02/09/2026
I yelled at a child today, like ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐.
This comes of the back of puppy class last night where I told my class that I love working with kids and teaching them how to greet dogs as theyโre often better at taking direction than adults ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
So let me paint the picture. My friend and client and I had been down at the river letting our dogs swim, doing some social work etc. Sun is shining, every dog we saw was put on leash when passing, the spicy dogs out with their owners were well managed, great day so far.
Weโre heading back to the car park, our dogs are leashed and weโre walking with me a step in front with my Malinois and her and her German Shepherd just behind.
Weโre on a big grassy area off the concrete path to give space to people and keep our dogs and everyone happy.
The walk way comes down on a slant from the top car part and we notice 3 kids, probably aged 10 and under running down it. Then the approx 4 or so year old boy bee lines off the path arms out in front and headed straight for my Malinois. I yell โNOOOOโ to the boy. He keeps coming and then I really ๐ฌ๐๐๐ โ๐ก๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ขโ. The boy stops, only because heโs now right in front of me, but he drops his arms.
My Malinois and friends Shepherd were rock solid next to us - I should be celebrating them.
And the only thing that gets the boy away is his siblings calling him to come to the river.
I look up and see the parents walking down, they would have had full view and hearing of the scenario, and not once did they call out to their child to intervene or reprimand. They didnโt even acknowledge us when we then passed them on the path.
There was a total of zero f*cks given by them.
I can guarantee you that this child has repeated this behaviour many many times, and the more we practice anything, good or bad, the better we get at it.
Did I put the wind up this child? Likely not, but I damn hope so, because giving him a fright now will likely stop him getting bitten in future.
Dogs are NOT public property, and if you are the caregiver to a child, itโs your responsibility to teach them that.
If you own a dog, advocate for that dog.
Had this child asked to pat my dog, I would have gladly shown him an appropriate way to do it. These particular dogs would have enjoyed a learning opportunity likely as much as the child.
However this was a management scenario, for the child, not the dogs.
