What kind of dog is safe for babies?

Don't get a puppy or any dog. This is not the time to introduce a dog into your household.

And this from a dog lover.

This is such an odd post that I think it's a wind-up

I'm inclined to agree Anya

Yes, Anya, maybe a wind-up. AND just like good dogs we need not to bite!

I agree totally with you Lillie. I too took my Bernese into the infant school to work with the children especially those who were either afraid of dogs or who had no experience of dogs. It was very successful and the dogs enjoyed the interaction also.

No , you can't watch dogs and children 24 /7 but I see huge benefits to children who have a dog in their family. Nothing like a hug from your best friend when you're upset.

I think common sense should prevail as I agree at the end of the day these are still animals no matter how well loved.

I have to say I don't see anything strange in the question at all.

luckgirl that labrador was a bitch, no willy licking possible.

My brother has a labrador and honestly if you knew about labradors you'd love that clip. You could see from the dog's body language where things were going. That dog loved that toddler, it was completely obvious.

Has anyone seen the labradors now being trained to work with children with disabilities? They are life changing for some. I watched a programme about guide dogs and one dog had gone to be companion to an autistic child. The child had never, ever spoken but after three weeks, when the child was out with the dog, someone patted the dog on the head and the child said "that's my dog". It made me totally cry.

Actually, I've just watched the clip again and perhaps it's a dog not a bitch, not sure.

Anyway, to be honest I've lived with dogs on and off all my life, and you'll never guess what? I've never caught anything from them.

Babies and dogs are a no from me though. Mostly because a new puppy is a full time job and if you have a baby you can't look after a dog properly.

I'm sorry to the OP if people are being rude to you about this being a wind up. It seems like a perfectly good discussion to me. Seriously, don't you see lots of young families who think having a puppy when they have a baby somehow completes their family in some way?

I knew about a young couple who had a baby and then got a dog. They couldn't cope and in the end he left the poor thing tied to a lamppost.

Nothing strange about the question, how odd that you should think so! We had dogs and cats before children in this household, and have ever since. All rescue and all wonderful companions. I met many friends dog walking with baby in a sling or pushchair, and we too have photos of dogs and tinies like Lillie has posted. Make enquiries from breeders about the nature of your chosen breed, owners can only tell you about how their own dog behaves and a lot of that reflects on how the dog is treated. Should you wonder where I have sprung from, I have been a member for a long time but read only. Time to come out of the closet maybe.

I have had three Great Danes, the last two were rescues. My last one was absolutely angelic and allowed our GCs to do anything. Once when my husband was at his daughters the dog and 4 year old GD were upstairs. When his daughter went upstairs she found Olivia anointing dog with her Clarins face cream! I grew up with dogs, and we never had any problems. My DD got her dog when her youngest was about 6, and he is great with all children, he's grown up with them and accepts them. The Staffie has a very bad reputation due to horrible people using them as status symbols and as fighting dogs. However they used to be called Nanny dogs, and are very loyal little dogs. I would love to have another dog, but we are getting on a bit now, and also the expense of holiday care is another consideration. I think training a puppy and having a bay sounds like very hard work!

I don't care how lovely and cuddly/friendly a dog is I would not trust any dog with a child/baby. Sorry if that offends, it sounds like such a sweeping statement but children are too precious to expose them to any risk even if it is a tiny one.

Sorry I meant to add a dog can do devastating damage in a split second without even meaning to, its just not a risk worth taking in my book.

My daughter and son-in-law have a rescue dog who is very jolly but can be quite ferocious. He is fine with their teenage children but DD is expecting another baby in March and is fully aware that the dog could become very jealous of the new addition to the family.

Bearing this in mind, they installed a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs four months ago to teach the dog that upstairs is strictly out of bounds. It is a precaution, but I still worry that a new Mum would only have to turn her back for a moment and the dog could leap into the pram/cot/Moses basket.

Having said that, I suppose one could worry oneself silly about all the hazards that lie ahead for defenceless babies. But to willfully impose an unnecessary threat to a new-born does seem a bit reckless.

The creature in the clip is very definitely a male dog!!

I worked with a family where the daughter had lost an eye in a conker accident. She then lost the sight in the other one because she caught toxicara canis from the family dog - this is a worm whose eggs the child acquires from dog faeces - the eggs then hatch out in the child's eyes and cause blindness. It is gross.

Children are not really at all safe from this risk until they are not indiscriminately putting their hands in their mouths and can understand the need to wash their hands after playing with a dog..

So it is not just the risk of an attack if the dog became irritated, but the danger of illness too.

I am truly horrified by the idea of a teacher taking their dog into school and giving it the free run of the place.

Sorry, but I still find this:

"My daughter will deliver my first grandchild next week. I want to know what kind of dog is safe for babies considering their fur and other things about dogs. Any idea?"

an odd question! Someone who is expecting their first grandchild, and the thing on their mind is what sort of dog might be suitable?!!

The fact that the person who posted the OP hasn't come back to respond, makes me think that this might -be a wind up- not perhaps a genuine question.

Makes a change from shoes, though.

Aaargh! Never get those strike throughs right!

Vans v plimsoles?

Usually Plimsolls-Poster comes back to add another comment, which this OP has not. Very odd...

Too much homework?

Luckygirl worming tablets are available at every vets and even in supermarkets. I don't think you like dogs very much, never mind.

I agree with Anya Fri 29-Jan-16 09:38:31

I think well trained dogs and well trained children can enjoy each other's company and get lots of benefits from being with each other. But the puppy trainer I took my pup to stressed NEVER to leave young children and dogs alone together!

My pup adores my DGSs and vice versa, but she is inclined to nip if over excited, and younger DGS tends to be noisy and gets her wired. They both need close watching until they both have more maturity. I'm working hard on training them both!

I would agree about not getting a new puppy and baby together. They both need a lot of attention.

I think they need to get the dog flea treated as well.

The one in the Youtube clip, I mean.

That dog was fine. Dogs, even fully wormed and treated for fleas and ticks, enjoy a scratch.

All responsible dogs owners make sure their pets are properly cared for in this respect.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that the dog owner in the clip was responsible!

I also find Cruns video frightening. The dog was being friendly but that poor child seems to be trying to push the dog away.

He did not seem to be mobile enough to escape himself. It is also possible that he does not have the comprehension to understand how to manage this contact.