Do you trust your dog with kids?
- Thread starter Paige
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That's just it. I don't trust children. My 2 Chi's and Tokie, the "big dog" are wonderful with kids and they didn't even get that much socialization with them....some but didn't grow up with them or see them much. As long as kids are gentle and quiet, no rough stuff, the Chi's will crawl into their laps to be loved on. If there's too much commotion, they'll disappear into their crates. Tokie is extremely friendly to all ages of people but still...not that experienced with kids so I do watch any interactions carefully on the rare times kids come to visit....and they aren't left alone together unsupervised.
In public, Daisy likes kids. They smell interesting, they like to give her treats, and they are little and non-threatening. With Benji, I have let kids pet him, but he's rather apathetic about it. I tend to keep Benji away from children.
As to whether I would allow my dogs alone with children, I can't think of a single circumstance in which that would be possible. My dogs don't like strangers on my property, so they are put up when people come over. Leaving them alone with a strange child would be asking for disaster.
As to whether I would allow my dogs alone with children, I can't think of a single circumstance in which that would be possible. My dogs don't like strangers on my property, so they are put up when people come over. Leaving them alone with a strange child would be asking for disaster.
Harry-Yes, he was raised with me (And my brother) when we were 7 years old.
Elliot-I don't really know how he would respond to a small child. I think he would do just fine.
Daggett-I wouldn't trust her.
Cartman-He loves licking kids to death!
Charlotte-I wouldn't trust her one bit
Peanut-He did fine with my friend's nephew (5).
Jannah-NO!! Not at ALL! She would bite them if they bugged her!!
Bjorn-He is okay with kids..hes just aloof with strangers in general. I wouldn't let kids walk up and pet him though. He does fine with my friend's nephew cause he has gotten to know him.
Reese-She would be scared,but she wouldn't bite.
Bob-I wouldn't trust him
Lucy-She doesn't like strangers touching her. She has come a long way from being fear aggressive, but she still doesn't like strangers.
Elliot-I don't really know how he would respond to a small child. I think he would do just fine.
Daggett-I wouldn't trust her.
Cartman-He loves licking kids to death!
Charlotte-I wouldn't trust her one bit
Peanut-He did fine with my friend's nephew (5).
Jannah-NO!! Not at ALL! She would bite them if they bugged her!!
Bjorn-He is okay with kids..hes just aloof with strangers in general. I wouldn't let kids walk up and pet him though. He does fine with my friend's nephew cause he has gotten to know him.
Reese-She would be scared,but she wouldn't bite.
Bob-I wouldn't trust him
Lucy-She doesn't like strangers touching her. She has come a long way from being fear aggressive, but she still doesn't like strangers.
Years ago, about 28-30 well before there was even Internet, when the kids were babies and toddlers, we had Ajax, a GSD.
He was wonderful with the kids as they grew, absolutely loved them, was tolerant beyond belief. Things would happen... with the kids that might set some dogs teeth on edge. But he had incredible tolerance. As the toddlers got a little older and could play outside in our fenced yard, I'd keep checking on them, but didn't watch them constantly. It never occurred to me that there was a need to supervise kids and dogs constantly. Lots of people had kids with dogs and they all played outside together every day. Ajax would hang out with them and seemed very protective, not only of my kids, but their friends too. He'd follow them around, his tail swaying, play fetch, get belly rubs from the kids. Of course by this time, my kids really knew how to treat a dog and were very good with dogs.
Then we got our Lab, Bonnie.
Same thing...wonderful with kids. She would follow my then 10 or 12 year old son to his friends who had a wonderful kid dog and they'd go fishing or just hang out for hours. We had a big neighborhood of acreage parcels and private roads and at that time, the dog just went with my son. The boy and his dog.
It seemed a different time then. For eons loads of kids have had dogs that have trapsed around with them; fishing together, walking to friends houses, hanging out, playing ball, what have you.
I totally get it now...that there's a risk since you're dealing with an animal. I never let my kids be with the horses unsupervised. But dogs? To be perfectly honest, it never occurred to me back 15-20 years ago plus I had dogs that had the tolerance thresholds of the saints. If I had had snappy, intolerant dogs, that might have been a different story. But these dogs grew up with the kids from puppy hood. They were of the typical breed description, very much so....the shepherd sheperding and watching his flocks, the friendly, lumbering, laid back, tolerant family Lab.
I know now that animals are animals but that kind of style was the norm when I was younger. I too had a dog that went everywhere around the neighborhood with me when I was just around 9 or 10. In fact, that's the first dog I trained.
I think too, that with our life style these days and our culture, dogs don't get automatically socialized to such a degree that they did in the "olden days" where they wandered around all over, seeing all kinds of things, adults, children of various sizes, other animals etc. It was more risky in many ways and for obvious reasons that is not a good idea, especially now with such an increase in population....dogs and people. But boy, did they ever get socialized well.
Then we got our Lab, Bonnie.
It seemed a different time then. For eons loads of kids have had dogs that have trapsed around with them; fishing together, walking to friends houses, hanging out, playing ball, what have you.
I totally get it now...that there's a risk since you're dealing with an animal. I never let my kids be with the horses unsupervised. But dogs? To be perfectly honest, it never occurred to me back 15-20 years ago plus I had dogs that had the tolerance thresholds of the saints. If I had had snappy, intolerant dogs, that might have been a different story. But these dogs grew up with the kids from puppy hood. They were of the typical breed description, very much so....the shepherd sheperding and watching his flocks, the friendly, lumbering, laid back, tolerant family Lab.
I know now that animals are animals but that kind of style was the norm when I was younger. I too had a dog that went everywhere around the neighborhood with me when I was just around 9 or 10. In fact, that's the first dog I trained.
I think too, that with our life style these days and our culture, dogs don't get automatically socialized to such a degree that they did in the "olden days" where they wandered around all over, seeing all kinds of things, adults, children of various sizes, other animals etc. It was more risky in many ways and for obvious reasons that is not a good idea, especially now with such an increase in population....dogs and people. But boy, did they ever get socialized well.
M
I trust them for the most part. The only kids they are really ever around are my nieces, and they're usually good with them. I wouldn't leave them unsupervised, though. The kids are young and aren't good enough around dogs, and my dogs are still babies. They are hyper and could easily knock a kid down on accident. Raja is allowed to sleep with us when the girls are sleeping in my bed. Tempie is not. To be honest, I wasn't sure I was ever going to trust Raja around kids. She was extremely skittish when I brought her home. But she's really changed and has grown infinitely more confident. Taydem (age 2, soon to be 3) is her favorite. She likes my other nieces, but she sticks to Tay like glue.
Meg thinks kids are the greatest invention ever, and is unfailingly soft and polite with them. My nephew adores her, and calls her name out any time we talk on the phone. He's the only really young kid she's been around; when there are kids who are 7 - 12 or so at the barn, she barely wants to acknowledge me! She'll follow along beside them the whole time, gazing adoringly at their faces. I really hate to tell her she's SOL as far as ever having her own kid!
Of course, we started their introduction by having the baby alpha-roll Meg to show who was boss
.
I don't ever leave her alone with him; I don't even leave Meg out if my parents and the baby are alone, just because I don't trust my parents to be as quick reading Meg if she ever does decide she's had enough. They get to play together when I am there, and if I leave without Meg, or even go to take a shower, I close her up in my room. There just isn't a reason to ever risk something happening.
Of course, we started their introduction by having the baby alpha-roll Meg to show who was boss
.
I don't ever leave her alone with him; I don't even leave Meg out if my parents and the baby are alone, just because I don't trust my parents to be as quick reading Meg if she ever does decide she's had enough. They get to play together when I am there, and if I leave without Meg, or even go to take a shower, I close her up in my room. There just isn't a reason to ever risk something happening.
I trust both my dogs to be around young children with supervision. Even infants. The only real downside is that the Horsemen are large and can hurt a child unintentionally, as the scratch incident has taught me.
I trust Voodoo quite a lot. Not even my golden retriever liked children as much as he does. He thinks children are awesome creatures. He LIVES for attention, and never seems to get tired of getting petted, scratched, and prodded. I've seen an young infant grab his lip and pull, while Voodoo just sat there with an idiotic grin and a happily wagging tail. When the kids get tired of playing and settle down, Voodoo wants nothing more than to curl up next to them for a nap.
I trust Zeus, but not as much as Voodoo. Zeus is extremely gentle and tolerant of children, but it's exactly that---good-natured tolerance. He doesn't have the same love for them that Voodoo does, and doesn't actively seek their attention after the initial greeting. Zeus is also a little touchy about his tail/rump area when he's napping. He doesn't like to be poked or prodded there while he's resting, and will growl if a child tries it. I don't think he would ever bite anyone, but I won't chance it.
The big exception is babies. Zeus ADORES babies. I don't know what it is. He will walk up to baby stroller, gently lay his head in the infant's lap, and let his ears get tugged and mauled. *shrug* Go figure.
I trust Voodoo quite a lot. Not even my golden retriever liked children as much as he does. He thinks children are awesome creatures. He LIVES for attention, and never seems to get tired of getting petted, scratched, and prodded. I've seen an young infant grab his lip and pull, while Voodoo just sat there with an idiotic grin and a happily wagging tail. When the kids get tired of playing and settle down, Voodoo wants nothing more than to curl up next to them for a nap.
I trust Zeus, but not as much as Voodoo. Zeus is extremely gentle and tolerant of children, but it's exactly that---good-natured tolerance. He doesn't have the same love for them that Voodoo does, and doesn't actively seek their attention after the initial greeting. Zeus is also a little touchy about his tail/rump area when he's napping. He doesn't like to be poked or prodded there while he's resting, and will growl if a child tries it. I don't think he would ever bite anyone, but I won't chance it.
The big exception is babies. Zeus ADORES babies. I don't know what it is. He will walk up to baby stroller, gently lay his head in the infant's lap, and let his ears get tugged and mauled. *shrug* Go figure.
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The kids Argon sees most are my sisters (6,2,1, Newborn). I allow the babies to pet gently, then remove him from the situation. If sis and the kids are there, Argon is sitting with me, in the garage eating, or in his crate, no exceptions.
Even that may need to change. I'll have to tell you guys the story of Nephew #2, the chicken leg, and the Christmas disaster when I have more time.
The oldest nephew is allowed to walk him under my supervision, as well as feed him.
I would feel comfortable if a strange child asked to pet him, as long as I was right there and the child was gentle. The more socializing the better.
Even that may need to change. I'll have to tell you guys the story of Nephew #2, the chicken leg, and the Christmas disaster when I have more time.
The oldest nephew is allowed to walk him under my supervision, as well as feed him.
I would feel comfortable if a strange child asked to pet him, as long as I was right there and the child was gentle. The more socializing the better.
My sheltie use to come in to show and tell all the time. She was the PERFECT dog for that. Even the children who were deathly afraid of dogs would come up and pet her by the end of it. She was so lovely. Would sit and soak in all the glory. She was a kid's dog through and through.
By the way when I say kids I don't mean I have left Miles alone with three year olds. I'm talking 9 and 10 yearolds but you never know. Some three year olds have more common sense. My little sister is one smart nine year old and I let her walk Bandit when we're not in a public place. A back field or something. He isn't listening to her though. He still has his eyes glued on me.
By the way when I say kids I don't mean I have left Miles alone with three year olds. I'm talking 9 and 10 yearolds but you never know. Some three year olds have more common sense. My little sister is one smart nine year old and I let her walk Bandit when we're not in a public place. A back field or something. He isn't listening to her though. He still has his eyes glued on me.
It's not a matter of whether I trust Maggie with kids - she's too terrified of strangers to ever bother a kid. But I do not trust kids with my dog. I'm sick of kids running up to Maggie and trying to pet her on our walks, and the parent's glare when I hold the kid back and tell them "please don't bother her." Parents are so irresponsible. I hope those kids never get bitten doing that (not that I think Maggie ever would, but other dogs might).
I think, though, that if I ever have a baby, Maggie will be okay with it. She's very tolerant - I can do anything to that dog (flip her ears inside out, clip her toenails, give her a bath), and she just lavishes the attention lol. And it'll be a child that will grow up around her, so it won't be a stranger by the time the kid is old enough to try to play with her.
I think, though, that if I ever have a baby, Maggie will be okay with it. She's very tolerant - I can do anything to that dog (flip her ears inside out, clip her toenails, give her a bath), and she just lavishes the attention lol. And it'll be a child that will grow up around her, so it won't be a stranger by the time the kid is old enough to try to play with her.
T
I would 100% trust Cocoa. She loves kids and is a highly nonreactive dog. She tolerates everything. Any child under 5-6 I wouldn't leave her alone with for her own safety, though.
Marq is a very controlling, attention demanding dog. He'd get very jealous and protective over what is his, and I would never doubt that he could possibly become aggressive to a child. He'd never be left alone with anyone but an adult.
Marq is a very controlling, attention demanding dog. He'd get very jealous and protective over what is his, and I would never doubt that he could possibly become aggressive to a child. He'd never be left alone with anyone but an adult.