Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog breeds that won't turn on children

253 replies

Chickpearocker · 21/05/2017 19:52

I really want to get a dog but with having a toddler I'm terrified of getting a dog that would bite it seriously hurt him. Are there any breeds that are safer than others, or less likely to turn. I've been told that surprisingly smaller breeds can be quite viscious even though they look small and innocent. Please help!

OP posts:
Original poster
Chickpearocker · 31/05/2017 12:39

Thank you for the tips Ylvamoon you sound like you have a lot of experience.

I will keep you updated, at the moment there's been a big set back as I may have to rent for another 12 months meaning I wouldn't be able to get a dog. Well either that or I'm moving to a house with 12 acres. If I do get the house with the little bit of land, I'm worried that if I get a dog it could harm other people's animals in the surrounding fields so I would have to be very careful which breed I get.

OP posts:
Booboostwo · 31/05/2017 14:46

I am not sure I follow your concern. If you get a house with 12 acres you'd need to fence the area in. Either you fence the 12 acres or you fence a smaller garden and only walk your dog around the larger area supervised. And before anyone objects, yes we have 14 hectares and yes it is all dog proof and fenced in.

tabulahrasa · 31/05/2017 15:11

If you're going to be living next to livestock your dog no matter what breed needs to be unable to get to them, it's completely irrelevant whether it can catch them, or even wants to chase them... they don't know the difference between a dog playing with a stick and trying to kill them - they panic and run, in the case of sheep they run away causing themselves damage and while pregnant to miscarry, with horses and cows, they'll attack dogs.

It's also completely legal for farmers to shoot dogs in amongst their animals.

Wolfiefan · 31/05/2017 16:25

You really don't sound ready for a dog just yet. What if you think you are settled then have to suddenly rent again? Would you give the dog up?
YYYYY ANY dog needs to be kept completely separate from livestock at all times.
You seem to think that a certain breed with bite or not. And a certain breed will chase livestock. You really need to learn a bit more about dog behaviour.

LumelaMme · 31/05/2017 17:14

ANY dog needs to be kept completely separate from livestock at all times.
Or be properly trained. I've known dogs loose on farms and at riding schools who are absolutely fine around the other animals and who do not have to be constantly watched.

Wolfiefan · 31/05/2017 17:16

Yes dogs can be loose on farms. Working dogs. I doubt the OP intends to dedicate themselves to that kind of training. No dog should be allowed in with livestock.

Original poster
Chickpearocker · 31/05/2017 18:44

I wouldn't have to suddenly rent again. If the house sale plus 12 acres doesn't go through I will have to rent but if the house sale goes through we won't be moving again. The fields have fences but the dog can still get through the fences.

I know a lot of people around here who have dogs roaming around their fields and aren't a nuisance. None of them restrict their dogs to one patch of land.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 31/05/2017 19:47

Roaming round their own fields? Absolutely fine (wouldn't trust mine as she would eat stuff she shouldn't!) but making their way onto neighbour's land due to inadequate fencing is not ok.

Booboostwo · 31/05/2017 20:10

Just as an aside I know dozens of dogs ( not an exaggeration) who have been kicked by horses or had their paws or tails trodden on. In a few cases the dog died. Loads of people let their dogs loose around horses, very few take the time to train them properly. It's taken quite a lot of effort and time for me to train my various dogs to never enter the arena, or the fields when a horse is in there and to never get involved when the horses play up.

CornflakeHomunculus · 31/05/2017 20:31

Sheep worrying has also absolutely skyrocketed in recent years. In 2016 approximately 15,000 sheep were killed by loose dogs. That's just killed as well, it doesn't count incidents where there there were "only" injuries or ewes miscarrying. There are clearly far too many people giving their dogs too much credit when it comes to either walking them around livestock or allowing them out unsupervised. There was a case near me last year where some dogs (incidentally of a pastoral breed which might be presumed likely to be safe around livestock) who were unsupervised in their garden escaped and killed a load of sheep.

Regardless of the breed or type of dog you can't trust them not to nip through inadequate fencing and either chase livestock (some of which will sometimes attack back) or run around causing the them to panic.

Even if the dog has zero interest in them the livestock doesn't know this, the dog just wandering around having a grand old time exploring could still be putting the livestock (as well as itself) at risk.

Training a dog to be genuinely sound around livestock takes a lot of work, it's really not just a case of getting a breed which is likely to have a low prey drive and trusting it not to cause problems.

tabulahrasa · 01/06/2017 00:13

"Just as an aside I know dozens of dogs ( not an exaggeration) who have been kicked by horses or had their paws or tails trodden on. "

Cows are even worse, cows will kill people - nevermind dogs.

Original poster
Chickpearocker · 01/06/2017 10:16

Sounds like I would have to face the dog in a restricted area. Who knew there would be so much to think about! Goodness it's worse than having a child.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 01/06/2017 10:28

It sooooo is! You just need decent fencing around the perimeter. Something the dog can't dog under or leap over!

BiteyShark · 01/06/2017 10:30

Yes don't forget about if they dig. We had to bury fencing quite deep in some areas to ensure he could not dig a tunnel underneath Grin

LumelaMme · 01/06/2017 11:59

As regards dogs and stock, there is a difference between knowing your dog is okay to walk through a field of cattle under supervision (my big lad is) and okay to be left to roam (I would not trust mine to stay out of trouble). Also, a dog can be fine with horses and cattle but not with sheep. Mine is loose across fields with cattle (he stays near me), and on the lead sharpish the second I spot any sign of sheep - he's never really been tested with them and it's not a risk I'm prepared to take, whereas he learned about cattle as a puppy.

And YY to the comment about pastoral breeds loose around sheep - I used to help look after a small flock of sheep and we lost a young ewe to a GSD.

SparklingRaspberry · 01/06/2017 13:57

Gunna be honest, you don't sound at all ready for a dog.

tabulahrasa · 01/06/2017 15:00

"Goodness it's worse than having a child."

Yep, in some ways it really is... children aren't as mobile and then at some point they get common sense and understand why they're to do certain things.

Dogs, not so much, lol

Original poster
Chickpearocker · 01/06/2017 19:09

Sparkling how can you be ready to get a dog? How can you be ready for a child even? Surely you learn as you go with the best intentions and taking people's advice and help. Is there some magical course I have missed out on!

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 01/06/2017 19:44

You sound very naive, you need to do a lot of research and practical things like dog walking at a local rescue or kennels, volunteer with the cinnamon trust, really find out the pros and cons of having a dog

Booboostwo · 01/06/2017 19:45

It's worth finding out some things before you get a dog because if you discover them afterwards it is too late.

It is also worth volunteering at a shelter to walk dogs, or signing up to Borrow my Doggie, or similar in order to get some hands on experience.

Ecureuil · 01/06/2017 19:54

I've got a beagle, a 3 year old and a nearly 2 year old (the beagle came first). He's as soft as anything, never so much as a hint of a growl but we've still trained the toddlers really thoroughly! 3 year old is absolutely fine, nearly 2 year old can still be a bit impulsive.
It's hard bloody work though TBH. If I had my time again I wouldn't have got a dog until the DC were much older. He gets plenty of exercise as we're out and about a lot but i still find it difficult. 3 needy creatures is too many!

Wolfiefan · 01/06/2017 21:42

You can't ever be totally prepared but you would be stupid to go into this without any preparation.
What breed are you interested in? What are their exercise and grooming needs? What health issues do you need to know about? How much do you need to budget? Find out about training and local facilities. Vets and kennels and areas to walk. Prepare the house. Safe space for pup. Stair gate etc. train children. Do they know how and when to approach a dog and when to leave it alone?
I spent two years preparing for wolfie pup. The separation anxiety took me unawares. As did the constant puppy biting and teething. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. Getting easier but the early sleepless nights and constant supervision was bloody hard.

Ecureuil · 01/06/2017 21:46

Yes, separation anxiety was a killer here too. Our dog had just got over it by the time DD1 was born (dog was 3). That was with extensive professional advice!

Wolfiefan · 01/06/2017 21:54

I literally spent weeks unable to leave her long enough to have a wee. She would drool and pant and cry and eat her bed and wee on the remnants. Better but she MUCH prefers to be with us. Cancelled physio and dentist and hair appointments and struggled getting kids to and from school and activities. It was really unbelievably hard.

Original poster
Chickpearocker · 01/06/2017 22:48

Costa I believe that's the second time you have directly described me in a negative way. It's really not very nice or supportive. If I was naive or careless even I would have went straight on gumtree and bought myself a dog.

Through reading everyone's comments I am getting an idea of the potential problems I could face.

My sister has two dogs which I have walked on occasion.

I have been researching breeds that would suit me. I know I need to get a dog that has low exercise and grooming needs, as for budget that isn't something I need to worry about.

I was also planning on speaking to our local vet for advice. I'm lucky where I live a lot of people have dogs so there are facilities if you want to leave them whilst you go on holiday or for emergencies which I wouldn't. Also lots of beautiful walks. I already know where I would buy their food etc.

When I do finally get my dog of course I will prepare my house and be ready for sleepless nights. When I was a child and we got a Yorkshire terrier I remember the dog crying at night, of course I went downstairs to stay with him which was probably the wrong thing to do! Then when we got a golden retriever he was very hard to walk and needed a lot of exercise and training.

OP posts: