM

SammyD wrote: »

I'm with you Molly. Dogs are part of life. What happens when you take your kids to the park? Unless the dog is showing signs of aggression, I see nothing wrong with it. Much better in my view to teach kids how to deal with strange dogs than pretend they don't exist.

Isn't this the thing though? They might be part of your life but that doesn't mean everyone has to love them.

Loopy_Lobes wrote: »

I do think dog owners need to take into account other peoples feelings. Just because you think your dog is the cutest thing on earth don't assume everyone else feels the same.

Also, I have always taught my children not to trust strange (strange an in not well known to them) dogs. The size of dog is irrelevent.

:T Couldn't agree more.

sexandthecity wrote: »

It doesnt matter what the size of the dog or whether the woman looks like Mother Teresa or a crim really.

Common sense says dogs are not allowed in schools for a reason, therefore why is it ok to stand with a dog at the gate, where children pass in and out at large volumes ?

I have a large dog and I love to walk my dog after I drop my children at school.
Guess what - I leave my Dog in the car with his head poking out the window so he doesnt overheat, he has a special doggy strap so he cant leap out or bash anyone in the back of the car whilst driving or attack anyone, not that I think for one second that he would. He is there for a few minutes whilst I safely see them into school. If I didnt have a car then I would leave him at home and fetch him after, if I was too lazy to walk home and fetch him after I had collected or dropped off my kids then really I shouldnt have a dog as walking is in the job description.

Simple really. No child or parent/carer should have to contend with other peoples choice of animals when they only want to ensure their child gets to school safely

:T I agree again!

I was bitten by my neighbours' 'soft' Doberman when I was little

My OH still has the scars on his head from where a 'daft, family pet' (bulldog) put him in hospital.

Calling people ignorant because they don't want to be near your dogs isn't showing the openmindedness you seem to expect for your dogs is it?

MrsTinks · 2 December 2009 at 7:13PM

I agree that if a dog is jumping up at other peoples kids etc then it shouldn't be taken and stood right by a school gate - BUT there is no indication that this dog has done any such thing!

Not being funny but a lot of the arguments are that dogs shouldn't be near the gate because they jump up and slobber/maul/kill children... slight generalisation or what??? Everyone sees my dog and thinks large GSD puppy when in reality she's a mix and about 4 years old and has issues. As a result I don't walk near the school when teh kids are about, I don't let her off leash when there are people let alone kids or dogs around unless she knows them and they have said it's ok... Now I know she wouldn't purposely bite a child - but she might easily knock one over or scare them because she's so bouncy. But if I had a very under control dog like the lady in this case seems to have then I would be quite affronted if I was told that people had complained about me bringing it to school to collect my child. Especially if it was as well trained as this dog.

And you can bring up the tragic attacks on children all you like or compare a dog to a snake or bear till the cows come home - the question was about this scenario - and I think that saying all dogs should be banned from within a mile of all schools at letting in and out sessions is getting a tad extreem.
I agree some dog owners should control their dogs better, but THIS dog was apparently well under control and not putting a paw wrong apart from breathing... The counter argument could be that more parents should keep their children under the same level of control and quite possibly on a leash!

Molly41 · 2 December 2009 at 7:21PM

I think that we will all have to agree to disagree. My point is that dogs are a part of life - you just cant avoid them...just like you cant avoid other people. Just like kids need to develop the skills for dealing with people effectively so they need to develop skills to cope with dogs. I apreciate peoples concerns regarding dogs - I sometimes feel a bit concerned when I meet a strange dog but thats when I decide that I need to take action and deal with the issue and talk to the owner...get to know them and their doggy friend. This is what the OP needs to do and by doing so be an effective role model for her children.