Explicit Content. (by Lua P)
I need a rant, OK, ready? Good.
This last week we’ve had two near misses with kids, having never really hit a problem before.
When we were camping I had Mango tied to a tree so I could set up the tent with two hands. I heard her warning barking, but couldn’t pay immediate attention for some reason (idk, tying a guide rope or something), so I’m verbally reassuring her with ‘It’s OK, good girl etc’. Then I hear a human imitating her ‘ruff ruff ruffing’ back, and I realise Mango is right, it’s not OK, and drop what I’m doing, turn round saying ‘DON’T wind my dog up’ to find two kids, at most 3 years old, wandering across towards Mango, hands out to pet her, while imitating her ‘back off’ barks. Parents no where in sight, and I know the next occupied pitch is at least 50m off, behind trees so you can’t see what is going on. So then I’m telling them they can’t touch her, thankfully reach her before they do, and put myself between them and Mango. But they still keep coming, now towards angry human as well as angry dog, trying to get round me to her as I’m untying her from the tree to move away. Once I did move her away they just stood looking disappointed at us for a while before wandering off again. Just, what? Even if you haven’t taught ‘Don’t touch the dog’, surely, don’t move towards the stranger yelling at you is pretty obvious?
Then last night waiting to go into training and a kid, her mum, and their dog come past. Child is on her scooter, so reaches us first, and starts to come towards us chattering about a dog. Again, she’s maybe 4 or 5. So I’m watching, move Mango behind me, but if she’s going to stop and Mum seems happy figuring I’ll ask if she wants to say hi. But no, she picks up speed and starts reaching for Mango. So I tell her she can’t say hi to the dog, which she ignores, then just yell NO at her, still no reaction (from her or Mum…), so when she is close enough and still moving in I end up putting my hand on her chest to physically stop her, where she starts yelling, and continues to try to get past me to pet (a remarkably well behaved) Mango. While Mum is stood 20ft away just saying ‘Come on, leave the dog alone’. While a stranger is physically restraining her screaming child from touching her dog…
Just, common sense, get some, teach it to your kids, please.
