[kblinkgirlie182]

I was on my way out of the house today with Buddy when some neighborhood kids were walking by and made a big deal about Buddy. He seemed okay until they started coming closer to him and he started to growl a little at them. I told him to stop and he stood calmly after that while the kids let him sniff them and try to pet him.

I don't know what it is with him and kids. He's been around other kids before at the park and he LOVES children who have dogs. If you are a kid without one, Buddy does not want to be your friend. I'm not sure what it is.

He didn't seem to like kids when we lived in our apartment and they were always around riding their scooters and bikes..

Anyone have a dog like this?

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I have the opposite problem in that my boys love kids TOO much. I have to work hard to keep them from knocking the little ones on their butts and licking their faces. It frightens many kids and sends others into uncontrollable laughter. The only thing I could suggest is slowly socialize Buddy to young kids by taking him near a playground and over several weeks let him get closer and closer to the children.

 

[Mssjnnfer]

I have the opposite problem in that my boys love kids TOO much. I have to work hard to keep them from knocking the little ones on their butts and licking their faces. It frightens many kids and sends others into uncontrollable laughter. The only thing I could suggest is slowly socialize Buddy to young kids by taking him near a playground and over several weeks let him get closer and closer to the children.

I have the exact. same. problem.

I'm pretty sure I know what goes through their furry little heads when they spot a kid... "HEY, IT'S A MY-SIZE HOOMAN! LET'S GET 'EM!!"

 

[kblinkgirlie182]

Geez I wish Buddy loved kids. We have been walking lately and there are always kids in the park we go to. He just walks by them until they show interest in him and then he gets freaked out

 

[serenity]

Kaylee loves to play with kids, she just doesn't realize she's playing too rough. She knocks them over and jumps all over them because that's how she plays with my son (and he loves it) so I usually tell kids to stay back, especially if I need her to focus on going potty, otherwise I'll never get her to go. She has a very one track mind.

 

[jcasks]

Tucker loves kids -- I would say he is like some of the others on this forum in the fact that he gets too excited that they are on 'his level'. I will say however that when they are toddlers its almost like he knows they are too little to be rough with, but he will lick them to pieces.

 

[laprincessa]

Max loves kids, a fault I've chosen to forgive. (I'm not a kid lover, meself)
He's usually quite gentle with them, unless they get carrying on and then he joins in happily.

 

[kblinkgirlie182]

Geez I feel like I have a weirdo dog.

 

[Bock]

Tysen can take'em or leave'em. He likes to get real close and smell them, but after that it's whatever to him.

He is calm and will let kids pet (pat) him, but he can just as soon go to his crate and sleep while there are kids around.

 

[cubbysan]

If Brady sees a toddler, he flattens himself one the ground so the child can play with him.

With my own kids, he treats them as if they are his litter mates.

 

[mdoats]

The neighborhood kids went nuts over Rookie when he was a puppy. Pretty much every kid in the neighborhood stopped by to play with him at one point or another. So he learned to love kids at a very early age. When he's greeted by one of the kids, he wags his tail so hard he looks like he's going to split in half.

If you want him to be friendlier towards kids, give the kids treats to give to Buddy. They can just throw the treats to Buddy or on the ground near him if you're concerned about him getting too close to the kids. Enough treats from the kids and he'll change his mind about them!

 

[GoldenJoy]

I just read a fabulous chapter in a dog communication book about how kids send ALL the wrong messages to most dogs! It was an eye opening read. The author asserted that in his studies, he found that most children, even ones who are "good with dogs," approach a dog

1) with outstretched arms (threat)
2) with outstretched fingers (threat)
3) head on (threat)
4) making eye contact (threat)
4) smiling and yapping (showing teeth, but not in an appeasing way)
5) with repeated "pull backs" - yanking their fingers, heads, bodies back at the lightest movement from the dog (elicits prey response)

I can't think of the others, but it was a great read. Interestingly, the author's studies showed that many children who have atypical social/intellectual skills (children with autism, down's syndrome, etc.) are often well received by dogs because they do the OPPOSITE things when they meet a dog - let the dog come to them, don't stare, don't show teeth, etc.

It reminded me of my nephew, who is partially deaf and has autism, and how he interacts with dogs - he elicits a calm, respectful response from most dogs because he doesn't treat them in the "usual" kid ways.

 

[cinnamonteal]

Caleb loves kids. But my childhood friend had a golden who didn't like little kids. She would growl and bark at them. She was fine with older kids and kids in the family, but there was something about the little ones that didn't sit right with her.

 

[goldengirl09]

That's so cute that Brady lays down for little kids.

And a very interesting point that autistic kids interact differently with dogs. I'd love to eventually do therapy work with kids, especially autistic kids. Harvey has been with adults with down syndrome and did great with them.

He loves kids but is too wild with them. If they are at the dogpark, we have to leave because he will jump on them and nip at their clothes. I'm really hoping he grows out of it SOON. In the meantime, I'm just trying to socialize him in situations where I have more control.

 

[Willow52]

Both my goldens loved kids, but both were raised with kids, Maggie with our daughter, Hank with our granddaughter. I'm sure just the constant exposure made the difference.
I think the idea of having kids give Buddy treats is great idea.

 

[Nicole74]

I have 3 girls of my own and their friends are over almost daily. Bailey loves to jump up on them and say hello with her tail non stop wagging. Usually the kids are begging me to get Bailey off of them, so they can play with my girls.lol

 

[GoldenSail]

Scout loves kids--in fact, she is attracted to them like polar magnets. I will take her on her morning walk past some kids at the bus stop and regardless of what they are doing (interested, not interested, etc) she still slowly gravitates toward them with her head and ears up in a hopeful little look. If at that point they do notice and think she is cute (laugh, call her, 'awwww') then you'd better look out! Her ears go back her tail starts wagging hard and her whole body wiggles and she wants to pull, pull, pull toward them.

Actually, she does that with people in general: bikers, seniors, joggers, kids, strollers, etc. She's quite the little flirt, but it sure makes this loose leash business hard at times!

 

[Heidi36oh]

My Crew loves kids, I actually have kids waiting for them to come to the tennis court and though balls for them.

I have a escort every time we take the dogs, at least 3 to 4 kids walk with us, same here they where raised with kids around!

 

[laprincessa]

Nothing makes me crazier than kids running up to Max with their arms out, ready to hug him. He loves it, but geesh, just because he's a Golden does not mean he loves kids and I blame parents for not teaching their kids how to approach a dog. He's big, he has teeth, he is a dog! My brother-in-law has a Golden who HATES kids!

 

[Mssjnnfer]

I totally believe that about kids (or anyone, really) with special needs. My twin brother has Prader Willi Syndrome... long story to explain it, but yeah. I have NEVER seen Mojo OR Max try to jump on Matt (my brother) ... EVER. They jump on EVERYONE. They are amazingly gentle with him.

I was somewhat worried about him meeting Max, because I saw how over-excited she got around people, and how she would jump and stuff... but I was AMAZED when Matt met her. She was so calm... amazing. Dogs are simply amazing.

OH.

And Matt is the only person that can have a plate FULL OF FOOD on his lap (free game) and the dogs won't even try to touch it. I've told him, "they will get your food, Matt..." but they haven't even tried. They will seriously sit three inches from it. No command from him or anything... ("leave it") Nothing.

I love dogs!