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.

[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.

[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?!

[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.

[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

[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?

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[shockers]

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