Really annoyed

kjmtidea

I would never let my 7 year old walk our dog, he is not aggresive in the slightest but I still wouldn't! I won't be letting any of my children walk him alone until they are a lot older.

Caroline_a

I know exactly what you mean, if you own a 'dog with a reputation' then you will automatically be classed as owning a dangerous dog even if that dog is totally blameless. I have had other dog owners tell me to get my dog away, when he is nowhere near, just because he's a big, mostly black, shepherd. He was attacked by my neighbours dog last week, all he was doing was lying on the floor, next to my daughter, on the lead, while she and I sat on a park bench! Poor thing just looked at me as if to say, 'get this thing off me' - he did nothing, no retaliation whatsoever. Luckily he's very shaggy so no teeth got through.

However... had he gone back, the other dog would have been seriously hurt and he'd have probably been had to put down.

As far as children taking dogs for walks, I'm totally against it, disasters waiting to happen for both children and dogs.

*doodle*_2

I would be annoyed as well. Seven year olds should not walk dogs unsupervised.

MrandMrsB

I was going to say "definitely not", but I suppose people do all kinds of things when it is their only option - I am not say that this was the only option in this case though.

When my son was 3 years old I acquired a dog who was going to be put to sleep. Unfortunately he had been abused and I soon discovered that he could not be left alone at home. We lived in the East End of London, so I am not talking about somewhere decent and safe. My only option when I went shopping in a shop (rather than a market) was to leave my son and dog outside together. I figured that if somebody tried to take the dog my son would go bananas, and if somebody touched my son the dog would threaten to bite him.....this method worked for 6 months until the dog felt more secure and we were able to leave him alone at home. Looking back on it I am horrified that I did such a thing!! Don't misunderstand, my son has Asperger Syndrome and was very mature indeed at 3 years old - at 6 he was reading uni standard books.

Mupette

I think i'd be having a chat with the girls parents about the dog snappy and snarling at yours, and explain your concerns.

I wouldn't let a 7 year old walk my jrt x he barks at anything

mustangsal

That's ridiculously irresponsible! See it all the time here though, In fact, we regularly see a 13yr old and a 12 yr old walking a dog that has been known to bite people 3 times! It's a large breed too so if it decided to go for someone, there's no way the kids would be able to stop it!:eek:

My kids are allowed to hold my dogs leads while walking them, but only if I or their dad are there. I would never leave them in charge of the dogs, even though I know they're both soft as and don't pull much on the lead. You cannot predict how dogs will react, your own or other peoples. I just wouldn't risk it.

Lirin

I let my 10-yr-old DSD walk our dogs. Never on her own, only one at a time, and only when they've been walked a bit already and are more likely to walk docilely. I would never allow her out on her own with them- mine are big dogs, if either pulled she would not be strong enough to handle, and if there was any aggression from other dogs she would not be able to cope. I'm always within range to grab the lead if it's necessary, though mine respond to command easily.

Letting a 7-yr-old walk a dog unsupervised- regardless of it's size- is incredibly irresponsible. I'd be annoyed too, OP, at the friend's parents allowing it.

pulliptears

I've just thought of this thread on my way back from dropping DD off at school...

Walking up the main road was a little girl who could barely have been 6, she had on a lead a rather large staffy who was literally pulling her up the road. The nearest adult (Who I assume was her parent) was 50 yards or so behind her. Coming down the road was a gentleman with a small Jack Russel. The Staffy was dragging the child, who didn't have a hope of holding it back, towards the Jack Russel.

Being in the car I didn't see how it ended, but my OH commented as I was about to saying "How the hell do they expect that child to control that dog".

3v3

Shepherd1 wrote: »

Was coming back from a walk with my daughter and dog when one of my daughters friends saw us and cane running over with her grandpa's dog on a lead. The dog is a mixed terrier and is not friendly to other dogs, so they come running over full speed with it snarling and barking.

My dog also on lead looks a little unsure but carries on walking with me. They followed us all the way home with it snarling at our heels in the end my do turned round and gave a bark herself.

The thing is if anything had happened my dog would have gotten the blame being a gsd. What's your opinion should 7 year olds be allowed to walk dogs alone?

Why didn't you ask the child with the snarling/barking dog if she could take her dog home a different way and explain that you didn't want the dogs to get upset with one another? After all, this child was your daughter's friend, it's not like it was a total stranger.

Shepherd1

I did actually tell her to go away, but she took no notice. Maybe friend was the wrong word, she knows the girl from school but doesn't play with her. The girl was not walking with my daughter she was with me this girl was walking behind with her dog.