Dogs And Kids

[Synirr]

...Don't worry, I'll not be having any (kids, that is!)

It's just that my niece and nephew came over today and poor Gypsy was a nervous wreck. Despite my repeatedly telling them not to corner the dog or she might bite (they listen oh so well, great parenting skills, bro,) they kept on inching closer when she was trapped between my bed and the wall. Of course, when the nephew reached out to pet her she snapped at him. It made my blood boil that not only did they not listen to me, but acted surprised when it happened, like they couldn't see the stress in her eyes and understand that it means not to touch her... they are old enough to know these things. Not only that, but the niece kept asking to pet her even after this and after I REPEATEDLY said no, she'll bite, and I'm thinking, "Did you not just see her try to take your brother's fingers off??" It makes me wish Gypsy had actually gotten a little skin in her snap to teach the grimlins a lesson!!

Anyway, the thing that prompted this thread is that my father told my nephew Gypsy just doesn't like kids, and my nephew said "A dog that doesn't like kids?! That's weird!!" Is it really weird? How about you people with dogs and/or kids, what are your experiences? I don't believe I've met all that many dogs that do like kids.... or maybe it's just kids that have never been taught to respect animals (she says, fuming)

Heh heh... not obvious which of the two, dogs or kids, I like better, huh?

 

[morgan]

Hi, I bought up 2 children while keeping dogs. I always trained the children that dogs are NOT toys and must be left alone. They learnt to respect animals. My first dog was VERY snappy so it was important for all their sakes that the lesson was learnt well. My children are adult now and they know how to behave towards animals. My one son used to go to a friend's house who had a Chow Chow. Lovely dogs but can be short tempered. My son got on just fine with her, he left her alone unless she came over for a fuss. Once my one son accidentally stepped into our dog's basket while she was asleep. She snapped of course. I smacked both of them (lightly, but the point was made). I smacked my son for scaring the dog and her for snapping. Seemed fair to me! Hope your dog wasn't too traumatised by the kids!

 

[k.o.d]

We have 8 dogs including very large Akitas, all fantastic family dogs but we have educted the kids as much as educating the dogs to all get alongh and accept each others space.
As you quite rightly said, cornering a nervous dog in will make it lash out whether it be the softest dog or not, they cannot tell us in any other way.
So saying when the kids were babies they used to fall asleep on top of the Akitas and they just lay there, totally trustworthy dogs ( as long as they have been brought up in a family environment, too many people see them as big dogs and extensions of their ***** )

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

It sounds like you may want to do some socialization with your dog. Kids should not corner a dog no, but also a dog should be ok in most cases with others,kids included. Have you been taking it out in public and letting people see it. Do not carry it also.that causes agression. If you can not do this, or do not want to . Put the dog up when kids come over. This will keep the dog calm and safe and will keep the kids out of the ER.

I have a Doxie that came to me for training as a year old. She was a fear bitter and they could not have people over to there house becouse she was so scared. After 2 weeks she went back to her owners that yelled at vistiors and kids and the dog when ever some one came over. The next day the dog bit a kid and she was sent to the vet to be put down as a dangerous dog. I heared about it stepped in and got the dog. She happly lives with me and my 2 kids (one is 5 now) She is now a 4 year old that goes to schools to help with teaching pet care. She has never bit a kid again and is on her way to becoming a tharapy dog. Training a dog to exept other is the best way to keep your dog save.

 

[afireinside]

This isn't weird. I know my dog hates my little sister. It's not his fault, she pulls at his tail, poors make up all over him, and alot of other stuff.

 

[lljdma06]

It sounds like you may want to do some socialization with your dog. Kids should not corner a dog no, but also a dog should be ok in most cases with others,kids included. Have you been taking it out in public and letting people see it. Do not carry it also.that causes agression. If you can not do this, or do not want to . Put the dog up when kids come over. This will keep the dog calm and safe and will keep the kids out of the ER.

While I agree with you that dogs should be well socialized, and a lack of socialization can cause problems, I will also make a case that sometimes kids are just brain-damaged. No dog likes to be cornered by strange kids, especially if it's a tiny toy. I took my pomeranian Cici everywhere and even enrolled in a puppy socialization class to get her used to kids and other dogs. She passed with flying colors and is well-behaved enough to go to coffee shops and boutiques in South Beach. Then my friend comes over with her two small kids, and despite my multiple warnings to be gentle and quiet, they proceeded to run around screaming and try to pull her tail. She didn't bite, but she was visibly uncomfortable. What was really annoying was watching my friend grab my dog and proceed to rub her belly to make my dog submissive. Like it was Cici who needed a lesson! How 'bout next time, I grab her kids, roll them on their backs and rub their bellys, they could have used it that day. The little barbarians! They probably would have enjoyed it, they love rough-housing, so it would've been useless. The same dog will warmly greet and kiss a child in a coffee shop who approaches it nice and slow, with manners! I think if some people put half the effort into their kids as we do training our dogs, the world would be a better place. I apologize for my rant, but sometimes kids are brain-damaged. Not all the time, just sometimes.

So I totally sympathize with you Synirr! Poor Gypsy.

 

[Synirr]

Shelly -- Gypsy has been taken out of the house quite a bit and is generally ok with most people (if a little nervous), but she can't stand people who are too loud and sort of "aggressive" in their manner, which includes the majority of kids and men. They are too forward with her and don't account for her fear, and this is exactly what can cause a bite. I have never, ever been afraid of her biting someone before, but I could just tell with the niece and nephew and that she meant business. You're right that she does need to be socialized a little more, but I live in a small town and there aren't a whole lot of places I can safely take her. In addition, she's under 3lbs at the moment and could easily be stepped on and seriously injured in a crowded place

I just wish my niece and nephew would listen to me when I say something might bite and take the appropriate precautions.... maybe I should let them meet Petri the parrotlet so they can learn that lesson the hard way

 

[lljdma06]

I just wish my niece and nephew would listen to me when I say something might bite and take the appropriate precautions.... maybe I should let them meet Petri the parrotlet so they can learn that lesson the hard way

Now your talking.

Don't get me wrong, I love kids and would love to have them. They just frustrate me when they're not taught well.

 

[wendywc]

I'm in a similar situation with my dog, Synirr. I adopted her last year and she has a few issues still. Although, I have to give her credit, she is smart and everyday she does get a little better with something.

I too can make the blanket statement that my dog doesn't like kids. It's a lot more than that actually, but I won't get into it now. Anyway, it would be great if there was a smart kid in the family or friend who had one. Because I would love to work with her, but I need to expose her to a smart, understanding kid. But alas, the only kids I know are teenagers (which she has no problem with) or little babies (too little to help me work with her or to be understanding).

Good luck with your Gypsy.

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

LOL Petri would teach them a leason!
Molly the doxi is 6lbs so I know what you are talking about with being steped on. We like to go to the flea mart and sidewalk shop on the week ends. Dress her up in some thing bright and you would be amazed at how people see them and want to talk to you about them.

lljdma06: Yes even as some one who takes pets out to teach kids how to treat pets some kids are just to messed up to ever reach them. I have one class that keeps wanting me to come back. They have one kid who wants to HIT the poor lovebird, not pet hit! I told the teacher the only wayI would come back is if he was removed from the class. Last time I went I took my 100lbs chessy/lab cross and had her between me and the kid. She is trained to stay on my side at all times no matter what, so when the kid broke away from the teacher I turned and he ran in to Classy instead. She just looked at him and he started yelling she was killing her. I packed up my guys and walked out.

 

[Synirr]

Oh gosh Shelly, I can only imagine! If any kid ever tried to hit one of my pets....
I don't even like kids, so they wouldn't have the benefit of your understanding nature!

 

[moray]

Children are naturally quite clumsy creatures and whan they see something that interests them their first instinct is to run at it and touch it; this is not their fault - it is natural. It is up to adults to teach the children how to approach and treat animals; my son is a typical boy - does everything at a hundred miles an hour and loves animals, he had to be trained at an early age to respect animals and give them space, and to ask dog owners if it's ok to stroke their dog, and how to go about it. Children can't be blamed for rushing in, if nobody has trained them. imo if an owner warns a child that the dog might bite and the children continue then the adult in charge of the children should remove the children or the owner of the animal should remove the animal (for the animals sake - children don't get destroyed for harming dogs, unfortunately it happens often that an innocent animal is put down for biting a child, even if it was tormented beforehand). I'm not saying you don't get some just plain nasty children, but quite often it is ingnorance rather than malice, that causes these problems.

 

[Judmacaroni]

Children are naturally quite clumsy creatures and whan they see something that interests them their first instinct is to run at it and touch it; this is not their fault - it is natural. It is up to adults to teach the children how to approach and treat animals; my son is a typical boy - does everything at a hundred miles an hour and loves animals, he had to be trained at an early age to respect animals and give them space, and to ask dog owners if it's ok to stroke their dog, and how to go about it. Children can't be blamed for rushing in, if nobody has trained them. imo if an owner warns a child that the dog might bite and the children continue then the adult in charge of the children should remove the children or the owner of the animal should remove the animal (for the animals sake - children don't get destroyed for harming dogs, unfortunately it happens often that an innocent animal is put down for biting a child, even if it was tormented beforehand). I'm not saying you don't get some just plain nasty children, but quite often it is ingnorance rather than malice, that causes these problems.

I must say I totally agree with that. It is the parents responsibility to educate the child on how to be around animals. Which is difficult if they maybe dont have any experience themselves. but I agree if you know your dog is getting harrassed and the children or their parents aren't listening to you then for the the sake of your dog get it out of the way. The best way to deal with these kind of situations is calmly as if your dog is already feeling threatened then you getting upset and anxious at people will do nothing to reassure it. You've got to set your dog and example and maybe even sit with her so she feels safe and show the kids yourself how to approach the dog and how to pet it etc.

I have found that people's ignorance is the main cause of problems and accidents with animals. Dogs especially are taken for granted that they will be able to understand human body language and situations and get the blame when they are put in an alien situation and expected to deal with it!!

 

[BigIan]

My old dog (R.I.P) Was fine with kids i only ever saw him snap at my nephews and nieces once and that was when they tried playing tug of war with him.
hes was a social little thing would wag his tail and jump up at any body not a nasty bone in his body...

 

[InsaneClownLoachPosse]

I too, have to agree with Moray and Judmacaroni. I have a 9yr old son, and have worked very hard to help him and watch him with other animals. He now is getting to be a very respectful animal lover, but it has been tough, I wil say. If it werent for the fact that I grew up in a house with a ton of different animals and dogs (usually at least 2 at a time), I wouldn't have known how to handle it. All of the dogs that I grew up with were huge dogs and we would sleep on our st. bernard/german shepard mix as kids. So I'd have to also say it has to do with the parents experiences and knowledge of dogs. You shouldnt be so harsh on kids, we all were kids at some time, and I have yet to meet a adult like kid that listens to every adult. And dogs can feel how we are feeling amazingly well, so if the owner does not like something, the dog most likely wont either or will be affraid.

I do have to say I side with larger dogs when it comes to kids, although I love all dogs myself, I've seen so many small dogs intimidated by kids. Whether the kids are knowledgeable about how to be with dogs or not. My boyfriends parents have bunch of peekapoo and small dog mixs, and a lot of them, no matter how loveable they are toward me, and how careful my son can be to approach them, they get snippy and I worry about what could happen to my son, so I will have him leave them alone totally. Even though most of them have grown up around small kids. When my boyfriend was about 4/5yrs old he went to a friends house, and for hardly any reason, their cocker spaniel bit him in the face leaving him with lifetime scars around his mouth (and he grew up with all kinds of dogs also, so knew how to be around other dogs).

I have had a mini dox and my son was about 4, and he got aggressive toward him for no reason at times, so we ultimately had to have a friend take him. We now have a German Shorthaired Pointer who is about a year old. We got him when he was about 8months from a friend who was sick and couldnt keep up with him, but they had a few kids (probably more aggressive toward the dog than my son). He is the best dog i could've imagined for my son. They are the best of friends (especially since my son is a only child), he's learning responsibility and taking care of him, and also plays with him until they are both tired out. He wouldnt hurt a hair on my son's back, and whines when he sees him leave him.

All in all, I believe that kids and dogs are about judgement of the owner (what the dog is capable of doing and knowing when to just plain keep the dog away if it isnt going to be good with kids at all, ie. too old to learn new tricks) AND of course the parents need to be responsible to teach their kids, whether they plan to own a dog or not. Kids that get bit by dogs usually are due to fear from either parties, therefore both people responsible for each side should take responsibility. And if the parent is not around or getting involved, the owner of the dog should save the dogs dignity and life possibly, from possibly biting the kid and having to be put down, and step in by either taking the dog away prior or taking the kid by the hand and leading the child away. Nowadays it's just not worth the risk to 'teach the kid a lesson' and risk a severe bite where legal action could happen and the dog end up put to sleep, which would be horrible.