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Mine aren't territorial when camping, which is odd, because at home no stranger could get in without Lola having a right go.

I'll probably get shot down in flames for saying this, but I think parents need to educate their children about dogs in the same way as they do other dangers. I was brought up with dogs and my mother had been a dog groomer. It was dinned into us from an early age that you didn't touch strange dogs without asking the owner if it was ok, you never went up to a tethered dog, into a garden where a dog was loose, or disturbed a dog that was sleeping. We were also taught how to "read" dogs and how to behave if confronted by a dog that seems aggressive.

I've lost count of the number of times kids have just charged up and started poking at my dogs - luckily, they love kids and appreciate the attention and don't mind a bit of rough treatment - but I've known perfectly well behaved dogs that have been very uneasy around kids and a dog that feels threatened is likely to behave aggressively in defence.

If the dog is usually fine, then I'd say his reaction was a warning one, but I entirely understand your concerns.

your dog did exactly what he is suposed to do. I wouldn't muzzle him but I wouldn't leave him outside unsupervised either.

I have a border collie who came with quite a few anxiety issues. This included guarding me, his food and territory. He went for any dog or person that came near us. It was so bad that I thought I was going to have to take him back to the rescue centre. However I found some obedience classes run by a dog behaviourist and after some hard work he started settling down. We now do agility together and he's turned into a really friendly dog who will go to anybody for a cuddle. However I know some of those issues are still there in the back of his mind so I supervise him very closely around people and dogs. I've learnt to read his body language and as soon as I spot the danger signs I whisk him away before it develops into anything further.

Luckily where I live most of the kids do ask before approaching  Casper. The standard approach round here is "does your dog bite". My reply is always "yes all dogs bite. If you want to stroke him I'll show you the right way to do it". I then get Casper to sit. I give them a dog treat to give him(I always carry a portion of his dried food in my pocket to use as treats when training). I get the child to hold the treat out on the flat palm of their hand. Once he's took it and knows they are friendly I allow them to stroke him but if it's a child he doesn't know never to cuddle him as any arms wrapped round the head can be interpreted as a threat by the dog. If it's a child he knows I will allow them to cuddle his body as long as they don't crowd him. He loves the attention and is now getting used to it. Luckily the kids we bump into round here do seem quite keen to learn and the ones we meet regularly understand the importance of going at Caspers pace, not theirs.

The first time I took him camping I was quite nervous about how he would cope. I managed to get a corner site and used my windbreak to make an enclosure to stop him worrying about everyone going past. He behaved really well but no way would I leave him tethered outside without us being there just in case

Quote: Originally posted by alibali65 on 11/8/2012

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Agree with all comments but in this day and age dog owners will have to be careful especially where people can access pitches, doesn't matter if you think its your pitch and no one will come on to it.

Kids will run and pick the ball up even if they are aware of things that dogs bite, they don't think and analyse the situation the way an adult does. We always tell our child to ask permission first before petting a dog but then what about those owners who think its fine to let their pets run amok

Also hope your insured in case the dog does bite someone!

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Just say, if my DS ran onto someones pitch after a straying ball, goes near a tethered dog. If my son get's bitten by a tethered dog, or strokes a dog without asking and again gets bitten.    It would be my DS fault not the dog's, my son should have known better.

heath63

Bosley used to protect the tent from other dogs, any mutt walked past and he'd be out there woofing away at it but this year he's calmed right down. Kids love him and he quite happily allows them to stroke him and pet him, if they start going a bit OTT with the affection he just takes himself away.

However, if a child (or adult) ran in unannounced and startled him and then got bitten then tough, the dog is always tethered when outside or inside with teh door open. If you haven't got the sense to realise that you are on his territory and that he might defend it then you have no one but yourself (or your parents) to blame. Sure, there are circumstances that can't be condoned but a lot of the time a friendly dog won't lash out unless provoked into it.