''I'll walk the dog...''

[bev6951]

I just wanted to know your thoughts on the following, my (almost)13 year old son is desperate to walk Wilson.On his own. He asks me all the time and gets in a right grump because the answer is always the same........NO!   
Am I being a really horrid mum by not letting him take wilson out? On the whole wilson is quite a good boy but does pull a bit on lead and doesnt have very much road sense at all and just the thought of anything happening makes me feel ill, every time my son asks I end up argueing with him as he says he is old enough now and wilson is 'everyones' dog in the family (we all know thats not true, he's mine but thats another thread!!) and I am just being selfish  The other massive thing is dog theft, wilson is still young, entire and very gorgeous!!!  My son wouldnt stand a chance if anyone challenged him for the dog. He doesnt ask to take Mylee yet as he knows that she is still so young and I am training her but I know what he'll be saying in a few more months!!
Am I being unfair, do you or would you let your 13 yr old take your beloved dog out for a walk?

[Jan/Billy]

No I don't think you are being unfair, I wouldn't let him either for all the reasons you stated.


Could you not walk him together?

[sarah25]

No I don't think you are being unfair, I wouldn't let him either for all the reasons you stated.


Could you not walk him together?

I agree and was thinking the same about taking him for a walk together.

[bev6951]

No I don't think you are being unfair, I wouldn't let him either for all the reasons you stated.


Could you not walk him together?

I agree and was thinking the same about taking him for a walk together.

that is what we usually do, 90% of the time he comes with me and often my 7 yr old daughter too but he wants that independance or to let me know that I can rely on him to do a good job with something that he says thngs like ' you get on with tea mum I'll take wils out for you'!! I think also some of his mates get to walk their dogs on their own.
I know his heart is in the right place but mine would be in my mouth the whole time they were gone!!

[LucyJ]

I wouldn't either - too many things could go wrong.  

Could you maybe do the road walk with him, then let your son take Wilson around the park on his own, but with you staying close enough to help if needed?  Or, if you son is wanting to be more involved with Wilson, perhaps they could do some sort of training course together?

[jools]

I have exactly the same issue with my 14 year old daughter. She is very mature and loves the dogs, but there is no way I would put her safety at risk, or th safety of my dogs. The thought that someone would take them off her is too much to stand.

[Cob-Web]

I think it depends on the child, the dog and the area you walk - I was volunteering for the RSPCA at 13, and walked the occasional dog (it only had two temporary kennels) alone in the local area  - I know that they don't let children that young do it now, though 

I *might* let lil'bit walk a single, steady dog alone when she is 13 if I am confident in her ability to handle the dog 

Fortunately we don't have to worry about theft here; but handling a dog-on-dog incident is a different matter    She is doing incredibly well with her confidence and handling - and fully intends to drag her parents to YKC Camp as soon as she is old enough  , so I will probably have more confidence in her than I do in some adult handlers I meet long before she is 13 

Perhaps he should "prove" to you over the summer that he is responsible enough by taking control of him while you are out together - if you are happy, then you can begin to relax the rules 

[cazza]

I let my 10 and 12 yrs old walk my dogs  

But then I don't have a road that they have to go near and they are trained (the kids that is   )  Normally I walk with them but when I was ill they did it all an d I supervised from the upstairs window  

[Annette]

Ben (10) wants to walk Buddy too, and we have told him that he can so long as Buddy stays on lead. And only for the shorter afternoon walk.

However, our field is just outside the house so no road walking is involved, so it feels fairly safe.

I remember walking our dog when I was his age and I think it will be a really good thing for his personal development. I'm not sure that Buddy would recall well for him, and I am certain that Ben wouldn't be as aware of all the dog-walking etiquette which seems to be so important these days hence the on-lead rule.

Have yet to send him out for his first walk though as he has been really busy the past few days since we discussed it.

I would have thought a 13 year old would be mature enough - I presume he gets himself to and from school by now?

Ultimately it is a decision only you can make about your own child and dog.

[Jan/Billy]

Or, if you son is wanting to be more involved with Wilson, perhaps they could do some sort of training course together?

That's an excellent idea!


Maybe if you explain to him that it's not him that you don't trust, it's the other dog nappers & idiots out there with out of control dogs that you are worried about. I wouldn't let even the most sensible 13 yr old walk any dog of mine. My 15 yr old stepson isn't allowed to walk Billy and he's probably one of the most sensible 15 yr old boys you can find.  It's not an issue because he doesn't want to but even if he did it would be a definate No.

I used to walk our dog when i was little but things have changed over the years.

[bev6951]

wow there are some really great ideas out there thank you, I do think that although he is a pretty responsible kid you never know what might happen and as someone mentioned an incident with another dog would be awful while I wasnt there, not saying I am a control freak but with this I think I am slightly. I just told my son about this thread and he said 'oh dont forget to tell them that dad lets me walk wilson sometimes when your out'        I never knew that, there will be words later I can tell you, but I suppose it has proved that he is ok but it would still be a no for the regular walks.
I think he will love the idea of the two of them doing a course or something together, and walking the road bit with them then letting him take it from there while I was still around. lurking!!!
My mum lets him walk her golden retriever every time we visit her, but she is 13 (the dog not my mum)and doesnt move very fast and just plods along(again the dog.......actually and my mum!!!!)

[wend]

My daughter has walked Harvey since she was 13 (now 15), she's done agility and some basic obedience classes with him so she knows what she's doing. She never goes over fields with him and he's always on lead with her (in fact she's more paranoid about his safety off lead then I am). As for 'dog napping' that can happen to anyone, there's not much you can do to prevent that only the obvious things like not leaving them outside a shop. She also always walks him on a normal lead not a flexi lead as they can be dangerous near roads and other dogs. They also need to accept they have to scoop the poop!

[sal]

This became an issue in our house last summer when a friend of my then 10 year old son got a job walking a neighbours 12 yr old terrier and he wanted Philip to walk with him.  I said no to Philip walking with him and the friend then offered to split the money with Philip but I said its not the money, although I did feel why should my son walk too because his friend wanted the company and not get paid, I don't think your responsible enough, which was proved as the friend I later found out wouldn't even pick up after the dog  

I explained about being a responsible dog owner to Philip and after a lot of huffing and puffing he realised why I said no.

Philip is probably more savvy than my hubby with regards dogs, he was brought up with cats, and like your son is probably quite competant and has watched you and picked up your ways.  Again I think gut instinct works in these situations too.

[JaspersMum]

My 13 year old daughter has taken them round the immediate block on her own, but not down to the park where they'd be off lead where she might panic about recalling them or where someone else might get them first. She'[s not so keen about poo pick up though 

There are plenty of people around the small circle who know her and the dogs by site if not better so I'm confident there would be someone in an emergency. 

She also did the training with Lou until the course changed nights and wants to go back. Hopefully we can sort this out now

[dkirkuk]

While I agree with all the safety and "what-ifs" that others have quoted, I think that there is also something here about kids learning responsibilty at a young age and sensible animal ownership is an ideal way to help your kid develop into an adult who appreciates his responsibilities. I had dogs and horses as a child and although my parents were always around to help, it was always made clear that it was up to me to look after them. I firmly believe that that had biggest impact on my sense of responsibility in many aspects of life now that I am big and grown up (I think!).

I agree with one of the other respondants that, if your dog is a sensible sort, a good idea would be to escort them to a relatively safe place and then let your son take the dog from there. Classes would also be a great idea if it helps to teach your son how to let the dog socialise, how to recognise anxiety and aggression in the dog etc without panicking, and giving you a confidence about recall etc.

A good dog-respecting child will grow into a good dog-respecting adult.