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Comment by Elys on August 17, 2008 at 8:08pm

This Dash is a character...I love it. It's definitely important that dogs are able to withstand all that kids can do to them, but kids should definitely be taught how to interact with dogs. Sounds like your Dash and Katie are great with people...I'm hoping that Camber gets to that point sooner rather than later.

Comment by Elys on August 17, 2008 at 4:07pm

I agree that kids would surprise you. These particular little girls were not taught the proper way around dogs. I'm just hoping that their parents would take an opportunity to show them what they should do before someone gets hurt.

Comment by Steve on August 17, 2008 at 4:00pm

What's that saying....."kill 2 birds with 1 stone". I think many parents bring their little kids & dogs to the dog park and let them run around so both dogs and kids get tired in one trip. I'm not opposed to having kids at the dog park but I'm opposed to having ignorant parents bring their kids and not teach them how to interact with other people's dogs. The family dog may tolerate the chasing and poking and petting but other dogs may not.
But every once in awhile, kids will surprise you. While at the dog park or on walks or even at the vet office I've had kids actually ask if they can pet Steve or Scott before getting close to them. I was amazed and I always thank them for asking first.

Comment by Elys on August 17, 2008 at 1:37pm

Parker--all the more reason people should apply for licenses to have children and pass a Common Sense Test. Just kidding...or am I?? The last thing you want is that kind of food around doggies, especially if you're exercising your dog before she eats. Talk about distraction. My dog isn't all that confortable around people yet. I don't fear that she'll bite, but she may run away and the kids would chase her...it would set back our training. When our friend brought over her 8-month old, we sat him on the floor and allowed Camber to come up and sniff him. She was definitely curious, but WE controlled that interaction. Thankfully, the baby is growing up with dogs, so he was very comfortable. Camber has had 2 (or more??) litters, so it was interesting to see her interact with a baby. Her whole demeanor changed. It was lovely to watch.

Comment by Sarah C. on August 17, 2008 at 1:35pm

I thought it was pretty gross too, Parker. I also worried that if any of the dogs were food aggressive, or had bad manners there could be a fight in one of those kid's laps.

Comment by Parker on August 17, 2008 at 1:28pm

I'm a kid person, a child therapist. I love kids, but I don't want 5 running up to my dog all at once. I've had this same problem. Not at the dog park, but at our regular city park. Parents leave there kids pretty unattended there fairly often. Grove and I just go to walk the trail, he's leashed and ready to work. Never fails a bunch of little kids (small toddlers) will run up to pet him. They don't ask, they just do it. Grover LOVES attention and kids, but that many all at once kind of spooks him and he get pretty anxious. One or two kids, awesome, he's fine. But more than that!
Another thing, Sarah C., it really surprises me that anyone would take there kids to the dog park to eat McDonalds!! There are dogs EVERYWHERE. That's gross to me, letting your kids run around a dog park, smelling like food, for every dog to lick on. Yuck.

Comment by Elys on August 17, 2008 at 1:27pm

First of all, who the heck are these parents? Better yet, WHERE were these parents? I've been so tempted to ask people to stop procreating because they're passing the ignorance gene on, but I'm trying to be a better person (boy, it's so hard nowadays). Kids need boundaries and doggies need respect. I like kids enough, but dang. A little kid following me around would aggravate me, too. By the way, Cheez-it is adorable. Keep me updated on how his surfing training goes. I'm not sure if Camber would like the ocean--she can barely tolerate being bathed.

Comment by James on August 17, 2008 at 1:07pm

We ran into this little unattended kid on the beach (On the beach! Geez) and he followed us everywhere and made Cheez-it uncomfortable with his random question asking and petting. I could tell my dog was like "Get him away so I can go swimming". But then again, I'm not much of a kid-person.

Comment by Elys on August 17, 2008 at 11:48am

I think that these dog park episodes are just proof that common sense is a rarity in this world. I mean, has anyone heard of boundaries? If my dog park says that my dog must be leashed, well, then kids must be "leashed", too. I'm glad others think that way. As for Tilo, I feel so bad for him. Even before I had a dog, I would ALWAYS ask if I could pet someone's dog. People's kids aren't cute at all when they're ticking off other people. And Border Collie's are super-cute! We saw one on tv that reminded us of Camber--if Camber was stretched out and hairier, but still. People are crazy...

Comment by Sarah C. on August 17, 2008 at 11:39am

This aggravates me too. I just got back from the dog park and there was a mom with 2 kids and 3 dogs. She wasn't paying very good attention to either, as she was trying to organize giving her kids McDonalds and eating her own. There was an Eskimo dog, a Lab, an Aussie and 3 boxers, plus my corgi and her 2 little dogs. Those dogs were not interested in being pet or held, but the little girl wanted to wander around and pet all of them. In my mind I was imagining her daughter getting knocked down... stepped on... touching a dog wrong... Argh! Dog parks are for dogs!
I also recall one time when a bunch of dogs were playing with my dog and a little girl interpretted this as the dogs ganging up on Didi and she PICKED HER UP. I nearly had a heart attack running over. I was sure there'd either be a bite or a fight, right in the little girl's arms.
Whew. Makes me crazy.

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