Out-of-control Kid

This is a Corgi right?
 
I think you should take some time and really get him used to being hovered over to some extent. If for no other reason than...he is a Corgi...he is extremely low to the ground, and it will be VERY hard for adults and children to NOT be "over him" at some point. I'd avoid picking him up overmuch if that happens often and work on strangers treating him and yes, kneeling...but even a kneeling person can hover over a short legged dog.
 
I have been around Corgi's at shows and they are ALWAYS looking up smiling, and waiting for you to give them something to eat lol! They are quite used to judges and others standing over them and looking at them and even leaning down to check their muzzles etc. Some even sit up and beg or jump on you (arg)....this is adults and kids. They are also quite used to standing in the middle of a bunch of people and they never seem to feel intimidated by the sea of legs and knees lmao...(I would be!)
 
So....fear periods are real and nothing major needs to be done then...but afterwards...I think really working on him seeing ALL people as potential treat and pat givers could really help. It would be a shame if he got that small or short dog phobia where they think they need to nip first and ask questions later, and are uber sensitive to things taller than themselves (which is just about everyone! lol).

I just want to start off by saying Cheetah I don't think you did anything wrong and I hope I'm not coming off as judgemental... this is definitely not directed toward you specifically. But lately it seems like there are so many threads being started to complain about the many ways other people (or kids or dogs) have wronged us and our animals. I understand that it's mostly just venting, and also I concede that most of the complaints are completely valid. But, to steal a phrase from Dr. Phil, you can be right or you can be happy... I am making more of an effort to be happy instead of right in my own life, and I think sometimes I am letting that overshadow my ability to empathize with these kinds of threads.
 
Since Russell was my first dog, getting him catapulted me into a world that was to new me, the "dog world" and all its friendly cozy welcoming aspects as well as the unfortunate downsides - the judgements, the squabbles, and sometimes for me the persecution complex. There was a while where I was going to the dog park almost every day and yet coming home every day obsessing or fuming over some little stupid throwaway comment someone made, or something someone did - sometimes not even to my dog - until I was at the point where I could hear myself just being so negative and I had to decide to let it go. Owning a dog, there are myriad opportunities to feel like the world is against you and your dog or ruining some aspect of your dog's training or temperament - hell, my roommate pretty much ruined my dog's ability to play fetch because every time my dog has a ball in his mouth roommate rips it out and throws it across the room - but sometimes you have to roll with the punches, or be endlessly aggravated, and risk letting your dog become the epicenter of life's frustrations rather than life's joys.
[sm=soap%20box.gif]Sorry Cheetah to make your thread my little platform....

There is no way you did anything wrong.  That mother should be ashamed of herself!! 

When my nieces (9 and 10) first met Charlie I told them that at any time they started to act a little agressive, etc. they were going to have to leave him alone.  At one point in the party, Charlie was in his crate trying to take a nap and my niece Katie went over to watch/fuss over him, my sister immediately repremanded her and told her that Charlie's crate was his bed and that she should be no where near it unless Aunite Lisa (that's me) said it was OK.  Ever since then, they have been great when ever they are around him (asking if they can pet, walk him, give him a treat, etc.) because they know that playing with Charlie is a privledge, not a right.  My DH was a little worried about them getting along with Charlie (i.e. not getting too rough and smothering him), but as you can see below, they now get along perfectly!!!  I just wish we lived closer so they could see him all of the time!

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

This is a Corgi right?
 
I think you should take some time and really get him used to being hovered over to some extent. If for no other reason than...he is a Corgi...he is extremely low to the ground, and it will be VERY hard for adults and children to NOT be "over him" at some point. I'd avoid picking him up overmuch if that happens often and work on strangers treating him and yes, kneeling...but even a kneeling person can hover over a short legged dog.
 
I have been around Corgi's at shows and they are ALWAYS looking up smiling, and waiting for you to give them something to eat lol! They are quite used to judges and others standing over them and looking at them and even leaning down to check their muzzles etc. Some even sit up and beg or jump on you (arg)....this is adults and kids. They are also quite used to standing in the middle of a bunch of people and they never seem to feel intimidated by the sea of legs and knees lmao...(I would be!)
 
So....fear periods are real and nothing major needs to be done then...but afterwards...I think really working on him seeing ALL people as potential treat and pat givers could really help. It would be a shame if he got that small or short dog phobia where they think they need to nip first and ask questions later, and are uber sensitive to things taller than themselves (which is just about everyone! lol).

He's only been uncomfortable with 1 or 2 people leaning over him since I've had him, one being the little girl this weekend. All other times he's completely comfortable with even strangers at the pet store bending over and petting him. I hardly ever pick him up over people (unless it's REALLY hot outside and the parking lot is too hot for him to walk on, or if I'm taking him downstairs, or putting him in the car or on a table). But in that case, I'm sorry but the girl would just not quit so it was kindof a last resort thing. He has been worked with and I'll continue working with him. >^^;<

This post is probably going to make me pretty unpopular but I've really been thinking this lately.  I mean no offense to anybody...

When I go out with my dog I just assume that children will run up and pet my dog.  No, I don't think children should run up to strange dogs and pet them.  Of course they should ask first.  But I understand that that will not always happen.  It's just a given in any public situation and I accept that.  I take the opportunity to teach the children who are not petting the dog right the correct way of petting.  It usually goes over very well, the kids like learning how the doggie likes to be petted.  I feel that if your dog cannot handle these situations, they should not be put into them. If I felt that my dog was capable of biting in a common situation like this, then I just wouldn't take her there. Just my [sm=2cents.gif].

Sure, I'll just lock him away from public so he'll never have to experience it. But that what happens if I DO have to take him someplace? >O.o<

I already said that he is USUALLY comfortable in situtions such as this, that he loves MOST people AND children, and also that he is going through a fear stage right now. I ALSO said that I'm going to find some well-behaved children just to make SURE that his one bad experience with that little girl isn't imprinted on him. He's a 7-month-old puppy, and he still needs work. Just because there was one setback, it doesn't mean I'm going to put him in a bubble for the rest of his life. It just means I'll need to work with him more. >9.9<

I was speaking more generally sorry astaracheetah.

In your specific case I think you're doing a good job training the pup.  Practicing at home with well trained kids is totally the way to go.  The only suggestion I have specifically for your case is that you could have turned the situation into a learning experience for the little girl.  Rather than backing away and panicking you could have taken the little girl's hand and showed her how to pet your dog.  "See?  Nice and soft, doggies like it when you pet them nice and soft".  It almost always works for me.

Rock on, Anne. I'm with you on that. I would have left the party.

The nicest thing I can say is that I disagree with your opinion.
 

I did try to leave the party... the girl followed me, and the mother just stood there... >X.x;< She was running circles around me, jumping in, poking him, running away, running back, smacking him and running out of reach... it was totally out of control. I don't think I could've grabbed her if I had the guts to do so... There was no way I could've showed her how to properly pet the dog when she was going nuts, and her mother was not even near us at that point.

That said, yes, I've been able to show little children how to pet both my dogs with success, and I also carry treats in my pocket at all times, and I've had kids give them treats. This was just not one of those times. >@_@<

I feel that if your dog cannot handle these situations, they should not be put into them.

The problem here is that the only way to teach your dog TO handle these situations is to get out and socialize your dog and give your dog a chance to get comfortable in these situations.

One of the toughest things I ever did with Jessie during the early Cujo days when she disliked and distrusted pretty much everyone was forcing myself to take her places, when all I wanted to do was hide her in the house and never let anyone near her or her near anyone so nothing bad could happen.

Don't get me wrong, I kept her on a short leash and I watched her like a hawk. But I took her EVERYWHERE, not despite the fact that she didn't much like people, but BECAUSE of it. First we got the obedience really strong, but then a big part of her training was going to street fairs, shopping centers, banks, parks, public places with dogs and people and even kids. I constantly exposed her to places and people, watching her carefully but working to help her develop a comfort level in myriad settings.

And today, she's a therapy dog. She sociable, confident, happy and good with people.

By contrast, I know a guy at work who had a similar situation with his dog, same breed, same issues, but he agreed with your sentiments. So he never took the dog anywhere. He had a backyard BBQ last week, and the dog was on a leash the whole time, even outside, and no one could get near him because he snarled and snapped at everyone. When I saw him, all I could think was, "This is how Jessie would have turned out if I hadn't forced myself to take her everywhere, worked with her, socialized and trained her. This is the same dog, only whose owner made different choices."

And I came home from the party so grateful that I had done what I'd done with Jess.

Yes, you have to be extremely careful. You have to be able to think and move quickly, and be rude if required. But to me, doing this often means giving your dog a very special gift -- teaching him/her to be sociable and good with people so he/she can experience so much more of life, spend more time with you, etc.

It's not that I don't understand your sentiments or take the safety issues seriously, but I also feel like you cripple your dog by not socializing it -- and it's even MORE important to do this is the dog has some issues.

Jan

But lately it seems like there are so many threads being started to complain about the many ways other people (or kids or dogs) have wronged us and our animals. I understand that it's mostly just venting, and also I concede that most of the complaints are completely valid. But, to steal a phrase from Dr. Phil, you can be right or you can be happy... I am making more of an effort to be happy...

Nothing wrong with this. There are always going to be things that happen that are unfair or unpleasant r just annoying, and usually, it's healthier to let them go rather than to dwell on them. No one's perfect, next week you might be the imperfect one, so why not get some good karma in advance by letting things go?

BUT, you do need to separate the merely annoying from the truly dangerous.

Situations that can provoke a dog bite are dangerous -- for the person being bitten, for the dog, who could get PTS even if it wasn't his fault, for the owner, who can lose her home in a lawsuit. I think this is why some of us get more intense about these types of situations. We perceive them as potentially life and death for our fur buddies.

As for the posts, well, I think they provide a learning tool for us. In this case, the original poster said things happened very fast, and she didn't have time to prepare. But now, she (and others who've read these posts) might be able to use this to pre-plan for next time so she won't get taken by surprise, and will be better able to protect her dog from a bad situation and a child from potentially getting bitten,

And that alone makes all these posts worthwhile, IMO.

Jan

I am really sorry about your dog getting scared, it's funny that you need a license to fish, hunt, have a dog, but I really think that some people should have to get one for raising children.
When I was a kid if I was acting stupid and got bit by a dog or something else, my father would have just said " thats what you get, leave him alone now"
 
Just be happy it wasn't a kid like this!! Actually if my boys acted like this I would have LET your dog eat him, actually I probably would have paid you!
 
[linkhttp://www.fugly.com/videos/3293/super_brat_2.html]http://www.fugly.com/videos/3293/super_brat_2.html[/link]

ORIGINAL: HKdog
[linkhttp://www.fugly.com/videos/3293/super_brat_2.html]http://www.fugly.com/videos/3293/super_brat_2.html[/link]

I don't have kids but that was just awful. I had no clue what they were saying but that kid needed something and thoes parents just had no clue what to do. Would never let my dog aanywhere near a child like that.

Oh my god... I knew a kid like that... my best friend's little brother.  They let him do whatever he wanted up until he was about 4... by then it was too late... >@_@<