Dog Forum

My dog, Colin, doesn't like children (as in under 7s), I think they scare him as a few have ran towards him before now.
Now when we're out on walks and children approach him, he barks and tries to run off (his recall isn't good enough to be off lead yet).

I want to respect his wishes and not allow children near him, but how do I tell people that he doesn't like them? Especially parents who may mistake his barking for agression.
He's not agressive at all - I have several friends with young children and if they come over, he chooses to go into his cage out of the way.

My Border Collie is the same, she has never had too much interaction with children.

I always worry too in case people mistake her signs as aggression, so i make a point of telling all the children i meet that they have to be nice and quiet and gentle around her just because she has not seen too many children before. Usually they understand and by not using too much of a patronising tone the parents seem to understand too.

I know the only way to help her is to get her to meet more children so they become less intimidating, but it's not too easy, so i just intend to keep doing what i'm doing, as it works at the moment.

You could get him a vest which says something like:
In training, I'm nervous, I don't like children, Ask to pet or something like that.
If you want to get kids to meet him, you could try carrying treats so they can give him one.
All children (and adults) should ask before petting a dog. Although I know that not everyone does!!

I know where you're coming from Mousey_kumar, my previous springer hated children! I don't have children myself and none of my friends at the time did, so she had very little interaction with them. She was never agressive towards them but I think that was due to the fact I was very careful. I often said to parents 'I'd rather they didn't stroke her, she's not used to kids and I'm not sure how she will react'. I got some funny looks at times but I'd rather that then take the risk.

Oscar, the springer I have now is a completely different dog entirely. There were children in his puppy class which I think was helpful but he still hasn't had that much contact with them. If they approach him correctly he's fine, if they run at him he wets himself. But overall he's great with them, very gentle, placid and I trust him.

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking strangers not to stroke your dog. He is YOUR dog after all and you make the decisions for him and YOU know his limitations. I think you are being very responsible in your approach.

What a fantastic post, one which demonstrates an owner putting the dog's needs first.

Congratulations on not asking "how can I make him like them"!

If a dog does not like something, then the safest way to handle it is to avoid it (unless it is vitally important).

Liking children is not an essential for either people or animals. I do not expect of even WANT my dogs to like children, I just expect them to leave them alone and I therefore expect the same courtesy from them to him!

I often find the best way is to tell people he has something contagious!

I agree with SB. It isn't necessary to like children, but to ignore and not be bothered by them is.
Jools, as far as I know hasn't had much contact with children, she's really really good with family friend's children; but like I say, I don't know how much she can tolerate and she can get very excitable, which is obviously out of order around kids! So if I know kids are coming around, I make sure Jools is in her crate (she loves her crate) with a new toy and a stuffed kong. When she calms down I bring her out on a lead and ask her to sit or lie down and ask the kids to be very quiet and gentle and not be too crazy!! This works well for Jools and me, because Jools is a nosey so and so
If Colin (brilliant name by the way! ) prefers to be in his cage/bed when children are around, I would encourage this behaviour, like giving him treats or a toy or something.

smokeybear wrote:

I often find the best way is to tell people he has something contagious!

Spanner, I like your approach

SB, I'm pleased you made the comment about not forcing your dogs to like children. I've never made much of an effort to make my dogs like children, if I had my own then that would be different, but Oscar shows no interest in them. If a child comes up to me and asks to stroke him whilst he's on the lead, he's fine. But if he's off lead and they attempt to pett him, he keeps a safe distance, which I suppose tells me all I need to know.

Like you said its nice that an owner puts the needs of her dog first.

Tee-J doesn't like kids either..

we think there was an incident a few years ago where he was behind a stairgate and my sisters friend (she would have only been 7 or 8 ) kicked him through the bars.....anyway he HATES he now, we can't let him anywhere near her (not that she comes round anymore as sister told her what she thought of her ) because he does react aggressively to her.

And if children don't leave him alone he will growl....but then adults are just has bad (he bit a man last year who came up behind him and started stroking him making him jump).
And my nans new dog snapped at someone the other day who backed her into a corner to say hello I WISH people would learn how to behave around dogs.

Luckiyl around where we live we don't get too many kids (who don't know that tee-j doesn't say hello), and we don't take him out at times where there are likely to be more. Likewise, we steer clear of playgrounds on walks.

CloClo wrote:
Tee-J doesn't like kids either..

we think there was an incident a few years ago where he was behind a stairgate and my sisters friend (she would have only been 7 or 8 ) kicked him through the bars.....

WTH?! idiot

Gypsy78 wrote:

Like you said its nice that an owner puts the needs of her dog first.

Thanks
As you've all said, it isn't a necessity for him to like children, it'll only become an issue when I have my own.
I just don't want to force him in to a situation he's clearly not comfortable with.
I think I'm just going to have to tell people straight that I'm afraid he does not like children (with a few exceptions, as I said, he's fine if they come to our house and he can escape to his crate. He also doesn't mind my niece (2 years old) and nephew (5 years old), as they have a dog and know how to behave around one).
I may look like a cow saying that, but rather that than have him get scared and possibly bite a child.

Thanks for all your help!

My westie is afraid of children also when the neices and nephews come round he chooses to hide but he does bark if they come near him. He is very small and cute though which does attract children. With the children that live in my road I have explained to never approach a dog without asking the owner. Alby is good at recall and tends to avoid any areas with children though so he can protect himself. Its worth while he still has to stay on the lead to just try and explain to the kids and parents about not running up to dogs. I find most parents are fine and already know this and then say to their kids "he's scared" and keep them away. Im the same I would rather keep my dog away than put him in a situation where he may bite.

S.B.This made me chuckle,bet they respond pretty quick too!

TillyTubbie,
I think if you got him a vest that said 'I don't like children', people may take it the wrong way and think he is the most aggresive dog in the world, or the T-shirt is referring to his owner!
(I'm guessing mousey-kumar likes children!)

Anyway, I am not criticizing your point, I think the vests that say 'In Training' or 'I'm nervous' are a good idea
If you used the vest that says 'Ask to pet', poeple may think that is refering to the owner... worst case scenario!
LOL
Good idea about the kids and treats