I have found that if I tell them that my doggie is shy and gets scared when someone they don't know try to pet them, they usually go away. If they are hyper children, I just try to walk quickly the other way and act like I didn't hear them...although you didn't have the luxury of that evasive maneuver!
Every once in a while a very nice, calm child approaches and I let them say hi and give a little pat and that's usually all there is to it. |