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I need to vent...

1K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  Lozza 
#1 ·
Sorry in advance for the rant below but I just need to let it out!

I took Boston into my hubby's work place today for his first visit. His work place is very dog friendly and in future, once Boston is well trained, we intend on letting Boston join him in there every now and then. They are quite strict about what the dogs can and can't do in their dog policy, which I completely understand, and we are well versed in what is acceptable behaviour (eg no nipping, biting, accidents inside etc) or else Boston will be banned from ever going in again.

Anyway, I arrived outside and my hubby tells me that it was Santa day today and so there were lots of kids around (he didn't realise, otherwise we wouldn't have taken Boston in on that day). We agreed we needed to be hypervigilant about Boston, as he still gets super excited about meeting new people and especially children.

We go inside into a common area where two of my hubby's workmates were already gathered to meet Boston. Boston was being his typical exuberant puppy self and he was jumping up in all the excitement. So we calmed him down and made him sit between our legs, holding him closely, as we were so concerned about him accidentally nipping someone. Everything was under control and Boston was being calm.

Then, a small group of parents with very young children (some as young as 2 years old) come into the room from behind us and of course, the kids beelined it for Boston, hands going straight for his face. I literally had to physically haul the kids away from Boston and it was a good thing my hubby already had hold of Boston and that stopped him from lunging.

The parents basically DID NOTHING. They all just stood around and let their children approach a completely unknown and very young puppy with no supervision at all. I made it clear to them that this was not ok and one parent's response was 'It's fine, my kid is good around dogs'.

Now what really infuriated me was that if Boston had of lunged at one of the children because they stuck their hand in his face and he accidentally nipped them, we would have been at fault and he would have been banned from ever going into work again. Just as we have a responsibility to control our dog, parent's also have a responsibility to supervise their children. I couldn't believe the parent's blase attitude to what could have been a very dangerous situation.

And looking back, I don't see how we could have behaved any differently to prevent the situation. We are continuing to train Boston to be calm when meeting people but with a young puppy this takes time (and he is making good progress but is still not there yet). Any advice would be appreciated.

Sorry, but I just needed to let the steam out of that one...
 
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#2 ·
I think it is very common these days for people to abslove themselves of any responsibility for their or their childrens actions. No one sets them any boundaries it is all down to letting them find out for themselves. Great if it all goes ok but what happens when there is an incident. It is the same with dog walkers who just let their dogs run riot and everyone else has to cope with the resulting nuisance. Some people are just too ignorant to know how to behave.
 
#3 ·
I've struggled with this too and i don't know whats the best way to handle it. In general when i was out and children came up to Betty i would pick her up as i could at least move her out of the way easily.

Sue, your comment made me laugh as i've heard the same before. i was a member of an expensive gym and the poor staff in the cafe/restaurant as peoples kids would run riot as the parents seemed to think it was the staff's responsibility to look after their kids and yet the parents would blame the staff if their kids fell over or ran into a member of staff who was often carrying hot food or drinks!!!
 
#4 ·
Wow first of all well done Boston(Buddy would of been uncontrollable )
I must say I always ask if my kids can Stoke a dog first also I find I'm forever saying sorry he's still a puppy and will jump up etc.
I had the neighbours kids round when Buddy was younger they were screaming and running around making him worse Buddy was very mouthy and did rip a girls skirt I was so sick of telling them to carm down I thought I'm not taking the blame for this and explained to her mum that they had been winding Buddy up.
 
#5 ·
Unfortunately it is something you will need to get used to. These cockerpoos of ours are so cute they are like magnets to children. I have lost count of the times I have told small children - very politely but loud enough for their parents to hear - that they must ask before stroking a dog.

But well done to you and Boston, and great for his socialisation!
 
#7 ·
Thanks everyone. Being a new puppy parent, I am also a bit paranoid that we are not doing the right thing. I just really didn't like the situation that other people had put us in and I was furious by the time I got home. I have taken a chill pill overnight tho...and yes, I am very proud that Boston handled the situation so well!

Sue - you are so right and very well said!
 
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