To think some dog breeds should never ever be around babies and children

[Redburnett]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59953038
Such a sad case where the dogs had apparently never shown aggressive tendencies previously.

@Picklypickles

I don't think people with young children should have dogs at all if I'm honest. If you must own a pet get a cat or a guinea pig.

Both my children have been bitten by one of our guinea pigs. Neither of them by our staffie (rip old girl )

@Picklypickles

I don't think people with young children should have dogs at all if I'm honest. If you must own a pet get a cat or a guinea pig.

I have been bitten by 2 cats never even so much as been scratched by a dog.

Also been bitten by a rabbit that is classed as child friendly.

Genuine question as I have neither a dog nor a child - but if, as many posters are saying, having both means never leaving them alone together, isn't that a lot of hassle? I mean, if you are constantly monitoring what your dog/child is doing and keeping them apart, is it worth having the dog at all?

I mean, if you are constantly monitoring what your dog/child is doing and keeping them apart, is it worth having the dog at all?

I vote for the dog.

@OhWhyNot

It’s never a poodle or Labrador is it

I don’t understand why people choose to have certain breeds of dogs around young children. Dogs can (as humans can) act out of character. Their suffering which may lead to them acting out of character may not be noticed

They were always lovely dogs until something happens

My DF had to stop a bloody poodle from bitting me when I was little. He ended up with 14 stitches in his hand. ANY dog can cause damage, mine are soft as shit, everyone loves them but would I trust them ... ummm no.

Again the tragic news was about a child being mauled to death by a dog

Not a dog bite, cat scratch, hamster nip or parrot peck which all can be quite nasty

Yes all animals with teeth can and do bite, I've had dogs/cats/rabbits/ferrets/mice/rats/hamsters/gerbils and I've been bitten by most of them, except for the staffy! However, said staffie almost killed my other dog on one occasion and bit a postman and the policeman who came out about the bitten postman! My mother has another staffie now and he is getting old and a bit unpredictable and I don't want him near my children because if he does snap he could very easily cause serious harm or kill them.

I don't think people die all that often from cat or rabbit bites, it's just not as real a concern is it!

@Bintymcbintface

Any dog breed has the capacity to hurt someone, it isn't right or fair to generalise specific breeds are being more aggressive than others. For what it's worth any staffie or other "pit bull type" I've ever met has been the soppiest most friendly dog about, mean angry dogs I've met have all been small yappy little lap dogs that would quite happily rip your hand off for looking at it wrong

Any dog can bite but the potential for damage varies wildly.

I love Staffies but there’s no getting around the fact that their jaws are a lot more powerful than a Pomeranian’s.

@garlictwist

Genuine question as I have neither a dog nor a child - but if, as many posters are saying, having both means never leaving them alone together, isn't that a lot of hassle? I mean, if you are constantly monitoring what your dog/child is doing and keeping them apart, is it worth having the dog at all?

It says they lived in a flat with a stair gate to the kitchen - exactly the same set up I used to have when mine were babies. I pretty much kept my two dogs in the kitchen most of the time unless I was supervising. They didn't seem to mind and I think they liked having their own space. Wasn't any hassle.

Leaving a dog that's known to be jealous (or any dog tbh) in reach of an unsupervised 2 week old baby is negligent IMO. It would be different if the child was older and known to the dog.

Staffs aren’t dangerous dogs… dangerous wonders can make them unsafe though through poor treatment/supervision as they’re very strong.

• they used to be called ‘nanny dogs’ infact because they’re so good around children when properly treated.

NO dog, especially a dog with the strength of a staff should be left unsupervised with a small child. Ever. That’s just common sense surely? Even by mistake such as knocking over Moses basket, sitting on baby almost any dog could do harm.

It sounds like the home life had some red flags, on child protection list before birth, dads out smoking a fag, moms asleep, baby is unattended enough that no one heard this to stop it?!

My parents have just had their much staff cremated and the children in the family were devastated. 5 grandkids all grown up around him and much as we loved him, when my newborn daughter came home with me from the hospital a stair gate went on the living room/stairs/our room to keep him out.

If you’re going to keep an animal that strong you need to be responsible enough to do so.

@Picklypickles

I don't think people with young children should have dogs at all if I'm honest. If you must own a pet get a cat or a guinea pig.

Our dog made our family happier. He was a staffy. My young children and I loved him and we had great times with him, he was a blessing. When he passed away we were sad, we felt a loss without him as we missed taking him for walks etc. I think having a dog is great for children. However it does come with responsibilities.

No dog should be left alone with a child or allowed close to a baby. Doesn’t mater what breed. Any dog can attack, we only hear about the bigger breeds because they cause the most damage.

@HacerSonarSusPasos

I know I'm going to get shit for this, but I think anyone who keeps a pitbull type dog around their kids is massively irresponsible and naive and deserves to go to prison if the dog end up injuring or killing the kids.

Completely agree. Fucking idiots if you ask me.

I HATE pet owners that say the pet would never hurt anyone. It's a fucking animal, how can you verify an animal would never hurt anyone?!!

Would never have a pet more powerful then myself . We have a Yorkie and would not have a baby/ small child around him unsupervised.

Its being a responsible pet owner there’s always a 1st time when our dog was attacked in park by another small dog that’s what the owner said “He’s never done that before I’m sorry “ but that’s exactly why I keep mine on lead in public parks because I can’t read his mind . He’s never attacked or bit anyone , there could always be a 1st time just not worth it .

In this case unfortunately 100% the parents fault .

All dogs have the potential to bite, but some dog bites are far more likely to be fatal due to their inherent power and size. To that extent, I somewhat agree with you. Really though, the lack of supervision is the main problem here - I wouldn’t leave toddler DC alone with any dog.

No dog should be left unsupervised round children. My sister's staffy would be safer round children than my collie would.

That poor baby, parents were told to keep the dogs away from the baby, they didn't...the mum takes sleeping tablets and leaves the baby in the same room as 2 big dogs, and the dad, seeing this, decides his cigarette break is more important ...

Absolutely no breed of dog is more " dangerous " to humans than other types. The reason you will often see certain types of dogs such as bull breeds in the media for attacks is because a certain type of moron person tends to own these kind of dogs and doesn't raise, train or socialise them properly. All dogs have the capacity to turn or attack and should absolutely never be left alone with babies and small children. A decent owner will be able to detect when their dog is uncomfortable or stressed by a situation and immediately do something about it. I have raised four children in a home with dogs and my children are now responsible dog owners making sure that they do things properly.

@Picklypickles

I don't think people with young children should have dogs at all if I'm honest. If you must own a pet get a cat or a guinea pig.

I grew up with a cat and dog.

Cat bit and scratched me, dog never did.

That isn't to say that I think young children and dogs are a good mix. We had a rescue dog a good few years before we had our first baby, she was docile and frankly not in the least bit arsed by anything (still the same she is 15 or 16 now and still incredibly laid back) however we still never, ever, left the baby near her without supervision.

We got our second dog last year with a 7 and 4 year old, he was just a pup so we worked with a trainer and did a lot of work on getting him used to having his face/ears/paws touched, he is nearly 2 now and lovely (well an arsehole as all young dogs are) but he is never left alone with the kids, they rile him up and get him overexcited and while I don't think he would bite them - he still might and I won't take the risk.

My IL's have a miniature Daschund which is tiny so obviously harmless right?! Yeah whatever, they treat it like a baby and it has snapped at my DC loads so they are no longer allowed around it.

Of course breed is relevant. Different breeds are different. It was the whole point of breeding them.

It's not the only relevant point. Lots of things are relevant. Including the owner and the individual dog. These things are multifactoral.

Incidentally there are some pretty vile judgments going on here. Suggesting that it's a social/class issue, that certain types of people own a dog that does this. While nice people don't.

I love dogs, have had them the majority of my life and they really are members of my family, however I don't think I'd trust any breed around babies or children.

Rescue charities will never allow a dog to be rescued with a family with very young children, and rightly so.
Hence the increase in puppy purchases and, no doubt, incidences/puppies left out all day.

I've always been of the school of thought that you never leave a baby/young child alone, ever, with a puppy or a dog.

The mother had taken sleeping pills, and the father fucked off out for a fag leaving a 2 week old baby to be killed.

It's horrific.

They shouldn't have more DC, but will probably procreate repeatedly, with child after child taken away damaged.

Rescue charities will never allow a dog to be rescued with a family with very young children, and rightly so.

And yet the Doghouse section of this very forum Mumsnet is regularly frequented by many parents seeking to circumvent these rules by importing rescue from abroad, or using the less reputable 'rescues'.

@wanttomarryamillionaire

Absolutely no breed of dog is more " dangerous " to humans than other types. The reason you will often see certain types of dogs such as bull breeds in the media for attacks is because a certain type of moron person tends to own these kind of dogs and doesn't raise, train or socialise them properly. All dogs have the capacity to turn or attack and should absolutely never be left alone with babies and small children. A decent owner will be able to detect when their dog is uncomfortable or stressed by a situation and immediately do something about it. I have raised four children in a home with dogs and my children are now responsible dog owners making sure that they do things properly.

No dog breed is more dangerous than another? That's just nuts. If you get bitten by a Pomeranian or a Pit Bull, I think you might find a difference.