OMG, OMG, OMG! We've just been carol singing with the dogs, around the local bars. They were sooooo good, just sat down next to us and looked balefully at us as we wrecked all the classics. But ... a kid came up to stroke the dogs. We explained to the mum that they were wary of kids, and he couldn't touch Willow (who is the nervier of the two), but we said it was OK, supervised within an inch of eternity, with Shadow, who stood there beautifully while this young kid stroked and stroked and stroked him. He even looked relaxed about it! J kept the kid's hands well away from Shadow's face, because that can make him jumpy, but he was such a good boy about it! And earlier on, a girl who was just on the threshold of the age/size where the dogs can be funny came up and fussed Willow. She was full of wags and even tried to lick her face! I'm so made up, best Christmas present ever! No complacency, obviously, and there's still a lot of work to do. But, wow. Just wow.
Well that was a much happier post than the one I was expecting!!! That's fabulous. They say that hard work can pay off, so well done on all your careful training around kids. Clever and brave doggies too.
I am so pleased for you Fiona. Everybody thinks that Labradors and kids go together, but that is very idealised. Although Molly has contact with my Grandchildren I am very careful around other kids. A Labrador can easily knock a small kid flying and that can be misconstrued as agression. See, the best things in life are 'Free' only you have worked jolly hard for it. While you are up there floating on cloud nine, be careful not to bash into Santa
That is fantastic Fiona . I agree with Molly that people don't always realise how easily a lab can knock a child over. It took me months to get Harley to calm down enough that children could approach and smooth her. Well done you x
I'm more concerned about my two ripping a child's head off than knocking them over! Tina, I saw Santa, he said he was on the way to your house with a bundle of presents for Molly
At nearly 4 months old Zeus is strong as an ox. He can literally lift my leg while pulling my pant leg. I don't leave him home with my 70 year old mother. He gets so excited...
Ah good job,its a great confidence booster when you see progress.Dexter despite not loving to be touched is brilliant with kids but I still micro manage him...I don't think you should ever be complacent.... absolutely no carol singers whatsoever knock o your door in Doobs.....think i might have to rectify that next year!
We weren't knocking on doors, we go from bar to bar around the village! Our last song in each bar is "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", but instead of "Bring us some figgy pudding", we sing "Now, bring us a Jägermeister .... we won't go until we get some....", and end up with a shot in each bar
It's a small village. One main road, one side road. We live towards the end of the side road. Not too easy to get lost.
I thought I'd revisit this post. I've been putting in lots of work with kids as and when I have the opportunity. The other day, we had to walk past four screaming kids running around and having a snowball fight in the street. It wasn't easy, but that was because Shadow wanted to chase the snowballs, not because they were worried by the children. They've met a friend's toddler and even licked his hands. This evening, we encountered several groups of people with young kids (probably seven groups of people, each with between two and four kids) as we walked to and from our walk. I either popped them in a sit while the people passed, or walked past ourselves if they weren't moving. Each time, the dogs just focussed on me in a "look at that" kind of way and didn't react nervously at all. I'm very, very pleased and proud of them
That's great and not easy if you don't have regular access to children. Hattie was a School gate dog which helped me every single day twice a day from tiny to tall children, noise, pushchairs, running around in the park, on swings, sea saws, zip wire etc. So well done taking those opportunities when they present themselves. Good dogs xx
At the weekend, four children came up to us in the street. The dogs were relaxed after a long walk, and didn't show any anxiety, so we let the kids approach. All four of them fussed the dogs, who were waggy-tailed and giving out lots of licks, to delighted squeals. We're getting there! I still have to be very aware of their body language, because yesterday Shadow was quite wary about an oncoming toddler who was slapping his feet loudly against the ground and was coming straight for us, so I called out to the mother to keep the child away, which she did and I managed to keep Shadow calm. So, I can't be complacent, but we're making good inroads. I just hope that we don't lose all the progress we've made now we're entering the quiet time.
