Dogs, children, parents, and schools?

Question

Should it be left up to parents to teach their kids how to act around dogs? What if parents don't even know how to act around dogs? I mean, when this little girl came running up to my puppy with her mom standing right there (she was a cute little girl, and my pup didn't mind if one bit) I expected her mom to stop her. I mean, I had my boxer with me as well. And his head was level with hers! But no, her mom just let her go running up to my dogs. Of course, they're both sweet, but what if they weren't? Then later on, the mom leaves and the girl is still with my dogs, sitting on the floor playing with my puppy! Not one word said to me the whole time. Both of my dogs were on leashes, as is required in the city, and I didn't mind it because my dogs are sweet, but shouldn't parents teach their kids not to run up to strange dogs? I mean, I've actually had parents hold their kids back and ask first, then let them pet my dogs, but majority, it's the kid just running on up there. Should this...

...be another subject taken up by the school system, or should people start speaking in public and offering classes on how to act around dogs, or what? I mean, my children will know how to act around dogs, but couldn't a lot of attacks on children, or children being hurt by dogs be prevented by the child learning how to act around a dog?

Yeah, I do know what you mean. My boyfriend is living with this couple that has a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and newborn twins...and I guess the wife's sister? When the wife goes back to work, it's going to be up to my boyfriend and the sister to take care of those kids, because he husband won't do it. He wouldn't even get up off his lazy *** to pick up two broken ornaments that his son was fixing to start playing with - my boyfriend and I cleaned them up.

I'm trying to start a club here in Oklahoma that will go out and talk to kids in schools. Of course, those of us who go and talk to schools as members of that club will take some dogs with us. Nothing that will freak out, of course...But I want to do that. I really do. There's a lot I want to do. Hehe. I just want input about it from the rest of the world.

Good thing someone's teaching it.

I probably should have told that child to ask first. Something that made me proud was when I was in my boyfriend's house and his roommate's wife was telling her kids "don't you kick that dog! don't you hit that dog!" She knew what she was doing.

That really is going too far. I can see not allowing people to hit their kids or beat them and such, but not allowing spanking? That's stupid. I mean, it should be a last resort, but honestly. I don't have a child, but when I do, I will try everything before ever hitting my child. I know they're trying to pass a law where you can't spank under 1 year old or something, which I do kind of understand, but unless the child is being beat, leave it to the parents to punish their kids. That could be part of the problem.

And I will not be afraid to punish my child in a store either. Call me a bad parent, but if my child misbehaves, you can be damn sure s/he will be punished, because if they know they can get away with it in public, they'll do it.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you! but look at everything nowadays!! I am sure you have been in a grocery store! Children running all over the place and no parent in sight! Seems like parents have not control over their children nowadays. I am so sick of walking n a store and having kids running into me and the parents just look the other way while their kids are throwing things on the floors!!

Most parents have just given up! you can not even give your child a smack on the butt anymore with out being call a child abuser!! If i acted the way I see kids act now when I was young my mother would have take me outside and given me the beating of a life time!!

If they can not control their children in store how the heck do you expect them to teach them that you should not run up to an unknown dog!!

My mo to:

Spoil the dog and beat the child!! ha ha Hey I have a daughter and she knew better growing up!!! she was taught manors. The children and parents today are not showing good signs for a good future of our society

Answer 2

Some parents leave the responsibility of teaching up to others.
As a responsible dog owner it would not have been out of line to talk with the child and explain the importance of asking first.
You would have done that child a service by educating her. Schools have enough to teach students today without adding
on extra curriculum. The parents, if they care about their kids,
should be teaching their kids. We own a dog and people always
ask if they can pet our dog. We don't hesitate to teach any child
who doesn't ask. Some states might even have laws that put
that burden on the dog owners.

Answer 3

I'm a school nurse and I've been teaching this in my first grade health lessons. I have the same problem with my dogs. They're both sweet and nice around kids, not rabbits, but they're dogs. Animals can be very unpredictable. Even the best breeds and best dogs act strange and may get aggressive when they feel threatened.

Answer 4

I think that parents and schools are responsible for teaching kids how to behave around dogs. I think most of dog bites children receive are caused by the child not behaving properly around the dog.

Answer 5

Honey, society doesn't rely on parents anymore. Everyone else has to pick up the slack for the many children that are not being parented. (Not all parents, of course, but I'm sure you're familiar with what I mean).

Answer 6

parents should teach their children not to go near a dog and yes it would be a great thing if we had people going to their local schools and tell the children what they need to know