Mett & Bratt have a stalker

[Tracy A.]

It started this weekend while I was giving the boys a mid-day walk. 7 year old Amanda from the neighboorhood ( I don't know where she lives) decided that she was going to follow me while I was walking the dogs, on her Pink Big Wheel. Of cousre the noise alone of the Big Wheel drove the boys nuts, and her high pitched screaming really didn't help matters..... Followed by her non-stop quetions............do they bite", "can I pet them"....and on.... I took the stance that Mett & Bratt are really too wild for little kids at this point. they jump, they scratch.... and little Mett played jumping shark with me a few weeks ago trying to get mommys nose.....and got me right on the bridge of my nose drawing blood.

So at first I said "they aren't good for little children" well Amanda took that to mean ask me 15 more times and coming flying up on our heels in her Big Wheel stalking us on our walk.

Now for the record, I don't have children and these encounters are reminding me why I don't have children. So I ask little Amanda 'where are you going'? she replys 'Where you are'- When I turn in the other direction she screams "where are you going"

I reply "Please don't follow us, your upsetting the dogs, and I just want to go home" She follows us to my driveway. Where she drives up and down the street in front of the house waiting for us. Yelling "but I didn't get to pet them" An older boy who I think is her brother tries to take her home- where she starts a screaming fit..... 45mins later, all is silent.... and I think that I can get a quick walk in the other direction in with the boys..... I cut through our yard to the other street... I guess Amanda had a sentry posted, because when I turn around there she is on her Pink Big Weel waiting for us in the middle of the road.

Rest of weekend passes without any stalking... Fast foward to Today....

Amanda has changed her transportation to a Pink push scooter, she has in tow an older girl on a pink bicycle..... "Can I Pet them" ... " Do they Bite"..... (My reply now is "YES" they "BITE") she asks in rapid fire while circling us on her scooter as I am trying to walk.... really i'm draging the boys at this point. I take them into the grass on the side of the road waiting for a car to pass......Little Amanda pulls her scooter in the driveway of the house where I am seeking refuge..... I start to walk again.... get a few feet....she's circling us again..... stalking.....stalking us..... I stop... Mett & Bratt are going nuts....... I"m losing my ability to deal with this.

I tell Little Amanda our stalker, that I can't walk the dogs while she is circling us, and I just want to go home. She shows no signs of giving in.... But her older friend on the bicyle must have seen my eye twitching and under stood the signs.... They go on ahead.... I have to Carry Mett home....all 20 pounds of him.....

Little Amanda has gone up and down in front of our house no less than 10 times during my posting of this message...... :ninja:

I am having a cocktail and realizing that I am correct not to have any children.

[brin145]

I was laughing so hard...I could barely finish through the tears! Please don't let this experience taint your view of children forever. Some aren't stalkers (hehe). Maybe you could post Mett and Brett in front of Amanda's house at about 5 am while barking furiously. Then would be a good time to explain to Amanda's mother (or father) that it's the only time you could get a walk in with the boys minus Amanda and the Big Wheel.

[bradl]

I'm sorry - I can't help but laugh too. I feel your pain, though. We had puppies once at the same time we were having our fence replaced and so had temporary fencing all around. And the lack of a 6' wooden fence drew the five-year-old young lady next door - as obsessive as Ms Amanda seems to be - into *constant* visits into our back yard. Oh well, it was good for the puppies, if not my liver.

[mrskti]

Oh my god....what a riot.....I can only imagine this is what you felt like!!!

[toomanypaws]

I feel your frustration. I also question why a 7 yr old is able to ride all over the neighborhood w/o supervision. Maybe I'm too overprotective, but you just can't be safe enough these days. I've encountered children on my walks too. I must say that having your own are much better than other people's kids. Once, when I had my Lab out on a walk, the neighbor's boys (5 & 3) who live in our cul-de-sac started following me. I flat out told them that they need to go back home to their mom, and they did. Another time an older girl about 11 or 12 was riding her bike while I was walking Hannah. She slowed down and started riding in the street next to me (I was on the sidewalk). I finally told her that my dog was in training and I needed to work w/ her alone. Is there a chance you could walk Mett & Bratt later in the evening after Amanda has gone inside? I enjoy walking in the evening now after neighborhood children are tucked into bed.

[Dawnya]

Oh! How funny - but not funny! LOL!

Yeah, I'm wondering what a 7 yo is out doing by herself, roaming around and in the street.

Especially (and unfortunately) with all the molestation and kidnapping issues.

Anyhoo, as a parent, I would like to know if my child behaves that way.

Maybe next time ask her where she lives and that you want to talk to her mom about her behavior.

That in itself my stop it.

[Cairnmania]

Sounds like an annoying child.

Here's the thing though, I want my dogs to get used to bicycles and screaming, pesty children. I don't want them to be frightened (cautious is okay though) by the brats. The only way to get dogs used to children is for them to get comfortable around them.

Abby used to bark at bicycles, now she ignores them. Anytime I saw someone on a bicycle I would walk Abby as close as possible and reward her for being calm. Abby loves children. The more they scream, run and shreak the happier she is about it. She likes to be right in the middle of the mayhem.

Rudi is a timid dog. He likes quiet children. If one wants to pet him he lays down and lets it them (he's not entirely sure they are not going to do anything to startle him.) Screamers he prefers to observe from a safe distance - or a safe adult lap. My husband has a severely disabled grandchild. Rudi is incredibly protective of him. He sticks by him, licks him, and this child can kick his legs out and Rudi does not mind at all. It's really amazing really.

Maybe you can arrange for a calm meeting between the little brat and your dogs? Teach her how to approach dogs and try as best as you can to divert her fixation with them.

Oh yes, good luck, I suspect you will need it!

[kayharley]

Your story made my morning! I'm sorry to find it so humorous and laugh at your ordeal. I can definately understand the annoyance of obnoxious children being a school bus driver!

I would definately find her parents (if they haven't left the state yet) and have a chat with them. Or you could borrow a real mean and nasty looking dog that isn't as adorable as our Cairns are and start stalking her!

Keep us posted and thanks for the chuckle before work.

[Scully'sMom]

Well what a start to MY morning by reading that story. My laughing woke me up better than any cup of coffee. I understand, though, how you feel. We have Jeffrey the Stalker who when he sees Scully outside just keeps screeching "Scully Scully Scully..." Scully in the meantime who usually loves kids, slinks all the way down, ears back and tries to get away from him.

If it helps in anyway, my mom has a 9 year old stalker - Mimi. We cannot get rid of this kid. She's sweet and lives in a screwed up household but she comes knocking on the door several times a day on the weekend to "say hi to Carmela". It's been 9:00 p.m. and she'll be knocking on the door looking for my mom. We have a small kitchen and there's times when I'm trying to cook dinner or make lunches and she's up my butt asking questions. Last week she said, "So, do you make good money?"

Trust me, these little stalkers are EVERYWHERE!!!

[hallswel]

I think you would be surprised how well Mett and Brat will do with her but next time challenge her.....Tell her she can pet them if her Mom or Dad is with her. Then she will go bug her parents or if she knows they won't come she will probably just leave you alone.

If she shows up with a parent you might want to hold them and let her pet them. Teach her the right way to pet them so she doesn't scare them. You never know you might be the one person in her life that teaches her how to be act with dogs. She might be a future vet because of you

I have a couple of neighborhood kids that will come over when we are outside playing frisbee or jumps and want to play and the rule is if your Moms with you and the go get her and will come over and the kids play, my dogs love it and I get to visit with a neighbor.

Kids love dogs and it is a good way to socialize your furry kids.

I have posted this picture before but the little girls asked can we pet your dog and I thought it was nice they asked (they had Dad with them) and as you can see Sugar was in heaven. I do draw the line when they ask can I walk one of your dogs. I tell them no but you can walk beside us if you would like.

[Tracy A.]

Thank you for the advice everyone. We live on 1 of 3 streets are are all dead-ends. Sort of like an 'h'.

Since we moved in 3 years ago, every summer there are little kids roaming everywyere- except for the ones who are 5 and under... I only ever see them with a mom or dad. I guess that the parents feel secure because our little streets go no where. But still we are just off a major state route.

It's okay for everyone to laugh, my husband laughs everytime I tell him the latest incident... Amanda is one very persistant child.... who doesn't seem to understand the concept of 'no'.

Mett & Bratt LOVE children... I made a point of socializing them with a lot of the neighboor kids last summer... but this year we seem to have a lot of little girls who 'scream and shriek' when meeting the boys and that drives the boys 'nuts' and they try to jump up on the 'screamer'.

I'm not sure what i'm going to do, but I'm realzing that Amanda isn't going to let up.... I may have to plan on trying a 1:1 interaction with just one of the boys.... I can control 1, just not both of them at the same time......

[savannahsmom35]

LOL!!! Wow am I glad that I don't have this problem! I have the opposite. The little girl that lives across the street (I think she is 3) is PETRIFIED of dogs. I think it is because her Mom is afraid of dogs since being attacked by a large dog as a child. She does not want her daughter to be afraid like she is so we have been using Savannah to try and get her little girl used to dogs and not afraid of them. It takes her a little while to warm up to her but she really seems to like Savannah now. I always hold Savannah in my lap and let her pet her and she adores it! The first time that Savannah licked her hand she started screaming that the dog bit her. Her mom said, "no sweetie, she licked you. That means she likes you." She was ok with that and calmed down.

I agree about telling her that her Mom or dad needs to be there if she wants to pet your boys. This will give you the opportunity to get to know them and where they live in case this continues to be a problem AND you never know what kids may say. YOu don't want an angry parent at your door saying that their kid said your dog bit them or something like that. Then it is your word against the kids. If the parent is there, they will know what happened. I don't understand a 7 year old being out riding a bike in the street alone. Sounds like a receipe for disaster to me, although there is a 4 year old in our neighborhood who does the same thing. Another issue, another forum and another soap box.....

[hallswel]

I do understand loud kids. That's why when I do the clown thing I ususally only take one dog and I carry that one. This is Rebel at a fundrasier we had. I am the clown

Good luck with Amanda

[Tracy A.]

I didn't want to start a new topic just to post this photo. This was taken this morning. It's like a joke, What do you do with an old easy chair? put in the garage so the dogs can have their own!

[hallswel]

Yep, you may just have to move it back inside

[MikeC]

Reminds me of that evil little child in that Shirley Temple movie "Bright Eyes". You know, the brat on the tricycle that wanted to play "train wreck"? (By the way, there was a Cairn in that movie.) Now, while I would NEVER advocate doing these things for real, the thought was rather amusing, if not a little twisted.

Pepper Spray

An assault from the garden hose

Tell her your a witch and you're going to turn her into a toad

Call the police and let them scare the beejeezous out of her

Let the dogs bite her

Mike

[TNA]

Hallswel,

Sorry to get OFF TOPIC, but the picture you posted of the young girls that asked to pet your dog, do you mind if I ask you were that was taken. Two of those girls look just like my nieces that live in SC.

Thanks,

Ang.

[hallswel]

That was in a campground in the North Ga mountains on Memorial day

[Tracy A.]

Now, while I would NEVER advocate doing these things for real, the thought was rather amusing, if not a little twisted.

Mike

Mike your cracking me up! See i've had thse evil thoughts toooooo.....

"assault from the garden hose" -thought of it

"Tell her your a witch and you're going to turn her into a toad" -thought of it

"Let the dogs bite her"-thought of tell her to blow in Mett's face, that's why I did when he got my nose!

[tena]

You could try .....No you can't pet them...they are allergic to children it makes them get a horrible rash.

[oregoncoast71]

If I remember right, the cairn that was in Bright Eyes was Terry (Toto). I believe the dog's name was Raggs?

[toomanypaws]

I hope I didn't come across that I'm anti-social to children. I do work w/ children at the museum, and Hannah's greatest outing was taking and picking my dd up from school. I'd park the van and carry Hannah w/ me to wait for dd. I love how the children come up to pet her or ask questions. You can tell the animal lovers at a young age.

Back to walking, sometimes I do stop for children. Then there are those times that it's nice to be just you and your dog(s). It's a relaxation for me, a time to be alone, admire nature, and appreciate my walking partner.

MikeC, you always make me laugh. You reminded me of years ago when I had a house w/ a pond in the frontyard. At that time, I had an Irish Setter, and an obnoxious 3 yr old living across the street who ran over at the sight of him. That is until my ex told her that he put an alligator in the pond that loved little girls. I know, nasty of him but she never came over again.

[TheScotts]

I chose not to have kids either so any mommies probably should not read this:

The little monster probably does not get much mothering at home, hence her behavior, BUT here are two approaches I might try:

1. Tell her to stand still and say nothing, not one noise, and if she will do that you will let the pups sniff her (while you hold them by the scruff). Tell her NO HANGING out in front of the house. She may be allowed to get to pet the pups EVENTUALLY IF she is quiet for several days in a row and they stop being berserk. If not, no deal. Bargain with the hideous creature, see?

or, if that doesnt work out,

2. I would tell the freakin brat to GO HOME or ELSE! And then I would speak to the mom. Firmly. And if that did not work I would call and report the kid runnning amok w/o parental supervision out of concern for her "safety".

I suspect the kid has a terrible home life and I do feel sorry for her, but that is not your problem.

I'm not laughing--I feel your pain and I couldnt tolerate the behavior. Good luck!!

[tlwtheq]

If I remember right, the cairn that was in Bright Eyes was Terry (Toto). I believe the dog's name was Raggs?

I think you're right, I was going to post the same thing before I saw your post.

[Eliz222]

OH, my! That would bother me too, and I'm especially concerned that this child is roaming around the neighbor hood with proper supervision!

I think it's time to talk to her parents, and if this doesn't work, I would call the police and ask them what could be done.