KIDS! A little vent ...

[WebLady]

Well, DH and I don't have children and I have a low tolerance for other people's kids (especially when they aren't behaved ) But I love my (2 yr old) niece, as does Enzo, but she is a good kid and I can beat her if she misbehaves

So anyway, my vent is about the kids in my neighborhood ... when ever we take the furkids out for a walk they all swarm to us and want to pet them. I tell them that they are shy and don't like sudden movements, but do them listen? NO! There is one girl that even said "He's not shy" Yes he is you brat! That is why he is pulling away from you!

It bothers me on one hand because I don't know these kids and they just think because I have a dog they can just be all over me! They other thing is that the dogs really are shy and scared and I don't like them feeling that way. I try to put myself between the dogs and the kids or pick them up. Yes they need to be socialized more, but until they are (on my terms, I am not going to bow to a bunch of brats) I don't want them to feel like I can't protect them.

And even when they more socialized, I still don't want them jumping all over strangers or going to just anyone ... I like that they are a little reserved, but they do need to not be so scared.

Oh and there was this older kid (about 12 maybe) that has seen us with Enzo and asked why we got another of the sane type of dog ... we always try to be nice, so we said "Because we like them" Then he said "You should have gotten a Pit Bull so it could beat the mess out of the other one" I didn't say anything, but I felt like saying "Maybe your mom should adobt a big bully to beat the mess out of you!" :censored: Kids!

The last few days we have tried to walk the other way (since most of the kids gather at the other side of the street) then we ran into some older kids (13-18 maybe) and they were just as bad. "Oh can we pet your dog ... does he bite?" See all this wouldn't be so bad, (I know my babies are irresistible ) but they just have to run up and try to pet them before I get a change to even answer Then I try to tell them the same things I tell the younger kids "They are shy ... don't come up to them so fast ... don't pet them on the head" But most of them are just as bad as the younger ones

Maybe I should not be so nice and just tell these kids that they bite UGH, I don't want to make my 'kids' more scared, but I also don't want them to feel cornered and actually bite someone!

OK I guess I am done venting ... anyone have any comments or suggestions as to how I can handle this type of thing?

[MOB Karen]

Well, the same exact thing happens to me when I take my dachshound out. Funny thing is they don't want to pet my pit bull though. lol They are kids, and I tolerate them because they are kids. And the fact that I had a couple that people put up with and I have a grandbaby that will probably be doing that some day. For you Brandi, I think I would just say to them that you would prefer they didn't pet them and be firm about it and say that every single time they ask. Since they live in the neighborhood, hopefully they will learn after awhile that you mean it, and they will leave you alone when you come out of your house. Good luck!

[CindySue]

I wish I could tell you why kids are so attracted to animals but they just are. My kids would try to be right on top of your poor doggies! I know that doesnt make it right and I usually keep mine reined in, but if its an animal kids just HAVE to touch it! I feel sorry for the pets we have at our house!!!

[WhiskeyGirl]

Well here's my opinion Brandi, and it may come across the wrong way but just remember you know I love you!! :) And I'm just giving another view on how things could be!!

Kids are kids, and most kids love animals and want to pet them. They don't realize that what they like to do is maybe not what someone else might not want them to do! Remember that you were once a curious child yourself and I'm sure you probably wanted to pet other people's dogs too! If you dont like the kids swarming you, perhaps you should walk your dogs later if its possible or earlier in the morning when they are not out. They're kids, they won't remember from one day to the next. Case in point, we had this huge mound of dirt infront of the house and I told the neighbor kids to stay off of it, that someone was going to get hurt! And besides all that, they were making a mess, not even a half hour later one of the kids comes running up to Matt exclaiming "My friend got hurt!! Can you come check on him?" Matt doesn't really know how to deal with kids (at this point) either so he told him to go get his own dad and that we had told them to stay off of the dirt! And do you know, they were right back there the very next day. Kids just don't think like adults and that's what we have to remember! Try and be patient with them, they are after all only kids, but like I said if you don't want to deal with the kids, you may just have to walk your dogs earlier in the morning or later at night when the kiddies are still in their homes!! :)

[WebLady]

I am not bothered by your comment Shawna, and I know you love me ;)

I understand they are 'just kids' this is why I have put up with it for the past 3 mos (since we've had Enzo). It has gotten worse since we got Roxy and since the kids are now out of school for the summer.

We do try to walk the dogs later in the day, mostly because it is SO hot earlier in the day and also to try and avoid the kids. And as I said before, we've tried to walk down the other side of the street these last few days since most of the kids gather more towards the front of the street. But we have to get the walk in before we loose daylight, and since it is summer there are often kids out til dusk too.

Like I said, I've been nice so far but the kids don't seem to respond to the nice thing. Aside from the fact that I would really rather they just leave me alone (doubtful, I know) but I don't want to make my 'kids' more scared, or ever feel cornered and actually bite someone!

I know I was a curious kid once too, but I also remember that I was not allowed to talk to strangers and I was taught that strange dogs might bite. Plus we weren't allowed to play in the front yard till we were older and even then my mother kept a close eye on us. I would have never went up to a stranger or a strange dog without my parents there. I never see these kids parents out :bbrolleyes:

[CindySue]

I wasnt supposed to pet strange dogs either. Did anyway though. ;) Lucky I didnt ever get bit!!!
Sad part is, Youve told the kids repeatedly not to crowd the dogs, but if one of them were to scare the poor puppies and get snapped at, the parents would be all over you!!!!!
You could tell the kids the dogs are poisonous and if they touch them, theyll get really sick!!!!!!!;)

[MOB Karen]

I don't think it's being mean to the kids to say that they can't pet your dogs. You're the adult and you are just protecting your dogs.

[AngelinLove]

Oh and there was this older kid (about 12 maybe) that has seen us with Enzo and asked why we got another of the sane type of dog ... we always try to be nice, so we said "Because we like them" Then he said "You should have gotten a Pit Bull so it could beat the mess out of the other one" I didn't say anything, but I felt like saying "Maybe your mom should adopt a big bully to beat the mess out of you!" Kids!


That would be hilarious!!!! I mean if you said that..not really if it happened..okay maybe a little then too!!!

[Kacie_bride]

I would tell the children that you prefer them to not pet your dogs and then if they still insist I would speak to their parents. I'm not sure about Georgia, but I learned a lot about laws in Texas concerning animals and other people. Here they are actually very unfair to the dog.

Sometimes dogs are nervous around children. They do not understand them if they are not around them a lot. My dog, for instance, does not like children because she was antagonized as a puppy by a child. Nervous dogs may bite.

In Texas if a dog bites a person, no matter if the dog is on a leash or even if someone is trespassing on your property, the dog has to be quarantiened (sp) for 10 days at the owner's expense. Then if your dog is not up to date on their rabies vaccinations the owner is ticketed.

When I worked at the vet we did the quarantiennes for the county we live in. In my experience with dog bites, it is usually the human's fault when they get bit. Most of the dog bites were the result of children going into people's yards when they weren't supposed to. One time these group of kids threw stuff at this dog every day. One day the dog got loose and when the kids came by the dog bit one of them.

To ensure the safety of your dogs, you, and the neighborhood children, if your dogs are not completly comfortable with the children they should not pet them. If they don't listen you should speak with their parents.

[WebLady]

... Sometimes dogs are nervous around children. They do not understand them if they are not around them a lot. My dog, for instance, does not like children because she was antagonized as a puppy by a child. Nervous dogs may bite.

... To ensure the safety of your dogs, you, and the neighborhood children, if your dogs are not completely comfortable with the children they should not pet them. If they don't listen you should speak with their parents.

See this is what I am worried about ... granted, I don't THINK my dogs would bite, but if they are scared and feel cornered, they could in a second!

I really don't want to have to go talk to the parents (I never see these kids parents outside) because I don't know these people and I don't know who the kids belong to since they are all just hanging out and playing in the street.

I do try to avoid them by walking the other way, but if I run into them again I think I will just tell them the dogs are not friendly and keep walking and/or tell them if they want to touch/pet them they have to go get one of their parents.

[Kacie_bride]

You are right. Animals are not always predictable and it is better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with children. Besides that, you do not want your dogs to get a negative feeling towards children by being overwhelmed by them. You want them to feel positive toward them so when they are around children whom you want them to around they will feel comfortable.

[LaceyinPgh]

Unfortunately Brandi, the world is full of kids. It is goint ot be that way until society bands together and decides to stop having sex. You just kind of have to deal with the little "angels". We don't have a lot of kids in our neighborhood. Those we do have, I encourage to play with Ruffles and Ellie because it wears the dogs out. But, my dogs are probably a lot more social than Enxo and Roxie.

Little kids are just drawn to little animals. There is nothing you can do about it that isn't going to make you look like the Wicked Witch of the West in neighborhood. With the old kids, I suggest telling them "No, you cannot pet the dogs." If you have to, pick them up and walk away. With the littler ones though you might want to have a talk with mom and dad when you see them out. But, be prepared for people to take offense.

There is one liability warning though that holds in most states. If you acknowledge that your dog might bite, you are acknowledging that it is vicious and it can lead you into a TON of trouble legally if they do nip some little kid. In admitting that you are admitting your dog is considered a menace animal. The same holds true of any of you who have the "Beware of Dog" sign on your house or in your yard. You are acknowledging that your dog is dangerous even if he/she isn't.

[MOB Karen]

Unfortunately Brandi, the world is full of kids. It is goint ot be that way until society bands together and decides to stop having sex. You just kind of have to deal with the little "angels". We don't have a lot of kids in our neighborhood. Those we do have, I encourage to play with Ruffles and Ellie because it wears the dogs out. But, my dogs are probably a lot more social than Enxo and Roxie.

Little kids are just drawn to little animals. There is nothing you can do about it that isn't going to make you look like the Wicked Witch of the West in neighborhood. With the old kids, I suggest telling them "No, you cannot pet the dogs." If you have to, pick them up and walk away. With the littler ones though you might want to have a talk with mom and dad when you see them out. But, be prepared for people to take offense.

There is one liability warning though that holds in most states. If you acknowledge that your dog might bite, you are acknowledging that it is vicious and it can lead you into a TON of trouble legally if they do nip some little kid. In admitting that you are admitting your dog is considered a menace animal. The same holds true of any of you who have the "Beware of Dog" sign on your house or in your yard. You are acknowledging that your dog is dangerous even if he/she isn't.

So if they are on a leash and someone pets them when you asked them not to, you can still get in trouble if they get bit? And also, if you have a sign on your fence that the dog bites and the person goes in the yard and gets bit, you will still get in trouble?

[Kacie_bride]

I did find this paragraph pertaining to this issue.

("The owner of such a dog is not liable to the person injured if the injured person has knowledge of the character of the dog and wantonly excites it or voluntarily and unnecessarily puts himself in the way of the dog.")

But here again it is generalized for most states.

It is from http://www.dogbitelawcenter.com/pages/dogbitelawbasics.cfm

[Kacie_bride]

So if they are on a leash and someone pets them when you asked them not to, you can still get in trouble if they get bit? And also, if you have a sign on your fence that the dog bites and the person goes in the yard and gets bit, you will still get in trouble?

I know in Texas the laws can be very unfair to the dog. Even if somone breaks into your house to steal or hurt you and your dog bites them here, they have to be quarantenned and you have to pay for it. The price for quarantenning a dog at the vet I worked was around $200.

I think people, including children, need to respect the owner's wishes. They have to learn sometime. When I was a child I was taught to respect adults and their property. I'm not saying I obeyed all the time, but if an adult out right told me not to do something, and I didn't obey I would have gotten in so much trouble it would not be funny.

[MOB Karen]

I did find this paragraph pertaining to this issue.

("The owner of such a dog is not liable to the person injured if the injured person has knowledge of the character of the dog and wantonly excites it or voluntarily and unnecessarily puts himself in the way of the dog.")

But here again it is generalized for most states.

It is from http://www.dogbitelawcenter.com/pages/dogbitelawbasics.cfm


So the key is that you invited the person in your yard, but if they are there without your permission, then you won't get in trouble if your dog bites them.

It looks like as far as the leash is concerned, you are not showing negligence because you have your dog on a leash.

[WebLady]

It does make since about the biting/beware of dog thing Lacey mentioned, so maybe I won't go that route. I don't know the laws here about if a dog bites. I don't really think my dogs will bite, but you just never know with a scared/nervous dog ... I am trying to protect my dogs as well as the local brats.

I just don't want to feel like I can't take my dogs out because of all the 'brats' in the neighborhood ... just like someone with kids wouldn't want to feel like they couldn't let their kids out because of a 'bad dog'

I am really going to just try to avoid the kids or tell them we are training the dogs and they can't be distracted, or just tell them we are busy and don't have time to play.

[Kacie_bride]

It really depends on your state. I don't know that much about the laws concerning dog bites and getting into trouble. I know about Texas quarantene laws. Here is a link to Arizona's dog bite laws

http://www.dogbitelawcenter.com/pages/ArizonaDogBite.cfm

And for you Brandi, Georgia.

http://www.dogbitelawcenter.com/pages/Georgiadogbitelaw.cfm

There is a whole list of the states for anyone else interested on the topic.

[LaceyinPgh]

So if they are on a leash and someone pets them when you asked them not to, you can still get in trouble if they get bit? And also, if you have a sign on your fence that the dog bites and the person goes in the yard and gets bit, you will still get in trouble?


If you know and admit that your dog is vicious (eg posting a sign and telling people)and it attacks someone, you can be in serious trouble if they decide to file a report or sue. Now this is on the books in a lot of places. In every state it is going to be different. I suggest if it is something that you are worried about than you should look it up for your state on line. It is also going to depend on a lot of mitigating factors in the situation. Was the person breaking into your home or threatening you with harm? In that case your dog is protecting his territory and that is fine. Was the person poking the dog through the fence with the proverbial stick? Well then they probably got what they deserved. Is the judge in the case just tired of ignorant and stupid people in their courtroom that day? You got lucky. If you have your dog restrained and on a leash while walking it and tell poeple not to approach you, chances are you won't be at fault. The best advice I can give (in PA anyway) is to make sure your dog is well restrained (leash, fence, ect.), always supervised when people are around, and take down the sign.

You have a pit bull and I feel for you on that one. Not because they are bad dogs. I had one when I was little that let me torture him beyond the normal capacity of any living animal. A golden retrevier would have eaten most peoplke for the things I did to Rocky. Our neighbors who just moved also had one. He was terrified of my 30 pound, 13 year old Scottish Terrier to the point he would run and hide if I let her outside. However there is a prejudice against them beause they have bene over bred and raised by idiots. Unfortunately, if your pit bull attacks someone chances are the dog is going to be held at fault just because of prejudice in society. int he City of Pittsburgh you can't even legally sell or own a pitbull purchased after 2004.

[MOB Karen]

If you know and admit that your dog is vicious (eg posting a sign and telling people)and it attacks someone, you can be in serious trouble if they decide to file a report or sue. Now this is on the books in a lot of places. In every state it is going to be different. I suggest if it is something that you are worried about than you should look it up for your state on line. It is also going to depend on a lot of mitigating factors in the situation. Was the person breaking into your home or threatening you with harm? In that case your dog is protecting his territory and that is fine. Was the person poking the dog through the fence with the proverbial stick? Well then they probably got what they deserved. Is the judge in the case just tired of ignorant and stupid people in their courtroom that day? You got lucky. If you have your dog restrained and on a leash while walking it and tell poeple not to approach you, chances are you won't be at fault. The best advice I can give (in PA anyway) is to make sure your dog is well restrained (leash, fence, ect.), always supervised when people are around, and take down the sign.

You have a pit bull and I feel for you on that one. Not because they are bad dogs. I had one when I was little that let me torture him beyond the normal capacity of any living animal. A golden retrevier would have eaten most peoplke for the things I did to Rocky. Our neighbors who just moved also had one. He was terrified of my 30 pound, 13 year old Scottish Terrier to the point he would run and hide if I let her outside. However there is a prejudice against them beause they have bene over bred and raised by idiots. Unfortunately, if your pit bull attacks someone chances are the dog is going to be held at fault just because of prejudice in society. int he City of Pittsburgh you can't even legally sell or own a pitbull purchased after 2004.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm keeping my dogs inside from now on.

[Kacie_bride]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm keeping my dogs inside from now on.

Just read up on your state's laws. That website I gave the link to is very interesting.

[MOB Karen]

Just read up on your state's laws. That website I gave the link to is very interesting.

Interesting that I would get in trouble, or interesting that it wouldn't be my fault? I am going to read it too, but I just wanted to get your opinion of what you read.

[WebLady]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm keeping my dogs inside from now on.
Yeah my dogs are inside dogs, they are only out when we take them out for a walk (on a leash) It would be unfair and an inconvenience for me to have to take my dogs to the park and not be able to walk around my neighborhood undisturbed. I think kids should be kept on a 'short leash' too ;) Kids can be a bother to others, and/or cause trouble and get hurt if left unattended.

[LaceyinPgh]

So the key is that you invited the person in your yard, but if they are there without your permission, then you won't get in trouble if your dog bites them.

It looks like as far as the leash is concerned, you are not showing negligence because you have your dog on a leash.
It is just a spliting hair topic. I hated things like that when I had to study them because there is no straight right or wrong answer. It drove me nuts. Like I said it varies by state and by circumstance and honestly it varies by what a pain in the *** you are dealing with in another person too. TO be honest if I was playing with my neighbor's dog and it bit me because it was all wound up, than that is my fault for getting her all wound up. Now if I were working in my yard and my neighbor's dog just trotted over and took a bite, well then that is a vicious animal no questions.

The moral of the story, be a responsible pet owner like I know that you are Karen (and Brandie). You won't have any worries.

[Kacie_bride]

I didn't really read the specifics on Arizona. It is just interesting to me to know the facts about these types of things. Like I said, I think these laws are very unfair to the dogs for the most parts. I also said that most dog bites we dealt with were because of human error, not dog error. Most of the time people were doing something they shouldn't and the dog was protecting itself or the owner's property. Most of the dogs quarantenned were actually very friendly dogs. I was never bitten by a dog that was quarantenned with us (but I was bit by a fancy little poodle that was boarded with us). I usually was able to pet and interact with those dogs.

[LaceyinPgh]

I didn't really read the specifics on Arizona. It is just interesting to me to know the facts about these types of things. Like I said, I think these laws are very unfair to the dogs for the most parts. I also said that most dog bites we dealt with were because of human error, not dog error. Most of the time people were doing something they shouldn't and the dog was protecting itself or the owner's property. Most of the dogs quarantenned were actually very friendly dogs. I was never bitten by a dog that was quarantenned with us (but I was bit by a fancy little poodle that was boarded with us). I usually was able to pet and interact with those dogs.
That is because poodles are mean, nasty, tempermental, little rats with pretty coats. I have never met one with a good personality.

[WhiskeyGirl]

That is because poodles are mean, nasty, tempermental, little rats with pretty coats. I have never met one with a good personality.

lol...I've never met a poodle that I could call cute either! Ugly little dogs if you ask me...no offense anyone who has one! lol...eep!

[Kacie_bride]

You are right! The full size poodles aren't that bad though. On several occasions I was almost bit by chihuhuas. They are mean little dogs too. I never messed with muzzles, but I would also tie gauze around dogs mouths and they were hard to tie.

[LaceyinPgh]

All of those little toy sized dogs tend to be nippy. (Enzo and Roxie excluded). They just act they have something to prove like short men do. I just have a personal hatred of poodles for some odd reason. I usually love dogs. Even the bigger ones are weird. My best friend had one growing up and I KNOW that dog was gay. He only humped other male dogs.