What kind of dog is safe for babies?

Luckygirl we're not all 'those ' people with aggressive dogs on council estates.

Surely, you can allow that not all dog owners are irresponsible owners of badly trained aggressive animals?

After all, that's like saying all men are rapists, when in truth the majority are not rapists at all.

My work on a council estate brought me into contact with far more cruelty to animals than harm from them. In fact I worked for years on council estates and deprived areas and I didn't once encounter a child, a baby, or an adult who'd been attacked by an animal.

We found a puppy shivering in a box in the corner in one house. The poor animal was almost unrecognisable. We took it back to the office and called the RSPCA who came straight away and took it to the vet. The poor little thing was in a terrible state and the vet said it was the worse case of animal cruelty he'd ever seen. I won't tell you what they'd done to it, it's too distressing. The vet treated it and adopted it, as he felt so sorry for the poor little thing. It's fur never did grow back, but it wears a little coat now to keep warm.

What a lovely photo on the GN daily page today ..... I think maybe its intention is to divide us into two separate camps in order to have this emotive discussion!

My photo with the baby and the puppy has been lambasted on three occasions, fair enough, BUT like NanaaandGrampy the "irresponsible" dog owner inference does not fit well.

(Just as a side .... as Headmistress at a private school ...... I would like to point out that nearly every public school in the land has dogs sitting in baskets in classrooms and walking with teachers round the buildings. I wouldn't mind betting the school David Cameron is contemplating for his son has a resident dog or two!!) Children and dogs mix happily and safely.

well said pollyparrot - but I will not be the better person here, get off your high horse Luckygirl - you are the one with narrow perspectives for all the reasons stated by the pro dog lobby in this thread. Perhaps you could enthrall us with other of your narrow perspectives..

As an (ex) responsible, I hope, dog owner who had dogs when the children were young and when they were teenagers and whose family have had (and still have) dogs I can still see Luckygirl's point of view and I do think that not all dog owners are responsible. Some can be totally blinkered when it comes to their dogs when they are out in public, (or even at home yapping or barking all day long ).

I have always told my DC and DGC to be extremely careful about approaching a strange dog even if the owner is there holding it on a lead, you never know if the dog will suddenly snap.

"Well, he's never done that before" is too late.

annifrance that was uncalled for and a personal attack which I understand is not allowed on GN.
Perhaps you may consider deleting the post before GN do it for you.
I think Luckygirl is entitled to her opinion and is just trying to get her point across as are others on here.

I did not say council estates nanaandg - I just said estates - the assumption that I meant council estates is yours and not mine! And I have also made it clear that I know there are responsible dog owners.

I do not have a narrow perspective - I just have a different view from you - the two are not the same thing annifrance.

Just as jalima can see my pov, so I can see that of dog owners. I have many friends with dogs who respect the fart (oops fact! - typing error!) that I do not like them, just as I respect the fact that they do. And I can see the pleasure they bring to my friends.

But I really do think that dogs and babies and toddlers should not be put together.... ever.

My dog was 7 when my 1st Grandson was born, he didn't know what to make of him and just used to go away and lie down, my Grandson wasn't that interested in him and didn't really bother him, but the dog used to squeeze in between us if we were playing, my other Grandsons have fell on him and pulled his tail, and he has never even growled at them , he is now 17, but i wouldn't trust him 100% with a child as he is what he is, a dog, dogs can't tell you if they are ill,fed up or just jealous, so shouldn't be left alone with a child,I don't think any breed should be trusted fully, they are animals and have animal instincts,

There will always be a polarisation of views on dogs and anything, whether it be babies/toddlers as on this discussion or in relation to dog pooh as on another current thread.

I grew up with dogs and other than between age 18 and 25 have always lived with dog/s. My 3 children grew up with dogs as have / are, my grandchildren. I've two of my own and in recent weeks had a third living here as her owners, my daughter and her partner have a 2 week old baby (feeling blessed). I don't walk the three off lead together because three dogs is definitely a pack. I'll have one dog off lead, or possibly the 7 year old huge x breed with the small 12 month old x breed as they are a calmer mix than either of them are with my middle sized and slightly reactive x breed.

My daughter and her family have visited regularly, having first sent a babygro with the babies scent on. We've been very careful about introducing the new baby to any of the dogs and so far, so good. As has already been said, its irresponsible and poorly informed or educated (in the ways of dogs) owners that is the problem. Few dogs are innately bad but all are capable of losing control - just as people are. My life has been enriched by dogs, children, friends and fun.

I'm with Lucky Girl all the way! Ive been badly bitten by a dog recently just delivering a note to a neighbour. Her dog is normally chained up and always runs out aggressively. On this occasion it wasn't and went for my leg, ripping my trousers and biting deeply into my calf so i had to go to the doctor and was bruised from ankle to knee for weeks. I dread to think what would have happened if one of my little grandchildren had been with me. The owner, a friend of mine, was very apologetic but nothing has changed. She knows i will never go into her gate again.
Ive never been keen on dogs- the barking, the smell, the junping up etc but i am now quite nervous. I have a lot of friends with dogs - (almost everyone in the village) and know many famies with young children and dogs and understand that they love the dogs and feel that the children are safe, but I would not be happy if it was my grandchildren. Luckily none of my children are keen on dogs either.
We get a lot of dog poo left on field paths around the village too.
I think we'll all have to agree to differ! I dont think personal attacks on this site are helpful though!

Five pages and the OP hasn't reappeared.

Perhaps intimidated by some of comments?

we have always had labradors and found them all particularly tolerant with small children.
However, as a health visitor I always advised parents to never leave a dog and child unattended . I did hear of a baby left propped up in the corner of the sofa, swaddled in a shawl. The baby started moving and making a noise, this startled the family German Shepherd who grabbed the 'moving bundle' in its jaws , shaking it violently before the parents could get to it.

I'm a bit confused by the question too - who is getting the puppy? If it's your daughter I would definitely wait as a puppy is as demanding as a new baby and as the baby will obviously take precedence it's not really fair on the puppy. If it's you then one of the more gentler breeds would be good. My son has had 2 labs - both have been wonderful with my granddaughters although they didn't get the current one until their youngest daughter was about 8. They had the first one when she was a baby though and she was a lovely dog - very gentle and quiet. As everyone has said though I'd never leave a baby alone with either a dog or a cat - it's much better not to take the risk. Enjoy your new grandchild - such a precious time

All depends what comes first. Dogs get jealous. I would wait. No need for unnecessary work either.

Five pages and the OP hasn't reappeared.

I wondered about that too pollyparrot
I wondered if acemodar is a golden retriever

I really do not think any dog can be 100% safe but there are breeds that may be less likely to be aggressive/ likely to be snappy etc.
I am sure that good training and positive training/treatment /care plays a huge part in successful co-habitation of children and dogs..

Maybe this was a fictitious OP but it did start an interesting discussion. Pretty well everyone agrees: don't leave small children and dogs alone and dog owning has to be responsibly undertaken for the sake of dogs and humans alike.

As someone late to the dog owners club (never had a dog until 65, always a cat person) I have found that I have a huge love for my pup but recognise that she needs a lot of looking after, including learning how to behave, and that not everyone finds dogs appealing. She is a lovely dog but needs controlling.

Dog owners and those unhappy around dogs need to respect each other's point of view.

For my views on irresponsible owners, see the thread on dog poo

Having loved and owned dogs, children, grandchildren, I would never trust any of my children to an animal. A dog, however cuddly, will always be an animal, and should be respected as one.

It's not the dog that should be in question it's the adults and how the allow the baby/child and animal to spend time together. If the parent & pet owner are responsible, it isn't an issue.
Anyone with any sense would not leave a baby unattended (apart from being asleep in their room) period, whether it's with an animal present or not!! It's not a case of dogs learning to behave, it's owners learning how to best meet the needs of that animal.
Just like children, with pets, you get out what you put in. If you learn to show them what you expect from them, they will thrive, if you don't give them structure, boundaries etc, then expect them to be wayward.

Each animal will have a personality, just like each person. I've had the pleasure to grow up and live my life along side some amazing, gentle dogs but I've equally see contrary, snappy & disobedient ones. Behaviour in anyone has a cause.

Hope this helps.

We have 3 cavs and a westie they are very good and gentle but I would never leave a small child alone with a dog also if a baby cries then the dog could think that something is wrong you just cant be sure best to be safe than sorry

We loved our wee dog, but would never have left him alone with a grandchild. You never know what the child ( or dog) will do, so it's not worth taking the risk.

No, you should never ever leave a small child/baby alone with any dog under any circumstances. To do this is asking for trouble even with the most benign canine, it's just not worth the risk. We've had dogs all our married life as well as a dear cocker spaniel when I was a child. All of our dogs, a Sheltie, lab/red setter, collie, and three cockers have been absolutely fine with children - But - I would never have left them with any small child unsupervised, absolutely out of the question. They're/ were 'dogs' and however 'good' they are they're not humans, cannot reason, and have limited understanding. Yes, I do remember cat nets! Our particular puss at this time seemed to think that the pram was a warm and cosy spot for a nap, so a net was a necessity!

How about this then.

nanaangrampy - I like your style (and your dogs). OP If you are not a 'doggie' person I would leave it a while but for me - my grandchilldren were introduced to our lab and Jack russell the day they came home from hospital. I brought a babygro back from the hospital first so they had a chance to get used to the new smell. I introduced them very carefully on the sofa (so the baby was not on the floor). We always cage train our dogs so they are happy to go there if they need sanctuary or if we have visiting children. I have to say that dgd first stood up by grabbing the hair on a visiting Border Terrier and pulling herself upright. The Border stood motionless until we rescued her - very impressive. I think any breed can be dodgy and any breed can be perfect. Border Terriers do have a very good reputation with little ones. Our Jack Russell was totally smitten with the first baby and just wanted to lick her all over continually. I found an article online that said it was her way of accepting the baby into our pack. It was extraordinary. But as people say - its the people not the dog that matters. And NEVER leave a baby alone even with the most perfect dog, its not fair on either of them\