Dogs and children

[DizzyDancer]

I know I started a controversial thread yesterday and this one will probably gain as much flak but please look at this and take heed of the pictures

Let's have no more children hurt or anymore dogs put to sleep because some parents do not take responsibility around dogs

www.lolathepitty.com/my-dog-bit-my-child/

at people saying you shouldn't own dogs if you have children. There are many dangers, you manage them. Never leave kids and dogs unattended, teach children how to act around dogs (and vice versa), and then the chances of any 'indicents' between the 2 are slim.

My ds is nearly 3. Can honestly say I'm never worried about him being attacked by our dog because 1. They are never together alone 2. My DS knows how to behave around here. Can honestly say he never harasses her. He knows not to touch her eyes/tail/legs or anywhere from behind. He is a 'spirited' child that isn't known for listening, but this is something I have been really strict and consistent on since he was about 1. Dog has been taught to associate him with positive things (treats, strikes, him throwing a ball for her). She always has an escape route to get away from him.

Don't know if it's just me that's a bit that someone is going to have their dog muzzled constantly when their child comes along.

I am a massive fan of crate training. Not as a cage but so dog has somewhere that is their space, and when dog is in there, they get left alone
I guess I liken it to having a toddler hanging off your leg all day and pulling your hair, eventually you will snap, and the crate gives the dog a place to go and not be pestered

I meant to say there are many dangers in our homes and life, you manage them. Same as dogs.

Saggingtits that would be me. My dog is a rescue. He was put in rescue because of "issues" with a child (and because the previous owners couldn't be arsed training an intelligent, nervous dog properly and hit and shouted at him ). So he is pretty nervous around kids and the kind, reward-based behaviourist we work with on his training has recommended we use a house muzzle on him when the baby starts walking, so they can interact and get used to each other without us hovering and making everyone even more tense. House muzzles look like Hannibal Lectern style face cages, but they are the least intrusive style. The dog can eat, drink and pant and you can use reward training to get them used to wearing them.

It might sound extreme but it's really not. Not every dog will need this, but mine is a very different sort of creature. bloody adore my dog, and I will not see him rehomed or locked away because we've chosen to have a child. He's part of the family too.

I'd like to tell you what happen to my DS1 (9) last night and see if you have any advise on what my kid should have done differently. We came back after football training, parked the car on the street. Had to park a bit furhter down the road and started walking back to our house. My son runs on the pavement toward the house. A woman with a highland terrier is walking towards him, on the lead, when my son passes them, without as much as looking towards the dog, the dog leaps towards him growling and bites him on the leg!! luckily he had shin pads and thick socks on. The dog then growls at me and my other son when walking past. The owner did apologise but WTF why would a dog do that??

Doesn't sound like your son could have done anything differently. Some dogs are snappy and aggressive. For some it's their personality, others have been trained to be that way.

It was really bizarre, just not used at all to come across aggressive dogs

If your child was genuinely just walking by then the owner was at fault.

Some dogs are aggressive and should be muzzled in public I think

He was running but I believe you are allowed to run on a public pavement! he wasn't interested in the dog at all he just wanted to get home, totally unprovoked attack. As the owner seemed quite surprised it may be that the dog was spooked as it was dark. Still though it should not have happened and if my son had not had shinpads on he may have had a nasty bite mark

Ah, apologies then glitterbomb. I would probably do the same with a nervous dog. I thought you meant he would be muzzled at all times when the baby arrived, not just when baby becomes inquisitive. I'm sure they will have a lovely relationship in time

We have a black lab who, since we brought home as a pup, is the most placid laid back dog I've ever met. Only time he gets excited is playing with other friendly dogs.

He scares easily, but has never been reactive, and I am aware in the future this might be an issue (he's only just about to turn 3 now) so protect him monitor closely.

In the summer at the park, sitting on the grass, chatting to a friend with ddog on lead lying quietly beside me I was amazed at the number of barely supervised toddlers and young children I had to stop and tell them they always needed to ask the owner first before patting a dog as they wont know if it is friendly.

Some of them obviously had never been around dogs before as they tried to pat the end of his tail on the ground (obviously didn't like the moving head, teeth and the drooling mouth), so had to explain to them how he likely to be stroked all with the parents still oblivious.

If a dog does something completely out of ordinary, then it's worth checking with the vet if they have something going on.

Pain might cause a dog that's ordinary calm to growl and bite.

That's to Yoko, but the dog was on the lead, owner should have been able to keep it back.