Child Too Young For a Dog (or other pet)?

Question

While reading some responses to other questions, I've noticed a lot of people seem to think that young children are too young to have a dog. Why is this??? I had my dog before my son was born and I just can't imagine it any other way. They are THE best of friends and seeing the smile on my 2 year old son's face when he and our 3 year old pug are playing together or cuddling is the most precious thing in the world to me. I would never leave my son alone w/ "any" dog, regardless. As young as my son is, he is learning responsibility. He absorbs everything at this age so he knows how and why to feed our dog, let him outside to potty, etc. I know toddlers can be rough with dogs but I think those who are never exposed, and taught otherwise, are worse off than those with dogs. If you think young children shouldn't have dogs, please give me your reasons. I'm not trying to be narrow-minded, I'm anything but that, I just don't get it and want to know your views and opinions.

Answer 1

yes i have a 2 and was 3 at the time of the dog year old. and they LOVE THE DOG. she is a little bigger to keep up with the rough housing, which i think is better, if your going to get a dog with little ones it should be a dog that can handle some roughness. but no, i think its wonderful i was NEVER allowed a pet growing up in my home, and now i have had 6 or 7 since ive been married, lol.. and i think its wonderful for the kids, it really teaches a sense of affection care and love that a human cannot teach.

Answer 2

Pro: Human Development

Reason 1: allergies -- Children who are raised with pets have fewer allergies than others.

Reason 2: empathy -- Learning empathy when Mom says "How would you like it if someone pulled your ears?" is better than at Kindercare.

Other reasons : responsibility, respect, play, companionship, etc.


Con: Human Fallability, or perhaps stupidity...

Reason 1: jealousy -- Fifi might not like sharing Mom and Dad with a new born, and she might take it out on the baby.

Reason 2: untested dog -- If a dog has never seen a human that isn't obviously higher in the pack than it is, the dog may treat the child like a puppy.

Reason 3: responsibility -- If you expect a two year old to be able to perform all of the tasks involved in caring for a dog, then you should probably not have either.

Bottom Line: If you aren't absolutely certain that you can keep an animal, for whatever reason it may have, from hurting your child, then don't have one. If you aren't absolutely certain that you can keep a child, for whatever reason it may have, from hurting your animal, then don't have one of those, either!

Answer 3

First off you had your dog before the child...that is perfectly fine. You didn't decide out of the blue, "Hey my kid needs a pet."

I disagreed with a particular person bringing an animal into their house for their child, when she already has a dog she doesn't want.

It's okay to have a pet but I don't think people need to get one primarily for the child especailly one under 7 or 8 years old. I grew up with cats. I can remember being 4 or 5 and being extremely rough with them and got scratched all the time. Kids are rough. I don't believe kids really understand gentleness until they are alittle older. Besides I think kids should pick their own pet when they become a responsible age.

Answer 4

I think a child can be too young to be responsible for the care of a pet. However, it should not be a problem for parents to have pets. I had dogs before my kids were born and have gotten more since. Children and dogs should learn to respect each other. Since I have had retrievers I have had no trouble raising dog-loving boys. To get a dog for a child and then leave the dog in the yard to be ignored however is wrong. Depends on your situation.

Answer 5

I had my dogs before I had my youngest daughter too. As a breeder of little dogs. mine weigh 4-5 lbs. I can understand the worry. and yes it has been difficult with my youngest daughter. I have had to train her not the dogs. my oldest would have been fine at that age with a little dog. Some kids just are not and you have to evaluate the child and if you can handle it. Of course the size and temperment of the dog should be taken into consideration too. Oh i did have a pup that went with a little boy about 5 that was afraid of dogs, and wouldn't hold him. I called 6 months later an the mom said they were the best of friends and slept together. it took him sometime but was great.

Answer 6

I think it's great for kids to have pets in their lives at any age BUT parents should get a pet if the parents want a pet not just to placate the child. Many parents will get a pet thinking they're getting it for their child and only on the condition the child take care of it and that is how many pets end up being put down, let loose, turned over to shelters...when the child loses interest in the new pet and the parent doesn't want to tend to the animal. Yes it has been shown in studies that children in households with pets are more social, show more responsibility, etc...but it cannot be left solely up to the child to take care of the pet...because they won't and can't. Parents must be willing to show the child how to care for a pet with time, patience, and yes money for food, vaccinations, routine and unexpected medical issues, etc.

Answer 7

Responsibility is a key factor, and knowledge. Even the friendliest dog is something you have to watch at all times when you have a very young child or infant. Dogs are not humans, Dogs are dogs. They are "pack" animals. If the dog for some reason sees the infant or child as a obstical in his path to your affection, no matter how well the dog was with them before. He could assert his dominance and the way they do that is to bite and nip. Also babies and young children are such curious creature. They dont mean too but they can hurt and harm a pet. They dont know what they are doing, cause they are learning. Dogs and cats and most animals dont like to be poked in the eyes and ears, they dont like there hair, or body parts pulled, they dont want there food messed with, and they are NOT jungle gyms. A parent that thinks this is cute is liable to have to take their child to the Emergency room for stitches. There are exceptional and very patient pets in the world but this is not the case for most animals. Kids MUST be taught respect to animals, but furthermore its the PARENTS duty to watch there child at all times around a pet. There is nothing wrong with having a baby and a pet around each other, just know the consequences of one moment of failed watchfulness. Alot of my nieces and nephews have had quite intresting experiances with animals. Generally if they are scratched or mildly nipped and bitten I scold THEM not the animal depending on the situation. When my nephew was just a baby I introduced him to many species, when he was able to walk and hold, he was instructed how to hold animals and scolded for any bad behavoir, Hes now 5 years old and knows more about animals than most adults and animals are not afraid of him at all. He walks his Rottweiler and Lab all by himself and they love him and respect him with all there doggy hearts.

Answer 8

As long as the child and dog are being supervised, there is nothing wrong with young children being around dogs. I think it's good for them to be exposed to animals, because it teaches them responsibility. If a dog is raised the proper way, in a loving and caring home, then I really don't think there is much to worry about. You sound like a very responsible parent. It's those unresponsible owners, that raise their dogs to be aggressive, that people have to worry about. I would go ahead and get a dog and enjoy him/her.

Answer 9

Children should never be solely responsible for an animal. The parents should realize that kids are irresponsible in nature so they have to be willing to take over if the kid loses interest.

My sister was always cautious when my older nephew was a baby and his grandmother had an older yellow lab, female. This dog wouldn't hurt a flea yet my sister was always, "don't let him near the teeth". This dog didn't mind the baby and I or another adult was always right there to show my nephew how to pet the dog.

Bottom line: With children, it is important to be a good role model and show them how to behave, don't let them just fly on their own.

Answer 10

How responsible is the child getting the pet? Pets require lost of attention and love, not to mention lost of maintenance. So you as a parent need to find out just how much the child knows about taking care of pets and they all need to know they require a lot of time vested in the pet. When a child becomes a teenager, they tend to want to run with there friends and forget all about the pet leaving the parents to take of responsibility of the pet which is teaching the child irresponsibility of the pet. So this is a real dis-service to the child to just be allowed to be irresponsible for the pet they wanted to begin with. There is feeding, walking, potty training, bathing, playing, cleaning up after and vets bills. A tall order for children to handle, even during there teenage years. Lost of time invested, are they willing to put in that kind of time?