What kind of dog is safe for babies?

Granarchist like your style too and love the sound of your little Border ! Sound advice from you .

nellie

My youngest Grandson and Jack Russell Terrier are best buddies. He is 15 months and she is 7. They share everything when he visits, even their food. I know this sounds disgusting and unhygienic for the child but does not seem to have done him any harm. There do not appear to be any nasties in the dried dog food, I think as his diet changes I might be more worried about the dog!! There has been nothing as sweet this winter as a small dog and a small child asleep together on the hearth rug in front of the fire. When my youngest daughter was a baby we bred Border Collies and although they were also brilliant with children their size and 'bounciness' did not make them ideal companions. I think small dogs and small children can enrich each others lives as long as you know the dog and its temperament. I always have a dog from a puppy, never a rescue dog, as I think if they are to be with small children the dog needs to have had children around from a very young age

thehistorian - with you all the way. What was amazing with the visiting Border Terrier was that she was about 3 yrs old and had never had any contact with littlies up until then. She has continued to be perfect and stays with us often. My 3 yr old DGD often curls up with her in the dog bed by the Aga - but I repeat that I would never ever leave them alone together. Our JR is good at removing herself whenever she feels she has had enough from the DGC - but enjoys teatime if cake crumbs are on offer!

Nothing from the OP! I wonder if he/she has found our comments useful?!

None

Annie29, I take it you aren't what is known as "a dog person" - those of us who are know that dogs and babies can live perfectly happily in the same home. In my home, I have two resident dogs, aged 3 and 7, neither of whom had shared their lives with small people, never mind babies, until a year ago. All is well. The dogs were introduced to the babies properly, i.e. scent before baby - after which all has been carefully managed by the two legged adults. I would never leave my dogs alone with my grandchildren, aged 9 months and 3 weeks - it wouldn't be fair on any of them. The 9 month old loves the dogs but there is a risk he'd pull a tail or an ear - the dogs definitely know the babies are much higher up the list of importance than they are.
There is so much evidence about the benefits to children of growing up with animals, and I put dogs high on the list of appropriate animals - dogs know about pecking orders and respect in a way that cats, for example, don't either know or accept.
It doesn't really matter about breed (though there are some breeds I wouldn't entertain) it's more about the people around the dog and the way the dog has been brought up. Same with children, children who tease dogs, run at them, behave in a ridiculously excited manner, or torment dogs may find themselves responded to in similar fashion

Grace here -what kind of baby is safe for dogs?
Well we had the human puppies here yesterday and I can assure you that 5 and 4 year old boy puppies are pretty good at not bothering a dog. Baby girl puppies , aged 16 months are pretty good too, apart from crouching right down and eyeballing me in my buster collar and announcing "doggee" several times. Well spotted, that human puppy, but if I am being completely honest, it is lovely and peaceful now they have gone.
I did do well on the leftovers though! ?

Grace
I can see you are having a well-deserved rest

OK this is three doodles responding to the question about what dog is safe with human puppies. We've had a 3 week old and a 9 month old here all day. We know our place. We are very curious because the 9 month old often has bits of food on his fingers and face but we absolutely know if we attempt to sniff or lick we'll be told "leave it" and banished. As for the new puppy - he's either in his mummy's arms or in his pram.

Iam64 I salute you ! Great post from one 'dog person' to another .

Yesterday my daughter, son in law and their daughters aged 8 and 4 were in the park. With them was their huge, cross-bred dog on the lead. Out of nowhere came a charging toddler who flung her arms around the dog. Parents way back behind her. The dog's used to small children and just sat down while she fussed him. My son in law had a gentle word with the parents about the dangers of letting their child approach dogs in this way. Let's hope they have learnt a lesson before she does this to another dog and gets a totally different response.

Iam

nonnanna it's lovely that little toddler had no fear of dogs and just wanted to cuddle your big, hairy granddog, but equally right that her parents need to teach her to ask first. I have a lovely, old, little child-friendly dog but I'm also horrified by some children who scream and run away as we approach. This behaviour could also cause some dogs to give chase.

If children are being walked in an area used by other members of the public, and this includes cyclists as well as dog walkers, they ought to be under control or kept on a lead.

As the owner of a cheerful dog, (yes, he has a grin when he meets people), it is sometimes difficult to gauge how strangers might react and we are always careful to keep him on a tight lead. We were quietly walking through a sedate Devon seaside town last week when a little girl started shrieking and crying in front of our dog. The owner grandfather made the situation far worse by shouting at us, "Can't you see she is bl***y terrified of dogs!" I resisted the temptation to suggest, "And maybe you are making it far worse!"

What a prat! Shouting and swearing for no good reason. Luckily most of the population are better than that.

No dog is safe alone with a baby .I know of a baby who was terribly wounded by a sausage dog as she lay in her carry cot . Cats are dangerous too as they lie on babies .

If the carry cot was out of reach, as it ought to have been, a Dachshund would not have been able to reach the baby.

Common sense and vigilance are necessary. Parents must be responsible for the safety of their offspring. That's very sad that a baby was injured..

The main thing is to never leave a baby or a child alone with a dog of any breed.

Don't rule out the humble mongrel.

Their disposition and personality can be superior to an over bred pedigree.
Can't say I am thrilled with posts of babies in very close proximity to babies but Lillie knows her stuff.

No dog

Bearded collies are good with all children from babies up

I can't imagine why anyone would think having a dog/puppy at the same time as a baby is a good idea. I'm with other folks who wouldn't trust ANY dog near a child. I would like all dogs outside the home to be muzzled.
My dear sister and a friend are both partially sighted because of toxocarus canis from dog poo-it remains on the ground even after said poo is cleaned up and is easily passed on so the thought of allowing dogs to lick children is beyond my understanding.
I always say I'm allergic to dogs so folks will keep their unhygenic dogs away from me and my family-and all that blooming dog hair everywhere too. Yuk!
And why do folks have so many dogs?

Hi,

I'm an owner of three little doggies, and have always had a pet since I can ever remember. I have also had three children so there was always a dog and cat or more around when they were born, but the important message here is that the pets were there already.

I would say that you should have the babies and think about getting a dog much later.

The dog deserves to be loved just as much as the new baby and I can't see the sense in getting a dog at this time to be honest. Babies take up all your time.

I have four dogs 3 cavs and a westie my children always had a dog around from babies I have greatgrand children now and as much as I love my dogs and they all have a good nature and love children never gone for any of my greatgrand children I still think that dogs and babies have to be watched all the time and would never leave my dogs alone with a baby or indeed a young child a sudden noise or as we all know children have this knack of pulling dogs ears could upset a dog so its great for them to be brought up with a dog but be careful

Just seen your post Newquay as I said I have four dogs so love dogs they were all unwanted hurt and mistreated so as you can see I love dogs they give us so much joy and I pick up poo always carry poo bags each to their own but I can think of a lot of things that are unhygenic and there is always a vacume to clean hairs away and why do people have so many dogs in our case because I cant see dogs suffer at the hands of people and others like us just love dogs and what would we do without working dogs helping the blind finding people help those that are wheel chair bound sorry to go on but strongly disagree with you and this is a free debate so we all have our own thoughts

From a practical point of view new babies plus a new dog can be exhausting. Both need time and patience. Having said that a dog introduced when a child is a little older can enrich everyone's life.

Also for those concerned about dogs licking faces etc., there are far more bacteria in a human mouth than a dogs. Dog bites get infected far less than human bites - and I have seen scores of both in my career. Every time you kiss an infant/child you a passing bacteria onto them. It is how their immune system develops.