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

[invision]

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

Why would anyone risk their childs wellbeing like that ?

rinabean Ahhh, our foxhound gets on very well with DD, DS, our cats, our rabbits and, well, everyone really! If you go to a good rescue centre (never a breeder - you want a pooch who's been thoroughly assessed), you'll find the perfect pal. :)

ooo a fox hound - they are BEAUTIFUL but I've always been put off by the rather wonderful line in my dog book: "prone to chase and kill fox-sized animals"

I have a terrier and a whippet both living happilyish with a cat. The cat and the whippet are very close. The terrier and the cat tolerate each other.

Both rescues although the whippet was just a puppy when we got her and the terrier needed a bit of training not to chase cats. My mums ex ferel soon delt with that though

I might add niether were from a rescue, the terrier was from a pound and the puppy was brought to us after she was threatened with drowning, so niether were assesed. I imagine I would have had no problems at all if they were from a reputable rescue.

Hatwoman, our hound will have a little chase, but it's very half-hearted. We have pet rabbits often running around the garden, and she just tends to guard them. :)

We knew she was safe as she came from a reputable rescue centre.

both my GSDs live happily with my children, husband, cat and fish. They are TRAINED and so are the DC.

I also 'train' the 400 odd children at the school how to approach a dog, to always ask if they can touch it and it is essential socialisation for my puppy.

My dogs are fantastic animals and I wouldnt be without them. I have been brought up with animals of all kinds and dogs of all breeds and the only animal that has ever attacked me was a bloody CAT! It ripped open my pinky finger and tore a chunk out of my hand.

When you say "Cat", do you mean tiger, Jax?

Other things you should not do when you have a child:

Drink hot beverages - you could scald or badly burn your child with just one slip....
Take your child to the park....they could be attacked by a fox....
Take your child to anyone's house who owns a pet - gosh if your not a careful parent then how can you expect ANYONE to be responsible with there animals...
Dear lord - NEVER go to a petting zoo - Imagine the massacre!!

Would you like me to go on with the list of things you perhaps should never do now you have a child....no of course not - because you'd never bloody well do anything or go anywhere!

If YOU dont want a dog OP don't have one! But don't try and make other mum's feel like they are doing something wrong or are bad mothers if they don't boot the family pet out as soon as they have a baby...

I feel sorry for your kids, its seems they may grow up not liking animals or being afraid of dogs purely because of your judgemental, tar every dog owner with the same brush attitude. And they will be missing out.

When you say "Cat", do you mean tiger, Jax? grin

NO! Now, that would be a battle scar to mention... sadly just a big bad ole white cat that was a grumpy fucker and I didnt know.