Question to Dog Owners

[NMAmy]

What happens if the dog in question is frightened and tries to bite him? (as happened with BIL's insane dachsunds who HATED children and women with high voices, which meant I had to lower my own voice when I went to BIL's)

I'm guessing the person to whom the OP is referring doesn't own insane dachshunds and knows their dog's personality. If I had a dog that wasn't good around kids, I wouldn't be inviting 4 year olds over to meet her.

Reading this thread reminded me that when I talked to our regular dogsitter/housesitter about my upcoming vacation dates, he told me he was very excited to see Sunny. I replied that she was very excited to see him, too. He's in his mid-twenties so I'm pretty sure he realized that Sunny didn't know that he was coming but based on past visits, she'd be excited when he arrived.

 

[MissyDVC]

Good grief!

good grief from me too

 

[MichelleVW]

It's called "Making conversation with a FOUR YEAR old."

Sheesh. This ranks right up there with some of the more ridiculous things I've read on the boards.

good grief from me too

I agree with the Sheesh and the good grief!!

 

[Jex]

Why do 6ouQyou tell your kid that Santa is coming, when you know that he is not?

 

[C.Ann]

What a strange thing to be irritated by.. I'm really confused.. To answer your original question, some dogs love all kids and maybe that's why the comment was made?

 

[laurie31]

If I said this to a child, it might be as a way to let them know that the dog is friendly and will not bite.

My dogs would be THRILLED to have a 4 year old come over and play with them, and I wouldn't think twice about telling a child that the dogs will be excited to meet them. This way they are prepared for the "doggie greeting" stuff that goes on when a new person arrives. No, no jumping or licking faces allowed, but one of my dogs will be so excited to meet someone new he'll just stand there shaking. If the child already knew the dog would get excited, then I could easily explain the behavior. Otherwise a child might think the dog was frightened or upset. My dogs will also do this thing where they run circles around the house when they're excited. My kids will sometimes excite them on purpose just to watch them do it. If a kid wasn't used to dogs, he might find it intimidating, but if you know the dog's just excited to see you, then it's hilarious. They do it everytime we come home, whether we've been gone a week or just went out to get the mail. LOL

Once the dogs get over the initial excitement, they will calm down and happily play. (and if I had a more aggressive kind of dog, then I would NOT tell the child the dog would be excited, and I'd be putting the dog up before the child came over).