What do parents teach their kids?!?!

I was on the phone with my man and Boo starts barking. I have a piece of plexiglass blocking the front door so they see out but are somewhat deterred from exiting. Then I hear the plexiglass fall. I dropped the phone and ran and there was a girl, about 9 or 10 on my front porch. "Can I take them for a walk?" In my head, I was thinking, "ARE you KIDDING?" My dogs are twice the size of her and she didn't even know them. She said "I didn't know the big one could get through the glass!" Well, deary, that's why you are not supposed to apporach strange dogs. :mad:

I hope those of you with kids teach them that you don't approach strange dogs, especially if it involves going onto somebody's property. :eek:

At almost 16 months old, she stays with me until I give the ok, then allow her to go. it almost looks as if she is asking in her own cute way

I'm thinking someone had the idea of starting a dog-walking biz for the summer break and didn't quite know how to solicit customers properly? Then again, that's a little young to be walking dogs on her own. :confused: Yeah, some people are a little clueless when it comes to kids and animals. I sure hope my boys know better than that - Lord knows I've drilled it into their heads often enough ("OK, Mom, I know already!"). :D

Well, at least the girl had good intentions. I've had kids push Leon while he was sniffing another dog to make them fight, throw dirt in his eyes, try to hit him with a stick, try to kick him, etc,etc... Their parents were watching and doing nothing about it.

We had a rash of that happeneing in my co-op lately. Little kids running into a backyard where a husky is tied, they didn't think to stop at all.
I've had to correct soo many children. The parents dont make the kids understand just because the dog is nice with its owner doesn't mean you can run into it's yard!

what sort of parent lets their child approach a strangers door, that childs parents are askign for trouble...

For real... thats not even funny. So if your dog bit her then YOU would have the lawsuit on your hands. Just insane!

dog walking is big business in our neighbourhood, it usually starts with kids under 12 as they are still too young to take the babysitting course. I used to let one girl that lived on the corner walk our dog, she also had a dog of her own and she knew my dog too. I also had total strangers knock on my door that I had no idea who they were so I said no to them. They are now competing with each other, some offer pooper scooper services in addition to dog walking.

IF I know the person and their parents and if they know my dog I would consider it I would never let anyone under 10 walk my dog under any conditions.

in australia it is illeagle under the companion animals act to leave a child under the age of 12yo alone with a dog, so walking a dog is out too. so its not something i would ever deal with i suppose....

but still, some of the fights my dog has gotten into, and not started by her mostly either, the thought of a 11 yo dealing with that is terrifying to me an potentially tragic...

in australia it is illeagle under the companion animals act to leave a child under the age of 12yo alone with a dog, so walking a dog is out too. so its not something i would ever deal with i suppose....

but still, some of the fights my dog has gotten into, and not started by her mostly either, the thought of a 11 yo dealing with that is terrifying to me an potentially tragic...

Mel, I have to say- I think that should be the law everywhere. I don't even trust most adults with my dog- why would I put his life in the hands of a kid (that is not my own). No offense to the people who DO let kids walk their dog, just understand that in NYC a drop of the leash is a dead dog... guaranteed! If I lived a more rural area perhaps I would feel differently.

Many bad things happen when children are left alone with dogs, especially poorly trained dogs. I think it's better safe than sorry, too many parents have a lack of brain cells!

My neighbor let his 10yo son hold onto the leash of a lab they haven't had very long and don't know whether or not the dog has any leash manners. In a matter of seconds, the lab saw an elderly cocker across the road (the cocker had escaped from his house - something he does on occasion :rolleyes: ), and made a beeline for it. The leash was promptly yanked out of the boy's hand. The lab had the cocker pinned and was looking for the best place to chomp down while the cocker cried in fear. The owner of the lab managed to pull the lab off, and there was no damage done to the cocker in the end, luckily for them.

Yeah, people in rural areas are pretty lax in their doggy habits. :rolleyes:

My neighbor let his 10yo son hold onto the leash of a lab they haven't had very long and don't know whether or not the dog has any leash manners. In a matter of seconds, the lab saw an elderly cocker across the road (the cocker had escaped from his house - something he does on occasion :rolleyes: ), and made a beeline for it. The leash was promptly yanked out of the boy's hand. The lab had the cocker pinned and was looking for the best place to chomp down while the cocker cried in fear. The owner of the lab managed to pull the lab off, and there was no damage done to the cocker in the end, luckily for them.

Yeah, people in rural areas are pretty lax in their doggy habits. :rolleyes:

A perfect example Writing4Fun... which is why I am an overly protective mom... or as those who know me say "obsessed with" my dog. Sey la ve. :rolleyes:

That's what I'm wondering- am I liable if she comes onto MY property? I can imagine if I had met her parents and if the dogs were familiar, but she came out of nowhere. What if I had been somebody else? I mean we just moved here. People don't have a clue who we are and where we come from. With Kreepy Karla moving to town among all the other sickos out there, I seriously wonder how parents can be so unattentive.

That's what I'm wondering- am I liable if she comes onto MY property? I can imagine if I had met her parents and if the dogs were familiar, but she came out of nowhere. What if I had been somebody else? I mean we just moved here. People don't have a clue who we are and where we come from. With Kreepy Karla moving to town among all the other sickos out there, I seriously wonder how parents can be so unattentive.

Yes Prin I believe you are liable if she comes on your property.

Well, next time I'll have to be more a$$-kickin' to get my point across then. I don't think I was mean enough to make her understand the consequences of approaching strange dogs. I mean, I didn't think I would have to be a sudden parent that day.

I have to admitt, when I was a child my love of dogs, far outweighed my fear of them, and I would always pet strange dogs :o :o . My parents continously told me, never to approach, or pet dogs I didn't know, and they also explained the consequences......But I did it anyway (when they weren't looking or around) I just LOVED them soooo much I couldn't resist :o .

I also walked our dog from the time I was 8, without incident, (our dog was very well trained) . I guess it depends on how mature and responsible the kid is, as well as how well trained the dog is. :)

It also depends what you see in their eyes. When I was little, I know I could tell a lot from a dogs eyes. If it's just love, there's no danger, but you have to be an intuitive kid to see it.

I have to admitt, when I was a child my love of dogs, far outweighed my fear of them, and I would always pet strange dogs :o :o . My parents continously told me, never to approach, or pet dogs I didn't know, and they also explained the consequences......But I did it anyway (when they weren't looking or around) I just LOVED them soooo much I couldn't resist :o .

I also walked our dog from the time I was 8, without incident, (our dog was very well trained) . I guess it depends on how mature and responsible the kid is, as well as how well trained the dog is. :)

I agree... in all honesty I walked my dog at 5!!! She was a mini poodle (13lbs.) though, and very well trained. I was VERY responsible with her and such a great kid around pets. I had them all! However, my parents raised me that way... most don't.

Thats why I get mad when I hear people say "I got the ____ for my kid and he/she never cleans up after it or takes care of it!". Obviously they aren't raising them to be responsible pet owners because my parents never had to ask me to clean out my small animal tanks, pick up after my dogs, fill up their water, feed them etc. I just did it... I knew. Only thing I needed help with was my 100 gallon fish tank... lol, it was taller than me.

Robbie's trained (haha) to ask me before he approaches ANY dog, then I will ask the owner, then he approaches face on with an open hand so the dog can sniff. He'd be in a boatload of trouble if he didn't.

My biggest concern is that this child is approaching a home and God knows who lives there. True Kreepy Karla is out there and so are many other creeps.

I know. Even the adult neighbors don't know us. How do they know to trust us? Because we're a young couple? Well, so were Kreepy and her man.

I prefer people don't stroke Tucker, as for children he had a bad experience with some young kids and now acts strange around them. A few of the kids where I live would come and stroke him as a pup but this spring when the came running over to him they relized how big Tucker has gotten and ran away screaming, why I don't know. Now he thinks all kids are going to run screaming, a few kids that have approached him slowly have been ok with him. But others he kind of stares at them, it makes me uneasy even that I know he is a herding dog but the stare is scary so I ask them not to stroke him. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I normally educate children on how to approach a strange dog, I'd had some problems befor with my large dog the parents would freek out, but Travis was a suck for kids and would let them climb all over him.

At first I thought it was just an expression... however I'm starting to think there actually is a Creepy Karla. Am I right? I'm assuming there is some sort of funny story behind it?

Karla Humolka (sp) and her hubby Paul Bernardo (Teal) were a pair of Sicko's from Scarborough Ontario, who raped tortured and murdered 2 young girls, as well as raping and murdering Karla's own sister!!

Paul is also believed to be responsible for many rapes in the Scarborough area, and was know as the Scarborough rapist.

Long story short, Karla took a plea bargain, anbd for testimony against her husband, only got 12 years!! Well she was released last week!! And is believed to be living Quebec somewhere.

There's a long, long thread in the off-topic about it. She's bad. :yuck:

There's another thread about Karla - I know that she's been paroled and I am assuming that she is a pedophile or worse.

Anyway, as a kid I was afraid of little dogs, but never big ones (got bit by a little one in the face). My mom always taught me to stay away from strange dogs, big or little. That didn't keep me from petting strange dogs when she wasn't around. I remember one time walking through an alley with some friends - saw a huge white dog, happily wagging its tail. As I got closer to the dog, my friends starting yelling at me and pointed. I looked at the house and a woman was on the porch screaming at me not to go any closer. I looked back at the dog and his tail wasn't wagging anymore. I still wasn't within his chain reach, but apparently he wasn't nice. I also think about what would've happened if some kid would've approached our dog Ceasar - he was mean and I am almost positive that he would've bitten any kid that got close enough to him. I know what Prin means by looking at the eyes - but I think that most kids wouldn't know what they are looking at.

I know that here in Wyoming, if your dog bites someone, you are liable. Doesn't matter if they broke into your house, if they got into your yard or if your dog was on leash - if the dog bites someone, you are responsible. Wherever, whenever, however.

Karla Humolka (sp) and her hubby Paul Bernardo (Teal) were a pair of Sicko's from Scarborough Ontario, who raped tortured and murdered 2 young girls, as well as raping and murdering Karla's own sister!!

Paul is also believed to be responsible for many rapes in the Scarborough area, and was know as the Scarborough rapist.

Long story short, Karla took a plea bargain, anbd for testimony against her husband, only got 12 years!! Well she was released last week!! And is believed to be living Quebec somewhere.

Oh my! Thats not a funny story! What a nut job! :(

Karla is said to be living somewhere in the Montreal area. Actually I am surprised the media has not found out her address yet. I have no doubt they will as she has to go out sometime and apparently is dying for an iced cappucino from Tim Horton's.
Seriuosly though I was watching a talk show about her and the psychologist said that she may not have the intention of harming anyone again but may not have control if the opportunity came knocking.
I hate it when kids have to sell chocolates for school or sports activities. They go door to door asking for trouble in my opinion.

When I was a child, I never went door to door. I got my mom to do it at work, or bowling league, horshoe league or whatever.

I was a fairly responsible kid. I walked our GSDs starting when I was about 8 -- and I had good instincts about dogs as well. I knew better than to go running up to a strange dog like a big dope... And I knew better than to run away from a strange dog like a big dope. I suppose I was just very AWARE even when I was a kid. I also never approached people's houses unless I was with one of my parents and it was Halloween. :p

BUT .. I have three and a half children (still waiting on number four... *footap*). My two boys confound me. In so many ways -- they are nothing like me. No matter what I try to teach them -- they see the world differently. I am a huge nature buff.. When I was a little girl I had a toad in each pocket and Mom had to chase me down for a bath... (I haven't changed much -- except I like baths now...) My boys? Nature shows on television give them the willies. I have to force them to go outside and then they come running back screaming about bugs or frogs... Imagine my exasperation when they run inside in a panic because they have dirt on their hands. The horror! They also have this strange and irritating fear of dogs.. and cats.. and anything else that lives and breathes. Even Judge terrifies them. My seven year old runs around the house lamenting, "Mom mom his teeth look really sharp!!!" Groan.
(We are spending countless hours working on this.. and have actually managed to get the boys to play with the poor puppy without shrieking and jumping on furniture.... Progress...) In the meantime -- my little girl (who incidentally takes dirt baths and throws worms on her brothers...) is standing in front of the puppy with one tiny finger extended saying "Jub, sit! No bite! Good dog!" Giggle.

So you see.. parenting is only part of it... Sometimes a frustratingly small part!! Just remember when some kid does something horribly appalling they just might have a parent out there who would be just as horrified to know what they've done. :o

Pags

I understand completely what you are saying. I guess my problem comes from the fact that in this day and age parents allow their children to go up to the front door of a complete strangers house and have not warned them about doing this.
Many years ago I babysat a friends child who was 3 years old for a few months. At the time I had two dogs and her son was terrified of dogs, all animals actually. She was a little apprehensive about the dogs in the home but I assured her everything would be fine. I taught her son to be in charge. When the dogs approached him and if he was uncomfortable he told them to go to their beds, which they did. I gave him dog treats everyday and he made the dogs sit and give paw for the treat. It took a few weeks but he lost his fear and to his parents astonishment actually wanted to feed the animals in the mall at Easter. Your daughter cracks me up and is doing the right thing. The dog will learn to respect her more than your sons even though they are older. Why don't you get your son to feed the dog?
By the way my sister in law was foot tapping yesterday too. She gave me a call this morning, she had just given birth to my new niece. :)

=Angeleyes1437Thats why I get mad when I hear people say "I got the ____ for my kid and he/she never cleans up after it or takes care of it!". Obviously they aren't raising them to be responsible pet owners because my parents never had to ask me to clean out my small animal tanks, pick up after my dogs, fill up their water, feed them etc. I just did it... I knew. Only thing I needed help with was my 100 gallon fish tank... lol, it was taller than me.

I know that my kids won't be responsible for our dog as they are too young to take on that responsibility and I don't think it would be fair to them or the dog. I will however involve them as much as I can and as they are willing, and gradually give them more responsibility as they get older. But in the end the dog will be our responsibility. :)

I know that my kids won't be responsible for our dog as they are too young to take on that responsibility and I don't think it would be fair to them or the dog. I will however involve them as much as I can and as they are willing, and gradually give them more responsibility as they get older. But in the end the dog will be our responsibility. :)

Oh age definitely makes a big difference! I mean, I hate it when parents complain about that and want to get rid of the pet. It is all of their responsibilities. I learned to take care of my pets from my parents, then MY pets became just my responsibility- and the family pets were everyones.

Pags, you might not be able to desensitize kids easily, but to me, it should be easier to "sensitize" them, no? Back in the old days, which is pretty recently for a lot of people on the board :p , our moms and dads used to say, "Don't talk to strangers. You'll get kidnapped, tortured and murdered, and I might miss you." Nowadays, parents say, "Don't talk to strangers-- they might not be nice people." I think the old version got the message across clearer. :evil:

Pags, you might not be able to desensitize kids easily, but to me, it should be easier to "sensitize" them, no? Back in the old days, which is pretty recently for a lot of people on the board :p , our moms and dads used to say, "Don't talk to strangers. You'll get kidnapped, tortured and murdered, and I might miss you." Nowadays, parents say, "Don't talk to strangers-- they might not be nice people." I think the old version got the message across clearer. :evil:

ROFL Prin!!!! This is SO true!!!

My son was always taught not to go with strangers, not to talk to strangers, etc. One day I was visiting a friend of mine and had told my son to walk home with her daughter. Apparently a neighbor of my friend's had decided to pick up her own kids at school and offered my son and my friend's daughter a ride. My son refused to get in the car because he didn't know the woman (and neither did I). The woman had the balls to come into my friend's house and tell me that I should punish my son for not listening to an adult. Well, I"m sure that she never pulled that speech on anyone after that as I proceeded to rip her up one side and down the other - I was so mad that I wanted to spit! My son walked to my friend's house by himself (about 2 blocks) and I praised him to no end for refusing to go with the woman even though she insisted that I would want him to. And this was back in the day when we told kids that people would mutilate, torture and murder them if they talked to strangers. :)

My son was always taught not to go with strangers, not to talk to strangers, etc. One day I was visiting a friend of mine and had told my son to walk home with her daughter. Apparently a neighbor of my friend's had decided to pick up her own kids at school and offered my son and my friend's daughter a ride. My son refused to get in the car because he didn't know the woman (and neither did I). The woman had the balls to come into my friend's house and tell me that I should punish my son for not listening to an adult. Well, I"m sure that she never pulled that speech on anyone after that as I proceeded to rip her up one side and down the other - I was so mad that I wanted to spit! My son walked to my friend's house by himself (about 2 blocks) and I praised him to no end for refusing to go with the woman even though she insisted that I would want him to. And this was back in the day when we told kids that people would mutilate, torture and murder them if they talked to strangers. :)


I think your son was very smart. When we were kids I never really had a problem, so parents started letting us walk home from school in about 4th or 5th grade. I lived around the corner. My friend and I were leaving school and a man came up to us saying our parents sent him to pick us up. So my friend was like "really?" and I was like "who's parents me or her?" and he looked at me and was like yours... so I was like "me?" and he said "yeah, Christina". Surprised he knew my name, I figured it was real. I was still unsure so I said "What is the code word?" and he said "Bike". Meanwhile I didn't even remember a code word because my parents made one when I was even younger- they had no reason to have my picked up from school! Especially from someone I didn't know! However I knew when did have a code word it wasn't bike. So I asked my parents names and he guessed something so off... needless to say we RAN screaming all of the way home!

And no, my parents didn't send anyone to pick us up. He was probably listening to us talking to get one of our names. It's a dangerous world, especially for kids, I don't know how parents do it!

She gave me a call this morning, she had just given birth to my new niece. :)

Congratulations on the addition to the family!!!!! :party:

I agree that my son was very smart that day and I made sure he knew it too! Our crime rate here is really low but little kids are still at risk. Our town is right off a main interstate and any pervert could stop in town for 5 minutes, pick up a kid and be gone before anyone knew anything. I think sometimes that parents here get complacent because we do have such a low crime rate. I always worry when I see little kids riding bikes or whatever with no adult in sight, although I can't remember a child ever being kidnapped here. I do remember a child whose stepmom murdered her about 30 years ago and a man who threw his wife and toddler son off a cliff at the lake about 20 years ago.

Wow, Kandy, you should still be praising that little (big) guy. That's awesome.

Kandy,
I also agree that your son was very smart and that woman deserved what you gave her! We live in a town of 35,000. Some people think that living in a smaller town your safe. A 9 year old girl was almost abducted from the grocery store near our house. The dad left her in the car and a stranger convinced her to unlock the car. The dad came out just in time and the guy took off. I dont think they found him either.

I always worry when I see little kids riding bikes or whatever with no adult in sight, although I can't remember a child ever being kidnapped here

I don't remember a kidnapping in our town either. But there was one in Rutland probably more than five years ago. If anyone remembers the Mindy Tran story she was abducted and the ending was tragic.

Also Michael Dunahee in Victoria kidnapped a few feet from his parents and never found.

I don't believe any town is completley safe. Sad but as parents we must protect our kids.

That should also include kids walking strangers dogs. I think the parents should at least know each other and the child should be old enough and physically strong enough to control the dog.

That should also include kids walking strangers dogs. I think the parents should at least know each other and the child should be old enough and physically strong enough to control the dog. And if the kid doesn't even know the basics of how to approach a strange dog, FORGET IT!! How can they walk an 100lb dog when they don't even know how to walk NEAR it?

Sorry to seem uneducated but how exactly does a child approach a strange dog. I tell my kids not to pet any strange dog and to ask the owner before petting any dog. Which they do, and if they see a dog off its lead or with no owner they aren't allowed to approach it. They say "mom I can't pet that dog because I don't know it right".

Sorry to seem uneducated but how exactly does a child approach a strange dog. I tell my kids not to pet any strange dog and to ask the owner before petting any dog. Which they do, and if they see a dog off its lead or with no owner they aren't allowed to approach it. They say "mom I can't pet that dog because I don't know it right".
Exactly. That is how. And if they are allowed to touch a dog, they have to do it palm up, under the chin of the doggy, which is a submissive approach. Never palm down on top of the head- that is a dominant approach.

originally posted by Prin
they have to do it palm up, under the chin of the doggy, which is a submissive approach.

thanks I was somewhat familar with the palm up approach, but wasn't all that familar with petting under the chin. I will practice this myself and teach it to my kids as well. :)

One down, fifty kajillion to go. :D

Sorry to seem uneducated but how exactly does a child approach a strange dog. I tell my kids not to pet any strange dog and to ask the owner before petting any dog. Which they do, and if they see a dog off its lead or with no owner they aren't allowed to approach it. They say "mom I can't pet that dog because I don't know it right".


Oh yeah, my kids have this drilled into them as well. My daughter is a big-time animal lover and she`s been taught to ask before petting since the time she could talk. I also reenforce this with any kids that approach our dogs, reminding them to always ask before petting someone`s pet. When kids ask first I always compliment them for asking. :thumbs up

As for dumb things kids do, when I was 8/9 we couldn`t have a pet. My friend and I used to ride through all the alleys in our neighborhood and make friends with the dogs in backyards. We gave them all names (we didn`t know any of the people) and brought them treats, usually stuff like heels of bread- I sure hope we didn`t make any of them ill. At that age we didn`t even think of it and it wasn`t something my parents would`ve thought to warn us against.

I always ask AND have my kids ask too! Not only do we not know "that cute dog over there," but the dog does not know us either... After we get approval from the dog owner, I have shown my children to use the palm-up approach prior to petting any dog. I find that the kids end up loving the "tickles" that they get from "doggy kisses" and everybody is happy in the end. :) I was grateful to have been taught by an honest and willing dog owner/walker. His time was extremely valuable and I have shown many children at parks the same treatment – most parents are dumbfounded but readily want to learn so they can protect their children from any type of accident.

Here is a different example: once my kids and I were thrilled to see a Jack Russell being walked on our side of the street. We did the proper thing and asked the owner if we could approach the dog... "She" said that "she" didn't like kids and didn't want to. The dog, on the other hand, seemed "thrilled" to have little kids to devote attention to him/her... She yanked on the leash/collar abruptly to the point the dog yelped. At that point, I wondered what the purpose in her life was... My kids were hurt at the rejection and the dog was probably bruised from the sharp yank. :(

In retrospect, I have noticed a lot of posts on this site that "condemns" those individuals who have children, their parenting skills questionable. Keep in mind folks that, just like there are bad dog owners / good dog owners, there are bad parents / good parents. There are always two types/groups of people everywhere you go – it's a fact of life...

Forum users, stay positive and refrain from pointing fingers. Instead, take the time to teach those who share the same space so that we can all evolve into better beings. :)

Sheila