Thought this was silly...

Whilst out with Otis today on the field, a car pulled up and out leaped four kids aged about 5 or 7 with a football and started running on to the field; no parents with them... They just sat in the car and played with their phones!! I was annoyed as Otis was off the lead and hasn't been around many children with him being 6 months. If my mum hadn't have said watch out I don't know how Otis would have reacted, I would have noticed not long after but I had my back to them at the time!

I put him on the lead straight away anyway as it is a playing field but a little curtesy would have been nice - there was just no warning... Rant over

I was walking Densil this morning, on the lead along the pavement and a woman passed me with a toddler in a buggy. Trailing quite a way behind was a small girl about 3 yrs old. I kept Densil on a short lead but as we passed she just reached out and stroked Densil. Off course he was well behaved and loved it, but I said to her "no, you shouldn't stroke strange dogs" and turned around to see if her mother had taken notice, but she was still walking ahead totally unaware of what had happened. Makes me so cross, that child could have run into the road, or had any sort of mishap and she wouldn't have known.

It's good you were able to handle it swiftly and responsibly Sarah

I can quite believe that happened to Densil and you were totally right to tell the child. I would have done the same, what is to say that child won't do it again and be les fortunate. People need to be more respectful.

Common courtesy is not so common any more sadly, it doesn't cost anything to be polite does it.

Some parents are as bad as some dog owners Wonder why accidents happen when parents are so switched off to their kids

I think people take their (and their kids') safety for granted. Glad everything was OK though. Loki hasn't had any real contact with babies and really young kids, I've gotten him to be able to walk past them without incident, but definitely make sure the lead is short just in case he's having one of his excited moments.

Sorry, but if it was a playing field the kids had every right to be there. Whether their parents accompanied them or not is irrelevant. Unfortunately we staffy owners need to be extra vigilant because of our dogs' undeserved reputation and recent bad publicity. If you're not sure how Otis will react to children you need to make sure he is on-lead in an area where he is likely to encounter them.
I know exactly how Bacchus will react to kids. Although he is seldom around them, he loves children and would run straight to them and expect to be fussed over. But I never allow him to do this as not all children are comfortable around dogs and it only takes one of our breed to frighten a child and suddenly they are " devil dogs ". I know you love Otis to bits but people don't need to ask your permission to play with a ball when he's around.

No I know they had every right to be there and that they don't need my permission. I put him on the lead straight away and I would have done that if any child had appeared and left straight away... The field was empty at the time which is why he was off the lead, the field does allow dogs. I completely understand what your saying though...