My 8 month old GR seems to have a problem with children. I have noticed that she seems to have mixed reactions to them. A couple of times she has barked at them, but on most occaisions she pulls to get to them and behaves like a jack in the box when we get up close. She has met a few children but has never really played with any, although i have an 11 year old sister who gets on well with her. Today she was being really good, coming when i call and generally behaving nicely so i decided to let her off the long lead as we were in the middle of a clearing in the forest, it was raining and getting dark so i thought the  chances of meeting anyone would be zero. Everything was fine until a large family that consisted of about 4 adults and 6 children emerged from the trees (they must be mad!). Before i could stop her Ellie ran over to them and started leaping around about 2 metres away from them barking wildly. She completely ignored my calls and i couldn't for the life of me catch her for ages. (I was mortified!) She didn't actually go right up to any of them except for one women when she momentarily stopped barking and acted friendly. She seemed to be barking at the children. (Back on the lead we go!!!)
    I don't know if it is fear or excitement towards children. She seems unsure at times, but then can also seem just over excited. She is a very vocal pup anyway, barking continuously in the garden. I intend to try and socialise her on the lead with children a bit more. I don't know any children but i am going to coincide our walks with the end of school when the kids go back next week, and walk past. Should i be doing anything else, and has anyone else encountered this sort of problem?
Lucy
(Still horribly embarrassed!!!!)

Hi LucyandMeg
I have the same issue with my 8 month BC , she is exactly the same with the barking at children etc, and I know how embarresing it can be!!!

Mine seem to be worse in the dark if they can't see the people properly???

my mum's dog toyah, a stumpy legged cross breed, is the same, she dislikes all children and will run over to them specially to bark at them !

she also doesn't like people with bikes (only if they r pushing one, riding one is ok) and people who r on the park but don't have a dog (she believes that to be very wrong indeed)

luckily she's never attacked a child, just likes to voice her annoyance at short people (must be a size issue with her being so short and all !) it is sooo embarrassing having to say, 'don't worry she just likes to bark at children she's very friendly really' and then having to endure the glaring parents tutting at me !

sarah
x

I know exactly what you mean, its mortifying!
I must admit i don't usually take them out in the dark (or when its getting dark) but becuase of  being busy the past two days i have had to take my pair out around 3.30pm returning about 4.30pm. In that time it gets dark quickly and i have noticed that both my dogs seemed more nervy, more barking, more jumpy when someone goes past and such. My other dog is quite nervy anyway but she was certainly worse. I wonder sometimes if Ellie's eyesight is poor in the dark, and perhaps even slighly poor in the light because she sometimes doesn't seem to recognise people.
I took her for a walk down the town the other day and we met lots of children who wanted to say hello to her (brilliant! - that was the reason i went!) and every time she sat wonderfully without even being asked lapping up the attention, so i think perhaps it may also be excitement with children. But sometimes she barks at rocks or walls which makes me think sometimes she is nervous. I'm really hoping it is a stage as i'm too scared to let her off the lead because i can't trust her to behave if people appear.