Would you let your baby and dog do this?

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
When we raised Great Pyrs, I had no problem with them playing with kids. I often took them to the park and let them play with the kids in the sandbox. The mothers were usually deep in conversation at the picnic tables and didn't notice til the kids started giggling. They would start to freak out as the kids pulled ears and tried to stick their heads in the dog's mouth but, I'd tell them, 'don't worry, I fed them this morning.'
 

Vonkhan

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
8,198
0
71
Both my dogs (shepherd-collie mix and pit-lab mix) are very gentle my daughter since she was born. They let her pull their ears, tail and fur and at the very most they'll whine a little after a while.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
they can snap at anytime... NO. I watch the dog like a hawk if he gets near the kids (parents' dog who I used to live with)... I love the dog too but you just never know. My previous dog snapped once and bit me... small little terrier. Point is, one moment can cost for life and I'm not going to let them play unsupervised.
 
Last edited:

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
My son used to try to ride my dog like a horse...the dog didn't like it much though because she's old and has bad hips so we would always discourage our son from doing that. The dog would never hurt him intentionally though, other than stepping on his bare feet every once in a while (because she's a big clumsy dog) she's never hurt him or our cat.

I wouldn't let a dog do that around a newborn though.
 

Patt

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
5,288
2
81
Yes:

k1.jpg


They've been best friends since she was a baby. The dog has never, ever acted aggresively. Her 10 month old sister crawls all over the dog too. If he's had enough, he'll walk to another part of the room. The only time he has ever even knocked her over is when they're playing with a ball outside :D
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
76
Dogs are not unpredictable monsters. Properly raised dogs have no problems around babies. Learn to raise your pet right or don't get one.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
Both my dogs (shepherd-collie mix and pit-lab mix) are very gentle my daughter since she was born. They let her pull their ears, tail and fur and at the very most they'll whine a little after a while.

my black lab was the same with all 3 of my kids. and very protective of them when new people were in the house. not aggressive, but were always there if the new people went close to the kids. best dog i ever had.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Usually it's the dog I'm more worried about. Poor mutt has taken her share of sippy cup whacks to the head and unintentional steps to the tail. She's usually the one running away from the kid.

:)
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Our top bitch was a great baby sitter. We used to watch the neighbor's two year old girl and she loved to play with the knobs on the TV (this being the dark ages when TVs had knobs). We told our dog not to let the baby play with the TV and every time the little girl would try to go to the TV, the dog would nose her away and push a ball or other toy over in front of her to play with.

The dog also knew the rules to tag and hide-n-seek.

Some dogs do snap but, the only folks who are surprised when it happens are people who lack the ability to observe the dog's temperament.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
they can snap at anytime... NO. I watch the dog like a hawk if he gets near the kids (parents' dog who I used to live with)... I love the dog too but you just never know. My previous dog snapped once and bit me... small little terrier. Point is, one moment can cost for life and I'm not going to let them play unsupervised.

Little dogs like a terrier are vermin and should not be included in the same species as normal dogs. A normal dog, properly trained and socialized, will not "snap at anytime".
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,225
136
My previous dog snapped once and bit me... small little terrier.


And that was your problem....you had a terrier, well known breeds of dogs for being high strung and nippy, even towards owners, esp. as they age.
 

jonks

Lifer
Feb 7, 2005
13,918
20
81
As long as there is supervision, sure.

my geman shephard was uber gentle around my infant nephews, even other people's infants. she snapped once when she was around 12 years old and the 3 year old jumped on her hind quarters while she was laying down. she had severe arthritis so i have to imagine that fucking hurt. still, that's the parent's failure, not the dogs. Someone jumps on me when I have hip dysplasia I'll belt them a good one too.

But a healthy normally friendly family dog playing with your kids, as long as there is supervision, is fine. I wouldn't leave an infant unattended with a dog, obviously, and I also wouldn't be comfortable with my infants in that position with a stranger's dog. Your dog can smell that the kids are part of the pack, so to speak. Other kids are merely tolerated.
 

jonks

Lifer
Feb 7, 2005
13,918
20
81
Little dogs like a terrier are vermin and should not be included in the same species as normal dogs. A normal dog, properly trained and socialized, will not "snap at anytime".

well, no more than any animal alive. Technically, a human could "snap at anytime" at work and go on a shooting spree. Doesn't mean you don't hire humans. Just don't hire postal workers, duh. I don't have the statistics but I bet more parents hurt or kill their kids than the family dog.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,865
105
106
Little dogs like a terrier are vermin and should not be included in the same species as normal dogs. A normal dog, properly trained and socialized, will not "snap at anytime".

Every time I agree with you, a little part of me inside dies.
 

kalrith

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2005
6,628
7
81
I let my son interact a lot with my dogs and cats and trust them to not do anything malicious. However, I know that my chocolate lab can get excited at times and be too rough. There've been times when I've been lying down with my head leaning on her, and she's gotten startled and jumped up really quickly hurting my neck and often stepping on me. If she did that with an 8mo, she could do some serious damage. Therefore, we always supervise, but they've all been great with him so far.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
I been through several dogs throughout my life... all labs and/or retrievers. They've never shown any hostility, or 'snapping' as others have seen in other breeds. I'd feel pretty safe having my dogs around any child that's old enough to crawl, but of course still keep an eye out. After a couple years old though, kids are big enough to not have any worry around larger dogs IMO.
 

Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,539
212
106
I think it was trying to hump the baby but it was too small and it ended looking like a hug.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
if you wanna risk it, thats your choice, but don't be sad if something tragic happens. yeah its cute and fun to watch them play but is it worth it? in the end, it is an animal, and you can't truly know and control it.