Little visitor

emma · Guru

Little visitor

Jax · Master

I can understand your concerns, I never leave either of our two alone with my 4 and 5 year old neice and nephew, just in case, even though they have had it drummed into them for years about how to approach a dog and what not to do. It's difficult though, yesterday I stopped to chat with a neighbour on my way home with our two (tired) dogs and her wee grandson, only a toddler, was right up to their faces with his hands at their mouths. I had to intervene as his gran didn't even notice, he moved back after I gently suggested he didn't get so close to them. The dogs weren't bothered but it's a risk thats not worth taking.

Dogs are dogs. I think it's our responsibility to teach children how to interact with all animals and if we're not confident of the animals response then it's good to take control of the situation.

Gail · Big Cheese

Good for Chad. I can understand you being worried Emma, i think we all need to be certain of our dogs reactions before we allow them near kids, its such a big responsibility.

In all the time i have had Neo he is still not left alone with the my ten month old, simply because he shows no interest in the baby at all and that makes me suspicious of his reaction. Neo will look at Callan then walk away, he doesn't really come close to him at all and certainly would never let the wee one reach out and touch him. He is used to the noises the baby makes and doesn't react to them but i'm still a tad wary. For that reason i have a stairgate on the lounge door and Neo has a bed in the hall so that when Callan is crawling on the floor Neo is the other side of the gate where he can watch and listen to us and not feel excluded but i know then that he can't get near him.

He has never shown any aggression towards the baby, just total disinterest but until Callan is up and walking i just feel there are things you don't take chances with!! In saying all that, when my friends visit with their small children Neo is over like a shot for a cuddle and is great with them so maybe i'm just being overprotective

You must be very proud of Chad's reaction, especially as he is not used to children, Well done him

FAJ · Enlightened One

Awww, Emma, that's lovely. Of course we need to be cautious and careful, but sometimes I think we need to give our dogs the benefit of the doubt. It's great that Chad and your friend's wee girl got on so well together. We can never have too many friends.

A friend of mine visited fairly recently with her 20-month old toddler. I tried to keep the wee one and the dogs separate but, alas, he was absolutely thrilled with them and wanted to be wherever they were. I knew that Pearly would be fine - she just gets up and moves away when she's had enough - but, having never met such a small child before, Harry was an unknown quantity and I was worried about him. My big boy was an absolute star! I could see he was a bit wary but mostly he was curious about this small person and tolerated the pats and devotion with very good grace.

C_J · Master

FAJ wrote:

I think we need to give our dogs the benefit of the doubt.

I agree with you there Fiona, when I first decided to bring Casper home I had no idea if he would be ok with Aedan, who was 2 at the time. I had to take the risk and brought him home. I was careful at first and never left them alone, but I eventually had to give Casper the benefit of the doubt and now I have no hesitation with him and small children. I trust him 100%. It's a case of teaching them both how to behave around each other and letting them know what is acceptable. Although with toddlers you can never be sure - Aedan went through a stage of getting up in the morning and getting into Caspers bed and we would wake up to find them both curled up together - or Casper would wake us crying because Aedan had turfed him out. Luckily that phase has passed now and Casper gets his long lies.

In my case it is more that I trust Casper to stick to the rules but not Aedan! Every dog is different though, so I guess its better to be cautious in some situations.

Anyway, well done Chad for being so good. It's nice when our dogs do things that make us proud

Jane

max · Enlightened One

Cannot say anymore that what has been said, but well done Chad for showing such good manners.

Nora

Teresa · Enlightened One

Aww, Em, how sweet. You must be so proud of Chad, he behaved very well.

greyflintstone · Master

Well done Chad and well done Emma!

When we first got Freddy, my youngest was only 2 years old. I have to be honest and say that never at any point did I worry about leaving the dog and the kids alone together (obviously I didn't when we first brought Freddy home!). The kids drove their cars over him and he just laid there and took it. We told the kids from day one that if the dogs are in their beds then they are to be left alone, and so the dogs have known that they have that place of security that if it all gets too much for them, they can escape.

My neice is really frightened of dogs (particularly wee yappy ones) - but that's because my sister in law is frightened and has projected her fears onto her. Hannah loves Wilma. She thinks it's funny that Wilma will lie with her head in Hannah's lap! A great way to show little ones that not all doggies are bad.

When we first met Wilma, she jumped at Freddy, she jumped at me and she jumped at Chas - yet she has never jumped at or near the kids. Somehow its as if she knows that there are small people about who might get knocked over!!

Isla · Enlightened One

What a sweetie Chad is. Look on the bright side, saved your friend having to bath her child when she got her home! It must be down to all the love and consistency that Chad has in his life!

Tigger did that with my neighbours' wee boy. Ewan is three now and there has been a dog in his family since day one so he is not scared of them. Wills is a piece of cake - I'd trust him with any child but I was interested to see what Tigger would make of this mini person in her house. Being her usual self, she was just delighted to see "friends" and made the best of the fact that the poor lad's face was at just the right height for Tigger to wash without having to stretch! I think he got a bit fed up in the end so now we have to keep them apart.

Millie is the one I wouldn't trust. She is very grumpy with small children and avoids them wherever possible. She seems to be scared of them for some reason. She is improving though as all three of them are quite happy to speak to Ewan through the fence now.

Valerie · Guru

It's good to see a Mum like Jane being honest that her son might break the rules! Biscuit loves people and seems to be very good with children we meet, but because he doesn'r live with them, I'm always careful. However, despite fence proofing the garden, the neighbour's children and friends stretch their hands through to Biscuit to feed him stones!!! sometimes sweets. You just never know even with the best dog, when they might grab something, or feel it's a tug game, and then the dog will be blamed.

Do my best to always be in the garden and keep eyes and ears open, but little boys, and little girls will be just that. It's very difficult when you get on well with neighbours, and want folks to not see your dog as unfriendly, so I'll be glad when they are back at school !!

Chad sounds very sweet and it's always nice to see your dog enjoy other folk and vice versa.

Cloudy Days · Rookie

Yer its nice to find out that Chad didnt want to hurt the little girl, sometimes it can be quite scary and you cant really take any risks with a big dog like a greyhound.
However i have never seen any aggression towards children from our dogs at the kennels for example one family that would come down with their little 3 year old and none of the dogs would pay any attention to him the only child ever hurt was a girl who's father happens to own about 5 of the big strong (annoying, pushy) males in the kennels, she was asked to hold one of the quieter males, and was doing fine until the particular dog in question desided he would rather go and have a little lie down in his kennel,

Well he had pulled her over and dragged her half way to the kennels before we could stop him, we haven't seen te girl since, poor thing

Amanda · Master

I guess a lot depends on the dog but I would trust a grey over many of the other breeds of dog with my children. Most of you will remember the photo of Blue with Hazel. We have always drilled into our children how to behave with dogs and not to stroke strange dogs always ask their owners first it drives me mad when children launch themselves at dogs and try to cuddle them Blue is fine but not all dogs would be.

I have read about some greys getting confused when a baby cries thinking it is some sort of prey. Thankfully Blue just grumps and puts him paws over his ears.

Must be a weight off you mind Emma knowing Chad is fine with little ones