Dogs with Kids

[Jem]

Dp is really keen on getting a new dog :rolleyes:
We have had dogs before, and i love them, but im not sure if i want one?
With 3 lil ones that love to play outside, im a bit worried about all the poo, and the fact that the kids will get jumped upon:confused:
We had a Ban dog a year ago which was chained in the yard, but that can be a worry too as the chain can do some nasty things when wrapped round a lil ones feet :eek:
Just curious as to how many ppl have dogs with bubs :D

[Charlie]

I used to do dog grooming....

Big dogs can be ruff and probably will knock small children over, maybe a smaller dog?? Smaller dogs are less likely to knock children over but some can be snappy!

Is a big step getting a dog!

I haven't got a dog, cause up untill now I have always been working, dog's are a big responsibility (especialy with kids around) if you haven't got the time to put in with one you probably shouldn't get one.

Try doing a breed match.... http://www.pedigree.com.au/

[Chickadee]

We have 2 dogs. I clean the dog poo up every day or whenever DD goes outside to play. In summer you pretty much need to do it daily anyways, for the smell and flies. The dogs don't go into the front yard (also fenced) so that's always a clean area for DD to play in too. Puppies can also be encouraged to always use the same area of the yard for their toilet. Our dogs do this on their own, every time we move they each "pick" an area which they then avoid when they're playing. It makes cleaning up a bit easier.

Dogs can and should be trained not to jump up on anyone, including kids. One of ours doesn't jump but will lick any face in reach and this has been an issue for us. DD learnt very quickly to turn her face away and we reprimand the dog and control contact if necessary. Starting with a puppy though you can nip those sorts of things right at the start through proper training - we've had the dog longer than DD and let her have bad habits as a pup.

I wouldn't let my DD into any yard with a dog that was tied or chained. There's too high a potential for accidents. I've had ropes and chains wrapped around my legs before - it can happen very quickly and is very painful. Not something I'd risk with a little one.

[Jem]

yep, they sure are a big responsibility, and an extra mouth to feed :rolleyes:
I have had many dogs ranging from a chiuauahs (i can never spell that) to a mastiff.
I tend to find that pit bulls and bull terriers have the most beautiful nature about them, although alot of ppl would disagree because they find them aggressive.

[Brooksy]

You have to do your research before getting a dog, as you want a dog that is good with children. We got our dog about a year before i got pregnant with dd but we knew that eventually we would have kids so we did our research.

We ended up getting a 3/4 westie x Maltese and we took him to puppy pre-school. He is good with children, as we have had him around our neices and nephew and he never nips or bites, just wants to play.

The problem we are going to have in the future with dd and mr wallace is that Mr wallace will take dd's toys.

Goodluck

[Charlie]

yep, they sure are a big responsibility, and an extra mouth to feed :rolleyes:
I have had many dogs ranging from a chiuauahs (i can never spell that) to a mastiff.
I tend to find that pit bulls and bull terriers have the most beautiful nature about them, although alot of ppl would disagree because they find them aggressive.

I think any dog can be aggressive if provoked (sp?) bigger dogs just get more attention on the news because they cause more damage....at work I only ever got bitten by little dogs...little buggers!!!

Big dogs if trained properly make a much better option to have with kids because they're more tolerant of wandering, poking, little fingers :laughing:

I keep telling Monty (my Kitty) that just wait till Milly starts crawling, he'll get fingers in his ears, nose maybe even bum if he isn't fast enough...:laughing:

[Charlie]

You have to do your research before getting a dog, as you want a dog that is good with children. We got our dog about a year before i got pregnant with dd but we knew that eventually we would have kids so we did our research.

We ended up getting a 3/4 westie x Maltese and we took him to puppy pre-school. He is good with children, as we have had him around our neices and nephew and he never nips or bites, just wants to play.

The problem we are going to have in the future with dd and mr wallace is that Mr wallace will take dd's toys.

Goodluck

Malteese are a beautiful breed, westies can be very naughty, but usualy towards other dogs not people... is he good with other dogs??

[shed]

Westies are great with kids, they don't mind being pulled around a bit.

Although I might be a bit biased (see avatar!).

[DB&O]

Hi, we have 2 dogs a gold lab called Cooper & a collie x retreiver called Rooi & we've never had a problem with them, having said that we've had them for many years & both been trained & what not. We don't allow Liv to be outside with the animals unsupervised & are even thinking about fencing part of the yard off to give Liv a patch of grass for her play equipment, where I don't have to do a 'poo patrol' first. They lover her & are very gentle but we did introduce her to them as soon as we got home from hospital. I think that our Lab knew something special was happening cause when I was pregnant he wouldn't leave my side & if he couldn't find me he would sleep under Liv's cot, very cute:D
Oh & we no longer allow them inside the house, we started to teach them this as soon as we found out I was pg but it took a little while for them to realise the new rules & also for me to enforce them all the time.I think pets are great for families & kids but are more work & another finacial & time commitment.

[sonlou73]

we haven't got a dog and sometimes i'll bring up the subject with DH to maybe get one, it doesn't take him long for me to change my mind! our main reason not to have a dog are the costs involved.

[Chickadee]

Oh geesh, don't get me started on the costs :thumbsdown:

I think our next dog may be a retired greyhound. DH & I are both partial to big dogs. We have a Deerhound cross and she's beautiful, very sweet and good natured unless you're a stranger at the front fence :rolleyes: But any more dogs are a good 5 to 10 years away for us, so plenty of time to research it.

[reAllytee]

I want a Keeshond but at the rate we are going it will be a few years before i get one *sigh*
Dogs are a very big responsibility its easy to say oh yeah i will throw them outside but really whats the use in having one then (?) Dont mean that badly btw just that some people get them & leave them in the yard with no attention or the likes which saddens me.
Really look into all the breeds & even scout around your local RSPCA or there are many adoption foster websites online that have pound dogs & pups for sale if they are in foster homes you have a greater chance of chosing an appropriate dog as they will have been with a family etc so they know their temperament whereas most pound dogs are pot luck which isnt so great with kids.
Pure breeds are obviously a good choice in that if you choose a true breeder from the canine council you will get a good quality dog with an excellent temperament but as always training & how the dog is handled is a big thing as to how your new dog will react to situations as well as respond to your commands. Drawbacks being they are very expensive for a quality pup but sometimes its just worth it to pay a little more for something that will be such a big thing in your lives.
Some great options are the Cavalier King Charles as they are great with kids but do require grooming as they have a longer coat. Miniature Schnauzer again great with kids dont require much excercise & are happy with small yards or apartments but the extra bonus is they dont shed hair !!!!! Making them excellent indoor dogs ! I could go on & on but i wont LOL.
Every household is different so you really need to know what your getting into as well as what breed is suitable !
Good luck tis lots of fun :D

[Elfin]

I am not a fan of dogs around small kids but that is just me. So from a different perspective I am trying to talk DH into a ragdoll cat for the kids. Not working too well so far:rolleyes: Will try for fish next:D

[Sarie]

I think any animal around kids are fine, so long as they are not left alone. We have always had dogs and cats with our kids, but if they boys are with the dogs so are we. Most attacks on kids are done when the child has been playing and gotten a bit rough, a dog/cat can't say 'Stop that hurts' so they do the only thing they know how to do and that's bite.
But some dogs just attack. We know this aswell, as most of you would know our neighbours dog attacked our pomeranian last year.
I love all animals, but just use common sense if you let your kids go outside with the dog, go out and play with them.
:hugs:
Sarie

[O&GMUM]

We had two dogs pre babies 1 maltese x chuhauha(cant spell it either) and a bulldog. The bulldog was too rough, used to jump up and snap at us, not viscious just too playful.(we rehomed her to a propertywith more room for her to play in after DD and DS where born)The little one (chopper) is great with the kids, she is an outside dog, but comes in in the morning to say hello, they just love her to bits!

[reAllytee]

Well said Sarie :thumbsup: :D

[Charlie]

Dogs are a very big responsibility its easy to say oh yeah i will throw them outside but really whats the use in having one then (?) Dont mean that badly btw just that some people get them & leave them in the yard with no attention or the likes which saddens me.


Thats when attacks are more likely...so many people have dogs and they're their little baby...then when real baby comes along dog is pushed out the door.....Wouldn't you be jealous of the children....?:confused:

The worst thing I've seen is little fluffy dogs who have been purchased and put out in the back yard... they aren't designed for this kind of living...they need warmth and regular grooming... by regular I mean weekly...not a yearly visit to the doggy parlour to have their matted fur shaved off .... as you said the cavy is a beautiful dog...but you should see the condition of their coat if not looked after... I had one come in who wasn't walking properly because his legs were matted together...poor darling was so grateful to be groomed and bathed :crying: ...he would only come in once a year, I think it was the only attention he got...sorry for :ecomcity: but I get a bit worked up talking about animals!!! :D

[reAllytee]

Thats when attacks are more likely...so many people have dogs and they're their little baby...then when real baby comes along dog is pushed out the door.....Wouldn't you be jealous of the children....?

I TOTALLY agree but some people just dont realise how they think.



The worst thing I've seen is little fluffy dogs who have been purchased and put out in the back yard... they aren't designed for this kind of living...they need warmth and regular grooming... by regular I mean weekly...not a yearly visit to the doggy parlour to have their matted fur shaved off .... as you said the cavy is a beautiful dog...but you should see the condition of their coat if not looked after... I had one come in who wasn't walking properly because his legs were matted together...poor darling was so grateful to be groomed and bathed ...he would only come in once a year, I think it was the only attention he got...sorry for but I get a bit worked up talking about animals!!!

Oh :(
Dont even get me started !
I often send toys & old blankets to a few rescue organisations to help them out & some of the stories they have of neglect are terrible !
Yes starvation & abuse are bad enough but to see a dog who hasnt had a bath or the likes in months is just as bad IMO.
My aunty has her Maltese groomed every 3wks so it is rather expensive to own such a dog unless your willing to learn to do it yourself & then you need the tools as well as time.
Dogs are expensive but well worth it when loved :D

[Mum2Tyla]

Hi,
I am avet nurse and also have a 7 week old baby and an alaskan malamute who is 55kg, she was trained not to jump or lick when she was a puppy and she is great with my daughter, in regards to cats they can cause just as much damage as a dog if they ger annoyed, my dog is an indoor dog but is always supervised when in the house, any breed can be great around kids if trained right so think more about the time you have to give the dog, the size of your yard etc, if you don't have time to brush it every day you don't want a maltese, shihtzu etc because they require heaps of grooming, if you don't have time to spend training each day then don't get a dog at all. In regards to getting a dog from the RSPCA etc I think it is great but get a puppy not an adult dog because you don't know the history of the dog and they have already got bad habits they are at the RSPCA for a reason.:ecomcity: I could be here all day.

[Chickadee]

In regards to getting a dog from the RSPCA etc I think it is great but get a puppy not an adult dog because you don't know the history of the dog and they have already got bad habits they are at the RSPCA for a reason.:ecomcity: I could be here all day.
That's true, but then again you don't know what you're going to get with a puppy that has been in an animal shelter so young. Some shelters spend a lot of time with the adult dogs and will do intensive behavioural training with them before allowing them to be adopted out. I'm thinking of the Shenton Park Dog Refuge in Perth.

No matter what dog you get, from where, or at what age: You need to do your homework thoroughly :)

[Sarie]

Shelters won't put agressive dogs for sale. Most adult dogs, if they have a questionable history won't be put for sale.
But you are just as likely to get a bit from a little dog as from a big dog. Probably even more likely. We had a Rotti Dobi cross, he was huge when he'd sit his head would be above my waist line (I'm 5'10" tall) and he was great, but stupid. We were more concerned about him knocking the kids over by accident then actually hurting them by biting.
Just use common sense...
:hugs:
Sarie

[Charlie]

Hi,
I am avet nurse and also have a 7 week old baby and an alaskan malamute who is 55kg, she was trained not to jump or lick when she was a puppy and she is great with my daughter, in regards to cats they can cause just as much damage as a dog if they ger annoyed, my dog is an indoor dog but is always supervised when in the house, any breed can be great around kids if trained right so think more about the time you have to give the dog, the size of your yard etc, if you don't have time to brush it every day you don't want a maltese, shihtzu etc because they require heaps of grooming, if you don't have time to spend training each day then don't get a dog at all. In regards to getting a dog from the RSPCA etc I think it is great but get a puppy not an adult dog because you don't know the history of the dog and they have already got bad habits they are at the RSPCA for a reason.:ecomcity: I could be here all day.

My Husband LOOOOOVES Malamutes and Husky's I keep saying no cause they need too much exercise.....Do you find that?? I know husky's need to be run..are malamutes as demanding with the exercise??? I know what it's like to strip a malamute.... Ahhhhh so much undercoat!!!! The whole drying room where I was working was full of malamute fluff.... blowing around everywhere and especially up my nose!!!:laughing:

[Charlie]

OOOPs DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPEN???:confused:

[Chickadee]

Fixed it for you Charlie :)

[Charlie]

Fixed it for you Charlie :)
Thanx :yelclap:

[mumof03]

Hi,
I have 3 kids from 3 years to almost 13 years old. We have always had dogs ever since before the kids were born. We have had several Staffies, which are a great breed of dogs with kids. They are really friendly and gentle if trained from a puppy. We no longer have the Staffies as we have now had 5 (3 were stolen, 1 was baited and 1 had to be put down due to illness).

For the past 5 1/2 years we have owned a mini foxie. He is a great little dog. My 3 year DS has grown up with him and they are best friends. They are a very clean little dog if desexed, as they toilet in the same area (provided it is regulary cleaned) and they are little so is their manure. He is very gentle with all my kids even if 3yo DS decides to pull his tail. I also taught him not to growl or bite if food is taken away from him. I would put his dinner down, and then as he was eating it I would put my hand around his face patting him gently and then take his dinner away from him. If he didn't growl, I would pat him and give it back to him to eat in peace. He is now so gentle. You can give him a bone, and if it is taken away from him(even straight from his mouth), he just sits there and looks at you with these big brown sad eyes, as if to say, "can I have it back......Pleassssse?

I have never had a problem with him at all. He has never even growl at any child, mine or someone elses, and as he is little, I never had to worry about him knocking the little ones over. Mini Foxies have quite strong bones too, so if a child does pick him up and drops him, he is less likely to get hurt.

Word of warning: If you do go for a smaller dog, becareful of dogs like pomeranians and other little fluffy dogs. The have brittle bones that can break easily if a child drops them and they need a lot of attention with coat brushing.

Any dog can be a great pet for a child, provided they are trained and well looked after, however, accidents can happen, so never leave a child unattended with a dog no matter how big or small. You never know what will happen. A friend of mine has just learnt the hardway. Their very placed Jack Russel who is 7 years old, just snapped at their 3 year old daughter last Saturday. She now needs plastic surgery to her face. The reason he bit her........She bent down to say hello to him while he was eating a bone!

Good luck on your decision.