To think young dogs and children together is a bit ick?

[gostraighttojail]

Our friends have just gone home. They came to us for Easter with their new puppy. Very sweet, very dizzy, very, well, er disgusting really.
I don't dislike dogs and I am usually happy to do the bare minimum housework-wise around the place but I found myself wanting to mop and sanitise everything.
It just doesn't seem right for the dog to eat its own shit and horse shit and deer shit and then chew the kids' toys. Or walk all over the kitchen floor with feet that have just walked outside in aforementioned shit, then we all walk across it in our socks or slippers and put our feet up on the sofas or chairs or in bed. Or for the dog to lick its bum and then my kids' hands. And I will never, ever get used to picking up dog shit in a plastic bag. Yuck I was glad when the had gone. I just can't get the smell of dog out of the house.

[shockers]

My dog keeps me sane... my children often have the opposite effect .

[midastouch]

YABU its not always 'ick' I have dogs (they do not eat shit! That is not normal behavious) and 2 DCs 3.9 and 11mo. They are pretty healthy. My dogs aren't allowed upstairs (except one as she is very ill) nor are they allowed in DC playroom so they don't have access to toys. Its usually mud they tread in when its been raining so you mop the floor and dry there feet. Carpets are shampooed monthly. I have OCD and I cope with it!

[jamdonut]

Our family has a new puppy.(Now 13 weeks old) It is just like having a toddler. I need eyes in the back of my head.

We are getting on with the house training, but it is HARD work. I don't have small children though. We did not have animals when they were younger, because I just don't think you can trust any dog (or cat) with very small children.

I wouldn't be staying at anyone's house with our puppy just now, because that wouldn't be fair on the host or the puppy. She can mostly hang on long enough to go on short visits to other peoples houses , but still has the odd accident.

And we are stopping her from eating dried cat's poo,if she finds it in the garden,(and if we see her find it).

I am also not a person who freaks out at a bit of mess. My children, now 13 ,16 and 20 have always been very healthy children, partly, I believe, because I was not obsessive about 'hygiene'.

Life is for living, not to be scrubbed down, sterilised ,covered in 'anti-bac',or avoided altogether.

But that is just my opinion.

[RubyGates]

I was adopted at three months old into household that had coincidentally just had two lots of sheltie puppies. I grew up with the puppies. In every photo there's me in the middle of a sea of fluff.

My mother is obsessively clean, and I doubt I was ever in danger of any hygiene issues, but it seemed like a very good mix to me. And one of the "Mummy" dogs adopted me as an extra puppy and was very protective of me. Excellent outcome. I've even overcome my craving for Bonios

OH also came ffrom a family of chaotic dogs and puppies. And is still here and reasonably sane.
So take your original title "To think young dogs and children together is a bit ick?"
YABVVU.

[ilovexmastime]

YABU and as an aside, I can't believe that your friends brought an untrained puppy to stay in your house, I would never do that to someone. The first few weeks of training a dog can be a bit yuk, so why inflict it on a friend with a small child who is obviously not happy about it?
Note that I'm not saying that small children and young dogs should not go together, but that it should be your choice.

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

That is coming across as passive aggressive patronising and offensive. Did you mean to be so rude?

[gostraighttojail]

Oh dear, still missing the point: it is neither dogs nor babies that this is about, merely young dogs and young children together. Is it a precondition for mumsnet that one is unable to read?

[MurderOfGoths]

Having living with a variety of animals, and now a 1 year old baby, I think I can safely say babies are far more disgusting

[Maggie111]

Research has shown that living with cats and dogs is actually beneficial to babies... healthland.time.com/2012/07/09/study-why-dogs-and-cats-make-babies-healthier/

As a puppy it is difficult to train them not to eat poo, but possible. Personally I don't think puppies and babies mix because each needs so much attention - but people who are less lazy than me can do it! My puppy is a year old now, I'm 37 weeks pregnant and looking forward to introducing the two of them!

He doesn't eat poo, rarely steps in it and we'll be taking all the sensible precautions. But I am not especially fussy when it comes to hygiene etc.

[Mumsyblouse]

I guess this is how the child-free view children. I am not a dog-lover myself, but surely you can see the parallels with young babies?!

[poppypebble]

Well my four siblings and I managed to be brought up with 3 dogs. In fact at one stage when the female dog made a leap over the garden wall and had puppies there were 10 dogs. My mum used to let me bring one puppy into the living room to watch playschool with me. I used to sneak two in instead and hide one, which was not easy to do.

YABU and the 'abrasive' comments are perhaps because those of us who do like dogs and have them in homes with children don't like being told that we are dirty or somehow endangering children. My niece, long before my DSis got a dog, was found with half a worm in her hand. The other half had been eaten. That is much more disgusting than anything a dog may do.

[gostraighttojail]

Why so many defensive and abrasive comments?
I obviously haven't made my post clear enough.
It's not all dogs, just this little puppy with a penchant for eating shit and licking my 1 Y O and her toys. She has only been with my friends 2 weeks, of course she isn't trained yet! They are in the process (apparently).
I am not averse to dirt; the contrary in fAct. I just genuinely do not understand how people can manage to follow basic hygiene with a toddler and a tiny puppy. And I don't mean O C D.

[binger]

My dog occasionally eats shit, I guess she only picks the really tasty ones as she is fussy. They are pretty manky but they don't mean to be, my kids on the other hand are pretty disgusting, and they do mean it.

I could do without the shit eating and bum licking though. They get very good at avoiding stepping in shit as they get older, the kids stand in it more often. I hose her feet before she's allowed in the house anyway.

[pigsDOfly]

A well trained dog is a joy and can be an enormous benefit to health and well being - think of all the therapy dogs that visit old peoples homes and sick children.

My dog doesn't eat her own or other animals shit but I still wouldn't let her lick my face. Come to that there's a lot of people I wouldn't let lick my face either.

[ddubsgirl]

Have yet to be ill because of a dog!! Kids have yet to be ill because of the dog or the cat! Yet to know anyone become ill because of a dog!

[minicreamegg]

OP are you my mum?

My 2 German Shepherds were here before my DS (age 1) so what do you suggest I do, rehome them now I have a baby? a baby that is currently sharing his dinner with them

[SoniaGluck]

Another dog bashing thread oh the joys Just what I was thinking, ddubs.

It seems to go in cycles: anti-dog, anti-cat, smoking by entrances/ in one's own garden , anti-dog, benefit cheats/scroungers, anti-dog, swearing/bullying on MN, etc. etc. ad infinitum.

[acceptableinthe80s]

Unless your kids ate the dog shit they'll be fine. Children are way more likely to pick up germs at nursery/school than from family pets.
I love dogs just hate crap owners. Yesterday I took ds to roll his eggs which we spent ages painting and as we were rolling our eggs a big slobbery dulux dog came running down the hill and started chasing all the children then ate ds's egg
[bushock].
He was not amused.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Did you miss all the posts telling you that well trained dogs don't lick people or children's toys?

Or are you one of those bizarre people who thinks it makes you superior to think all dogs, and therefore dog owners, are dirty?

[ChasingDogs]

I used to get a chocolate biscuit after I'd mucked out the horses... and nobody made me wash my hands first

Happy, germy days

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

I'd rather kiss my dog than most people.

[ddubsgirl]

Another dog bashing thread oh the joys

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

Is it just dogs you feel like this about?

What about other pets?

How do you cope with flies?

How do you let your children out the door at all?