Monday, April 30, 2012

Exploiting Fear of Dogs




Mom was angry this morning. She was on one of her message boards and again saw someone trying to start dog fear by posting a link to a few stories about children killed by dogs. One story was questionable at best because it seems more likely a case of child abuse/neglect than a dog killing. The other was more typical of what one reads about in these cases, poor parenting. In this case, a child visiting a relative’s home attacked by a family pet.

Ironically, the vast majority of posters admit they fear or do not like dogs, but feel they are experts in knowing that dogs are not safe around young children. Well if you are afraid of dogs, it is best not to bring your children around them. Your fear and dislike of them is not likely to make the experience a successful one. However, creating the hysteria that NO family should ever have a dog in the house that has a baby or a toddler only increases the potential for homeless dogs as parents are manipulated into fearing that the family dog will kill the child.

Frankly, I was amazed at how many people bought into the scenario. As a dog owner, I am always careful when children come into my home. I have learned not to expect parents to be responsible for their children. I must always be responsible for my dogs and supervise any and all interactions. While I have never had an issue, it does not mean there is not potential for one. Children and dogs are unpredictable and when you do not know how they will react to each other, it is important to supervise.

I respect parents who do not feel they have the time, resources, or patience to handle both pets and young children. However, the current hysteria and hostility seems ridiculous. As with all things, responsibility and supervision are at the bottom of so many of these dog and children issues. Instead of focusing on the lack of those skills, people have chosen to scapegoat the dogs.

11 comments:

  1. Great post! You are so right people have to be responsible for their pets and not count on parents being responsible for their kids. so many parents transfer their fear to their children! It's just plain sad!

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  2. Ugh, I read something recently about this too. Can't the parents take any of the blame? I agree with you!

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  3. Its so sad! The amount of children (and adults) killed by dogs is microscopic compared with other dangers. My mom is very afraid of dogs, thankfully she did not pass her fear on to me but her strong dislike of dogs has had a negative effect on our relationship

    urban hounds

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  4. Yes, there are some strange people out there who have no clue about dogs, much less how to behave around them.

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  5. So true! Sometimes, some selfish people just simply put the blame on the poor dogs instead of they themselves.

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  6. We agree with you! It's sad that people pass on the wrong information and scare people for no reason. *sigh*

    Happy Monday! :)

    Woofs & hugs, <3

    ~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)

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  7. Excellent post and I couldn't agree more!

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  8. i agree with you 100%! I always am cautious about any interaction my dogs have with children, because even if the child is the one who misbehaves if my dog reacts it is the dog who is going to be blamed every time! It's ridiculous and simple laziness and stupidity.

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  9. Hear Hear! I hate that implied message that parents don't have to parent their kids, but I have to be all over my dogs. II have friends whose kids are no longer welcome at our summer place, as they are not dog friendly. My dogs do not need to be exposed to kids with no manners!

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  10. I know what you mean. We have two shih tzus and years ago we also had a golden retriever who was the sweetest dog, as most goldens are. Our two small grandchildren came to visit and her parents, who are cat people, not dog people kept warning the children not to go near the golden because she would probably hurt them because she is so big. This of course was nonsense and I tried to get them to go to her carefully and see that she was friendly, that perhaps she may lick them to death but that was all. I felt so bad because they instilled fear into our grandchildren for no reason other than they themselves didn't like big dogs. The children are older now and believe it or not, they are afraid of dogs. So sad.

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  11. I had read both stories. They were tragic. It makes no more sense to fear dogs then it does to fear cats. Parents need to watch out for small children and dogs. It always makes me uneasy when parents come into the dog park with small children, who don't have a clue how to act around dogs.

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