rescue dogs and small children

My great grandchildren, 7, 10, and 11, have had a rescue dog from a local charity and have had no problems whatsoever.
Many years ago I had a rescue dog and the only thing wrong with it was that I found it lively after having an old dog.

From various news articles, it's the ones that have been used to cages that are the most dangerous. Not sure if it's because they were in the cage in the first place because they were temperamental, or the type of people who put dogs in cages aren't the sort who would have raised them as family pets. Personally I'd only ever get a dog that had been bred to mother who was a family pet, and only get a rescue dog if it had only been in the shelter a very short time and had belonged to a loving owner who just couldn't keep it any more

I do think that putting dogs in a cage to give a "safe" space is utter nonsense. They can have a bed wherever suits the family best. If the dog isn't left in peace maybe it is the children who should be caged!

It’s not a puppy, though. It’s a dog, probably one that has been living on its wits since it was a pup. It could turn out to be a loving pet, but it’s a gamble that I wouldn’t like to take, especially with two young children in the house.

My daughter got a rescue Jack Russell and she is the dearest thing ever. When my grandson was born the dog came to stay at ours until we were sure she’s be ok. In fact she has never shown any aggression and is an adored family pet. The children need to learn how to treat an animal with respect but that’s part of the process. At six months there is a great chance for this puppy to be properly trained.

I grew up with dogs and some were fully adult before we got them. A wire-haired terrier came into my life when he and I were both nearly five. We never had any disagreements.

However, my father too had grown up with dogs and he had some few sensible rules that had to be obeyed.

We children were not allowed to go near the dogs while they were eating their dinner, nor to approach the dogs if they had a bone to gnaw. If we did so, we were called away and told off.

Until I was seven, I don't remember ever being alone with the dogs -some adult member of the household was always there too.

If your daughter follows similar rules, there shouldn't be any trouble.

I don't like the thought of keeping dogs in crates or cages, even for a short length of time, but perhaps it is no worse than the playpen most of us remember from our early childhood.

If the dog should be so afraid of children that he snaps or growls then your daughter will either need to re-home it, or have it put down.

I was five, when our labrador went mad - not due to rabies, but a brain tumour. The vet was nearly certain that that was what was wrong and Daddy simply asked the vet to take the dog with him and put it down.

We were all fond of the dog, but a dog or a cat is exactly that. Neither should be kept if they are putting children at risk.

New rule from government for after 1 Jan 2021 when we officially leave EU is that no more than 4 rescue dogs at a time can be bought into this country. This is to avoid the market being flooded with dogs being bought in from mainly Eastern European countries with dubious, unknown background. Charities have said that from then I will no longer be viable to run the charities which bring , mainly dogs in to this country.

I'm proud to be a volunteer home checker for overseas dog rescue charities and can honestly say that when it comes to assessing the suitability of a home with young children, I look to see if the children would be able to look after a dog if they were both left alone with each other. If the child were too young, too immature or too small, my assessment would state exactly that on my report and they would probably be turned down.
Overseas rescues are in the main, excellent for ensuring their animals are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, passported, cat, dog and child aware and a full assessment would be carried out on their behaviour prior to adoption details being released. The rescues also usually have someone on hand in the UK who can mentor or help new adopters if the need arises.
It doesn't matter where a dog comes from, rescue dogs all have the need for shelter, food and to be protected from cruelty & neglect wherever they have originated from?

We have a 6 year old toy poodle and a 2.5 year old cocker who both love the safe space that their cages provide; they sleep in them every night and when we are both out of the house.

Introducing a puppy or a dog of any age to a household with young children requires planning so that both the animal's and the children's safety and welfare are safe guarded.

We adore our dogs, they both have the loveliest of natures but that said, I would never leave either of them alone with a young child.

Arry, I'm with you on the adopting dogs from abroad. We have a huge number of dogs needing rescuing in our own country. Not all charities have the same rules about children and dogs. The big charities like the RSPCA might have but I know several who take each home on its merit. Some will allow people to work for short hours or rely on people coming in to keep the dog company or walk it.

A frightened dog is a dangerous one, is what the vet told my daughter.

It must be so tempting to rescue an animal from terrible conditions, but it must add an extra element of risk.

Surely it's better to reduce risks as much as possible for it to work.

Think it depends on how well the dog has been vetted and how well the backup is from the rescue . I have had three rescue dogs in the past two when my own children were very small and one when I have had visiting young GC with careful planning and introducing it can be done but I wouldn’t leave young children alone with any dog at all . I think that she will need eyes in the back of her head with the 2 yr old and a crate would be a good idea for a safe space for the dog to escape to if it feels overwhelmed by the children .

I have two Romanian rescue dogs. I chose the charity that saves them when I read about the killing shelters in that country. They are lovely dogs and terrified of children. I think they must have been tormented by children when they were puppies. I have a new GS only 5 months old and shall be on highest alert when he visits. They were vaccinated, rabies checked, spayed, had their own passports and were car trained when we adopted them. We were extensively interviewed and examined prior to adoption. I’d recommend this process far above the poor little creatures people casually buy from puppy farms without a second thought.

petalpop probably because dogs in Dogs homes in the U.K. are looked after in dog care centres and are given the best life they can be given.
In Romania, the dogs are rounded up by people with baseball bats and if they don’t beat them to death they are rounded up and flung into concrete yards and left to starve unless other people from wealthier countries send money over to buy them food. Many of the dogs have been shut out of their homes because the people can’t feed themselves let alone their pets.
That’s why people adopt them, however, because a lot of the dogs are ex street dogs they have many problems and I certainly wouldn’t get one.
DDs was a puppy when she was adopted and there are no children in the home, at the moment she is curled up asleep on my sofa, little monkey!

When our previous Springer died I was all for getting a rescue one. When I investigated it I found that they would not rehome a springer to a household with children under 9. At that time I was looking after my 2 year old GD three times a week so we decided it was not worth the risk. We got a puppy instead. Even then I would never leave GD and dog alone for a minute. I am sorry but it would not bring a rescue dog into a permanent home with very young chidren. When I was a toddler our dog turned and bit in the face. Thankfully no permanent damage but my dad had the dog put to sleep and we never had one again. Dogs and cats are unpredictable and so are very young children. As another gran mentioned there are plenty of dogs in this country needing a home and I cannot understand this trend to get a rescue dog from abroad.

Rescue centres will not let you adopt if under age children are involved. They have to be over ten or more. Sometimes they don't know the history of the dogs nature eg. bitten or chews etc as owners die or go into care etc..so she needs to tread with care. Adopting a dog can be a wonderful experience as I have found.but don't have very young children or grandchildren. Cages can be used so long as it's not used as a punishment but more for a safe cozy space.

I just cannot understand why animal charities go to so much effort and cost bringing dogs with uncertain background from abroad when we have many ( usually ) unwanted dogs already here.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do janipans but I am with you on this and would be a really worried grandma too. The children are very young too, understanding about leaving the dog alone will be hard for them to understand.

I have only ever had rescue dogs & they have all been sweet natured & easy to train. I had small children who adored them & were taught to be gentle & kind to the dogs.
I have never had a crate for them although a lot of my friends have. They use it as a safe place to sleep & go in & out at will. They are only locked in for short periods of time such as if someone calls who is allergic to or scared of dogs.
A dog who has had a bad start in life is likely to be a loving pet- they know when they are well off & loved.

Adopting rescue dogs from abroad is extremely misguided (if well meant) IMHO. I have lived overseas in a number of different countries for a number of years - in both cat countries and dog countries - that is, everywhere seems to have plagues of one or the other. Those animals are feral and have been feral for generations. They are not necessarily viscious of course, but they are extremely difficult to train, and they are hypervigilant which can lead to nervous aggression as part of their survival toolkit. They have not developed positive relationships with people. the journey to a well meaning new overseas homes is also traumatic - just the fact of travelling on a plane and the whole process that involves - Let Macedonia solve its own stray animal problem, we have enough sorry animals looking for new homes here because too many people who don't understand them buy them as yet another accessory and find they can't cope. Such a dog from such a place is an irresponsible act by someone with such young children.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My 2yr old granddaughter lives with me permanently.
I have a 7yr old rescue german shepherd dog, but he has lived with us 6years.
And a 13yr old dachshund.
I have stairgates absolutely everywhere during lockdown a 2year old and 2dogs was a nitemare, constantly separating dogs and child everytime a piece of food was introduced.
Both my dogs were brought up with children and trained with them.
BUT, I never ever leave them in the same space when I'm not there, even though the German shepherd can jump the gates.
I have just retired the dachshund to my mums. He has lived with me since he was 8weeks old and was bought up with a child, but it was just too much with gates and a 2year old. I was pulling my hair out.
When she was a baby the dachshund alerted me to her choking in her pushchair and absolutely loves her to bits but I never trusted him with my granddaughter around food even though he has been in a family home 13years.
She, my granddaughter would hug him all the time and it was just too much of a risk with her putting her face in his. The safest thing for everyone, and for my sanity, and allow the dog to receive all the love he deserves to be with my mum. He still comes to stay (mum is my bubble) and it's hard work again with the gates.
I have one dog here now and it's easier. My granddaughter feeds him, tells him to sit and then we separate while he eats.
He doesn't get as much love and attention as he deserves. He spends a lot of time in his kitchen bed in front of stair gate watching us in living room, this is a combination of his choice and giving him time out as a 2year old is incredibly active. Although hes a brilliant dog and a rescue, I wouldn't put him in a position of being alone with her which makes everything much harder with gates everywhere.
He can jump these, but he doesn't usually unless hes on his own.
Hes incredibly well trained and intelligent.
But I would not bring in a new dog into the mix with s young toddler, not only is it not worth the risk, but it's hard work training a new dog and a toddler!
You cannot relax until baby is in bed every night, and with a new dog; Potty training - for dogs and toddler !
Food handling.
Meal times.
Walking a toddler and dog on reigns and a lead is a nitemare.
Training a dog to walk nicely with/without pushchair.
When is the dog going to be able to settle and fit in and get the training it needs from both adults ?
Otherwise you have the issue of 1 adult controlling the dog, and if it's not the parent that is home all day you have other issues later on.
All of that aside, it is not your decision to take, sorry.
But I wouldn't take on a strange dog with a toddler, and I've had dogs all my life.

I was chatting to a lady in our local Country Park recently. She had a foreign rescue dog with her. It was very timid. Even though she had had it for some time it related only to her, and backed away from any overtures from strangers. She said that it had taken quite a while to settle in. I think that a lot of these dogs are ‘street dogs’, used to fending for themselves and wary of people.
I’m sure that your daughter will have her childrens’ best interests at heart, though, and won’t put them at risk.

Why adopt a dog from abroad when our rescue centres are overflowing with animals of all shapes and sizes? Committing yourself to an animal you have never seen until it arrives in this country is totally ridiculous!! My niece adopted a dog from Turkey and found out it had all sorts of health problems that required long term treatment which costed a fortune and then it had behavioural issues as a result of its past life. Add small children into the mix and you are asking for trouble.
My daughter has a rescue greyhound who is the most gentle loving dog you could imagine. He is wonderful around her two small children, as was his predecessor who passed away a couple of years ago (another greyhound).

I would also worry because the children are so young. Young children shouldn't be left alone with a dog but sometimes Mums get busy and can't be watching all the time. My cousin had her nose bitten badly as a child by a loved pet who just suddenly turned on her. Nasty- hospital, stitches etc.

Janipans hugs

Arry, I agree with you 100%

but there, we are all different...