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Parenting

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Original poster

Is it ever OK to have a dog in the same house as a small child ?

134 replies

invision · 16/02/2011 12:33

I constantly read about attacks that leave babies & toddlers scarred for life or worse.

Why would anyone risk their childs wellbeing like that ?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 12:48

then the likelihood of an incident is very low

Because the risk is incrediably minimal

So we agree then, there is a risk.

Why take it ?

OP posts:

Odelay · 16/02/2011 12:48

Yes, yes it's absolutly fine to have a dog and small child in the same house

hope that helps

DooinMeCleanin · 16/02/2011 12:49

'I do not believe that anyone can have their eyes on their child/dog for every second, and that is all it takes.' like I said I have trained my dog not to go into the main room of the house when I am not with him.

I can't see them every second of every day of course not. Atm dog1 is asleep in a patch of sun of the stairs out of my sight. Whippy dog is in her crate. dd2 is in the living room. Dog 1 will not go into the living room. Dd2 knows to to come and get me if she wants to go upstairs. I can see whippy dog.

If I move dog1 will follow just incase I go to the fridge.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dogs Families General parenting

jaffacake79 · 16/02/2011 12:49

It's utter rubbish quite honestly.
My dog adores children and babies (although he couldn't eat a whole one in one go! ). He will happily lay on the floor to be laid upon, used as a pillow, be "doctored" (listening to his heart beat, look in his ears, "trim" his nails etc), he loves the fuss. However, when he's had enough he'll go and lay in his bed or by the back door and then children need to be taught to leave well alone!
Stairgates and dog gates are there for a purpose.
It's like saying that when you have children you should live in a bungalow as the risk the stairs in a house pose is just too much!

scurryfunge · 16/02/2011 12:50

invision, your child is more at risk from you than a dog.

It is about perspective and being sensible.

Plonker · 16/02/2011 12:50

Of course it's ok. As long as both are taught how to be around each other responsibly.

"I imagine it's a MASSIVE pain in the arse having to make sure they are never left together unsupervised though"

Not at all. I can never understand why people think this. When I/dh leaves the room, the dog leaves the room. It really is as simple as that. It doesn't even require any thought as it's just second nature.

deepdarkwood · 16/02/2011 12:51

Shall I do the 'assessing level of risks' post that usually comes about here talking about cars/road accidents; and close family/sexual assault? Not sure I can be arsed.
I assume you don't own, or at least never put your children in a car OP?

EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 16/02/2011 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kendodd · 16/02/2011 12:53

I grew up with a dog that we got when I was about two. I loved that dog, she was like a living teddy. She would comfort me if I was upset, play with me all the time and never get fed up, she would even let me push her around in a pram. She was the very best thing about my childhood.

Your statement that you can't have a dog and a child is just bonkers.

DooinMeCleanin · 16/02/2011 12:53

Ofgs there is risk in everything. Life would be terribly boring if we avoied all risk.

No going to park just incase wee Johnny fell of the swing, no car journeys just incase there is a crash, no learning to swim just incase of drowning.....

BeerTricksPotter · 16/02/2011 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChessyEvans · 16/02/2011 12:54

Because OP there are benefits as well as the minimal risk. As previously stated, there are risks in many other every day things. You may make the decision not to take that risk, but your original question was "is it ever ok..." and I think you have found the resounding answer to be "yes". It is a valid choice that some people are prepared to take that risk (having minimised it) so that their children can grow up understanding and enjoying animals and without having neurotic parents pointing out the inherent dangers lurking around every corner.

I shall now go and have some lunch, risking life and limb by crossing the road.

JaxTellersOldLady · 16/02/2011 12:54

not even going to bother with an indepth response to this thread.

Dooin and others have covered all possible scenarios.

BTW OP, I got my German Shepherd while I was pregnant with my eldest child, shock and horror for you and when my dog died 2 years ago my son was devastated.

Haribojoe · 16/02/2011 12:54

OP's argument of risk and why take it is IMO absolute rubbish.

You can apply that to hundreds of situations in day to day life, and if you really believed that you wouldn't venture outside your front door.

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 12:54

I'm talking avoidable risk, not the usual day to day stuff.

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 16/02/2011 12:56

But the risk associated with owning a dog is avoidable so long as you are responsible.

I was virtually raised by the family doberman and I survived unmaimed.

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 13:00

Number of dog attack incidents (all ages) resulting in A&E visit in 2008, nearly 3800

Bad, but....

Almost 37,000 children under 15 were injured in burn and scald accidents (2002 data) - biggest cause hot drinks.

So I take it you don't indulge in in your house - why take the risk?

bebemooneedsabreak · 16/02/2011 13:02

I've changed my mind: I quite agree with OP and have decided to puree all food in this house from now on so no one chokes on large pieces of food...and we're only going to use weaning spoons (soft flexible ones) and we're only taking raw food now too no cooking. Likewise I've asked the nieghbors to take all the furniture with corners out of the house. We're going to sleep on mattresses on the floor, but I've given them the pillows.... I've also ripped down the curtains (more suffocation hazard). Not sure what I'm going to do about the cleaning yet...bacteria and such...

mistressploppy · 16/02/2011 13:03

at Dooin!

OP, I think you're flogging a dead horse here. There's a balance between desires and risks and having a dog is generally accepted to be ok. If your hearts desire is living on a raft with 6 rattlesnakes, that might be high-risk for child-rearing.

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 13:04

3,800 incidents, almost all avoidable.

Hot drinks, stairs, car journeys etc etc pretty much unavoidable.

OP posts:

mistressploppy · 16/02/2011 13:06

Erm, I think hot drinks are avoidable. They don't tend to gang up and threaten you

DooinMeCleanin · 16/02/2011 13:06

bebe what if they trip over the matresses and band their little heads on the walls?

You need some of these that will keep them safe. Though obviously not on water. They might get chilly or washed away. Best cut off the eletric supply too.

BeerTricksPotter · 16/02/2011 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ormirian · 16/02/2011 13:08

I have kitchen knives in a knife block in my kitchen. Have done since my children were small. As soon as they were able to hold ine I have taught mine to use them properly and safely.

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 13:11

Hot drinks are totally avoidable, in the home anyway which is where most accidents happen.

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