Almost had a nasty incident on our last camping trip when a football came bouncing into our pitch followed by a young lad. My dog was tethered and isnt usually agressive, I was too far away to grab him and he barked and snapped at the boy. This has worried me. On one hand we'd been there three nights and I suppose he was doing what dogs do, just in different surroundings. If someone jumped into my back garden he'd probably react the same way. But if he had bitten the child, I'd have felt awful, but I also think the lad should have asked for his ball back rather than come right in amongst our chairs etc. Worried now that I need to muzzle my dog on future camping trips
My dog would have licked the lad to death, but campers and their children need to learn that other people's pitches are not a public right of way, they should ask before venturing onto them.
Yes it is your pitch however it is still a public area, i agree he maybe should not have ran into your pitch but he is a young lad who probably didnt think twice. If the dog just barked out of shock fair enough however if you think he would have bitten the boy i would muzzle him if you are too far away etc.
However, he would bark at dogs he does not like, usually those a lot bigger than him!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Mine aren't territorial when camping, which is odd, because at home no stranger could get in without Lola having a right go.
I'll probably get shot down in flames for saying this, but I think parents need to educate their children about dogs in the same way as they do other dangers. I was brought up with dogs and my mother had been a dog groomer. It was dinned into us from an early age that you didn't touch strange dogs without asking the owner if it was ok, you never went up to a tethered dog, into a garden where a dog was loose, or disturbed a dog that was sleeping. We were also taught how to "read" dogs and how to behave if confronted by a dog that seems aggressive.
I've lost count of the number of times kids have just charged up and started poking at my dogs - luckily, they love kids and appreciate the attention and don't mind a bit of rough treatment - but I've known perfectly well behaved dogs that have been very uneasy around kids and a dog that feels threatened is likely to behave aggressively in defence.
If the dog is usually fine, then I'd say his reaction was a warning one, but I entirely understand your concerns.
I do so agree with you, Fran. It seems a sign of the times that children have to be educated more and extensively about those things that seemed to come natural for a few generations back. I am surprised at how ignorant children can be for lack of basic "Childhood Training". City children being surprised to find out where milk comes from, that tethered and strange dogs should be left alone or approached with caution, if at all. And, foremost, that property that isn't yours shouldn't be invaded by you.
Being on a camping site is in a way a public affair but if you rent the pitch you have the frugal use of it and can deny another access. I have never met a camping site owner that hasn't asked me permission to enter "my" pitch for a natter or to see my tent or talk to me about anything. So, why should I condone children putting themselves in harms way because they're not educated and rude enough not to respect my paid for personal space and ask for their ball back or at least give me a chance to watch my dog when they get their ball.
If anything, they should be taught that life is a two way street and I understand playing children on a camping site need a bit of freedom and leeway and all that. But not at the expense of other people or -heaven forbid- their own limbs because of my protective dog.
I will certainly make them understand it is not done to just barge in between my chairs and table and what not to get their ball. What if they knock over a boiling pot of tea and scald themselves? My fault, too?
I agree completely!! It really gets my goat when kids come bowling over and start fussing Stan like he's a teddy. Luckily he is a big softie but I still always tell them that while he is fine others dogs may not be and they should always ask before approaching a dog. If their parents aren't going to educate them someone has to. I have kids and a boxer and nothing annoys me more than the attitude from parents that they are 'only kids'. Yes and you are the one who is supposed to be supervising them and teaching them. Nobody wants to take responsibility and it winds me up!!! I expect the same manners off other children that I expect off my own!
your dog did exactly what he is suposed to do. I wouldn't muzzle him but I wouldn't leave him outside unsupervised either.
I have a border collie who came with quite a few anxiety issues. This included guarding me, his food and territory. He went for any dog or person that came near us. It was so bad that I thought I was going to have to take him back to the rescue centre. However I found some obedience classes run by a dog behaviourist and after some hard work he started settling down. We now do agility together and he's turned into a really friendly dog who will go to anybody for a cuddle. However I know some of those issues are still there in the back of his mind so I supervise him very closely around people and dogs. I've learnt to read his body language and as soon as I spot the danger signs I whisk him away before it develops into anything further.
Luckily where I live most of the kids do ask before approaching Casper. The standard approach round here is "does your dog bite". My reply is always "yes all dogs bite. If you want to stroke him I'll show you the right way to do it". I then get Casper to sit. I give them a dog treat to give him(I always carry a portion of his dried food in my pocket to use as treats when training). I get the child to hold the treat out on the flat palm of their hand. Once he's took it and knows they are friendly I allow them to stroke him but if it's a child he doesn't know never to cuddle him as any arms wrapped round the head can be interpreted as a threat by the dog. If it's a child he knows I will allow them to cuddle his body as long as they don't crowd him. He loves the attention and is now getting used to it. Luckily the kids we bump into round here do seem quite keen to learn and the ones we meet regularly understand the importance of going at Caspers pace, not theirs.
The first time I took him camping I was quite nervous about how he would cope. I managed to get a corner site and used my windbreak to make an enclosure to stop him worrying about everyone going past. He behaved really well but no way would I leave him tethered outside without us being there just in case
Post last edited on 11/08/2012 07:57:17
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
Agree with all comments but in this day and age dog owners will have to be careful especially where people can access pitches, doesn't matter if you think its your pitch and no one will come on to it.
Kids will run and pick the ball up even if they are aware of things that dogs bite, they don't think and analyse the situation the way an adult does. We always tell our child to ask permission first before petting a dog but then what about those owners who think its fine to let their pets run amok
Also hope your insured in case the dog does bite someone!
Quote: Originally posted by alibali65 on 11/8/2012
Agree with all comments but in this day and age dog owners will have to be careful especially where people can access pitches, doesn't matter if you think its your pitch and no one will come on to it.
Kids will run and pick the ball up even if they are aware of things that dogs bite, they don't think and analyse the situation the way an adult does. We always tell our child to ask permission first before petting a dog but then what about those owners who think its fine to let their pets run amok
Also hope your insured in case the dog does bite someone!
I'm sorry but you're taking it all out of proportion, now. I am insured and very well, thank you. But I won't tolerate your Dahlink Children running amok around the pitch I rented or anywhere near my tethered dog without me being there to warn them off. If they do get nipped because of their own fault, I can't see how I should have prevented a non-educated child from being nipped without physically removing it from my pitch which, would probably provoke the "Don't-You-Go-And-Touch-My-Precious-Golden-Child" attitude in some parents.
By the way. I do have children and have brought them up to respect other people's private space and leave dogs alone and ask if they want of need something. So, it can be done...
The possibility of children running onto our pitch is one reason why we put up a windbreak to make a quiet area for our dog. That way, we can control who comes in and strokes her. She is very friendly but when they are startled or rushed at by a stranger, any dog can get nervous.
Just say, if my DS ran onto someones pitch after a straying ball, goes near a tethered dog. If my son get's bitten by a tethered dog, or strokes a dog without asking and again gets bitten. It would be my DS fault not the dog's, my son should have known better.
heath63
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
I wonder who has to take responsibility for a stray ball punctured by a dog on its pitch. Our present dogs are not destructive and are pretty good when told "leave it", but one of my old dogs would pounce so joyfully onto footballs that they would often accidentally pop. The little lad next door at home lost countless balls when they came over the fence until I managed to teach the dogs to handle balls gently.
Bosley used to protect the tent from other dogs, any mutt walked past and he'd be out there woofing away at it but this year he's calmed right down. Kids love him and he quite happily allows them to stroke him and pet him, if they start going a bit OTT with the affection he just takes himself away.
However, if a child (or adult) ran in unannounced and startled him and then got bitten then tough, the dog is always tethered when outside or inside with teh door open. If you haven't got the sense to realise that you are on his territory and that he might defend it then you have no one but yourself (or your parents) to blame. Sure, there are circumstances that can't be condoned but a lot of the time a friendly dog won't lash out unless provoked into it.
------------- Coming soon to a campsite near you, Jake, Mrs Jake, Little legs, Bosdog the Doodle and Olly the Cavachon.
2014:
August: Scarborough, High Yedmandale. Not tenting though, using one of their lovely holiday homes!
Thanks for all the replies, its reassuring that the general opinion wasnt "shoot the dog" lol
I do have insurance, and hope that I wont need it anytime soon.
Thinking more about it, my dog definitely sees me as pack leader and is always at my feet so maybe as I was busy doing something else at the rear of the pitch and not guarding the territory he took over my role.
In future he'll be tethered more to the rear of the pitch and hopefully this will prevent any repeat of his out of character behaviour!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Does your dog guard your pitch? (
Topic Closed)
