What is a good child friendly breed of dog?

foreign_correspondent

Dollparts... as you are someone who has bought a puppy and who has a small child - and who is experiencing first hand the difficulties of this, with your dog biting your daughter on several occasions, I thought you may understand some of the reasons why lots of people have reservations about the wisdom of taking on a pup with a small child?

cleopatra4485

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

In response to your post of "have I ever looked after a dog and a young baby" the answer is a very truthful yes. We had cocker spaniels for many years before our child was born and had one left when she came along.

That one died when she was a few months old (pre-crawling etc) so we took the decision to buy a puppy when our daughter was 15 months old. We had a springer spaniel.

We have a large garden and the dog was also exercised outside of the garden for several miles per day off lead. However it was so difficult managing the dog and the toddler as the dog wanted to play and jump all of the time (like most puppies do). Oh and before others judge, it wasn't just left in the garden to get on with it.

On lead, going for walks with the buggy was difficult as puppies need several months of training before they will walk quietly along beside you. The dog also used to cry if I took the buggy out and left her home and would often pick up the baby's toys (and you can't run the risk of your toddler putting in her mouth what the dog has had in hers because of risks like toxicaria etc).

We got through this, but it was a lot more difficult that I ever imagined it would be, being an experienced dog owner, and I was simply trying to point out that you might have a lot more work than you imagine.

Springers are fantastic in nature and great dogs with children but far too boisterous for babies/toddlers and they need a huge amount of exercise. If you do go ahead with your plans, please do not consider this breed as being suitable.

Cockers are lovely, but you can get aggression problems with the solid colours, particularly the reds.

Thankyou for your points all things to consider (in which I have thought about)

I read about the two breeds and decided against. I really do feel the Pug is my best option, due to their temperament and placid nature. The only problem is the cost :eek: I will have to start saving my pennies, I might place myself on the waiting list for the adult rescue pugs as that might save me alot of agro as one poster suggested with the naughty teens and the toilet training, but I would be very lucky to get one.

jackieglasgow

Well said FC and since when has a thread on MSE ever stayed completely OT to the original question? Most questions do raise others. I agree, the OP has had to defend herself a bit more than most, but she's done an admirable job of sticking up for herself.

cleopatra4485

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Dollparts... as you are someone who has bought a puppy and who has a small child - and who is experiencing first hand the difficulties of this, with your dog biting your daughter on several occasions, I thought you may understand some of the reasons why lots of people have reservations about the wisdom of taking on a pup with a small child?

Just accept it as duly noted

foreign_correspondent

It is not a simple question to answer - the reality is that no dog, or breed comes with a guarantee - it would be lovely if they did - we could just give the name of a breed and debate over!

In reality, so much is about how you treat them, so these considerations inevitably come into the discussion. It's a question of nurture as well as nature. Some breeds are gnerally less tolerant (such as daschunds and some terriers) and may not be a good idea - but then there is a lot of variation within a breed as well.

I think ultimately the answer is that many breeds of dogs, or mongrels, can be fab with chldren if they are well socialised, supervised, exercised and trained.. and the very same dogs could be problematic with children if they are left outside all day, lonely, bored, jealous of the child, left unsupervised and unstimulated...

Dogs are animals at the end of the day, they do not understand that small children are precious to us humans - to the dog a small child can be a pal, or it can be a competitor, or a threat - a dog which is kept outside whilst the child is played with, fed and loved, may become jealous. A dog which is poked, prodded or ragged about by small children may become scared and defensive. A dog which is fully integrated into family life, well stimulated, exercised and trained, with a child who is encouraged to be gentle and kind and give the dog space will most likely see the child as a friend.

dollparts

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Dollparts... as you are someone who has bought a puppy and who has a small child - and who is experiencing first hand the difficulties of this, with your dog biting your daughter on several occasions, I thought you may understand some of the reasons why lots of people have reservations about the wisdom of taking on a pup with a small child?

Reservations? Is that what you see it as?

Read back FC, or better still try to see it from someone else's perspective. It is not anyone's right to decide upon the wisdom of another..

True, I am not without issues with my pup and my daughter. However, to assume anyone else is BOUND to have the same issues is just ludicrous!

That's just throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Ask people to bear things in mind, yes. That is the beauty of sharing info. However that is not what is happening here. People are assuming and stonewalling and quite frankly it makes ugly reading.

FC, you do offer good advice and have been very helpful to me and countless others. But do you not see why one would be offended at some of the inferences that have been made?

skiTTish

I disagree ,again it comes down to the bred nature of a dog .
From a pup our lab always had an understanding ,that the little people had to be treated with greater care than the big ones and although the big ones could be gently mouthed ,the little 'uns got licks .He never ever jumped or rushed around children ,never knocked anyone over .
I would love to take the credit for fantastic training but he came to us ready made like that ,all down to breeding :~)

skiTTish

Sorry ,my above post was in response to FC saying that pups cannot understand children ,cant find it now ??!

foreign_correspondent

skiTTish wrote: »

I disagree ,again it comes down to the bred nature of a dog .
From a pup our lab always had an understanding ,that the little people had to be treated with greater care than the big ones and although the big ones could be gently mouthed ,the little 'uns got licks .He never ever jumped or rushed around children ,never knocked anyone over .
I would love to take the credit for fantastic training but he came to us ready made like that ,all down to breeding :~)

But that does not serve as a guarantee that a labrador will not bite/nip/mouth children... lots of people consider lab pups to be particularly prone to mouthing people...

http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=42797

mrcol1000

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

But that does not serve as a guarantee that a labrador will not bite/nip/mouth children... lots of people consider lab pups to be particularly prone to mouthing people...

http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=42797

It is quite commonly known but never spoke about that labadors are the most common breed to cause human bites especially in young children. However due to their cuddly squishy image they are rarely reported so often don't feed in to the "offical figures".