Training a dog vs. 'training' a child - Page 4

My dogs are taught to ignore people and children, unless introduced. I parked at the field, (with adjacent hall) that I use for training classes. (A public field) It was the day of the pre school bikeathon.ie Lots of toddlers racing round on bikes. My classes didn't start for about 3/4 of an hour. I let my 3 dogs out of the van. When they leave the van, they bark at me till they get their ball. One of the mums came round to the front of the hall. She said 'There are lots of children on the field' My response was " I know, and for the safety of my dogs I will be going around the other side of the field. None of the children have been taught any respect for dogs, and the pre school staff do nothing to teach them, as they shout and scream at my dogs when I am training them! Fortunately my dogs are taught to ignore children, and the children are captive behind a secure fence!!!!"
  The look on this womans face was a picture!
My dogs are brilliant with children. Unless I can guarantee the children are the same, they do not get close to my dog's. In classes I encourage children to come along. I ask them to approach dog's in the class, but they are not allowed to touch unless the owners has given permission. Hopefully we are teaching children, parent, and dog's.

 
 

I certainly wouldn't let just anybody who happens to own a GSD get near my children. I have found many who own and breed GSD's are not exempt from azhat status. Not by a long shot. Unfortunately, those are the ones usually, who are not inclined to be educated, even when presenting with a dire need.

Bee, you mean the type of mom in the vets office... "our GSD would make BEAUTIFUL puppies" with my male who was 14 months at the time, yeah no I don't think so.
I am very selective in who touches my dogs, not because my dogs are not trustworthy, but because joe public is not trustworthy. There are SO many parents who do not educate their children on proper dog etiquette. I don't know why there are not more dog bite prevention classes available. I have heard of some trainers going to schools and actually teaching children proper etiquette.... would LOVE to see something like that offered in conjunction with dog training classes (would keep the kiddos busy while mom and dad did training also) It doesn't seem like this SHOULD be necessary, but society has changed, common sense is gone. It seems like only those who grow up with dog savvy parents understand? Dunno.

 Melba;  that is a great idea to have a kid's class to learn about dogs,  learn how to approach, train, feed, scoop poop and all about dog bites' anatomy;  I think I will mention it to my sister who trains and see what she thinks.  Maybe some public interest for a place like Petsmart or something.  ONly mention 'that store" because they have the umberrla liability policy to afford to have a class like that.  This type of insurance is extremely costly for individuals to acquire and NO I would not want parents to leave their children in the hands of a trainer while they go off and train, I would want the parents right by the children's side and holding one of their hands as they learn how to approach a strange dog.  JMO but maybe mom/dads would also learn something.  You are probably talking about dog savvy parents and dog savvy people, I am talking Joe Public and kids.

To:  ChrissieT:  I think your post was excellent with your point about teaching your dogs to ignore kids and adults in public or anywhere for that matter.  Did you teach that with just a simple command of "leave it" or "ignore" or what??  Am curious and also excellent for other dogs and "cats" by the way which my current bitch is now checking under cars to see if there are any cats.  JHC.  Thx  Nan

You're right Nan, Mom and Dad need to know what is proper and what is not also :) I was thinking someplace like Petsmart or Petco (though, I too, hate mentioning those stores) How else can mom and dad reinforce what the little one has learned other then participating duh. LOL I totally should have thought of that. PLUS, mom and dad probably don't have a clue either.

Melissa

The problem with letting kids pet your dog is the dog always loses. No matter what, the public, the law and the insurance company does not care what the kid did to the dog. They only care about what the dog did to the kid. My rule is... Unfamiliar kids are on a tight leash around my dogs, as is my dog on a tight leash around kids. Always assume the kid is going to do something stupid, and always assume your dog will as well. They are both unpredictable around each other.

At the end of the day it comes down to exposure to dogs and parents who are willing to teach their children how to behave around any animal.

Had a curious experience this weekend at a Little League baseball tournament my son was playing in.   Someone brought their lab puppy to the ball fields to cheer on their child and also socialization and the puppy was having a ball.   We were sitting around this woman and they had kids coming up and playing with the puppy and basically doing their thing and we talked a little about dogs, just chatting.

My son came running up a couple of times to check with me about this and that and each time he headed back off to what he was doing without giving the puppy a second look.  

Finally we were all done and my son was helping me carry pick up stuff and he turned to the woman and smiled and said "Cute puppy." The puppy, hearing him talk, gamboled up to him and tried to say hello but he turned his back on her and walked away.

The woman looked at me in confusion and asked "Does he not like dogs?"

I couldn't help thinking about this thread as I smiled and shook my head before responding.

"He loves dogs but in our training group no one is allowed to acknowledge a puppy without express permission or invitation from the owner."

This woman looked stunned and a little offended so I quickly smiled, complimented her on her puppy once more and headed off about my business.

Melba,

No, your scenario never entered my mind, as I was thinking of the vast number of breeders of GSD's currently in existence, and not the moms that one might encounter in a vets office. Particularly, I had in mind the breeder's with no experience in early child development who expose their ignorance with comments that demonize a child or their unsuspecting mom on an  internet forum.

RHLAR,

It is awesome your son shows his respect for your rules about puppies. I am not so strict. I teach mine to ask the owner of any pup or dog that they would like to pet, for the owner's permission. Every parent should make that call as they see fit, it isn't a one size fits all philosophy, as I admit, it takes a certain level of confidence and experience to make it all work.

..i know this is so wrong but.... my Dozer has a sensitive part that when u touch it he shows his teeth on one side in a snarly looking way....we simply call it "Elvis"... Dozer is great around public outside of his yard, house, he simply does not care about kids, people, other dogs, complete 100% ignore....so when we are out in public and i see someone determined to come and pet him or some stupid mom pushing her child towards us saying "pet doggy, pet doggy"...i simply give a little one finger scratch to my gentle giant and here comes "Elvis"...it never fails to see the freaked out look on some dump a$$ parent who just shoved their child towards my dog....i know its wrong but we laugh at it everytime after we pass a mother who is trying to hold back her kid who is stretching out his/her  hands to pet our dog....we only do it to those pushy families that never asked us if its ok. to pet, or try to explain to their kids that you always ask...I never turned down a kid who asked first (with Dozer and Tank only though, my girls are hands off at all times)..

Good for you LF:  not a bad idea.  Except "that doggy showed his teeth at me" bulls---; would be my only concern.  When I see them coming since my boy did not want anyone petting him and did not like kids (which I do not condone at all) I would be looking right in the mom's eyes (or dads) shaking my head NO before I ever had to say a word;  usually they did a detour off from us.  And lots of times people did not ask which put us in a BAD spot, needless to say.  Great days  Nan