Kids and dogs should they mix?

Question

I have a 3 year old daughter, and 2 dogs. A 10 year old cross breed and 3 year old rottweiler. I am in constant rows with my hubby as I refuse to allow my daughter to be around the dogs incase she is attacked. He is strongly of the opinion that there is no problem mixing children and dogs together. I am scared to go out incase he lets the dogs in to play with her. Anyone able to give me advice on how best to deal with the situation??? Thanks

The dogs are socialised with my husband and I but not with my daughter. The dogs are aggressive over food and the rottweiler recently bit the hand of a relative who came to the house who he obviously deemed to be on his own territory. Having said that the younger dog and my daughter are both very boisterous and she drags the dogs around by their collars and tries to shove dummies in their mouths etc. I just dont feel comfortable with her around the dogs, I was bitten across the face by an alsation as a child (not mine), although I have always had dogs since I am concerned. The older dog is very well trained and obeys commands unlike the younger dog who is a tad wilfull / high spirited.

Answer 1

I know exactly how you feel.

We had 3 dogs - a chow, a retriever and a shi tzu - all lovely dogs.
Then I had our first child - as a mum my relationship with the dogs changed. My baby came first (she had to). I realised this was very hard on the dogs and that they would resent her so we made the decision to segregate them.

I made sure they had lots of attention but we put a gate across the kitchen which meant that they no longer had the run of the house. That was over 10 years ago - they have all died now.

2 years ago we bought a bulldog - and he has his place outside.
I know people who have dogs in the home - it is all a matter of personal opinion. But I know our bully George doesn't know any different - he knows his place. My eldest looks after him now - walks etc.
No dog is 100% predictable (the same as people !!!) so you have to do what your instinct tells you.

I was lucky to have a hubby that understood how I felt.

Sorry but that's not much help is it ?

It's more to do with hubby than dogs ????

Answer 2

There is no problem mixing kids and dogs, its beneficial for both, but i would say you should respect that a dog was once a wild animal, and there is still some natural instinct in there, maybe buried very deeply but there none the less, you just cannot take the risk, all it takes is a couple of seconds while your back is turned and disaster can strike. A 3 year old cannot be trusted with a pen in a room alone let alone a live animal! I think your husband isnt suggesting your daughter be allowed to play alone with the dogs, as long as there is someone there that knows the dogs and knows the danger signs to look out for there should be no problem, if you are there try not to be nervous as the dogs will pick up on it and be on edge themselves, good luck and take it one step at a time.

Answer 3

NEVER NEVER NEVER leave a child alone with ANY breed of dog,
Always remember that!!!
Having said that when I had my first son I also had 2 dogs, I brought my son home from the hospital unwrapped his shawl and lay him on the floor beside my dogs and let them sniff him from head to foot, my husband and myself were only inches away at all times, but they totally accepted him right from day 1, now I am sure people are going to throw their hands up in horror at this and none more so than my own mother did at the time believe me but the mistake so many people make when they have kids after they have dogs is to keep them separate, the dogs have to know that these little humans are part of their pack.
Let your little girl be around the dogs but only with 100% supervision absolutely no exceptions, if the phone rings/door bell rings DO NOT leave them alone together EVER! if the dogs/or the child start to get a bit rough then is the time to correct them and separate for a while until all is calm again. Your little girl has to be taught to respect that if say for instance the dogs are asleep they must be left alone, you and your husband must be aware that if it is hot weather dogs can get grumpy/and or snappy so keep them cool somewhere and your daughter somewhere else!
Dogs and children do mix it is very beneficial to both.
Just take great care and you won't have any problems and obviously do not let your daughter near the dogs while they have food!!!!
EDIT
I would just like to add to the person who refered to German Shepherds as a notorious breed, that all most all of my dogs have been GSD's and I have found them to be the most trustworthy around children!!!

Answer 4

Children and dogs can and do develop amazing relationships and I've always felt sorry for kids who are deprived of dogs.

Having said that, not all dogs are great with kids. Is there a problem with your dogs' temperaments or do you just not like dogs? All children have to be taught how to treat a dog. Any dog will eventually defend itself against a kid who's allowed to treat a dog however they want - pinching, hitting, pulling hair, etc. Dogs and kids should never be left alone together unsupervised IF you don't know for sure that they get along well.

Have your dogs never even been introduced to your daughter? Unless you know these dogs have a problem, introduce them, one at a time, teaching your daughter how to act around dogs. Sounds like your dogs are living outside with no human companionship - that's not a good life for any dog - people have turned them into pets and they do not do well without companionship.

Answer 5

Hi...well having owned & bred German Shepherd & I have owned Rottie I would have to say...in general they are ok to be with kids & maybe due to the recent press you might be a little nervous...However you must have had these dogs for some time now & I would have thought that you would know your own dogs...
To tar every Rottie or any other breed with the same brush seeming a child may have been attacked (Not by their own dog I have to say)it would seem a little harsh to condem them all...
Being realistic you have to look at the whole picture & just because someone is a murderer/rapist or whetever doesn't mean that we all are & the same goes for dogs...One bad event does not constitute to the entire breed...
I have raised twin girls with dogs, Border Collies & German Shepherds & Shelties & never once had anything bad happen...
If you are worried then you should watch them carefully & not let them be together without you being there,if that makes you feel better...
You also have to remember that what you are doing is also instilling a dog fear into your children by your actions,this in itself could be a bigger problem to their future than the situation that you are in now as this is instilling fears into them that they really don't need...Regards Jake
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PetsSecondChanc

Answer 6

We got a boxer when I was a baby and he was great, was always very protective of me and never threatening. But my cousin was biten by her german shepard (notourious breed) when she was 5. There is no clear answer.

If your dogs dont have any 'issues' and know you are the boss then it should be fine and can be very rewarding for kids. I'm an adult now but I remember my mum saying that she spent a lot of time with me and the dog when they introduced us so the dog could see I was more important than him so he accepted me easier. Jelousy is the problem and you just need to let the dog get used to the situation. Good luck!

Answer 7

well, it depends i think because if your dogs aren't used to the child they may get territorial especially if theyre jealous of the attention you've rightly been giving the newcomer. i think dogs and children do mix if theyre introduced properly ive grown up with dogs my whole life but i was introduced slowly and surely so the dogs got used to the fact that yes i was 10 months and would probably pull ears and tug tails. by no means just leave her in a room on her own- not that you would Im sure- but if theyres any doubt at all about your dogs behaviour dont take the risk. Not worth it.

Answer 8

no, they don't really. I love dogs, and too many are destroyed because kids have frightened them, or pushed them to the limit. Even the best behaved pooch will bite if pushed -they are after all, only dogs being dogs! Find your dog a good home might be the best solution when kids come along

Answer 9

from what i have seen god have that knowledge of its a baby, its a child, this person doesn't have all of their brain cells so they can tell the differences. normally they are very nice to kids. some even consider them their own. as long as the dog are not mean they should be ok. i would probably be more nervous around the 3 year old rottweiler than the 10 year old cross, just because of the ages.
good luck

Answer 10

I have 3 kids and 1 dog. They do live together very well. My dog has never bitten, and I constantly supervise my kids and the dog. The kids are not allowed to take the dog into their room by themselves. My kids are young, 5, 3 and 1 and my dog is 4. We got our dog when he was 1 year old and had been around kids before. Keeping your daughter away from the dogs may cause her to become fearful of the animals. I would introduce the dogs to your daughter on leash have your husband make them sit(it's harder for them to jump and makes them look safer to your daughter) engourage her to let them sniff her hands and then allow her to pet their backs(away from the teeth) Good luck and I hope you all can live togehter pets are such good teachers for our shilderen, they teach kids compasion, responsiblity, and also give them a ear to whisper into...