Toddlers and Puppies

Love it Annobel

Cockadoodle?

I think I'd rather call a Cocker Spaniel/poodle cross a Spoodle rather than Cockerpoo!! Or Cospoodle if you want to get all the bits of name in! Seems like tempting fate to have 'poo' at the end of the name. Mind you, I have to do the daily 'poo run' with my lined bucket and spade, otherwise known as shit shovelling. Oh the joys of dog ownership!

My memories of our own small children and toddlers with dogs are all good - our dogs were simply very protective, but I agree that you should never leave them alone together

When my children were small we had a long haired german shepherd called Jake. He was such a wonderful dog. When any of the children felt poorly and would have a day off school, lying on the sofa with a quilt, 'Nanny' Jake would lie alongside them in front of the sofa, as though he was on duty until they were better. Some relatives visited with their baby, and after half an hour of waiting for them to remove the baby's hat and coat, Jake gently helped by pulling off his bootees and knitted hat, then sat down wagging his tail, waiting for a thankyou for his efforts!

I would never leave any dog unsupervised with a child, but some of these family pets are so caring and loyal.

We got a black lab puppy when DD2 was 2 - she was the cutest soppiest dog, but it was hard to give her the right training as well as coping with the DDs . Poor little DD2 was never very steady on her feet and would go flying when greeted by exuberant puppy. Not actually fair on either, but the dog was wonderful when I had DD3 2 years later- I was told to put the Moses basket on the floor and let the dog sniff round the baby check out what "it" was and from then on she was totally reliable.One day I had a friend's baby to look after and when she started crying, Islay the lab's tail dropped between her legs, the head went down and she disappeared upstairs in disgust "Oh no, they've got another one of those baby things" was what I imagine was going through her head!So a dog, fine, a puppy.....it'll be fine, but you will have your hands full!

Suzanne I have had dogs and cats all my life. The main thing to remember is that pets are NOT toys for children to be amused by. Animals need to be treated with respect. You would not allow your child/grandchildren to be pulled around the room by their ears or hair so why some ignorant people think it is acceptable to do this to pets really annoys me. My health visitor told me to get rid of my Irish Setter of 5 years when I gave birth to my daughter. I didn't listen, on my mum's advice. Shane used to lie under my daughters high pram in the shopping tray when we put the pram in the garden in the sunshine. One day we heard a rather aggressive growl followed by a scream. I went out to find the postman holding his leg. Seems he had tried to put a silver coin under Anne's pillow and Shane took offence at him touching "his" baby while he lay guard over her. Luckily for me the postman didn't take it further but a lawyer friend told us some years later that the postman had no right going anywhere near the pram as it was his job to deliver mail not go near the pram that was nowhere near the front door but in the rear garden under the kitchen window. Seems he should have rang the door bell and asked me if he could see baby and then asked of he could place money under her pillow for luck. So, pets if treated properly, can co exist with children. It's not just training animals, it's training the children too.

absentgrana - that is excellent advice! But I would add that whether or not the dog has a squeaky toy, they can get very unsettled by a particular pitch of a baby's cry, and also by an all-fours crawler (who presumably looks like another dog).

em I couldn't think of a better dog than a nice trained Labrador,we had a black one yrs ago from the homing centre,she had been put there as someone decided they did not want her after new baby arrived so instead of keeping the dog they put her up for adoption,em she was the best dog we have ever had,she taught my DS2 to walk and rolled over with DGCs when they where small,but we have also fostered dog's that I would never let a child have contact with but we have persevered and helped rehome with home's that are child free. The best sight to see is a mum with her pup's when they are just getting their cordination together,our Bassett Bonnie had 9 pups (10yrs ago now) and the laugh's we had when feeding,all differant coloured peg's holding up the ear's,*priceless*.

My SiL works with and trains dogs. His lab had 7 pups earlier in the year and GS (2) loved running round the garden shouting 'Chase me' and being pursued by tiny puppies who were just finding their feet. All but one went to excellent homes and the one they kept is affectionate and obedient. She'll spend the next months in the house with the family but will be moved out to the main run with her mother and aunt and start serious training then.

Our grumpy Lhasa Apso was 10 yrs when our grandaughter was born so were quite anxious as to how the dog would react to a baby being around but as she got older the dog got more and more tolerant, she cut most of her teeth on dog biscuits and the dog who was a fussy eater now loves "mouse cheese" sandwiches and ice cream

Basset hound and twin toddler boys - what a great mix! The dog plays on their slide and they lock her out of her crate - from the inside! She goes to a dog creche twice a week where she lets off steam and learns to tolerate puppies going crazy around her, which has really paid off in terms of her reliability with small children. Have to watch they don't share yoghurts and dog biscuits, and never leave them alone together, but both dog and toddlers have enriched each others' lives. Mutual adoration!

Thank you all for your very helpful and thoughtful comments. We now have our puppy, Maisie, and we are all on a very steep learning curve! Thank heavens for dog crates and stairgates! We never, ever, leave Rufus alone with her and have worked out a good system for arranging safe areas for them both to retreat to. They are beginning to be the best of friends but it is hard work and needs plenty of patience as they can both wind each other up no end! Will keep you posted!

I agree with riclorian, with good rules dogs and children can mix. I grew up with dogs and have had dogs much of my adult life. Our 8 year old Border Collie adores all children. He loves going to the woods with the grandchildren, following the bikes or just playing hide and seek (which he isn't very good at!). He knows his barriers and the children know they are not to tease. Last night the poor dog was dribbling so much when one of the children had a biscuit! Eventually felt sorry for him and gave him a biscuit of his own. The biggest rule is never, ever, ever leave dog and child alone.

What sensible people dog-owning grandparents seem to be. I have just one additional rule passed on to me by a dog-handler. If a dog is going to be around small children, especially if only intermittently, don't give it (dog) squeaky toys to play with as it can mistake the high-pitched sound of a child or a child's hand holding a squeaky toy for something to toss around. That probably sounds silly, but if you try to think like a dog, it makes sense.

Has anyone had a problem with a dog getting jealous of a new baby? I'd heard that spaniels could do so if they were used to having their owners sole attention, so I deliberatley treated my spaniel like a dog right from the start..lots of love but not many cuddles etc. When I had my baby a couple of years later the dog then got the attention I'd wanted to give her as a puppy, and there was no jealousy. Wonderful for children to grow up with animals. My favourites are guinea pigs, but they're not good for children with allergies [especially asthma].

I agree with most of the comments already posted.. I think puppies are very much like babies, you dont realise how hard work they are going to be until you actually get one. But they grow up much faster than children and before you know it they are sleeping through the night as opposed to not sleeping at all (the dogs not the babies, or both). As with children though.. it is all worth it in the end!

Someone sent me a clip from utube of a baby lying on the floor with a bull mastiff..it made my flesh crawl! I was meant to go 'oh, how cute'. All of the photos I have of when my children were small show them with our dogs and cats [always had cocker spaniels when the kids were lttle, because they never seem to tire of attention..in fact I gave up spaniels for that very reason], and yet now I'm paranoid about leaving a toddler in a room with a dog. My latest dog ripped my finger open with her baby teeth..she was only playing and wouldn't hurt anyone; we both went for a toy at the same time. Sadly, my oldest grandchild doesn't like dogs at all, which makes me terribly sad, as I wanted them to grow up together.

I think if you've made the decision to get a puppy then riclorian's advice is very sound. My daughter has a 16 month old son and two months ago had put a deposit on a (labrador) puppy; when I found out about it I talked to her about the competing needs of puppy and baby and she (wisely in my view) made the decision to wait for three or four years. She is a very young widow and as a single mum I thought it would be too much for her. Your situation is very different though and I wish you many joyful years with your interestingly named 'cockerpoo'.

We have 2 young black labradors (aged 3 years and 18 months). When our 14 month old granddaughter visits she has no qualms about dealing with the dogs - she just bats them out of the way with her hand! The dogs love her and are never any problem, other than being concerned if she cries.
However, labradors are known for being particularly soppy, and they are never left alone with GD even for a minute. I wouldn't feel as confident with any other breed of dog.
Good luck, and enjoy the cockerpoo!

I'd say wait a while. A new puppy needs much the same care as a toddler and constant vigilence until house-trained. You don't want the baby toddling through the inevitable poos and wees. Also, all puppies play-bite and the baby would get hurt. The puppy would also get hurt by the baby.
No, puppies and toddlers don't mix.

Thank you riclorian - very helpful comments. We have now chosen our puppy - a female cockerpoo (Cocker Spaniel/poodle cross) and she arrives at the end of next month - all very exciting!

Sorry milliej -- I am new to gransnet , so still making mistakes--- . my advice was to Suzanne .I should be wearing L plates !!

Your advice is very sound riclorian hope I didn't sound too 'bolshy' didn't mean to be!

Hello Milliej, We have children , grandchildren and now great grandc
hildren,and have always kept a dog with no problems . The two children youngest in the family ars 3yrs, and 8 mths old . I am not an expert on the matter , but have always had firm rules that the dogs are not to be teased and that they have a safe place to go ( ie in the open space under the stairs ) where the children are not allowed to go .Children should be taught to respect animals .Another rule has always been that children and dogs should not be left alone together , not even for a minute .I am sorry if this sounds a little harsh , but it has always worked for us . Hope you go ahead and choose a puppy---- they bring a lot of fun with them .
PS have had 5 varieties, all good family dogs , but the present little Westie is brilliant !! Good luck --- enjoy!

I feel sorry for the puppies (and dogs) because children can tease them relentlessly and the parents often don't step in to stop it!
My husband had a word with a couple of kids this morning, small dog on a lead being pulled along a high wall then trying to get it to jump off the end!
My husband went out and said that the dog could hurt itself and they shouldn't be doing that, the little boy said thank you . So perhaps it was just the girl!
Personally I think too many people get dogs for children although you aren't! The kids get tired of them once they are out of puppyhood and the number sent to rescue kennels is ridiculously high.
I would be a shame if you wanted a puppy but felt you couldn't because of having your grandson for 2 days. Glad I don't have the decision to make, no grandchildren, but love dogs