My husband and I own a Rat Terrier Mix. Her name is Bijou. She is 9 months old and weighs 25 pounds. I take her outside about a half dozen times a day to do her business. I also walk her once or twice a day around a nearby middle school. She genuinely likes people and most other dogs. Except really big ones. They make her feel inferior and then she likes to think that she is a 100 pound Rottweiler.
In our apartment complex I am constantly fielding questions from kids. “Can I pet him? What kind of dog is he? Does he bite?” For some reason, all kids think all dogs are male. I always say things like “Well, all dogs can bite, but she usually doesn’t. If you are nice to her, she’ll be nice to you.” I haven’t had any really problems other than an enthusiastic thumper and a girl that squealed when licked. What bothers me are the children who get mad when I say they cannot pet my dog. I will say “She doesn’t feel good.” Or “She has to go in and have her dinner now.” Or “I’m sorry, kids, I’m in a hurry.” And these little brats will either question what I say or just lunge forward and attempt to pet her anyway. I know alot of it is because children are not taught how to behave around dogs, let alone people. I just try to stay away from all the kids in general to avoid problems.
My other issue is when I am taking Bijou on her mile long walk, every child I pass will just run up at top speed, sometimes yelling or crying out. Bijou is a Rat Terrier. She was bred to chase and kill small, fast-moving things. In seven months, she has not hurt a whisker on our cat Kamilah’s head, but when presented with a running, wobbling 18 month old out in the world, on the sidewalk, I cannot be sure what she will do. And in my county, if your dog so much as thinks about biting a child, the county will kill it. I am not going to take that chance.
The rare times I see an adult accompanying the child, I will say, “Sorry, she’s not used to children.” To children, I will say, “Why don’t you just wave at her, intead of petting her.” Today I encountered a family I have seen quite a few times before. They don’t speak English, either at all or very well. When I saw those four very small children making the dash for Bijou, I just shortened her leash and moved her along, not acknowledging the children at all. They were behind us calling out what I assume translates to “doggie” or “puppy” in some European language. I just kept walking. I knew it would be too difficult to explain how to pet her and how to behave.
The lady across the street had been outside with her dachshund, watching this event transpire. After we cut a left through the school field, I dared a look back. This lady had brought her dog across the park and was letting all the brat pack pet it. I felt personally snubbed. I could hear that lady’s thoughts: “That mean girl wouldn’t let these poor children pet her dog. I will be a good person and let them pet my dog.” I could see her trying to carry on a conversation with the childrens’ father, mostly based on hand gestures, from what I could see.
I got pissed. Why is my responsibility to let every kid that we pass pet Bijou? Especially since I have to instruct or lecture every kid on correct dog petting behavior. I am wary of young children that might do something to provoke Bijou to bite. I am cautious of the fact that Bijou is a puppy and, therefore, can be unpredictable. Shouldn’t I be praised for being aware of my dog’s behavior and shortcomings, instead of being damned for not sharing my dog with the neighborhood? When did walking the dog turn into pet therapy time?
