i suppose a lot has to do with the location and type of dog. My kid was 4 or thereabouts when she used to take the JR for a walk, or rather be led around by the JR, but it was in open fields on a farm and safe |
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This is one of those apparently simple questions which turn out to be way more complicated than you think…
For practical reasons, I’d say it depends on the relative size of the dog and the child, as much as the developmental age of the child and the dog, so common sense should be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Then there’s probably legal implications if the dog bites somebody or causes an accident though, and these are likely to mean that ‘technically’ parents shouldn’t be allowing kids to walk dogs at all. I’m not sure what age the law would say is ok though- 13? 16? 18?!
Social inequality and policing then comes into play, so I willing to bet that even if the dog misbehaves in exactly the same way, certain breeds of dogs and demographics of child dog walker will be treated differently too, if something ever did go wrong. |
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I used to walk the dog with my daughter, let her take over when we were in the park. Then the road. At a guess I'd say around 12-13 she could do it safely on her own.
A beagle on the larger end of the scale, not the easiest to walk he was very much led by his nose. |
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"I live on a main road
The kid looked about 6
The dog was a chunky terrier type
It was walking him really 
The dog or the kid? 
Yes
 "
It was a bit of both tbh
He would drag the dog and the dog would get excited and then drag the lad |
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It's just one of them situations I guess
The angel on my shoulder tells me that lad was too young to be walking that dog
The devil on the other shoulder says 'stop worrying about shit that doesn't concern you'
Somewhere in the middle there is sensible reason |
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I was taking two large dogs (Labrador and chunky Collie) out on my own from about the age of 11. They were then quite old dogs though, and no hassle at all. I took them off up the hills above our house, across the fields and it was lovely, actually. I used to really enjoy it. |
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By *oo..Woman 22 weeks ago
Boo's World |
Depends on the kids age and the dog(s) in question.
Your dog may be fine with them but it's what they encounter along the walk that worries me with my kids.
I have a Bulldog that is bigger than average, very strong and powerful built. His pulled me over a couple of times so I won't allow my eldest daughter at 13 to walk him unless someone else goes with her.
My son at 15 is okay though.
My 6 year old no chance |
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