Children walking dog

**SaintSarah** · 02-05-2012, 11:04am

Originally Posted by Carrington

I don't believe I was pointing the finger only mentioning that it's not impossible to believe that a young child wouldn't want to pick up dog crap which is pretty foul at the best of times

I think you'll be surprised that there actually are responsible dog owners out there who do pick up poo and teach their children to do the same. My eldest is 4 1/2 we have a big scooper in the garden that he uses to pick up the poo should he come across any - dog owners aren't actually the devil spawn and the majority of us are decent people who teach our children to be responsible too.

**Carrington** · 02-05-2012, 11:19am

Show me where I've been accusing, what I said was:-

Originally Posted by Carrington

Apologies for bringing the tone down somewhat, but I think whilst age and size comes into it, you would need to ensure that the child be willing and/or able to pick up said dog's dirt and dispose of it properly. :yeuch:

Responsible dog owners do exist and I'm one of them, but there are also a hell of a lot that don't pick up after their animals.

**Pompom** · 02-05-2012, 11:22am

My children are 7 and 11 and there's no way I'd let them walk our dogs yet. Both our dogs are pretty well-behaved, but there's always, always the possibility that they might get involved in a fight with another dog (you can never tell how another dog might behave), and I wouldn't want them to have to deal with that responsibility. Plus there are other dog owners out there who become incredibly aggressive if there are any dog altercations (even if their dog started it!), and it can be quite scary.

I would say 14+.

**Carrington** · 02-05-2012, 11:34am

My children wouldn't be able enough to walk the family dog who's a three year old working springer and strong as an ox, alone on a lead ever I don't think.

**bluekat** · 02-05-2012, 11:54am

Originally Posted by donna-j

I definitely walked my dog when I was at primary school. I think it also depends where you live. I was in a village and there was a good safe place to walk dogs one street away. Plus it was the 70s/80s and I had so much freedom to roam about.

Me too. I remember taking my dog walks around the house we stayed in when I was 8/9. I don't remember keeping him on a lead either (or picking up his poo

...it was the late 70s...no-one did then). Also back then there wasn't the same amount of "devil-dogs" out and about. Those have only become popular relatively recently.

I was walking my mum's dog a few years back (age 28) and she was attacked by another dog at the park. She was on a lead and other dog wasn't with the owner who was shouting from a distance "he won't touch you"

. My mum's dog, a huge standard poodle, lept into my arms and both she and I were bitten/bruised by this owners dog. The owner took an age to fecking come and get her animal and took exception when I started shouting and swearing at her. The whole incident was very scary, especially for the kids around.

I was especially pissed off, cos moments prior to the incident I had been sitting on the park bench with a lovely bloke I'd met (was single-ish at the time) who was out with his niece and nephew who he was babysitting while his sister was in having another baby. His kids had come over to play with my wee brother (6 at the time) and pet the dog. The bloke and I were getting on like a house on fire and at the swapping numbers stage when the dog attack happened. Kind of ruined the moment.

**donna-j** · 02-05-2012, 01:18pm

Originally Posted by SaintSarah

dog owners aren't actually the devil spawn and the majority of us are decent people who teach our children to be responsible too.

I don't think Carrington deserved that tbh.

**donna-j** · 02-05-2012, 01:19pm

I think the point she was making is that you don't know what they are doing if they are out of your sight.

**parkejm** · 02-05-2012, 01:24pm

*Disclaimer* I know nothing about dogs so cannot add any advice

...but I think Carrington makes a fair point and has been spoken to quite harshly on this thread

**Katiekipper** · 02-05-2012, 01:30pm

I disagree that children are less likely than adults to scoop the poop. My kids use to do it for our dog and they were very young when we had him, all under 11. They now happily clean out the rabbits and cat box and garden. The only social group that to me can be stereotyped as not picking up their dogs mess is the elderly and usually it's not through infirmity but because they don't see the point as they 'never used to have to waste time doing that' I know because I've had the 'discussion' with plenty of them in my old village.

Pet owners, be they 5 or 55 are usually alot less squeamish about poo than non pet owners. I don't think Carringtons post warranted the "eew icky!" part. Dog poo is what dogs do on walks and you pick it up in a bag not with your bare hands!

In answer to the OP, 9 or 10 with a dh that was well controlled on the lead. 12-13 for a more challenging dog.

**Cerise** · 02-05-2012, 01:35pm

The original question was what age would you let a child walk the dog.

Person a says it is about the size of the dog. That is acceptable.

Person b says it is when the child is reliable / happy / prepared to pick up dog poo. That is not acceptable.

This has made me really mad. No-one was accused of being an irresponsible dog owner. As you agree it is a factor to take into consideration, so sometimes there is no need for a chip on your shoulder.

As a casual observer though, I have seen plenty of children who 'don't bother' to clear up after their dog when there is no parent with them. It seems a natural thing for children to do - after all it is not pleasant. I'm sure now I've written this last sentence then my views can be discarded as 'someone who tarrs all dog owners as irresponsible' and you can be rude to me too.