Sorry, my first day on the forum, and I've hardly been off here.

Anyway, my topic. Has anyone noticed how completely irresponsible some parents are with their childs safety around strange dogs?

Case in point: We always take two of our 3 deerhounds out together, because the other, Jorja, is a bit more frail. Now I don't know about anyone elses dogs, but ours are as bouncy as rubber balls when they start out walking. So you have 2 deerhounds, both big dogs, bouncing up the road. You have a small child with you. Your child likes dogs. Do you a) ask the owners if the dogs are friendly, and if you can pet them, or b) let your toddler go flying down the road at the dogs, let him/her grab them by the necks, while shouting 'lovely doggies' in their ears. I'm assuming any reasonable person would answer b).

Our problem is this keeps on happening to ours nearly every day. Now our dogs are good with kids. I have no problems allowing the kids we're familiar with to fuss them, or even let them hold their leads, but unfamiliar kids? No way. Especially when their parents are just standing there watching them and going 'aww, how sweet'. It's not just our dogs either. I've seen it happen to the local staffies, rottweiler, you name it. And it's not just one set of parents, it's everyone. These people don't seem to care that their child could get seriously bitten.

I'm sorry to rant, but as I've said in other posts, I work in a shop. I've had to intervene several times when children have gone up to strange dogs outside our shop. Some of those dogs will snap, if they feel threatened, and having a child with a deathgrip on you can't be too comfortable. Yet when I intervene, I get told off by their parents! Or even at best, I get a disapproving look. Sorry, but I couldn't live with myself if that kid got mauled.

Is it just me, or do other people see this too? If it doesn't happen in your area, please tell me where you live so I can move up there.

My littlest Eric saw a little poodle today and stood whilst it came nearer. His big brother Jack shouted to him "don't forget you've got to ask!"

We have trained our two up to always ask first if they can stroke the dog rather than just dive in.

You're absolutely right.

You are so right! I am constantly having to tell kids NOT to stroke my dogs without asking first. Murray is very wary of kids and although he hasn't growled at one his body language and behaviour is one of extreme uncomfort.
I have tried explaining to parents but all I usually get is hostility but they would be the 1st ones to make a fuss if anything happened.
I also feel that it is very rude behaviour - why do people assume they have the right to approach my dogs without my permission. Don't get me wrong - I am very proud of them but am also very aware of my responsibilities under new legislation which states that if your dog frightens someone then I would have to prove otherwise and my dog may get taken off me. Serious stuff.....

I always hold Murphy's head and collar when he is being stroked by kids. I have kids, but the youngest is 15 so he isn't realised used to youngsters. I did have a lady with a toddler once, we were walking past her house and the toddler toddled up, I couldn't beleive she let her do that, because I would have worried about such a big dog, I just held his head for a minute or so and walked on.
I don't really have people coming up like that, I usually have people cross the road!!!
As for Staffies, don't get me started......temperamental little things with a grip like a vice, had many a nasty incident with a staff, though usually the owners fault, see a cute wrinkly puppy, buy one, then wonder why at 2 he develops a hatred of other dogs, not all of them, but sadly, most of them, great people dogs, just not great doggy dogs!
We had family staying with us this summer, with a tiny baby. Although my sister in law was bought up around Greyhounds, Lurchers etc, she isn't a 'doggy'person. I felt I had to put Murphy anywhere where the baby wasn't, I couldnt relax, but also felt sad that Murphy would feel pushed out. In the end, we let Murphy be around the baby if we were with him, but knowing they are not dog people put me on edge all the time.
He's never growled, but you have to have common sense, though I would rather trust the Deerhound than the Border Terrier!

Some people just have no idea

Whenever I'm out with any of our dogs, I always warn any child (or adult for that matter) to let the dogs come to them rather than the other way around. Apart from anything our spaniel is a nervous pee'er and strangers make him nervous. Gets a bit messy indoors !!!

It is annoying when parents let the kids come barreling in. I've never met a malicious Deerhound, but a big leaning deerhound can floor a small child as easy as looking at one, and the parents won't like that. I must say though , on the whole, the people I come across are usually very sensible and do ask first and it's lovely when polite little children come up and ask to pet the dogs. The thing that annoys me is people giving our dogs food. We don't let our dogs eat anything but raw food, and some people (usually other dogs owners) insist on shoving biscuits and processed treats under their noses with out asking. I know it's not going to kill them , but all the same, would they go shoving peanuts in a kids mouth with so many allergy sufferers about ?