What To Say....

[fourofem]

The weather here has been awesome so I've been taking my crew out for walks (two or three at a time) for a little change of scenery other than the back yard. The girls and Hitchie are fine...I trust them with anyone, kids included. They love the attention and are perfect little ambassadors. I always walk House and Kevin together...they're just a good match. They love to meet people but I don't trust them with kids getting too close....House is just SOOO big and curious and even I don't get in Kevin's face. Whenever I ask people not to let their kids get too close, some are very understanding and respect that but others get this wierd look, grab their kids and run. I don't want to scare people away and I like socializing the boys, but is there a "nice" way to tell them that they are good, friendly dogs but that their child is at eye level with an Oreo in their hand????

[greysmom]

No. Some people will be offended no matter how politely and/or politically you word the request. The important thing is to keep everyone safe. I would rather have someone be offended than injured, no matter who is or isn't at fault.

[silverfish]

True, some will get offended whatever you say.

 

After you've said whatever you normally say to ask them to keep the child away, I'd add 'They're not vicious, but it's never a good idea to let a small child get in a large dog's face and I'd hate for there to be an accident.'

 

And maybe point out that if their child's face is on a level with your dog's mouth, he's only got to swing his head around sharply while he's panting and they could be cut.

 

Or just say 'Your child is at eye level with an Oreo in his hand'.

[Batmom]

Yeah, some people will always get offended. I might try something like, "Please don't let your kids approach. These two are still learning and are a bit too rowdy for children."

[45MPHK9]

I would rather have someone be offended than injured.

 

[Guest Jubilee251]

Yeah, some people will always get offended. I might try something like, "Please don't let your kids approach. These two are still learning and are a bit too rowdy for children."

 

I try to frame it like this too. I don't bring up that she could growl and snap if a kid gets in her face, but I say something like, "She's young so she gets excited easily and jumps on people." With a tall, 60-pound dog, they usually think twice about letting their child come too close. I will also usually try to redirect the kids, and say "Feel how soft her fur is here..." and move them to Molly's side and pet her there. Which I've read is MUCH more comfortable and non-threatening for the dog.

[Guest mirthlesstroll]

I usually say something like : "He's friendly, but gets excited really easily, and tends to jump around - I don't want him to knock your child over by accident." (Actually, Jett tends to playnip little kids, and I'm sure that wouldn't go over well!) Some people will be offended no matter what you say, but I, like many other posters, would rather someone be offended than mad at me b/c my spazzy dog knocked their little precious down.

[Guest gecko_foot]

I usually say something like : "He's friendly, but gets excited really easily, and tends to jump around

 

 

Now that I've had Tumnus a bit longer, I will allow older children to approach slowly BUT they have to follow my rules. The kids I allow to approach are usually 4 or older (old enough to follow directions). I stand at Tumnus' head facing his tail, and I tell the kid to come stand in front of me so that I am at the business end and the kid is at Tumnus' side. This way he is less likely to jump. It's worked really well so far, and the kids have been very happy to pet such a good dog.

 

That being said, I have no problem telling kids not to approach me. I agree with everyone else - it's better to offend some parents than to end up with an injury. I usually just tell them that Tumnus is friendly but that he loves people and gets excited when meeting them. Having an excited kid run up to him would just make the situation worse, so I just tell the kid NOT to run up to Tumnus and continue on my way. I know I can control my dog, but other people's kids....that's a whole different kettle of fish...

[Guest sheila]

I don't talk to the parents. I talk to the kids. If they do something I don't want them to do I use a 'Cesar Milanish' move with the EH! thing with my hands to back them off. I then show the kids with my hands on how to approach a dog. I also tell them they should always ask the dogs walker if it is OK to pet the dog before they do it. Kids are very receptive to this and they like being spoken to directly rather than being scolded (or not) by their parents.

[jenn8]

You can try saying he is very playful and doesn't know his own size.

 

Jenn

[Guest widowcali]

I usually tell people that their kids need to ask before they pet. And I usually get down at the kids level and "show" them how to pet by holding their hands and having them pet my dogs. That way, my dogs aren't too freaked because they are smelling me. Widow puts up with almost anything, but Cali and Bri get so excited with kids. Bri loves the little wipper snappers and Cali gets a little nervous. If I am at dog and kid level, I can kind of intercept any situation that may break out.

 

If a parent asks why I am doing that, I usually tell them that my dog is only 75 pounds but can knock a full grown adult off his/her feet much less a child. Usually though folks just think I am showing their kids how to pet a dog.

[GeorgeofNE]

No. Some people will be offended no matter how politely and/or politically you word the request. The important thing is to keep everyone safe. I would rather have someone be offended than injured, no matter who is or isn't at fault.

 

Exactly!

 

The same people who don't understand you're just exercising good sense will most likely be the ones suing you if there was an accident!

[Fruitycake]

I have the perfect excuse and it's also completely true: Monty has absolutely no coordination and slams his head into things and bruises me, much less a small child. I say it with a laugh (and by then he's usually swinging around bumping into me and proving my point).

 

I like the idea of enthusiasm, or you can even go the other way like we used to: he only felt comfortable with people over 5 feet tall, so I asked them to stop and let him approach them and play up how scary children are to the dog!

[sobesmom]

The way I handled it was like this: to the child - "Oh! Kiddo - stop - my black dog is a grumpy old man. He not a mean dog, but he's just old and grumpy to kids so we'd better leave him alone! Would you like to pet my other dog?"

 

90% of kids would be okay with this. To the 10% that insisted on trying to harass my dog that wasn't crazy about kids and had parents that didn't "get" my polite message - I'd just look at the parent, say "He's not a kid dog" and walk away. Their fault for letting their kid get too close to an unknown dog - even after a polite, friendly warning. Now I have to be rude. I'd rather be rude than have an incident.

[Guest kydie]

I vote No, some people just don't get it, and after all you know your pups best, and not the children, but your job is protect the dogs and the kids, "at all cost" if they are offended so be it

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

Well, since we own dogs with a mouthful of treacherous pointy teeth, that are about eye level with the typical 3 year old, I don't mind telling parents that it's not wise for their kids to get right in the dog's faces. My two, are great with kids and actually don't mind them in their face; but some parents are just oblivious to the fact that dogs can bite their little darlings! So (after telling the kids to ask Mom and Dad if it's OK to pet my dogs) I let them stand to the side and pet the non-pointy end! And I hope they will remember the nice greyhound lady who taught them a safer way to interact with dogs. No, we shouldn't have to educate parents; after all they are old enough to breed, thay should have learned some common sense; but there are really a lot of clueless people out there, and it's the dogs who suffer when someone gets hurt.

[Sighthounds4me]

Well, since we own dogs with a mouthful of treacherous pointy teeth, that are about eye level with the typical 3 year old, I don't mind telling parents that it's not wise for their kids to get right in the dog's faces. My two, are great with kids and actually don't mind them in their face; but some parents are just oblivious to the fact that dogs can bite their little darlings! So (after telling the kids to ask Mom and Dad if it's OK to pet my dogs) I let them stand to the side and pet the non-pointy end! And I hope they will remember the nice greyhound lady who taught them a safer way to interact with dogs. No, we shouldn't have to educate parents; after all they are old enough to breed, thay should have learned some common sense; but there are really a lot of clueless people out there, and it's the dogs who suffer when someone gets hurt.