So...would you have said something?

[Jennasis]

I took several of my students to a horse show this past weekend (they did fabulous!), and while we had some down time, we were all sitting picnic style by the ringside enjoying the lovely weather. Next to us was a mom, her 5/6 year old son and the trainer of the mom's daughter who was off with her riding buddies.

The trainer had a sheltie with her and the boy was quite smitten with the dog and asked the trainer if he could take it for a walk. She said yes, and he took the dog away. They didn't have a leash...they were using a lead rope from a horse. A few minutes later, the trainer calls the boy over to tell him to stop bringing the dog up to "meet" the other dogs on leashes on the fairgrounds. She was worried the dogs would tussle. The boy apologized and then toodled off with the dog again. The trainer walked away to tend to her horses.

The boy returns a few minutes later with the dog...but has the lead rope slung around his neck. It was only slung around his neck once, but he was twisting it in front of himself, so that it was tightening up to his throat. I clutched the arm of the mom I was sitting and chatting with and she clutched me as we both saw him with the rope around his neck at the same time.

The boy's mom was reading a magazine. Never looked up at him (or FOR him). The boy asked his mom for something and she ignored him (never looked up, just sort of grunted at him), so he yanked the rope from around his neck and stormed off.

Whew....

A few minutes later he comes back, with the lead rope WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK several times, and is not holding the rope with his hands at all. I actually stood up and moved towards him, formulating how I was going to tell the boy to take the rope off of his neck.

I opened my mouth to say something to the kid, when he said "Mommy LOOK. This is how I walk the doggie." Holding his empty hands up to her.

The mom looked up from her magazine and said "ya'll gonna choke yourself." and then went back to reading. The kid sighed, wandered around her in circles for about 30 seconds and then unwrapped the rope and sat back down on the picnic blanket with the dog.

This happened rather quickly, and I am somewhat ashamed to say I didn't say anything. But if that dog had suddenly bolted....well, that poor boy.

What would you have done?



Point of interest, I also saw someone at this show driving their big soccer mom style SUV while holding a lead rope out the window...attached to a horse...who was trotting along side the SUV trying not to get run over. I have no idea where they were going, but I saw her drive with the horse like that up the driveway and off the show grounds (about 1/4 mile).

 

[luvmy3]

I probably would have told the boy that it wasn't a very good idea to wrap his neck up with that rope.

 

[disneydee6]

Well that kid certainly was lucky you were there! However, no parent wants to hear a stranger question their parenting skills. I think telling her that you had undone the noose he decided to put on himself two times may have let her know in a nice way that she needs to keep an eye on him, without actually telling her to do so, may have been helpful. But I don't think I would have been able to come up with an answer like that after saving him yet again, and hearing her silly remark lol. I think you did the right thing and just let it be.

 

[handinpocket]

I would have told the child it was a bad idea and could hurt him if the dog chose to run. I can see a 5 year old child not knowing any better, too bad his mother didn't catch it right off the bat.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I used to show dogs, so I've seen all kinds. From chokers around kids necks to people locking their kids in crates and X-pens to sleep. I might have said something, but more than likely ...not.

As far as the horse, do you think the horse could have been trained to walk like that? I know a lady who trained her dog to walk along side her car like that with a special device to keep him far enough away from the car to exercise him. She always did it just around parking lots, her property or fairgrounds.

 

[happygirl]

I would have said something. Sweetie, that is so dangerous, you could really get hurt bad

 

[mickeywho?]

Been there...
I've said something to a child that is doing something dangerous, sometimes to whoever is supposed to be watching and sometimes neither.

Usually, saying something to the child is your best response. It deals with the immediate danger and snaps the parent into doing something. It may be telling you to mind your own business - but at least it snaps them out of their daze.

Telling the parent will almost always just lead to a parent going on the defensive and saying "he does that all the time" etc.. Meanwhile the kid just continues the dangerous behaviour.

Doing nothing just leaves you feeling like you should have said something and wondering if that kid is okay. Not a good place to be.... (not to dig at you - I've done the same thing)

 

[Jennasis]

I used to show dogs, so I've seen all kinds. From chokers around kids necks to people locking their kids in crates and X-pens to sleep. I might have said something, but more than likely ...not.

As far as the horse, do you think the horse could have been trained to walk like that? I know a lady who trained her dog to walk along side her car like that with a special device to keep him far enough away from the car to exercise him. She always did it just around parking lots, her property or fairgrounds.

Maybe...But it's the dumbest thing I've ever seen "taught" to an animal before. And I've seen people teach them some DUMB things.

 

[MushyMushy]

Nah, I wouldn't have said anything -- it's just natural selection in action.



Totally kidding! Yes, I probably would have if the mom hadn't noticed when she did. I'm pretty good with kids (hope so since I work with troubled kids) and have yet to offend a parent.

 

[Jennasis]

Doing nothing just leaves you feeling like you should have said something and wondering if that kid is okay. Not a good place to be.... (not to dig at you - I've done the same thing)

Yeah...this is where I'm at now.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Maybe...But it's the dumbest thing I've ever seen "taught" to an animal before. And I've seen people teach them some DUMB things.

Oh I don't dispute its dumb. One spook and there could be serious consequences.

 

[locolala]

I wouldn't have said anything to the kid or the mom, but I think I would have said something to the show stewards about the woman driving while leading her horse. That would have upset me beyond belief.

 

[goofy!]

Point of interest, I also saw someone at this show driving their big soccer mom style SUV while holding a lead rope out the window...attached to a horse...who was trotting along side the SUV trying not to get run over. I have no idea where they were going, but I saw her drive with the horse like that up the driveway and off the show grounds (about 1/4 mile).

As far as the horse, do you think the horse could have been trained to walk like that? I know a lady who trained her dog to walk along side her car like that with a special device to keep him far enough away from the car to exercise him. She always did it just around parking lots, her property or fairgrounds.

Maybe...But it's the dumbest thing I've ever seen "taught" to an animal before. And I've seen people teach them some DUMB things.

Back in the dinosaur ages (30 years ago) when I used to show quarter horses, many of the trainers, including mine, would get into their duallies and trot out a horse. It was usually done if we had come from somewhere far away as it stretched them out. It was considered better than lunging as you were going in a straight line.

The horses were trained to trot next to the trucks, just like they were trained to pony. A few of the stallions weren't particularly keen on ponying, so they were muscled up trotting next to the pickup. Spooking next to a pickup is no different than holding the leadline while ponying and the horse spooks.

You could keep a steady pace trotting them for long periods, better than a treadmill

However, I never saw the driver ever holding the lead rope. It was always somebody in the passenger side of the vehicle.

 

[mickeywho?]

My neighbour got a german shepherd puppy last spring. He trained this puppy to chase him around the street while he rode his harley (no leash at all). The first time it happened everyone laughed and said how cute it was. The second time a couple people thought it seemed kind of dangerous. After a few times a couple of us talked to him about how dangerous it could be - he was training this large dog to chase out into the street after vehicles - sheesh. He wouldn't hear us - his dog was well-trained - we knew nothing.
Well, with the lovely weather lately, it's started up again. I called the local humane society. This is now a full-grown large dog - loveable and still a silly puppy. But he obviously has more brains than his owner. The humane society will be paying him a courtesy call this week and hopefully this will stop. It took me a year to work up to doing it - tough to make that kind of call on anyone - even when it's anonymous.

 

[bballmom56]

Yeah, I probably would have said something to the boy when he came over. I would approach quietly and put my hand on the leash (lead rope) between the dog's collar and where it was wrapped around the boy's neck, to avoid the dog pulling at that point. Unwrap from boy's neck and explain to him how dangerous that was. In addition, I have to catch my breath when I see anyone leading a horse with the lead rope wrapped around their hand, arm or any other part of their body. I have to say something. I guess they have no idea how dangerous that is.

Not a fan of leading horses while in a vehicle, but I did have a working relationship with a woman who used a golf cart to turn her horses out and bring them in. It worked for her. I never did it though.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I would have said something. Sweetie, that is so dangerous, you could really get hurt bad

 

[EllenFrasier]

Good thing you didn't whistle to get the mother's attention, LOL!

 

[hereyago]

Ok, this isn't PC because I dont do that: But I would have gone Tyler Perry's Madea on that kid and his mom. The child could have choked if the pup had hauled butt, I wouldnt have sat there and be all warm and fuzzy to the kid and politlely warn him about the danger.

Sometimes in dire situations, a good yelling at is what a kid needs. My friend's daughter for the longest time would run in the parking lots after breaking free from her mom and almost got hit a few times. the mom would be like, please hold my hand ,don't run.

Your kid is about to run out in the street, about to choke him self, drink poison these times are not the times to be all honey don't do that.

 

[disykat]

It's always easy to think what you would do in hind sight isn't it?

Since the mom did mention he was going to choke himself, I think the best thing would've been to bring her into it. "Your mom is absolutely right, that is very dangerous" and then explain HOW it is dangerous and re-emphasize NOT to do it!

The mom did mention it, so she probably thought she was done. She was obviously quite casual about her child's safety.

I had a neighbor who used to just sigh and ignore her kid's behavior and then be all confused about why they behaved at my house. She would describe in detail their misbehavior and then look at me like I was nuts when I'd ask "wow, what did you do?" She would answer things like "well, I cleaned it up." It never seemed to occur to her that she should talk to her children and give them direction.