Finally someone wrote it as it is

lostinrates

Misty_Blue wrote: »

100% agree with this. My point was more that there is a false perception of certain breeds as being innately human aggressive, which is not true. The Kennel Club makes specific reference to how good Staffs are with children; that's not to say that they should be left alone with them, or that children should be allowed to pull them about or "do anything with them," as so many parents seem to proudly claim about their dogs.

Some dogs have been kept to be particularly alert to intrusion or defence.

This doesn't mean 'human aggression'. It might mean, for example, devotions Nd over protection of a family its devoted to.


If dogs can have ' particularly good with children' as a character trait then presumably, they can have ' particularly defensive' as a character trait. Its not possible for one to be argued with out the other being on the table too.

There are, I would suggest, dogs whose temperament s make them more liable to react aggressively to substandard husbandry, because the things we have bred them for have left the majority of them with certain predispositions. Similar stereotypes might be less contentious.....greyhounds being couch potatoes for example.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

Zaksmum - I have to say I do not get your post above.

Child asked is he can STROKE the dog, owner says ok, child GRABS the dog's face and you say:



Owner was absolutely right saying:




And if your grandson does not know the difference - better explain to him and fast - and grasp it yourself too.

EDIT - Just realised the child is 11 yo (!!!)

You do not "get" my post, GR, so I'll explain. I fully agree my grandson was in the wrong and believe me, I told him so. I asked the owner why he'd said the dog was ok to stroke when she wasn't, but that was born out of pure shock because I was so horrified at the thought of what could have happened. I apologised to the owner and agreed the lad shouldn't have got in the poor dog's face, and he was fine about it.

You don't have to tell me that I should "grasp the difference". I'm not stupid. I KNOW the difference and had I realised the boy's intentions - to grab rather than stroke - I would never have allowed it. I did say he will never be allowed to do it again.

Hope this clarifies my post for you.

any_name_will_suffice

Great article.


funnily enough, I broke the happy news to my mum today that I am expecting a baby. One of the first things she said was "what about your dog, I have been reading all the stories in the press......"

Simple, I am not planning on leaving the dog unsupervised with the baby.

Why do people not grasp that dogs should not be left alone with children?

thorsoak

The myth of the "nanny dog" runs through all countries and cultures ...in Japan the Japanese Akita is known as the nanny dog - and in the USA, the Australian Shepherd had the same title - just as the shetland sheepdog. Protective herding dogs maybe - but should never be used as babysitters!

And there is of course, the legend, going back to the 12th century of Gelert, in Wales - but dogs are dogs and should not be given such responsibilities.

lostinrates

zaksmum wrote: »

You do not "get" my post, GR, so I'll explain. I fully agree my grandson was in the wrong and believe me, I told him so. I asked the owner why he'd said the dog was ok to stroke when she wasn't, but that was born out of pure shock because I was so horrified at the thought of what could have happened. I apologised to the owner and agreed the lad shouldn't have got in the poor dog's face, and he was fine about it.

You don't have to tell me that I should "grasp the difference". I'm not stupid. I KNOW the difference and had I realised the boy's intentions - to grab rather than stroke - I would never have allowed it. I did say he will never be allowed to do it again.

Hope this clarifies my post for you.

Fwiw I am glad for the clarification too. I didn't find a number of those points clear in your first post.

gettingready

Zaksmum - your original post did not read like your explanation so thanks for clarifying.

MrsAtobe

There was a wonderful link posted on FB today, but it seems to be inaccessible at the moment, probably too many hits:

http://www.lolathepitty.com/my-dog-bit-my-child/

I also came across this one, together I found them very thought provoking.

http://www.robinkbennett.com/2013/08/19/why-supervising-dogs-and-kids-doesnt-work/

trolleyrun

Regarding children not behaving appropriately towards dogs: My little Pipsqueak looks like butter wouldn't melt and loves all kinds of attention. She's not used to children though, and last summer, some neighbourhood kids asked if they could pet her. I had her on a very short lead and told them to be gentle and that's she's not used to children so to be very careful. One child started rubbing her vigorously, so I immiediately said "no, don't do that" and pulled Pipsqueak away. My dog was fine, she quite enjoyed it to be fair, but I don't want to risk anything. I've not let this child near my dog again, as she (the child) didn't listen to me. Pipsqueak would probably be fine, but I'm not willing to chance it, as if she did something to the child I'd get the blame, regardless of what the child did first.

Unfortunately, the child in question got a dog for Christmas. I've seen her take the dog out twice (child is around 9yo). Mum or dad don't take the dog out either and I do sometimes hear worrying noises from the house, but I don't have proof of anything untowards going on. If I actually witness anything, I'll be straight onto the appropriate organisation.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

Zaksmum - your original post did not read like your explanation so thanks for clarifying.

I did say I accepted my grandson shouldn't have got in the dog's face though. It was not meant to appear to be a criticism of the dog.

I just wanted to say that, to a kid, kissing a dog's face might be a way of showing they love the dog. To the dog, it's a different thing altogether and can indicate confrontation. So a dog considered soft and gentle by it's owner can completely freak out when a kid grabs and kisses it's face and that's how tragedies happen. My grandson was taught by his parents to always ask before stroking a dog, which is right, but to him it was a green light for kisses and cuddles!


I also pointed out that my grandson has been re-educated regarding what is and is not acceptable around dogs. He knows now never to do that again to a dog.

lostinrates

]I suppose it does rather raise the question of when dogs and children are safe.

I a far more protective of[STRIKE]my dogs[/STRIKE] other people's children around my dogs than my parents were with me and our dogs. As a much younger so much as to be only child the dogs were my play companions and I was taught how to respect them but I did play alone with them. In fact some of the best memories of my childhood were me and a dog exploring somewhere. Later it was me and a pony.


There is a child who visits me who is nine and supervised and he likes to play with one of my dogs who likes the kind of play that he gets with the kid. I wouldn't allow it unsupervised now, though child's mother thinks I am a fuss pot. I know another child who is ten who I would possibly me minded to let take one of them to play with unsupervised. She's gentle but assertive and very alert. I won't , because these aren't my children and my dogs mean too much to me, but I do wonder when parents feel safe to make that call.