My dog and my new grandson

I've always allowed my dogs to interact with babies under close supervision. Staffies are naturally very licky dogs and she will need to learn what is and isn't appropriate. I allowed mine to lick the babies feet and nothing else, when thoroughly licked I'd then tell them to leave and made sure they did. I use baby gates and a playpen / room divider to keep them apart at other times. I think more harm is done by complete segregation than supervised interaction.

I’m amazed but I shouldn’t be, by the “advice” from some who readily admit they “aren’t dog people”.
Sneering at the idea a behaviourist/good dog trainer may help us singularly unpleasant and unhelpful.
The OPs staffie is obviously much loved and probably, like most Staffordshire bull terriers, a grand family pet.
I have had one complex dog in the fifty years since I set up my own home, during which time I’ve shared my life with many Dogs, including rescues, foster Dogs of various breeds. I suspect my experiences allow me to empathise with the OP, something clearly beyond some contributors.
My complex dog was such a challenge, despite being well bred, well socialised, introduced to training etc etc that I involved a behaviourist, so glad I did, it helped. Also in the following four years, four grandchildren joined our family. Without the expert input, I may have had to rehome. For the first time in my life.
Don’t give up Scientia

Yes, keeping them apart might well make the dog jealous of the baby. But, of course, the dog should never be allowed to lick a child.

Try to prevent the dog from getting to the child to lick.

Does the baby have to be on the floor, when the dog is in the room?

I would put the dog in another room with a gate it can see the rest of the family through if that is at all possible.

I think you four adults need to discuss ground rules and all do the same, otherwise the dog will be confused now, and the child later on.

A mother of three has been mauled to death by her dogs yesterday . Why do people have these large dogs especially with children ?

- they were bull dog types, one photograph showed a very overweight dog, suggesting poor levels of care and exercise. Different breeds of dog may need different handling, training, excercise etc. It’s a tragedy for all concerned. One dog was shot by police because it remained in attack mode.
It’s no secret I’m a dog owner, I love my dogs and I fear not all dogs are properly trained and cared for.

Staffies can be very affectionate with family and very gentle.

I had a DP whose parents had a Staffie and he was great with me and I am terrified of dogs, and my daughter who was young but not a baby.

Once the Staffie knows it's place it will love and protect the child as the child gets older.
My DP's parents dog would have laid down his life for my daughter as she grew and they went outside for walks together.
Once you get past the baby stage they can be come great friends.

Yes, staffies are known as “the nanny dog”. My childminder had three and now, thirty years later, she’s still a registered CM with one staffie. It’s sad many end up in dog shelters for long periods because of recent bad publicity - often the problems are with bull breeds crossedwith staffies, which makes people understandably wary.

Good God. Are you mad? How could you let a dirty animal anywhere near a tiny baby, never mind lick it? This is totally irresponsible.

A woman was mauled to death yesterday by 2 dogs, apparently her own pets.

Now all the owners of those lovely, cuddly, wouldn't-hurt-a-fly dogs can vent their anger on me. Go ahead, it doesn't bother me at all.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Children brought up with pets have stronger immunity and are less likely to have allergies.

My dog isn’t allowed to hurt my grandson

You absolutely do NOT know that the dog might not harm your grandson. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!! YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT.

I have never used shouty capitals on a thread before, but I am at a loss as to how people can be so naive.

Whenever this comes up, the sensible and responsible dog owners on this site tell the OPs to keep the dog away from the child; and they go to great pains to explain how this might be done.

But there are those who have no idea about child safety and are so besotted with their pets that they cannot get the message. It beggars belief.

So someone has let their dog lick their baby's feet, the thought makes me shudder!

I have already said that once I have professional guidance I will do the best thing. I just can’t see how it is safe to keep them apart, they “ABSOLUTELY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER” so lucky girl unless you are a dog behaviourist keep your shouting to yourself. By all means comment with your answers to my question but do not feel you have the right to shout at me with your judgements.

Dear me, scentia. I do hope you don't use that sort of language in front of your grandson, otherwise he might grow up as foul mouthed as his grandmother.

The main thing is never ever leave a dog alone with a baby,or toddler, my great grand daughter was recently bitten badly on her face, but it was the stupid fathers fault ,my grand daughters partner,he went outside with his sister , to have a cigarette,who was visiting with the dog, and left the little girl who possibly touched or pulled at the dog, no one knows of course as no one there,she was only 12 months old at the time

It is not a judgement - it is a fact. I am distraught when I hear news of another child harmed by a family pet, whose owners were sure would not harm the child.

You do not know that; and it simply is not worth the risk.

Maybe they do not need to interact with each other - why should they if you keep the dog away until the child is old enough to understand that dogs should be treated with circumspection?

Your statements place the dog's needs on a par with the child's.

I was brought up with Staffies when they looked more like pit bulls. Both were very much nanny dogs and protected me. My parents continued to have Staffies and they were the same with my children. But - we never left any of the dogs alone with our children as they weren't used to them, and discouraged licking by removing the baby from the dog not the dog from the baby.

All our dogs have been trained not to lick faces or hands but it is hard for them sometimes with new babies. They naturally want to help care for the pack's new puppy. Luckily puppies and babies grow amazingly quickly.

You say I am not letting her lick him read the fucking post properly. She keeps TRYING to lick him but I want her to stop.

But literally in your original post you say “If I say ‘no’ she will not lick but then 5 minutes later she is trying again.” This makes it sound as though the dog does in fact occasionally lick the baby.

As far as them needing to learn to interact, they don’t actually. The baby does not live with you. The dog does. So you can put the dog away while the baby visits, or visit the baby at its own house. In an ideal world, you would teach your dog to interact properly with the baby. But that starts with you saying no, and continually saying no. Even if it gets annoying and hard.

Ftr I am a dog person, and I’m not someone who Thanks the dogs and babies don’t mix. However, dogs that refuse to listen and babies absolutely do not mix. This is on you to train your dog

Luckygirl
But if you are going to shout at me, please take time to read the post correctly. I said my dog is not allowed to hurt my grandson in response to someone’s comment. I have clearly stated that I am not so stupid to think any dog including my own has the ability to attack a child. I want to do this right, and if the right thing to do is keep them separated then that is what I will do, but I don’t believe psychologically that is the best for the dog and it is certainly not the best for the baby. He needs to learn how to interact. If it turns out he doesn’t like the dog then of course I would never make him interact but at the moment that is not possible to see. You are being judgemental about my intelligence and ability to protect my grandson.
I would suggest you go back, read all my posts properly then come back and if you still feel like shouting at me, don’t, as I don’t like being shouted at.

Summerlove
Someone else who would benefit from reading the full thread. I have engaged a professional to help me to get this right, I am aware my dog needs to get further training.
She does not lick him but she tries as her tongue is coming out but she is nowhere near enough to actually lick him.

I don't know if this will reproduce very well, but it just popped up on my FB feed. Not relevant to over eager dogs - more the other way around but worth sharing?

Well I ve read the whole thread Scentia and I m dismayed at your anger and swearing at a poster
Why do you keep insisting that the dog and baby need to be together, he is 5 months old for goodness sake, probably sitting/lying in one place at the moment They only visit they don’t live with you so what is so wrong with keeping the dog away from the baby, if I had a dog and a young baby the dog would go behind a baby gate for their visit.
You don’t even have to leave a baby alone you can be in the same room with your back turned for one minute the baby pokes the dog in the eye and it’s immediate reaction is to react in the only way it knows one big ole bite and with a staffie/pit bull etc the jaw locks on the ‘enemy’ why would you even consider wanting them together
Your grandson will get to know the dog when he is older and more able to be equally trained there is no need for an introduction at this age

NfkDumpling
I do so hate to see these photos on SM of dogs being mauled by children, that is definitely an incident waiting to happen. This is absolutely why children should be taught how to interact with animals correctly.

Well said Bluebelle

If you have read the full thread you will recall this I wrote yesterday.

I never would trust any dog alone with a child no matter what I think of the dogs temperament, but what if she has never really met him properly and then accidentally she is allowed near him and he pulls at her because he hasn’t been taught how to behave neither

Maybe now you will see why I am concerned and my opinion is that they absolutely do need to meet and get used to one another.