Dogs and Children?

Question

Okay, for most of you that are familiar to my questions you all already know that I have 2 Rotts and a Chow.
I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with these breeds and newborn babies. I'm about to have a kid and I would like to know if these breeds are good family dogs or not.
All 3 of my dogs are big babies and they are protective when strangers come around, but they have been around kids. My only fear is jealousy between the dogs and my child. Should I be concerned or not?

Answer 1

Since your dogs are friendly and have been exposed to children, you probably won't have problems but since dogs are naturally pack animals, just to be on the safe side, wouldn't recommend laying the baby on the floor unattended(like when baby is learning to crawl). Really good idea to take several receiving blankets that are used but clean to the hospital to use around the baby and then bring home and let the dogs get the scent before bringing the new family member home. We have found this worked very well with lots of customers, even those who had older dogs. Even worked with a pig. Give the dogs plenty of opportunity to sniff the baby when you bring it home and reward them when they do desired actions around the baby. Much happiness to you, the baby and the dogs.

Answer 2

Of course you should be concerned. You should be concerned if the dogs were ankle biters. Any dog has the potential to be jealous of a baby.

I have seen on TV when a couple was having a baby and they have a dog or two, they were encouraged to get baby things and have the dogs smell the items. Something about the scent of a baby, so when the baby comes home, they will be familiar with the scent of a baby.

There are ways to introduce the baby to the dogs where everyone should be happy. Talk to a professional who can give you techniques on how to go about this. You have two powerful breeds of dogs that need to be handled just right.

If you continue to be good to all of the dogs and make sure no one is feeling insecure, they should be okay.

Always keep an eye on the baby when the dogs are around. Have those dogs to respect the baby and when it is okay for them to come around him/her. Only when you say it is okay!!

Good luck to you and I wish you the very best. Congratulations on you new bundle.

Answer 3

truthfully these are not the kind of dogs that are good with children. do some research on line and you will find the dogs that are very gentle with children.golden retreivers ,brittanys ,springers,english setters are all good and usually very gentle.all hunters.....Hmmmm also the labs are good. keep the dogs away from the baby until they know the baby is there to stay. let them see the baby and smell the baby with you holding the baby. do these things a little at a time to get them used to the baby. whenever you hold the baby keep some treats in your pocket and when they are nice around the baby givre them a treat and praise them give them more attention also. you have a big job ahead of you. never leave the baby alone in the bedroom without you being there around the dogs untill u can trust them, chows can be vicious with kids . also depends on the ages of these dogs.are they puppies that can grow up with the baby or are they older dogs? that will be harder if they are older search internet sites type in best family dogs or best dogs for children. u will get your answer

Answer 4

The best... consult your vet very consciously on what you can expect from those two breeds. My mayor concern is the Chow, since they are very,very territorial, you should expose the newborn too close to the dogs even in your presence. the chow has a strong killer instinct, so be careful. My advise check with the vet. With the rott you shouldn't have any problem since they are very mild with children and believe it or not some maternal instincts..........

Answer 5

Yes, you should be concerned. Rotts and Chows as I'm sure you are aware have a history of aggression, and if it is ever shown against your new baby, that could be the end of your life. You'd never forgive yourself. I have a friend who has two Rottweilers and she NEVER lets them be in the same room or have access to her two children. Why she keeps them, I don't know, but at least she is aware of the possibility of danger to her kids. P.S. - Even though animals are raised well, genetics is genetics. You can raise a rattlesnake as nicely as possible and it will still bite!

Answer 6

As with ALL dog breeds, the temperment depends on how it was raised. I don't care what anyone else says...that's the truth. What you can do is buy a doll. Have it pet the dogs, pull at their ears...everything that a baby would do. Make crying noises and scream. Also, lay the doll on the ground. This way you can see how they will react...without your new baby getting hurt. Pay attention to them also, not just they new baby, this way they won't get jelous. Give them treats for their good behavior. I had to do all this with my great dane and german sheperd.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter what breed of dog you have, you should watch any dog that shows signs of being jealous. Being protective is OK unless the dogs want to protect you from the "intruding" baby. Watch their behavior the first couple of weeks. I'd watch the Chow more.

Answer 8

Introducing a New Dog to a Child
Good relationships between children and dogs don’t just happen. Parents need to make sure things go smoothly. There are many benefits to children having pets. Pets can enhance a child’s self esteem, provide unconditional friendship, and help them learn empathy and responsibility.

Selecting a dog
Before you bring your new dog home explain to the children that the dog can’t be handled and played with constantly. Show them how to love, respect and care for their new pet.

Although you may want them to “grow up” together, a small puppy isn’t always the best choice for a family with small children. Puppies can easily injure a small child. They can also be injured by a small child that doesn’t understand how to handle animals. Adding a new puppy is similar to having a new baby. Puppies require lots of time, patience, training, socialization and supervision.

Dogs that are 6 months and up generally do fine around children—with some help from adults.

Remember any new dog will require some training and supervision, but not as much as a young pup.

Breed Size and Type
Size: Small breed dogs are generally not good with young kids. They are more easily injured and frightened by a lot of activity. Frightened dogs tend to snap or bite to protect themselves. Larger breeds are usually better able to tolerate the activity of young children.

Type: Retrievers generally do well with young children. Herding dogs have a tendency to herd children by chasing them and nipping at their heels. Breeds that have been bred for protection like Rottweilers and Chow Chows may have difficulty dealing with the commotion of children and all their friends coming and going. They may perceive them as territorial intruders. While all dogs of a breed have some commonalities, each dog is an individual with his own personality. It is best to bring the entire family when meeting a new dog to determine how well the dog will fit into the family dynamic.

Responsibility
It is unrealistic to expect children to have all the responsibility of caring for the new dog or puppy. Teenagers have other things on their minds like friends and school and not much time to worry about properly taking care of a dog or puppy. While it is wise to involve the children in the care of the dog—don’t expect them to do it all.

The introduction
Introducing a dog or puppy to a child will take plenty of patience and supervision. Children act and move differently than adults do. Children also have high-pitched voices and jerky movements while walking or running. Dogs don’t always understand this and need to be supervised so children aren’t knocked down and scared or injured. Children must play quietly around the new dog until everyone gets used to one another.

Keep the dog on a leash. Watch for any hesitance on the dog’s part. Stop the introduction if the dog is hesitant.

Never let a child hug a dog. The dog might not understand this is a gesture of affection and may accidentally nip or growl at the child. It’s best for the child to pet the dog under the chin rather than on top of the head.

Dogs can be possessive around food, toys, treats, or their space. It is NEVER acceptable for the dog to growl but children must learn to respect their dog and not to bother him when he’s sleeping or eating. Teach children that when a dog or puppy is in a crate they must leave him alone. The dog will soon learn to use the crate to take refuge when tired.

Children should sit on the floor to play with a puppy. Puppies can wiggle and jump out of arms and they can injure themselves if they fall. A few treats will help the puppy learn that children are a good thing! Children can sit on a parent’s lap when being introduced to a larger puppy or dog. The parent will be able to control the child if he or she gets carried away and gets too rough with the dog. The parent is also there to help teach the dog to behave nicely around the children.

Finally NEVER leave young children alone with a pet—even if the animal has lived in the home for some time. It’s too easy for a child to put the dog in a situation he’s never been in—and elicit an unsuspected response.
..... more info

Bringing Baby Home

Babies mean new sights, sounds and smells and they take the lion’s share of everyone’s attention. And all of these things may make your dog or cat feel threatened..

If you plan ahead, you can make the arrival of a new baby much less stressful for you and your pet..

Begin by introducing scents, such as baby powder and lotion, before the baby’s arrival. You can do this by using these products on yourself or on a small doll..

Once you have the nursery set up, allow your pet to gently inspect it. Install a baby gate and begin using it, or close the door when you aren’t around so your pet doesn’t have free access to this room. This helps establish boundaries before the baby arrives..

Once the baby is born, have your spouse or a familiar relative take a piece of baby clothing or a baby blanket home for your pet to smell..

Keep the homecoming a quiet event. Throwing a party or inviting a bunch of guests right away will only make your pet more nervous and excitable..

Have dad or a familiar relative carry the baby in so that mum can greet the pet. Only after your pet has settled down should you attempt to introduce the newcomer.

Keep the first meeting brief and supervised. It may help to have someone familiar hold your pet while mum holds the baby. Holding the pet provides a means of positive attention and safety.

It is a good idea to spend some special quality time with your pet once the baby has settled in for a nap. When the baby awakes and begins crying, provide reassurance to your pet to help alleviate any agitation at the new sound..

No matter how well the relationship seems to be progressing, never leave the baby and pet together unsupervised

Answer 9

Honestly yes ,I would be very Leary of any dog in that situation. Only because when u bring a baby into your house, to them it wont be excepted into the pack right away they are extremely jealous and Territorial and its just not safe for the baby who your supposed to be protecting , its a hard call u have to make though.good luck with your baby.

Answer 10

Yes. There is no dog that is proven to be "good with children." We have friends who had a golden retriever -- a breed that is touted to be "good with children". Their daughter had grown up with these dogs in the house but, one day the dog just bit her in her face and the side of her head. Let me repeat : There are no dogs who are "good with children."