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imdll · 11-25-2011, 11:15 AM

I think it is really difficult to make a judgement call on how the whole situation occurred when we only have the written word to go by. Yes in the intial description the child was said to have tried to hit or kick the dog but in the next description the parents did some teaching and the child's behavior changed. Two year olds have to be taught and I don't think it is fair to judge the parents or the breeder and point fingers when we weren't there.

I have raised four of my own children, ran a day home for 15 years and my brother-in-law has eight children. Let's just say I've spent some time around kids. Some two year olds might slap at a baby the first time they meet it as well. It's not necessarily that they are trying to be mean. Yes it's a teaching moment but not necessarily a reason for alarm. It really depends on the child. Just having the event described in written form really isn't enough to know the temperment of this specific child. Some children may hit or kick at a dog or child simply because they haven't learned that isn't how you should play and once they are taught they don't play that way anymore. Another child of the same age might do the exact same behavior and you could try to teach and train until your blue in the face and the child still plays the same way. I think there has been way to much jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst. Maybe we could consider that the adults involved might be relatively responsible people? Maybe this breeder has their own younger children and so they aren't as closed the the idea of Yorkies and small children? We don't know enough to make that sort of a judgement call.

I realize nobody wants to see any dog get hurt but I really don't think that a parent who comes here looking for advice is automatically irresponsible because their child acts like a child, nor is their breeder irresponsible because they are handling the situation differently that we might. We weren't there, we only know a very small bit of information. If these parents weren't interested in learning they wouldn't have come here in the first place would they? If they were truly irresponsible then why be truthful about what happened? As far as responsible breeders, not all breeders have grown chidren themselves. There are members on this very board who have young children who have managed to teach their children, why can't someone else be given the same opportunity? Here's something else to think about. If a couple truly is irresponsible and they didn't agree with a breeder who wouldn't place their puppies with families with young children, they could simply lie. I think it's a good sign when people are up front about who they are and their family status and willing to be honest about events. If we don't attack them and do some of our own teaching maybe folks would stick around and learn?

I don't think there can be an across the board sort of rule of thumb either direction. Each family is different just like each dog is also different. I wouldn't want to see a particularly small dog with little children even though I do know that some people have managed that with sucess, so I think it also depends upon the size of the dog in question. I just think it's too easy to misread a situation when you only have the written word to go by and haven't been able to witness the event personally.

Some people on this thread have absolutely gone off the deep end with extremes and likening this child's behavior to psychological issues. Anyone who knows anything about phsycology knows that you can not make such a judgement call on a child that is so young. This tendency for things to get out of control is exactly what I have been trying to talk about for the last while. People start feeding off of the attack comments or negative comments and then things grow and grow and spin out of control. How does that benifit YT when we loose members because of it? I have heard from some long time members who have said they will not become donating members because they refuse to financially support a board that allows the sorts of behaviors that has driven others away. I really think that is sad and that things don't have to be this way.

11-25-2011, 11:15 AM	#71
imdll Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 129	I think it is really difficult to make a judgement call on how the whole situation occurred when we only have the written word to go by. Yes in the intial description the child was said to have tried to hit or kick the dog but in the next description the parents did some teaching and the child's behavior changed. Two year olds have to be taught and I don't think it is fair to judge the parents or the breeder and point fingers when we weren't there. I have raised four of my own children, ran a day home for 15 years and my brother-in-law has eight children. Let's just say I've spent some time around kids. Some two year olds might slap at a baby the first time they meet it as well. It's not necessarily that they are trying to be mean. Yes it's a teaching moment but not necessarily a reason for alarm. It really depends on the child. Just having the event described in written form really isn't enough to know the temperment of this specific child. Some children may hit or kick at a dog or child simply because they haven't learned that isn't how you should play and once they are taught they don't play that way anymore. Another child of the same age might do the exact same behavior and you could try to teach and train until your blue in the face and the child still plays the same way. I think there has been way to much jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst. Maybe we could consider that the adults involved might be relatively responsible people? Maybe this breeder has their own younger children and so they aren't as closed the the idea of Yorkies and small children? We don't know enough to make that sort of a judgement call. I realize nobody wants to see any dog get hurt but I really don't think that a parent who comes here looking for advice is automatically irresponsible because their child acts like a child, nor is their breeder irresponsible because they are handling the situation differently that we might. We weren't there, we only know a very small bit of information. If these parents weren't interested in learning they wouldn't have come here in the first place would they? If they were truly irresponsible then why be truthful about what happened? As far as responsible breeders, not all breeders have grown chidren themselves. There are members on this very board who have young children who have managed to teach their children, why can't someone else be given the same opportunity? Here's something else to think about. If a couple truly is irresponsible and they didn't agree with a breeder who wouldn't place their puppies with families with young children, they could simply lie. I think it's a good sign when people are up front about who they are and their family status and willing to be honest about events. If we don't attack them and do some of our own teaching maybe folks would stick around and learn? I don't think there can be an across the board sort of rule of thumb either direction. Each family is different just like each dog is also different. I wouldn't want to see a particularly small dog with little children even though I do know that some people have managed that with sucess, so I think it also depends upon the size of the dog in question. I just think it's too easy to misread a situation when you only have the written word to go by and haven't been able to witness the event personally. Some people on this thread have absolutely gone off the deep end with extremes and likening this child's behavior to psychological issues. Anyone who knows anything about phsycology knows that you can not make such a judgement call on a child that is so young. This tendency for things to get out of control is exactly what I have been trying to talk about for the last while. People start feeding off of the attack comments or negative comments and then things grow and grow and spin out of control. How does that benifit YT when we loose members because of it? I have heard from some long time members who have said they will not become donating members because they refuse to financially support a board that allows the sorts of behaviors that has driven others away. I really think that is sad and that things don't have to be this way.