rottweiler at school gates - opinions?

DevilsAdvocate1

Curious_George wrote: »

what we are talking about here is a mum on a school run who likes to take the dog out with her, its handy for her to do it at this time, and its good for the dog,

you are saying she should keep the animal indoors when children are about, what about weekends? what about school holidays?
if your so worried about fat dogs perhaps you shouldnt be so anti-walkies!

ohhh... none of this would be happening if Diana were alive.... :rolleyes:

What an over reaction - I don't think anyone is saying that at all. All people are saying is that the dog does not have to be directly outside the school gate. I don't know about this particular school gate, but ours is very narrow. Sometimes there are dogs there and they sniff around my children. I don't like it and my children don't like it. If they just waited a bit further down where the path is wider it wouldn't be a problem.

The other thing was those who posted that children are only scared because the parents have taught them to be, are speaking rubbish. Toddlers can be scared of all sorts of things not to do with the grown ups at all (many are scared of the dark, for example).

Mine are scared of dogs because of thoughtless owners who think its cute when their dog runs up to a toddler. "Oh, he's just being friendly," they say with a big grin, while I scoop up my terrified and shaking child. Then they look at my child and say something like "don't be silly, he won't hurt you". This has happened to all my children at various times.

And while I'm ranting, I was out the other day with my elderly mum who uses a walking stick. A young women had her dog on far too long a lead, the dog ran all the way round my mum and then tried to get through the gap between the walking stick and mum's leg. Had it managed, mum would have fallen over as the lead was wrapped all round her, so she couldn't take a step back. Mum lifted her walking stick to move it so she could keep her balance (thus making the gap bigger so the dog could get through), when the dog owner had a right go at my mum. Calling her all sorts of names - my mum had been standing still, minding her own business, looking at some xmas display! She seemed to think my mum was going to hit her dog - mum was just trying not to fall over, which at 80 years old would not have been good.

Oh, I feel better for that! :rotfl:

D.

mikey72

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

What an over reaction - I don't think anyone is saying that at all. All people are saying is that the dog does not have to be directly outside the school gate. I don't know about this particular school gate, but ours is very narrow. Sometimes there are dogs there and they sniff around my children. I don't like it and my children don't like it. If they just waited a bit further down where the path is wider it wouldn't be a problem.

The other thing was those who posted that children are only scared because the parents have taught them to be, are speaking rubbish. Toddlers can be scared of all sorts of things not to do with the grown ups at all (many are scared of the dark, for example).

Mine are scared of dogs because of thoughtless owners who think its cute when their dog runs up to a toddler. "Oh, he's just being friendly," they say with a big grin, while I scoop up my terrified and shaking child. Then they look at my child and say something like "don't be silly, he won't hurt you". This has happened to all my children at various times.

And while I'm ranting, I was out the other day with my elderly mum who uses a walking stick. A young women had her dog on far too long a lead, the dog ran all the way round my mum and then tried to get through the gap between the walking stick and mum's leg. Had it managed, mum would have fallen over as the lead was wrapped all round her, so she couldn't take a step back. Mum lifted her walking stick to move it so she could keep her balance (thus making the gap bigger so the dog could get through), when the dog owner had a right go at my mum. Calling her all sorts of names - my mum had been standing still, minding her own business, looking at some xmas display! She seemed to think my mum was going to hit her dog - mum was just trying not to fall over, which at 80 years old would not have been good.

Oh, I feel better for that! :rotfl:

D.

Two of my most hated scenarios. Both of which result in a battered dog. And I would have borrowed your mum walking stick.
I loathe owners that say, "it's ok, he won't hurt you"
Followed by, "why did you kick it, I told you he won't hurt you"
I used to say, "You were right"

Iheart2poundcoins

I wouldnt be happy with any dog so close to the gates.. period.
And you would hope owners would consider that parents and children might be uneasy. I mean, it's common courtisy at the end of the day.
it's easy for them to say their dogs wouldnt hurt anyone but that isnt the point.

ott but i see parents smoking away at the gates too and I woudl like to see this stopped.

BonandDom

I used to always, and still do occassionally meet my daughter from school with our three dogs (and yes one of them is a rottie). I do not crowd the gates, which I think is bad manners regardless of whether you have a dog or not.

All three of my dogs are under control, sat watching for DD on a loose lead, the only children allowed to fuss them are those that ask first.

I probably dont look too clever stood there, three smelly, panting dirty dogs, me clarted up to the eyeballs in mud with poo bags hanging out of my pockets and a myriad of balls hidden about my person:rotfl:.

OP - if you had asked me to move back politely I would have obliged.

If you had explained that you were scared oof my rottie, I would have understood, after all he is a big muscular dog, I would have asked you if you wanted to pet him after reassuring you that he is a softie, and again understood if you declined.

If you had told me I had no right to be there (which is how I read your comments) then you may well have got a different response.

All dogs are capable of harm, not just rotties/pitbulls or other classified as dangerous dogs.

bestpud

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

You will probably think I'm odd, but I wouldn't have a problem with someone stood at the gate with a snake around their shoulders. But I would have a problem with a dog approaching my toddler.

D.

That's the point I was making really - I find it quite interesting that some people have a problem with well controlled dogs being stood in a gateway.

To me it seems absurd and it felt like some people see dogs as unpredictable as a wild snake iyswim?

There is no right or wrong - I was just pointing out how I, as a dog lover, can't understand that at all.

But, like I said, when I thought how I'd react to someone with a huge pet snake around their neck, I'd simply ask them to move a little.

It wouldn't cross my mind to ask the school to intervene.

Unless of course the owner was allowing the snake to strike out at people! :eek:

3_cheeky_princesses

I can see both sides of this argument as a mother and also i had a rottie in the past with my ex.

Our Rottie was soppy with all kids and adored them. My 2 eldest children was raised with him and they grew up together. I 99% trusted him with my children BUT with big dogs you have to repsect they are big and they have the potential to be able to kill if they wanted to. I also agree as a dog owner you should be aware that not all adults and children like dogs. That doesnt mean you shouldnt be able to go out in public or big your child up from school with your pet but maybe stand away from the gates or find a quiet corner.

The other side is i think children and some adults should also respect dogs too. A few times when my Rottie was alive you would have a child run upto him and grab him or cuddle him. Whilst this was ok as he loved children he could of easily been a dog who didnt :eek:

I respect that certain breeds can be dangerous due to their size and genetics but also believe every dog is different and alot of their behaviour is how the owners raise and looked after them. I have known some big dogs include rotties, mastiff and a japanese Akita who are big softies and wouldnt hurt a flea (nmaybe the odd cat or 2 tho ) but also have know some smaller breeds like a jack russell and bichon who were vicious little things and i wouldnt let my children anywhere near them

Paradigm

It's not clear from the OP's post whether this is the first time they had seen this woman & dog outside the school!

I'd be willing to bet 20p that it's not

It just seems a very strange coincidence that this thread was started a day or so after the little boys attack!

I wonder if this thread would have received so many replies had it been posted a week ago? Or if it would have been posted at all!

Mind you if there's a "bandwagon" passing you may as well jump on it

ceebeeby

Paradigm wrote: »

It just seems a very strange coincidence that this thread was started a day or so after the little boys attack!

... a little boy who was attacked .... and died! It's a very emotive subject, and I'm welcoming the debate, which so far seems to be still on track!

I'm grateful to read the posts for the pro's and con's of taking the dogs to school. I'm quite against it, but only so that no-one has to feel uncomfortable, so it's helpful to have the other perspective to keep the debate relative.

Paradigm

ceebeeby wrote: »

... a little boy who was attacked .... and died! It's a very emotive subject, and I'm welcoming the debate, which so far seems to be still on track!

I'm grateful to read the posts for the pro's and con's of taking the dogs to school. I'm quite against it, but only so that no-one has to feel uncomfortable, so it's helpful to have the other perspective to keep the debate relative.

Yes the poor little soul died god bless him! But that's not my point....

This thread would have had little meaning if posted last week & I very much doubt it would have run to 9 pages (& counting).

Many people take their dogs to school to meet their children without a single issue, it must happen all over the country every day! Yet the board isn't flooded with threads like this one.

Like I said, I'm willing to bet that this woman has been taking her dog to school for some time (if not it's an amazing coincidence) but the OP didn't think it worthy of mention until Monday... after John-paul died!

IMO the OP posted when they did to provoke a response!

You know what's sad about all this?

There will be a frenzy in the media (& boards like this) for a week or so & it will all die down.... in a month no-one will remember the little boys name!

More to the point, nothing will have been done to try & prevent it happening again!

We'll all just carry on until the next time & the same "circus" will ensue.

ceebeeby

But is it not good to debate the issue, whether it's media hyped or not?

I totally hear your point regarding the why now part - but I guess that's because it's on everyone's mind. I think my answer / response would have been the same regardless of the recent tragedy - but then again, I suppose we'll never know.