Bus stop and dogs

[CathrynRose]

I am a bit stunned by your trainer's suggestion for you to take a dog that is known for not being very well leash trained and easily stimulated to be worked with around a large mass of children. Honestly that would be the last crowded place I'd take a dog that was not already trained and proven on behavior. IMO children, are not near as behaved or well mannered as my dog in general. I would feel very uncomfortable having a dog that I hadn't completed training with being around a large group of them. I would be worried about a group running up and one reaching to pet before I could say no. I would think a trainer would suggest a crowded but better controlled environment like a park, pet food store or just a popular walking path. Someplace you can stay back but still be a part of the crowd action. Of course I don't know what your school area is like or the kids. I'm simply thinking of my local school. When it lets out it's like a hoard of angry bees scattering everywhere all at once.

We have to, though. As long as the dog isn't aggressive - which both her dog, and my Hazel are not - they have to get used to being around people and not thinking they can jump on everyone, and get so stinking excited. (I'm assuming this is probably her doggie's issue, too )

If the dog is on a leash, we can still control them. It's just stopping them from getting over stimulated from seeing people - "Oooo! More friends!!!!"

My Hazel doesn't need to be in a park, a pet store or a walking path. She's fine there. It's lots of people that makes her happy (and bouncy!). KWIM?

 

[Jey12]

We have to, though. As long as the dog isn't aggressive - which both her dog, and my Hazel are not - they have to get used to being around people and not thinking they can jump on everyone, and get so stinking excited. (I'm assuming this is probably her doggie's issue, too )

If the dog is on a leash, we can still control them. It's just stopping them from getting over stimulated from seeing people - "Oooo! More friends!!!!"

My Hazel doesn't need to be in a park, a pet store or a walking path. She's fine there. It's lots of people that makes her happy (and bouncy!). KWIM?

I do understand what you're saying. So many times I have had a child run up out of nowhere and reach out to my dog to pet her. Sometimes while I'm keeping an eye on the child in front of me another one comes in from behind the dog. I swear sometimes kids multipy like a wet gremlin. I wasn't thinking the dog was aggressive or anything. Just your normal big lug of happiness. In my mind I am seeing the "gremlin" kids coming out of nowhere and happy dog with mouth open, tongue hanging out, excited as they can be at all of the attention. Then they turn their head and a friendly hand or arm is grazed by a tooth, leaving a visible scratch. Next thing you know kid flips out saying the dog bit me and the parent does the same in turn.

Actually I wasn't worried for the safety of the kids, but more so of the dog. All it takes is one scratch reported as a bite, especially with a large breed dog, and it's downhill from there. That's where my thought process was going with a hyper dog learning to be calm and accept strangers around school kids.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Something like the owner below describes is fine (and I see many other equally responsible owners on this thread). An out of control dog like you describe is NOT fine. I also think a well behaved and controlled dog is still not okay if it is brought right to the stop area and stays there waiting on the bus (walking at a normal pace past is okay). At a park or other public pace a frightened child has the option to go off away from the dog if needed. A child must remain at the bus stop though--so the owner should stay back 20 or more feet to give the kids a "safe" place to wait. A frightened child may not tell you they are frightened either--for fear of being teased so I do not think it is okay to assume that no one is.

I think there are 2 different issues here. One is whether one brings one's dog to the bus stop, and the other is whether one controls one's dog in public.

I bring my dog when I walk my son to the bus in the morning. I don't do this everyday because my son's old enough to walk by himself, but about 80% of the time we head out at the same time and it's nice to walk together and talk a little, and then I go back, put the dog away and head out to work. Why do I do this? Well, because my mornings are already tight, and the idea of walking out with my son, going back the 4 flights of stairs to my apartment, getting the dog, and going out AGAIN so the dog can pee (having already been out with him once, because he seems to need to go to the bathroom before and after breakfast) would be the straw the broke the schedule's back. I'm already functioning on about 6 hours of sleep, so the idea of adding 20 minutes to the schedule does not appeal.

However, my dog is not allowed to jump on strangers, or to crowd up to a bus door, or to be near people who are clearly afraid. Since DS is in middle school, I usually don't even cross the last street to the stop, but if he were in say Kindergarten, and I needed to be on the same side of the street, we'd hold back so the dog wasn't in the group of children, and let my child come to me. Undoubtedly many children would come over and say hi to my cute dog (who would be sitting if they pet him, no jumping on children!) but any who were afraid would have plenty of opportunity to stay away.

I agree with you that this person is not doing the right thing, but the bigger issues seems to me to be that they aren't controlling their dog in public. I'm betting that there are issues with this dog in lots of settings, not just the bus stop.

 

[Mermaid02]

First, if the dog is jumping it is not well behaved or trained. Second, I wouldn't put my dog in that situation, it's asking for trouble. Kids running around, laughing usually get a dog excited.

 

[dogluva]

Our school bus stop has about 25 kids getting on at the stop. There is one special needs child as well. Why do people bring dogs to the bus stop? One neighbor insists on bringing her big dog (pit bull) to the bus stop every day and the special needs girl is clearly upset and afraid. And her aid that meets her at the bus is dressed all nicely and this dog always jumps on her.

Would you continue to bring your dog? Personally, I have 2 dogs and never bring them to the bus. It's chaos there and I worry about the dogs as well as the kids.

I used to walk my dogs and kids to the bus stop. I had no time to do it any othe way. However, I stood on the other side of the street away from the kids. I know one of the families hates dogs (really hates dogs) so I didn't want any trouble. I would never bring them over to the kids and stand there. one is a barker (beagle) and that can be annoying.

My husband know walks them in the morning so I no longer have to bring them.

 

[LovableGluttons]

I used to walk my dogs to the bus stop on the rare occasion I was off. I don't let people touch my dogs, even just to pet them. I want walks with my dogs to be relaxing, no worries about people being frightened, lawsuits, or anything else.
Now, at the dog park? It is a free for all. A big group of people who love dogs gather there. There are even signs posted that non dog lovers are banned.

I have a public place I can bring my dogs to that is safe for them and for me. I can control my dogs, but people who won't control their children are my problem.

If I tell you not to touch my dogs, don't touch my dogs. My kids knew not to touch people's dogs at an early age.

My dogs have not bitten anyone. Our newspaper boy used to tease my family's dog when I was a kid. This was almost thirty years ago. One day, the kid came into our home to collect payment. Our dog bit him on the ankle. The parents of the kids tried to make trouble, but the kid told the police about taunting our dog every day for months prior to the bite.

We would be asleep when the paper was delivered, our dog didn't bark when it happened.

 

[onelilspark]

Considering a lot of people here claim they have good dogs (and if you ask this owner, I'm sure they'll claim their dog is good too.) Has anyone approached the owner and said, "you know, it seems to me that this girl is afraid of your dog, would you mind keeping him away from the bus stop?" The owner might not have noticed that the girl is afraid.

 

[tinkermom23]

I see nothing wrong with a well behaved dog at a bus stop.

But this isn't a well-behaved dog! This dog is jumping on people and scaring kids at the bus stop. The kids cannot leave the situation, they must be there for the bus. The dog should be back, away from the mass of people, and IF someone wants to interact with the dog, they can come back and ask permission.

Why do some dog owners assume that because they have a cute, lovable, friendly pet, that everyone wants to interact with it! Even if it is as perfect as Lassie, I don't necessarily want it near me.

 

[jrmasm]

But this isn't a well-behaved dog! This dog is jumping on people and scaring kids at the bus stop. The kids cannot leave the situation, they must be there for the bus. The dog should be back, away from the mass of people, and IF someone wants to interact with the dog, they can come back and ask permission.

Why do some dog owners assume that because they have a cute, lovable, friendly pet, that everyone wants to interact with it! Even if it is as perfect as Lassie, I don't necessarily want it near me.

I never said it was. I was responding to later comments along the the lines of 'OMG! Dogs should never be at the bus stop!!!!' I think those comments are ridiculous.

 

[luvmy3]

I never said it was. I was responding to later comments along the the lines of 'OMG! Dogs should never be at the bus stop!!!!' I think those comments are ridiculous.

I don't think those comments are ridiculous. Like someone pointed out, those kids have to be there, dogs don't need to be. If you bring your dog to just sit there, whats the difference if you keep it tied up at home while you're there? I don't think that line of thinking is ridiculous, especially given some of the examples of what can happen when a "well behaved" dog is there.

 

[jrmasm]

I don't think those comments are ridiculous. Like someone pointed out, those kids have to be there, dogs don't need to be. If you bring your dog to just sit there, whats the difference if you keep it tied up at home while you're there? I don't think that line of thinking is ridiculous, especially given some of the examples of what can happen when a "well behaved" dog is there.

What's difference? The dog gets to go for a walk. Really? You think that's the same thing as being in the house?

I do agree that some people are delusional when it comes to their dogs manners but let's not forget that there are also just as many people that never want to see a dog in public ever. And for every jumping dog, there is a child that was not taught how to correctly approach the owner of a dog that they wish to meet.

 

[luvmy3]

What's difference? The dog gets to go for a walk. Really? You think that's the same thing as being in the house?

I do agree that some people are delusional when it comes to their dogs manners but let's not forget that there are also just as many people that never want to see a dog in public ever. And for every jumping dog, there is a child that was not taught how to correctly approach the owner of a dog that they wish to meet.

So you can't walk your dog after the bus comes? You can't walk your dog while the kids are getting ready to go to the bus stop? If you re-read my post I said whats the difference between making your dog SIT at the bus stop and keeping it at home while you are there. I manage to walk my dog every morning and yet still not have to take her to the bus stop to do it. Do you really think taking your dog to a bus stop and making it sit there still doing nothing and walking a dog is the same thing If so, I guess we have a totally differentr definition of a dog walk


ETA Your second part of the post is exactly why its not ridiculous for some to think a dog doesn't belong at a bus stop. You never know what can happen, whether its initiated by a misbehaving dog or child, why take the chance of anything at all then.
FTR, I wouldn't have a problem bringing my dog, however at this point she is not trained well enough to go. I am just saying that its not ridiculous for people to think dogs don't belong there. If anyone asked me not to, because their kid was scared, or the parent was uncomfortable then I'd leave her home, its just common courtesy.

 

[jrmasm]

So you can't walk your dog after the bus comes? You can't walk your dog while the kids are getting ready to go to the bus stop? If you re-read my post I said whats the difference between making your dog SIT at the bus stop and keeping it at home while you are there. I manage to walk my dog every morning and yet still not have to take her to the bus stop to do it. Do you really think taking your dog to a bus stop and making it sit there still doing nothing and walking a dog is the same thing If so, I guess we have a totally differentr definition of a dog walk

So not the point and you know it. You can walk your dog 6 miles a day and most dogs would still prefer to take a stroll to the bus stop than sit at home by themselves.

A dog that is sitting quietly at the bus stop (I would stand away from the group) is not harming anyone.

 

[luvmy3]

So not the point and you know it. You can walk your dog 6 miles a day and most dogs would still prefer to take a stroll to the bus stop than sit at home by themselves.

A dog that is sitting quietly at the bus stop (I would stand away from the group) is not harming anyone.

No, thats exactly the point. A dog does not need to go for a walk to the bus stop, they have other options. A child needs to be there. I guess I'm one of those people who don't feel my dog's feelings trump a human being's

 

[jrmasm]

So you can't walk your dog after the bus comes? You can't walk your dog while the kids are getting ready to go to the bus stop? If you re-read my post I said whats the difference between making your dog SIT at the bus stop and keeping it at home while you are there. I manage to walk my dog every morning and yet still not have to take her to the bus stop to do it.* Do you really think taking your dog to a bus stop and making it sit there still doing nothing and walking a dog is the same thing If so, I guess we have a totally differentr definition of a dog walk FTR, I wouldn't have a problem bringing my ETA Your second part of the post is exactly why its not ridiculous for some to think a dog doesn't belong at a bus stop. You never know what can happen, whether its initiated by a misbehaving dog or child, why take the chance of anything at all then.dog, however at this point she is not trained well enough to go. I am just saying that its not ridiculous for people to think dogs don't belong there. If anyone asked me not to, because their kid was scared, or the parent was uncomfortable then I'd leave her home, its just common courtesy.

That is why I would stand away from the group. I know there are plenty of people that don't teach their kids appropriate and safe behavior around dogs. If I am standing back ten feet I can control the interaction.

Regarding fearful children, I do not think it would be unreasonable for a parent to request that a dog not come to the bus stop if it is jumping on people. But a dog that is sitting quietly away from the children? I do not think that would be a reasonable request. The fact is that you will encounter dogs in public. I think I would be better for a fearful child to experience (even from a far) a well behaved dog than to attempt to shield them from all dogs.

 

[jrmasm]

No, thats exactly the point. A dog does not need to go for a walk to the bus stop, they have other options. A child needs to be there. I guess I'm one of those people who don't feel my dog's feelings trump a human being's

I would agree with you if we were talking about someone's home. A public area? Not so much. But if my dogs didn't behave, they wouldn't be out in public.

 

[disneyfans95]

We don't walk the kids all the time to the bus stop(s) but when we do, we bring our chocolate lab.

Sorry, but nobody is going to tell me I can't walk my dog. He is on a leash and controlled. Of course we use common sense and we saw a child afraid we would not walk to the dog to them or anything.

But we sure walk all over the neighborhood with the dog on a leash.

 

[MichelleVW]

I would agree with you if we were talking about someone's home. A public area? Not so much. But if my dogs didn't behave, they wouldn't be out in public.

Totally agree. Like I said before, if someone, child included couldn't handle my dog sitting nicely on a leash ten feet away from them, they really need some help with dealing with public situations.

 

[luvmy3]

I would agree with you if we were talking about someone's home. A public area? Not so much. But if my dogs didn't behave, they wouldn't be out in public.

I guess thats the difference between people, no matter how well behaved my dog is, I don't feel her feelings, or my own feelings of what my rights are, are more important than the feelings of a scared child. Now if we were talking about a public park that would be one thing, but we are talking about a school bus stop, and as far as I'm concerned when kids are there waiting for transportation it ceases to be "public" for that brief period in the morning and afternoon. Its all what is seen as ridiculous and unreasonable, and obviously we differ.

 

[mhsjax]

We don't walk the kids all the time to the bus stop(s) but when we do, we bring our chocolate lab.

Sorry, but nobody is going to tell me I can't walk my dog. He is on a leash and controlled. Of course we use common sense and we saw a child afraid we would not walk to the dog to them or anything.

But we sure walk all over the neighborhood with the dog on a leash.

I am sorry, but walking a dog isn't the same as walking him to a bus stop. As I said we frequently take our dogs to the bus stop but if anyone of the kids had a problem, at least our neighborhood is considerate enough to walk the dog later or somewhere else. Your need to walk to dog that little distance to the bus stop does not trump a child being afraid of dogs. That is rude and selfish as far as I am concerned. The dog doesn't have to walk then or that way. Sure they like to go, but so what. I bet some kids would like it if the dogs didn't come. They have to be there to catch the bus, Dogs, last time I checked didn't ride busses to school.

I can't believe the attitudes here. We aren't talking about walking a dog around a neighborhood, we are talking about walking a dog TO a bus stop and then having the dog sit there. BIG DIFFERENCE.