Argh! How irresponsible of this child's parents. I've gone out of my way to teach my children doggie ettiquite. My older ones from the time they were preschoolers always followed the rules 1. Never run up to a dog. 2. Politely approach a dog's owner, and always ASK before touching. 3. Don't get upset if owner says 'no' (I always stressed that some dogs didn't like kids, and if an owner says no it's for safety, both the pups and theirs) 4. Approach with slow gentle hands and let dog smell fingers before touching or petting, if the owner says yes.
Proud to say my older kids follow these rules to this day, and I'm teaching my younger two now. Although they are too little, I don't allow them to approach other people's pets at all yet. Thank goodness that little girl didn't accidently hurt Millie |