I really hung up about my kids walking up to dogs....
@revellanotvanella (4033)
United States
April 14, 2008 9:52am CST
Dont get me wrong, I love dogs and wish we could have one ourselves but until we get our own house that is not happening. I even grew up with dogs, 5 of them as I grew up in the woods and there was alot of room for them. Anyway, Im really hung up about my kids just walking up to dogs and theres so many of them at this new park that was built in our town, I think it 17 acres. I know I should trust the owners to know how their dogs will react to strangers but I worry about my daughters scaring the dogs by making too quick a movement, or rubbing too hard, etc and I can see the dogs expression sometimes and see that their really frightened, not just from my kids but Im guessing all the other commotion going on of kids running around--its alot of fun but its a Z-O-O some days. Another issue I have is Pit Bulls, I know theres a alot of controversy around this breed and Im glad that people are relieving them from their battered reputation from owners who did not have a pit bulls best interest in mind but at the same time, I know that they can be unpredictable and lash out if triggered the right way. My old neighbor who bred Pomeranians had a son who bought a Pit Bull and for a long time he interacted perfectly with the dogs (my neighbors first concern) but about a year after just out of nowhere his pitbull just turned on one of her pomeranians, unfortunately, her prized runt that she never sold and had for over 7 years, it was the cutest thing.
Honestly, I do not have anything against dogs but that possibility of a dog mispercieving a situation scares me and I would feel awful for the owner as well because nobody expects this of their dogs.
Im torn because my oldest daughter absolutely loves dogs and she will literally walk up every dogs she can find in the park just so she can pet it, so I do allow her to, but sometimes if I see that unsure look on the dogs I tell her to hold off. I do also know that dogs can mimic their owners behavior and if the owner doesnt looked like being bothered I just tell my daughter that the dog wants to keep walking.
2 responses
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
14 Apr 08
You can never be too careful.
When I was a kid my brother got bitten by a neighborhood german shepherd which used to be kept chained in their garage (with the garage door up a foot or so). It got off it's chain one day and came running into our yard. My parents, a neighbor and my brother were standing outside. He instinctively put his arm up over his face and the dog bit him in the side. He had to have stitches. The dog I think was put down (but this was a notorious neighborhood dog. All the kids heard stories of how mean this dog was.)
My dad and stepmom's dog - a poodle mix, who is very friendly mind you, bit my daughter when she was 5. They used to put him up front to go potty and one day some passerby decided to kick him - for no apparent reason (it's not like the dog could reach the sidewalk, so the person had to go up to him to reach him). It traumatized the poor dog and he'd been kind of edgy ever since. One day not too long after that when we were over there my daughter was petting him and got her face too close to his and he turned and nipped at her. His tooth caught her lip and made a small hole in it. She recovered with only a small trace of a scar and he's now alot calmer. But it just goes to show, that even dogs you know, and who know you, can react negatively.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I know theirs a ton of dog lovers and I just didn't want to offend anyone in saying so I really appreciate your response, I don't walk around fearing every dog I come in contact and didnt want to be judged that way.
I think chihuahau's are pretty aggressive these days, you know, my parents only bought chihuahau's when I was younger. We had 5 of them and I never remember them being aggressive but very shy to strangers although whenever a car came up our long driveway they would go crazy barking as loud as they could--then run away, of course LOL
@selby70 (283)
•
14 Apr 08
I am like that with my grandson he is 6 and he is over at the dog before I can stop him. I have a little dog myself we have just got him a few weeks ago and he is very funny with children not my grandchildren but children out side who he does not know and a boy of about 10 was walking past and just bent down to stroke him I was a bit unsure how the dog would react so I quickly got hold of the dog so he could not bite even though I knew he would not but I had to make sure.
