Good Girl Sarama! Good Girl! Good Girl!!!

[Lilavati]

So Mike and I are at the marina to watch the fireworks. All spread out on ponchos, eating a picnic. Got Sarama and Docket with us, on short teathers, attached to a spike in the ground. Right next to us, about 4 feet of tether. I'd even both of them a big bully stick. Docket's being tetchy . . . afraid Sarama is going to steal his chew, so I have him over next to me. Sarama is next to Mike, sitting there calmly watching people go by (she is ignoring her chew right now). I'm pouring Docket more water, and I hear Mike shout "NO!"

I turn around, and this little boy charges over to Sarama, grabs her around the neck, and starts hitting her with one hand trying to knock her over. Mike lunges for Sarama. The child's mother, also shouting "no!" is right behind him.

Sarama sits there quietly and looks puzzled.

Mike, and the child's half frantic mother, detach the human leach from my dog. Effusive appologies are made by the mother, who leaves with the kid. Sarama continues to sit there quietly and look puzzled.

Good dog! Good dog! Good dog!

 

[grab01]

good girl! And what an awful child...

 

[CharlieDog]

What?! Why did the kid do that? Was he trying to hurt her??

Good dog!!

 

[Romy]

:yikes:

Good girl!!!

That child sounds like Aurelia right now. She has to be leashed for others safety.

 

[Lilavati]

What?! Why did the kid do that? Was he trying to hurt her??

Good dog!!

No, I don't think he was trying to hurt her . . . too little. I think he was just treating her like a big fuzzy toy.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

:yikes:

Bad kid, GOOD dog!!!

 

[Dekka]

Very good girl!!!

 

[bubbatd]

Good for Sarama !!!

 

[Lilavati]

I do not know what was WITH kids at the marina last night. Mike just told me about this, and I had rather forgotten something as well. After the incident, I took Sarama for a walk. She was fine, but I figured she might have to go potty, since she won't do it if she views herself in human territory (like right next to our camp). While I was gone, the evil kid showed up again (I think Mike didn't tell me for a reason) heading for Docket. Mike interposed himself, and the mother caught the kid before he got close. This is good . . . I'm not sure what Docket would have done . . . he's not at all mean, but he's much smaller, and was in a rotten mood on top of it.

Meanwhile, I'm walking Sarama, and another, older kid (this one was probably 1st grade, the other was pre kindergarden) charges towards her. I put her in a sit and put myself in the way, and scold the kid about asking to pet dogs . . . the kids father shows up, appologizing, and I tell him that he really, really, needs to teach his kid not to do that.

Last year all the kids there were really well behaved . . . asking to pet the dog (we only had Sarama then) asking to play with her (I have cute pictures of them playing ball with her), and generally being really nice. This year we had a couple of polite kids, but also these brats.

 

[Zoom]

:yikes: Whoa...good girl Sarama indeed!

 

[JudithMary]

What a good girl. What a horrid child. Why did he do that?

 

[Lilavati]

What a good girl. What a horrid child. Why did he do that?

My best guess is that either they have a somewhat similar dog at home (a very patient dog) or he had no experience with dogs whatsoever. I really don't think he was trying to hurt her . . . I'd guess he was 4, maybe 5. I think he just really wanted to squeeze and cuddle her (and get her down to his level). His mother was horrified, so at least she knew just how dangerous that was.

 

[smkie]

I hope the parents realize what could have happened. 4 or 5 is old enough to get that message. Victor is terrifed of toddlers. I can't imagine what he would have done, jumped up and ran away probably...hopefully. once they are past kindergarten age he is great with children. THat is just a terrifying thought if that child had come up to the wrong dog. OF course it would be the dog that would pay the price. I don't think the child is horrid at all. I think they child has parents that need to keep a better watch. EVen so children do escape. I have found a few in the past.

 

[Romy]

I do not know what was WITH kids at the marina last night. Mike just told me about this, and I had rather forgotten something as well. After the incident, I took Sarama for a walk. She was fine, but I figured she might have to go potty, since she won't do it if she views herself in human territory (like right next to our camp). While I was gone, the evil kid showed up again (I think Mike didn't tell me for a reason) heading for Docket. Mike interposed himself, and the mother caught the kid before he got close. This is good . . . I'm not sure what Docket would have done . . . he's not at all mean, but he's much smaller, and was in a rotten mood on top of it.

Meanwhile, I'm walking Sarama, and another, older kid (this one was probably 1st grade, the other was pre kindergarden) charges towards her. I put her in a sit and put myself in the way, and scold the kid about asking to pet dogs . . . the kids father shows up, appologizing, and I tell him that he really, really, needs to teach his kid not to do that.

Last year all the kids there were really well behaved . . . asking to pet the dog (we only had Sarama then) asking to play with her (I have cute pictures of them playing ball with her), and generally being really nice. This year we had a couple of polite kids, but also these brats.

Well it is pretty dang close to a full moon. I'm not even kidding here. I worked in a preschool for years where we kept a daily journal of all injuries, fights, cool stuff they did/said, the general feel of the day. My boss went over 6 years worth of journals, and there was a very clear pattern of children acting up, being combative and just plain not listening around the full moon. Every single month for years.

 

[JessLough]

I think they child has parents that need to keep a better watch. EVen so children do escape. I have found a few in the past.

Very much agree. I volunteer with a group that does look for children who escape at events.... and there is always quite a few. More often then some people would think.

 

[Lilavati]

Very much agree. I volunteer with a group that does look for children who escape at events.... and there is always quite a few. More often then some people would think.

Kids do escape . . . and I wasn't all that mad at the mother, since she clearly was aware of how bad this was . . . but the fact of the matter is that Sarama, and I, would have been held responsible if she had bitten. Not to mention that the kid would have been hurt . . .his face was right at her muzzle level. If Sarama had reacted poorly, she probably would have been put down, and me sued, despite the fact that it was the fault of the kid and his mother. That didn't used to be the case, but these days . . .

I am a little miffed he escaped again and went after Docket. His mom caught him first . . . but once he'd pulled that once, you'd think she'd be a lot more careful . .. there where lots of dogs there . . . an elderly Golden right next to us, 2 small mutts and a whippet right across the path, a Japaense Chin a few over . . . big old hound dog around the corner . . . anyone one of those dogs could have taken poorly to children. Now, you shouldnt' bring a touchy dog to the 4th of July, but you don't exactly expect your dog to be "attacked" by a kid either.

I will say Sarama's reaction bodes well for my hopes that she will be a good therapy dog.

 

[I (heart) dogs]

wow,some kids need to be put on a leash instead. it seems kinda rude for them to come up out of nowear and start pulling at your dog, but its probably because they are young. but still... it seems they should be taughjt a little bit more manners,im not bieng stern twards the parent :l

 

[Renee750il]

Sarama was EXEMPLARY.

We joke about putting kids on leashes, but with little kids, in crowds like that, in today's world, using one of those harness/leash combos for toddlers is only smart.

 

[Alimel]

Geeze, these parents need training Good thing your dogs are so well behaved.

 

[I (heart) dogs]

well just 4get i said anything