Saturday I took the all the kids to Uptown Station. Cade & Connor went trick-or-treating through the stores. Cade was excited - possibly due to sugar overdose. Connor was trying to soak it all in and figure this craziness out!
I then brought the other kids - Jojo, Tressel, and even Pepper. Big kudos to Nicole Poch from 3 Dogs and a Chick (http://www.3dogsandachick.com/ )for donating the dog goodies for trick-or-treating for dogs. It was also the grand opening of Central Bark, the off-leash park at Uptown Station. Yes, it's a bit small, but it's a great local place for dogs and people to exercise and socialize.
This event was a great opportunity to see adults, kids, and dogs all together. The costumes and candy upped the excitement and strangeness factor. I was concerned by how many children seemed fearful, or at least uneasy, around dogs.
It is important as an adult (and not only parents) to teach children respect for living things: don't pet a dog without asking first, don't have food in your hands or pocket when you pet a dog, be calm, etc. Have we over-emphasized these lessons so that the children are nervous and anxious? Or have we passed down our own fears to our children about dogs? As dog guardians, how can we help teach others - adults and kids alike - how to interact with animals with joy?
I then brought the other kids - Jojo, Tressel, and even Pepper. Big kudos to Nicole Poch from 3 Dogs and a Chick (http://www.3dogsandachick.com/ )for donating the dog goodies for trick-or-treating for dogs. It was also the grand opening of Central Bark, the off-leash park at Uptown Station. Yes, it's a bit small, but it's a great local place for dogs and people to exercise and socialize.
This event was a great opportunity to see adults, kids, and dogs all together. The costumes and candy upped the excitement and strangeness factor. I was concerned by how many children seemed fearful, or at least uneasy, around dogs.
It is important as an adult (and not only parents) to teach children respect for living things: don't pet a dog without asking first, don't have food in your hands or pocket when you pet a dog, be calm, etc. Have we over-emphasized these lessons so that the children are nervous and anxious? Or have we passed down our own fears to our children about dogs? As dog guardians, how can we help teach others - adults and kids alike - how to interact with animals with joy?
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