What will you do if you step on a dog's tail accidentally?

Hello Youless, Children are sweet by nature and they are too pure to be spoiled by the mean world. They do what we all should do - cherish life and every living being without being told to. That's too bad that sooner or later adults teach them to do otherwise. The other day I heard a parent telling his little daughter, who wanted to pet a harmless stray dog: "don't you ever pet such a disgusting creature!" If you ask me what will I do if I step on a dog's tail by accident, I'd try to make her forget about the incident, encouraging her to play with me. This way she'll know it wasn't my intention to hurt her but it was an accident. Accidents happen in dogs' world, too, and they don't pay excuses to each other. They just pass over the incident and try to enjoy their time together.

That is sweet and the first step to being respectful and good to animals. You should be very proud. I have taught my daughter and my grandkids to respect animals and always to ask the owners before going up to an animals and petting it. I think this is important to respect them and hope they are nice animals.

Haha that reminds me of what I do too. Many times I had accidentally stumbled across our dog at our country house. Of course the dog will complain with a sudden cry. What I always do is kneel next to her and hug her and say I am deeply sorry. Somehow, they do understand what we say, don't you think?

Definitely, do apologize. Dogs (and cats) know when they've been accidentally knocked against, kicked, stepped on, etc. A verbal apology and a pat on the head will reinforce your peaceful intentions.

This happened to me but not with dog but cat and of course the word sorry will come out from my mouth. That is what we should do not just to other people but other creatures too~ Your boy? That is so cute. I am very sure most of the children will just get run away if this happen to them~

Good if he will not bite me, however if he did I will also bite him and transfer my rabies to him

Hi youless, we, adult are complicated on account of we have experienced countless of whatever we have come across in our daily life. Adult always think of self safety at the very first moment. Whereas children are innocent and they are just like a piece of white paper without any stain available on it. So there is always unexpected answer given. Yeah, your kid gave such answer just because he thought that he should apologize for the fault he had made. He felt that the dog would suffer from the pain someone stepping on its tail. He never realized that the painful feeling would make the dog to get angry and would attack him in return. Happy posting

Hi youless!!! Your son is indeed sweet! He already understands that when he accidentally hurt someone or an animal for that matter, he should apologize. I must say, you are bringing him up well. Keep up the good work.

I think I am the only one who step on my dog tail but its seem common problem among dog owner. My dog is the same color with my floor and its often he sleep in the way we will pass. There is sometime we were in hurry and accidentally step on his tail. He usually just cry but never bity. So I usually just said sorry and move you are blocking my way . I think he realize I never step on him for a purpose. The one I own right now is more calm than the one I had in my child hood. This one seem get used to step on it, because he love to sleep below the stair since puppy and its often when we turn of the light at first story and when need something there we accidentally step on him .

Well, I would pet it saying I'm sorry. We makes mistakes; accident happens; we bump into something unexpected.

awww that is so sweet of your son but me i guess i'd just run away.

Hi youless, There is nothing left for you to do anything because you have already invited it to bite you & it wont give you the time to apolige too. This has happened to me in childhood when i was 6~7 years old i put a foot on dog's tail it took miniseconds to reply & bite me on my leg. So be careful & don't let it happen to you always be careful with dogs & cats.They can be dangerous at times.

lol :) realy it's cute answer! For sure if that will happen to me I'm going to see if nothing happend to the dog.

I step on my dogs tail all the time unfortunately :( I do apologize when I do and then give him a treat to compensate the fact that I have harmed him.

Yes, I think I wouyld automatically say sorry to the dog too. Having grown up always with a dog in the house, I guess I regard them as being human beings. _Derek

youless, Other than a cute answer, I have to add that you have taught your son well. I believe that other than being instinctive here, he has demonstrated that he is being very well taught and has exemplary manners. Keep up the good work.

I have stepped on my dogs foot accident before. I felt really bad and bent down to pet her and hug her and tell her I was sorry. Not that she understood the sorry part but I hope she understood the love and that I didn't mean to do it. I would pet and reassure any dog that everything is OK if I were to accidentally step on them or something like that.

If it is a known dog or your own one, you can react like that,hugging it, patting it and saying sorry and it may work too. But if it is a street dog, one has to be more careful. No one can judge, when it will turn ferrocious! So, the best way is to run quickly from the scene to a better hide out!

the thought made me scared! we have not had a dog for a pet for the longest time. how i miss our dearly departed dogs. i easily get scared. i don't think i can even say sorry. i would feel sorry after gathering up my senses ha ha

Dogs always let it be known when a person steps on their tail. Thats swee your son said he would say "I'm sorry". The things kids come up with. My 3 yr old I'm sure would stop and look and/or laugh if the dog made a sound. She things it's funny when she can get some noise out of the cats.