What is wrong with some people - firstly, I saw a girl of about 8 walking a staff/bulldog concoction (in the other hand she had a Chihuaha) and now I have just seen a girl and boy aged about 6 and 3 being taking for a walk by a staff.

Surely this is wrong, I am a massive bull breed fan and hope to own an EBT, but this is so irresponsible.

I'm sure these dogs were of sound temp, but I'm sure their natural instincts would kick in if a cat or a dog bothered them and where would that leave the poor child?

Bull breeds are going through the mill at the moment, and things like this do not help.

Surely there should be some rules/law against this?

Yep I was under the impression that if there was an incident with a child under 16 the parents would be held responsible. Doesnt really help unless the police are able to step in before an accident. Personally neither of mine walked a dog until they were 16 and even now I only allow my 21 year old to wlak my gsd as I know he knows how to handle him. I wouldnt allow my daughter (18) because she really hasnt go the control thats needed.

It's something I hate seeing too.  My friend was letting her 9 year old walk her JRT, I never agreed with that as the dog had some issues meeting other dogs and was a cat chaser.

I often see kids walking bull breeds (and other breeds) round our way, the dogs could so easily over power the kids, pull them into the traffic or anything.

Im astounded every time I see a child walking a dog, my nephews were always trying to take my GSD out for a walk, no way would I let them, I don't care how nice the dog is,you can never predict what other dogs may do, how on earth would a child cope with a dog fight,I think parent's who allow children to walk dogs unsupervised are putting their child and their dog at risk.

There is an argument one could make that a powerful dog being walked in a public place by a child (under 14'ish), cannot be viewed as being under proper control.

> There is an argument one could make that a powerful dog being walked in a public place by a child (under 14'ish)

Or even some that are over 14. There was an incident a couple of years ago where I used to live, two off-lead Dobermanns attacked a poodle, and when the elderly owner picked it up they bit her arms and knocked her over. The person in charge of the dogs ran off & the dogs followed - he was later caught, and turned out to be a 14yr old boy.

The same problem with children and strong, big dogs also apply to some OLD people and similar dogs. It's not uncommon to see older people with breeds they simply cannot hold/control at all. Don't know what the answer would be.

So old/small people shouldn't have big dogs?

I train lots of people who are not capable of physically restraining there dogs but can now handle them fine because the dogs are under mental control (as opposed to physical restraint)

Adam

Ms T, MB,

It is tricky. My view is any guideline will always have some loophole/s. However, it might be fair to argue that no minor should be left with sole responsibility for a large dog, or even any dog, in a public place, unless it is an assistance dog? But then, I'm in a draconian frame of mind today- I used to torment my lovely nephew
by arguing no male under 25 should be allowed to drive a car without supervision :)

how adam? shall i guess? with an e-collar?

"Psychological control" of a dog is no defence under law if the dog still attacks or is dangerous.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/1998/929.html

under mental control (as opposed to physical restraint)

Yes, it's called dog training.

Even so, the best trained dog still has natural instincts, and can still be attacked by another dog.
No one such be out with a dog they can not hold, what ever their age. There are headcollars which can help.

It's such a shame that kids can't have a dog with them because of it being attacked. When I was a kid we always had a dog with us, the dog was part of us we won't of thought of going without her.  

i see this a lot round were i live and i always think the same thing, what could happen ??
doesnt bear thinking about.

saw 2 young boys (around 10 maby) being dragged around by a border collie, it allmost pulled them into the road at one point. I dont think chrildren should walk dogs without an adult anything could happen.

Recently we had a some of the local kids prob aged around 10 -13 knock on our door offering a free dog walking service. I politely declined telling them 2 big strong huskys would probably be a bit too much for them to handle. They were very insistant and told me theyve waljed huge dogs (the size they indicated suggested they walked a horse not a dog!) There was no way I was going to let the as my dogs are my responsibility but they did seem to have a few of the local dogs in tow so it looks like quite a few people have taken up their offer. I dread to think what could happen!

There is a family near me with a Dally. It is never on a lead ( i don't think they own one ) and i have frequently seen it without a collar.
Their 8 year old boy is usually dispatched to give it a once round the block , and the other day i saw him shouting at the dog to come to him . When he finally got hold of the dog he gave it a smack then dragged it off towards home by the scruff of it's neck !

I used to often get local kids knocking to take my dalmatian out. I often wondered whose idea it was. Theirs or the parents... It actually scares me how easily the children seem to forget all the rules when a dog is around especially it seems a Dalmatian!

Physical strength means sod all in many situations.

I'm a big strong guy but if a dogs fought ect would find it bloody hard to get them off. Having tried to unlock someones elses small terrier from another dog I know that physical strength is actually pointless in many scenarios!

Adam

another thing that frightens me, is very young kids riding ponies along a busy road. Where are the parents and what are they thinking of?

we had some children knocking on the door asking if i needed a dog walker and i said to them are you insured to walk someones dogs, well about 10 mins later their father knocked on the door ranting and raving that the kids where just trying to earn some extra pocket money and i let him go on and then said, if my dog has an accident while out with your children how will you pay the bill, vets and maybe the loss of me going to shows, any pups that the dog/bitch may of had or sired and he just stood their and then said sorry never thought of that just thought they where pets, even if they where just pets which they are formost i still would not allow even my children to walk my dogs, as you never know what children get up to when parents are not around .

we have two they look about 9 and 10 walking two staffies these dogs scream and yell and pull towards other dogs when out walking and the two boys are hanging on for grim death when i see them in the distance i walk the other way as i just can't take the risk they get off, they might be just wanting to play but can't take the chance,
i walk with a 16 year old young man he has a staffy cross rottie and it does the howling and screaming when it see me and my lot, but he makes it sit and wait till we come across , if i did not know the dog and lad i would walk in the op direction, but he is making such good progress with the dog, he goes to obedience and ringcraft and starting agility with him shortly, but the funniest thing is the young boy has just passed his first part of the motorbike exam and he said last night that when he passes all his tests for the bike he is going to get a side car for the dog to come with him, that is a sight i must see when it happens.

Isn't it sad how times have changed.

When I was a kid (not THAT long ago :) ) I used to earn my pocket money by walking dogs from our local boarding kennels. There were two of us and we walked all the dogs up and down the lane every evening after school. On Saturdays and Sundays we cleaned kennels and did some grooming as well as dog walking. Were we insured? I doubt it. Did we have problems? No - but I think family pets were much better socialised in those days.

I got a fiver a week and thought it was the best job in the world :)

my daughter worked in a kennels from the age of 14 she was supervised and walked the dogs with another person with her at all times, she loved it and she did get paid for it, but she was not allowed to walk my dogs by herself or with her friends.
in the days of litigation you need to make sure that you can trust who you let walk your dogs