This deserves it's place on top of the list. With the other things you'll have rude and uneducated kids that become entitled adults, but at least they get to become adults.

I wish I could upvote this over and over.

This should be so much higher. I have kids. I have dogs. One of my dogs LOVES kids. Loves being ridden like a horse (120lb german shepherd) and having small children climbing all over him. The other one is terrified of kids, luckily he has a very mean bark and isn't confrontational. He puffs himself up, barks as loud as he can and retreats backwards while barking. It's enough to scare them off. It's the parents not the kids or my dog. *EDIT* hey look it's number 2 now 😁

I taught my daughter from the time she was very little that she needs to ask the owner, "Is this a working dog, or a petting dog?" If the answer is a petting dog, still ask, "Then may I pet him?"

Totally, totally agree. I hate to see a cat dragged around by a two year old,a nice patient old cat, but when the kids starts grabs you get hissy smack, and suddenly I have a terrible animal, who needs to be put down! Strangely all of my children, adults now, they grew up being taught animals have feelings. I caught my oldest teaching their youngest about kitties using her basically bomb proof cat. " Ok Luke, you see here on Freya's head between her ears? Good place to scritch. Rub her back slowly (no static) no pulling tails! Scritch under the chin. No tummies." And she was guiding his hand carefully. Because even the lovely Freya will bite if tickled on the tummy.

I absolutely loathe the "cute" videos of babies and toddlers manhandling cats and dogs. The children may be laughing and cooing, but the animal's body language shows that they are at their last limit.

My best buddy, Rocky Balboa ,(boxer/chihuahua...don't ask, don't know...) is a street rescue. Very loving and protective. He's becoming socialized at his own pace, but he is quite leery of people who come right up on him, especially small, quick children. I usually deny "petting requests, but yesterday, our new downstairs neighbor met him and did everything right! He allowed her to pet him followed by a wag of the tail and hand kisses!! Such a good doggo and a smart, friendly neighbor!

Of course parents need to teach their kids to give pets space and respect. My child isn't allowed near strangers animals. That being said, kids are not brats anymore then your dog is a mutt or a fleabag. Children learn all their behaviors from their parents and the surrounding world. It's not their fault if they were not properly educated on how to behave with dogs, anymore then it's your dogs fault for acting on instincts. Dog owners are just as culpable as parents with children. I can't tell you how many times I have taken my child to a playground only for someone to bring their poorly trained dog and LET THEM OFF LEASH. What's worse, is twice now they brought a dog to the playground THAT DOESN'T LIKE CHILDREN. Then maybe go to the dog park Karen, this is a jungle gym covered in hyper crazy kids!

I feel like owners shouldn't be forced to put down their animals at all.

Could not agree more! I have 3 cats and when kids want to pet them I just tell them to wait, they will eventually come investigate, then and only then you can start playing with them.

Taught this to my daughter from about the age of 2, I will also be teaching it to any future generations that appear.

This should be though to the parents in pre natal courses and again in daycare and preschool and as many times as necessary

It always annoys me sooooo frikn much when I see a little kid hurting a dog by pulling on its ears, tail, etc. because they don't know better, but then the parents just let them do that!

THIS. It amazes me the amount of parents that let their children run up to my Lab/Pit mix and pet him. Yes, he adores children, but you nor your child know that. 🙄

I remember being taught this as a kid in the f*****g 80s, zero excuse for not doing it now.

I can't remember how many times I told children around my apartment years ago, don't touch my dog...he was mostly a good boy and even-tempered but he didn't like being crowded and he hated people touching his head...he finally bit a little boy (not hard, didn't even break the skin) and the kid's mother came marching down the hill, demanding to be compensated because my dog was "vicious."

Our beloved girl, ( now passed), was harassed by a neighbour’s out of control 3 year old who was pulling my girl’s tail, grabbing her face/body etc repeatedly. I asked her daughter to stop, explaining that she was being too rough. The mother did nothing. I fumed. Finally she had enough, arching her head to her tail and then unsnapping her body like a well aimed giant elastic to send the 3 year old flying!!! She was SUCH a brilliant girl! The funniest thing? It worked! The child was sort of dazed that any form of parental correcting had occurred, she got up and went silently to stand beside her mother. Inwardly I applauded my girl. RIP, you were such a huge part of my heart and life and when you died the world went from colour to black and white.

i don't have a dog, but i do have a horse and it's really similar in the sense of kids/people acting entitled to petting your pet. if my horse decides it's appropriate to nip your darling's precious dainty fingertips because they decide to be an entitled a*****e and completely ignore the sign on his stall that he bites, then i'm not going to stop him and your poor little baby can f*****g deal with it. ANIMALS. ARE. NOT. TOYS.

My dogs are trained to sit at the edge of the pathway when other walkers or bikers approach. They are both good dogs but like many animals don’t like to be approached when on lead (it has to do with them feeling unable to escape). When kids want to pet them, we always say that they are being trained but would love it if the kids would wave to them. We have a number of lovely photos of small children waving madly at the dogs while the dogs smile and wag their tails.

Palm of the hand to sniff is better.

Yes. Must teach your kids. My dumb ass will go up to any dog but if I get hurt I know it's my own damn fault and would never blame the dog; they are animals first and pets second

Parents should teach their kids if they don't know the dog don't attempt to pet it. Ask the dog parent for permission & he/she will guide you through steps as stated above. Al in all it's called having respect for the dog & it's owner

Dogs that have potential to bite need to be leashed period

Here in the Netherlands we don't have a bite=kill rule, and I gotta tell ya, people behave a lot better around dogs here, but then, they always did.... Sorry dude, but that's murica for ya

ill always remember my little buddy at 3yo, asking someone at the train station 'excuse me, can i please talk to your dog?' as a little french bulldog puppy was fair climbing his leg in an attempt to give him kisses! poor kid was trying so hard not to pet the dog because he knew he had to ask first!

I have three dogs two of which are bully breeds but omg so f***ing sweet the third one i swear try and her without me catching ya

So much this. I had a dog that was a real sweetheart, but I'd adopted from a very abusive background, and he was anxious and *very* protective of me. He was patient with most kids, and would retreat to me rather than scare them. BUT, one kid that lived next door would always rush up to him trying to climb on him, was very aggressive, and would chase him when he came to me to hide. One day I was talking to the parents and despite me telling them to call him back (he was chasing my dog again) they laughed it off with "kids will be kids" bs and my dog bit him. Not hard, didn't draw blood, and he could easily have really hurt him if he wanted to, but it was a warning nip on his jacket while growling. The f*ing AH parents called the police and demanded MY dog be PUT DOWN because they refused to control their kid. [I moved. With my dog.]

For sure. I had an Umbrella Cockatoo and people, all kids, just come up and pat him. Great way to get bit.

2 kids, no animals. Can‘t explain why I do it, but I teach this to my kids. Maybe because I‘m one of those who does not allow anyone to hug and kiss my kids without their permission too. Kids and animals deserve respect too.

So true! Teaching you kids 'animal manners' will save their lives. I did see a child lose half her face for trying to pet a "nice doggy" … without permission,

applies to all pets. my cat, the only person she ever hated so far, she would insist "oh the cat loved me!" cat hated her. everyone else gives her a chance to sniff and backs off if she gets mad, she loves them. even with us, I make her mad a lot ill be honest lol but I can tell when I'm going too far; she's annoyed when she growls most of the time, hell she growls when happy, but if she's like proper biting me (sometimes she bites as in holding me in her mouth, but cant help it that her teeth are sharp - im talking abt purposely clamping down) or hissing i stop and i apologize to her and give her treats then leave her alone. shes adorable but she is still an animal that deserves respect

This is so important!

This is so simple. I taught my niece. The kids are so excited but that doesn't translate to animals the same. Kids will follow the directions because they want to pet the doggie. It's a polite social lesson as well. I don't even have a dog. My niece is 10 and still follows these rules.

Good rules!!

I agree completely!!