Grandson visiting for Christmas

Realised I just guessed at 8 months because that was when mine first crawled!

I think we should also include in the equation the fact that it is Christmas. Lots more excitement than usual, a baby in the house who may be new to the two dogs other than his own. I am not saying that they would be aggressive at all, but inquisitive, and we don't know what sort of natures these dogs have - excitable or placid, old or young?
If they are kept in the kitchen away from the baby then it may be difficult to get around to cater for so many people. I don't like dogs around me in the kitchen (and have spent a morning trying to cook a full-scale Christmas dinner at the same time as trying to keep out two large visitor dogs whose owner thought of them as her babies).

Our own normally very sweet-natured little dog turned into a ferocious tiger when he was given a hide slipper one Christmas and spent the whole festive period 'guarding' it and growling if anyone went near it.

I'm sorry, but I think many dogs can be unpredictable if provoked and should be kept apart from the baby.

Iam64. That's what surprised me. I looked them up because someone I know has two huskies and a Malemute and he told me how they mimic sirens when they go past [and ice cream vans]. I've been quite concerned lately about the number of huskies I see these days as I don't see them as pet dogs, but they are very fashionable.

Is one, or more, of these dogs a husky? Did I miss something?

DN had a husky and she mainly lived outside - with her thick fur coat she was uncomfortable inside with central heating. She did come into the house but preferred her kennel in the garden.

...no, I've just gone off at a tangent . It would be interesting to know what breeds the dogs are, though.

I keep wondering if they are small dogs.
Who presumably would nip only.

It is all rather worrying , if I was the original poster I would really be taking on board the advice offered here.

If you haven't G/C then you would take a different perspective I assume!!

A 'nip' could be very traumatising for a crawling baby!

I'm just wondering what the parents of the baby think, I know one of the dogs lives with them but surely the parents will have some thoughts on this quandary

It isn't just the crawling that's a worry when it comes to babies and dogs, but the squealing can bring out aggression in some dogs.

And the face to face contact- which can be seen as agression to a dog, especially in a crowded environment and the excitement of Christmas.

Possible not much point discussing this further until new2me comes back with her thoughts on the comments and more info about the type of dogs, etc. Her OH is concerned about both dogs, and he must have his reasons.

Some people with small dogs minimise a nip. I dont think that they should.

Er...wasn't it you who said 'I keep wondering if they are small dogs.
Who presumably would nip only.' soontobe?

Can"t really agree GRanjura, people want to have their say, the OP will come in I sure later on.

True.
Ah, I see the confusion.
I probably didnt write very clearly.

I didnt add my last point onto that post.

A nip would be better than a husky bite. But still not good.

soontibe yes I do know Iam64 now, having met her in one of our north west meetups a year or so ago, and a few times since then. We exchange the odd email, enthusing about our dogs and training, and other news that we know would interest one another, some of which is repeated here on the threads.

If you know her in rl as well as you do, then yes you can say the things that you did.

Spelling, when! Sorry, that should be soontobe.

I forget that posters can know other posters quite well in rl.

It is like moving into a new area, and everyone is related, or so it seems

soontobe just seen your earlier post! here:

"Are you saying that the posters on here who think that the situation may be a bit of a problem, all dont train their dogs properly?"

I'm saying that 'some' dog owners don't understand canine behaviour, yet think they can make assumptions about other dogs, well-trained or not. It's important to distinguish between well behaved and badly trained dogs.

'And that if new2me wasnt nervous, the situation at christmas would be fine in her household?'

No, I'm saying that I personally wouldn't take my dog if the householder was nervous about the situation.

'Or are you saying that new2me is nervous becuase she may not train her dog properly?'

Er........no? I have no idea how newtome trains her dog, just accept her assertion that she is nervous about the situation.

I agree that well trained, confident dogs are unlikely to become aggressive in their normal day-to-day situations. But I wonder if the combination of a different environment, two others dogs they don't know, a baby, and adults who possibly might have a bit of "Christmas stress", might be rather a lot for even a well balanced dog to cope with.

We have never used "kennels" for our own dog but have left him with our son's friend and have also left him with a neighbour who looks after several dogs while their owners are on holiday. Our dog has never seemed "traumatised" by the experience - in fact he seems to positively enjoy it. I would be more reluctant to leave our dog at a kennels where the dogs are put in cages for a large part of the day.

It doesn't sound very relaxing to me. Is it possible that a friend or relative might be prepared to look after one or more of the dogs?

I think that even a small dog could give quite a nasty bite.

Also, the dog belonging to the babies family could be aggressive towards the other dogs as it will want to defend him/her.

I am not a great dog lover i.e I would not choose to share my home with one, but if I meet a dog at a friends house I ma happy to pay it some attention. Just putting my position re dogs!!

Here we have three lots of dog owners, 3 dogs plus a baby. I can only imagine potential difficulties. Two of the visitors are the OPs children. Why not just send a joint email to them both expressing concerns about safety & hygiene re the crawling baby and 3 dogs, space etc & let parents and auntie think about it and come up with a solution? Put the ball back in their court!

soontobe there are people out there actively trying to change dog behaviour and bring out the aggressive, not to say savage, side of them. If you couple that with dogs being inbred and kept in bad conditions you've got a disaster waiting to happen. Rottweillers are another example of a breed that used to be known as a friendly family dog. Owned by a violent thug it can become a killer. This is why places like Battersea are so very careful about rehoming some of these breeds. The Dogs Trust has many dogs that stay with them permanently because they are not suitable for rehoming.

My dd has been attacked by dogs twice - once aged 2 ( it was my dog and I had him destroyed immediately - she had to have stitches in her face under a ga and a stay in hospital ) and again at age 9 at a friends house - totally unprovoked- again a late night visit to A and E and stitches in her head. She was lucky both times ( relatively). The situation posited by the OP is fraught with potential problems - why risk it?