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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

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 13:31

So you all agree then, owning a dog when you have a baby/toddler is perfectly OK and in no way endangers the child.

No, I don't agree with that statement. There are some irresponsible owners/parents/grandparents for whom its clearly not perfectly OK and who do endanger their children/grandchildren.

But you can't extrapolate from those to all responsible dog owning parents.

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

'Is it always OK to have a dog in the same house as a small child ' no

wannaBe · 16/02/2011 13:32

I've chosen owning a dog over owning a car, which is statistically far more dangerous.

But the bastards won't give me a driving licence.

Memoo · 16/02/2011 13:33

Invision. If a person is a responsible dog owner then yes, owning a dog does not endanger a child.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dogs Families General parenting

GooseyLoosey · 16/02/2011 13:40

I do think people underestimate the frequency with which this occurs.

Dd(6) was bitten by a rescue dog we re-homed last year. She required plastic surgery. I was also bitten in the summer by a trained police dog which, in theory, should have had the instinct to bite random people trained out of it. Since these incidents, about 50% of our closest friends have said either they or a close family member have permanent scarring from dog bites.

I don't think that any of this means that you should never mix dogs and children. However, I do think that people maybe slightly too ready to assume that their dogs will never bite anyone and that children are safe around them.

Memoo · 16/02/2011 13:41

My DD was bitten by another child at a toddler group OP, does that mean I should never take her to toddler groups again?

Plonker · 16/02/2011 13:42

"So you all agree then, owning a dog when you have a baby/toddler is perfectly OK and in no way endangers the child"

What Grimma said.

I don't think anyone on here is saying anything to the contrary

wannaBe · 16/02/2011 13:43

yes but what you need to look at is why these instances occur.

For a dog to randomly turn and attack is incredibly rare. there is almost always a reason why a dog bites, be that because the children have teased it/it's not the family dog so not used to children/it is a guard dog so trained to be agressive/it was known to be agressive but the child was allowed near it anyway.

This idea that any dog can just turn at any time is about as realistic as the idea that a car left on a garage forecourt could explode at any given moment with your children inside.

Plonker · 16/02/2011 13:43

@ Memoo

ThePosieParker · 16/02/2011 13:43

I wouldn't but I'm sure there are some very experiences dog owners who have no problem at all with having children.

ThePosieParker · 16/02/2011 13:43

typos all over the shop.

Ormirian · 16/02/2011 13:45

When I was a baby we had a border collie that loved me so much she used to sleep under my pram in the garden (old school parenting - tough love!) to guard me. Sadly there was one occasion when another dog wandered into the garden and she had to bark so loudly at the interloper that she knocked the pram over and then stood over me barking until my mum came out.

Never bit anyone though!

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 13:47

Memoo Wed 16-Feb-11 13:33:53
Invision. If a person is a responsible dog owner then yes, owning a dog does not endanger a child.

Memoo, are you saying a dog owned by a responsible dog owner will never have a bad day, be pushed too far, do anything out of character etc..etc.etc.. ?

GooseyLoosey Wed 16-Feb-11 13:40:14
I do think people underestimate the frequency with which this occurs

Exactly Goosey, and I'm being pilloried for daring to call dog owners with toddlers selfish when quite clearly they are. There is only one choice, and thats being a responsible parent, not a responsible dog owner.

OP posts:

EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 16/02/2011 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 13:54

It depends if the child is your main concern or not, and reading some of this dribble you have to wonder.

OP posts:

Ormirian · 16/02/2011 13:55

I think invision doesn't much care what happens to the dog.

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 13:56

And I think people underestimate the dangers of hot drinks (the stats speak for themselves, an order of magnitude difference) but I wouldn't dare presume to dictate that all parents do without them.

Marne · 16/02/2011 13:56

I hav't read the whole thread.

We got our Staffie when dd2 was 2 and dd1 was 4, they bonded straight away and dd2 and the dog are now best friends (dd2 will try and dress the dog and will kiss the dog). I don't see a problem with having dogs with small children. I would never leave a very young child/baby alone with a dog and if my dog showed any signs of aggresion i would not keep her. I think as long as you are a good dog owner then there should not be a problem.

LessNarkyPuffin · 16/02/2011 13:56

You registered 2 days ago and now are saying you're a bad parent if you have a dog.

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 13:57

I hav't read the whole thread.

(I wouldnt bother )

scurryfunge · 16/02/2011 14:02

Narky, I reported a while ago...he is winding people up on other threads too.

Original poster

invision · 16/02/2011 14:13

Amazing !....I have a different opinion to you and you deem to call it a wind up and report it.

Totalitarianism at its best.

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 16/02/2011 14:17

invision you have a different opinion to every other poster on this thread. Does that tell you nothing?

Imo this face looks sad. What do you think?

GrimmaTheNome · 16/02/2011 14:18

Invision - everyone is entitled to their opinion. You however seem to think you can make declarations such as 'There is only one choice' and expect not to be challenged by those with other opinions.

Try to debate rather than dictating if you really want to do something other than wind people up.

Personally I think that being wound up is all that keeps some of us ticking so I wouldn't have reported you

LessNarkyPuffin · 16/02/2011 14:24

I think you are a bad parent if you don't have a dog.

I will accept goldfish as an alternative for those with allergy issues.

MooMooFarm · 16/02/2011 14:24

Sorry but a (small) part of me agrees with Invision - I personally have known people who already have a big and/or otherwise untrustworthy dog, then have a baby, and spend years worrying about keeping them separate, putting up babygates in doorways and kennels in the garden. In that situation I would get rid of the dog, every time.

I know any responsible dog owner would not leave a dog alone with a baby, but why invite the hassle of having to supervise them constantly? I would rather save myself the trouble and not have a dog! Easy to say as someone who can take or leave pets. I suppose if you love them with a passion it's not so simple.

Each to their own though - I just prefer an easy life!

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