My dog and my new grandson

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

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

- 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.

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

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.

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

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’d ask your SIL what he wants, he seems to be after the dog more, and if he has real issues, you might find yourselves not seeing them as much. No need to dismiss his viewpoint on his own child

I agree with Iam about a behaviourist.

Ive used one previously on our newest dog who had some excitable habits that needed to stop . The coping and training methods worked beautifully. It was well worth the cost of a one off 1-2-1 visit.

I'm not dog blind enough to think dogs don't bite and children don't ear or tail pull Monica but excluding the child from the dog could cause a fear of dogs in later life and Scentia is quite right - both the dog and the child need to be taught how to safely interact with one another .

This is so wrong I know of a baby that was killed by the family dogs. Never ever leave them alone together and stop the licking . I am astounded the parents have not stopped it my DDIL would have gone mad.

A behaviourist! Oh pulease! Keep the dog away from the child-either licking or biting-definitely not!

No I wouldn’t let it near a baby or small child Staffies are often lovely dogs and very kind and gentle BUT their jaws are made to clamp on and if it was to bite it is very hard to prise the jaw open You say the dog is obsessed with the baby that sounds worrying too she may try to get over protective of him
As for licking a baby oh yuk yuk yuk a dog cleans its bum with the same tongue I don’t know how anyone could let any dog lick a baby
Don’t put the baby in his chair on the floor where the dog can get to him put it higher on a table or something

Personally I wouldn't let any dog near a baby however much the dog is loved, one bite is all that's needed. The baby should be a priority at all times.

I fully endorse the idea of a behaviourist. It sounds as if your dog is not fully-trained, but in any case this is a new situation and perhaps professional help would be a good idea.

A behaviourist is an excellent idea, especially as you say your dog is over enthusiastic with visitors. No need to muzzle !

I am not a doggie person, and after a recent very frightening experience with dogs that left me with a badly bruised arm, I will continue to avoid them in any situation.

M0nica. You haven’t read my post, it doesn’t seem impossible to me that my dog could attack anyone at all, she has teeth, she could bite. I just think keeping them apart could be a recipe for disaster if they happen to meet and my grandson pulls at her ear or tail and she has no idea how to deal with him or what he actually is. I think I will definitely engage a professional as amateur advice could be dangerous.

Every owner of a dog that attacks a child says that if they had thought such an attack could ever happen they would have kept them apart. It may seem impossible to you that your dog would attack or hurt anyone, but does the dog know this?

I hear what you are all saying and if that is the best thing to do then I will keep her away. She had been the centre of the family for years and if I cut her out now surely that is when problems occur if she did get close to him in the future. Surely it is best to get the rules sorted now before he is of an age to be learning how to behave around her. She is an excitable dog when visitors arrive so I am trying to learn how to curb that as that is normally when she will try to lick him. I can’t see how excluding her will make her safer around him. As I said if that is the only way then that is what I will do, but I can’t help thinking there must be a better way. 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. Seems like there is a split of the right thing to do. I may engage a behaviourist to help us out in this one.

Scentia I understand you don’t want your dear GA hurt so why take the risk? Is the dog muzzled so it CAN’T bite? My DGC are too of the list for safety-not paranoid-just safe!