Are Babies Safe Around Family Dogs?

As someone who was bitten by a dog as a child, I'm all to aware how unpredictable dogs can be. When we had a first baby, I was extremely restrictive about what kind of access the dogs had to the child. They had established boundaries before the baby came (i.e. not allowed in carpeted rooms), so it wasn't like all of the sudden there were new rules and a new baby. I had to really get a sense for how the dogs would behave around my son before there were ever left unattended with him. I probably went a bit overboard, but I'm definitely one of those people who hear the horror stories and completely believe that they could happen to me. My logic in that is that you never here people who have bad things happen to them say, "I just knew this was going to happen to me." Right?!

As someone who was bitten by a dog as a child, I'm all to aware how unpredictable dogs can be. When we had a first baby, I was extremely restrictive about what kind of access the dogs had to the child. They had established boundaries before the baby came (i.e. not allowed in carpeted rooms), so it wasn't like all of the sudden there were new rules and a new baby. I had to really get a sense for how the dogs would behave around my son before there were ever left unattended with him. I probably went a bit overboard, but I'm definitely one of those people who hear the horror stories and completely believe that they could happen to me. My logic in that is that you never here people who have bad things happen to them say, "I just knew this was going to happen to me." Right?!

Too often the question is posed as "are dogs safe around children" when the question must be asked in the opposite direction, "are children safe around dogs?" My husband and I raise guide dogs and every one of them is wonderful around babies and children of all ages because they have had proper training and socialization. But, often, people don't train their children to behave appropriately around dogs and that's when problems occur. Dogs and children should still be supervised when around each other and both should know the appropriate behavior. I've seen incidents where children wrapped rubber bands around a dog's neck which then imbedded in the skin and got infected. Or they feed the dog inappropriate foods or objects. They also have a tendency to try to get the dogs to chase them or play and the dog mistakenly thinks the child is a litter mate and that play biting and such is okay.

I don't have children yet, though not by choice, but I will certainly have dogs around my children. My 18 month old nephew's favorite thing to do was to wrestle with our lab, and the lab never once acted inappropriately or dangerously with him.

We have two children( four and two, third on the way) and we have had our lab/pitbull mix dog for six years. Since we adopted our dog we have trained her to get used to how children may treat her. (pulling on ears, tails,laying on her, ect.) Our dog has done really well with both of our children. She lets us or them know when she's had enough and wants to be left alone (deep growl). We always intervene if we feel our kids are not playing nicely with her. She has never bit either child and we are usally with our children when they are playing with her. We have also taught our children how to treat our dog. Both sides need to be "trained" when it comes to dogs and children. We truly believe if a dog (just about any breed) is in a house with love and has been trained properly, will be able to coexist with children.

You should never leave your baby unattended with a dog. That being said our 2 year old black lab and 17 month old son are best friends. The dog is so gentle with my son and vice versa. we are always on the lookout though.

I would not trust any dog fully around a baby unattended.
Although i would trust some breeds more than others.
But i say...why take the chance with your precious baby.
Especially a bulldog...i would never trust them regardless of their training and i am also a dog lover myself.
I had rather be safe than sorry.

I have a German Shepard (another breed that sometimes gets a bad rap) and a Golden Retriever. Our daughter is two. I agree with Amy that we need to train our children as much as we train our dogs. But we also need to be responsible parents to both by removing situations where dogs feel the need to be territorial, or teach the child like a pup. For example, my dogs are not allowed to have their bones when the baby is walking/crawling around them. We do not have their food and water accessible to the baby, and we do not let her play with the dogs 'toys'. We went one step farther, and 'marked' each of the dogs soft toys with almond extract before she was born, so they know that anything with that scent is theirs. I firmly believe you can balance being the parent of both children and animals if you take precautions, train both, and be aware of how they are both feeling!

I think you need to know the dog you're dealing with. You have to know that they are the kind of dog that has been socialized with children. If they're not, or if you're not sure, don't take any chances!

One thing that I will be doing with my 2 dogs when I have a baby is keep the dogs and their food or bones seperated from the baby. At feeding time, or when I want to give them bones to chew on, they will be segregated in the kitchen (I have a baby gate up now and this is where they stay at night and when we're not home). I don't want a situation where I turn my back for 1 second and the baby crawls over and tries to take the dog's bone away and gets bitten. Even the nicest dogs can be territorial about food.

Other peoples' dogs are a whole different story because I don't know them and I'm not their master. Unless I know the dog very well, and have seen with my own eyes that it's good with children, my kid will not be going near it.

I HAVE 2 DOGS. THEY ARE BOTH MUTTS AND ONE IS A PIT BULL MIX. THE OTHER, A CHOW MIX. THIS MIGHT SOUND OFF PUTTING TO SOME PEOPLE RIGHT AWAY. I USED TO THINK THAT I WOULD NEVER TAKE A RISK WITH ANY DOG MIXED WITH PIT UNTIL I GOT A BLACK LAB PUPPY FOR A BIRTHDAY PRESANT FROM MY HUSBAND. MY DOG DID NOT EXIBIT ANY SIGN OF BEING PART PIT BULL UNTIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTERWARDS. SHELTERS ARE FILLED WITH ANIMALS THAT ARE DISCARDED FOR VARIOUS REASONS. A MAIN REASON BEING THAT NOW A CHILD HAS ENTERED THE PICTURE. WE ARE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD AND I INTEND TO FOLLOW EVERY BIT OF RESEARCHED ADVICE FROM EXPERTS TO MAKE SURE THAT MY BABY IS SAFE AND THAT I DON'T NEED TO THROW MY PET AWAY TO A SHELTER SO THAT IT MIGHT BE PUT TO SLEEP IF NOT ADOPTED PROMPTLY. BOTH MY DOGS ARE THE SWEETEST ANIMALS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. IF THEY EVER BECAME AGGRESSIVE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE IN PROTECTING MY BABY FROM SOMETHING THREATENING. THERE IS NO NEED TO JUMP THE GUN AND ACT OUT OF FEAR BY TOSSING YOUR LOYAL PET UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE DOG WOULD NOT MIX WELL WITH A CHILD OR HAS A HISTORY OF AGGRESSION. BOTH MY DOGS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO KIDS IN THE FAMILY SINCE DAY 1. THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO GET A GAUGE ON THE SITUATION.

There are certain breeds of dogs that are more volatile than others by way of their gene pool. Many breeds are very powerful animals with the ability to do great harm to a full grown man of stature. You don't load a shotgun and leave it on the kitchen table with children around to see what happens. Muts often have the best temperment.

That said, we had dogs around our children who were properly socialized and our kids knew their boundaries. I would never have raised kids without the friendly, loving feeling of having a great animal around them.

We have a three-month-old daughter and two shelter dogs, one lab mix and one "pit bull." (Pit bull is not really a breed; below*) Our lab is a certified therapy dog, and our "pibble" plays flyball, a canine agility sport, so we spend a good amount of time in a formal dog-training setting. I also teach basic canine obedience classes. Our dogs can't really play with the baby yet, but they sure enjoy socializing with the neighbor kids who beg to come over and play! I hear from a lot of people who ask, “So, are the dogs ok with the baby? Well, how can I get my dog to be good like that?!”
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As a dog trainer and a parent, my recommendations are:
Please realize that all dogs are animals and will react to stimuli with a mixture of instinctive and learned behavior. Use common sense and don’t put a baby in a position where you—the parent—will be unable to intervene to prevent harm. You can’t trust your pet to be all-knowing and react accordingly; for example, sometimes they will be scared of something totally non-threatening, like a paper bag. Your job, knowing this, is to manage their relationship with paper bags. Either help them overcome that fear, or protect them from the scary bag.

So it is with the baby: you want the dog and baby to regard each other without fear, overexcitement, or jealousy. Make interactions a positive experience (use rewards like treats, praise, and petting.) Avoid inflicting negative stimuli on the dog that they may come to associate with the baby (if baby’s screaming, don’t put him near the dog’s ears.)

Be clear and consistent about what is acceptable behavior around the baby!

Dogs are very good at performing to our expectations, and will soon learn that an unacceptable behavior is futile, if they can never get away with it. If they can get away with it, then they will learn that your authority is less than absolute. (You probably don’t want your children to figure this out yet, either!)

Make sure you give the dog some form of attention daily—why have one if you are going to completely ignore it? That is neglect.

Unless you are planning to breed, spay or neuter your dog. It is known to reduce aggression and biting behaviors.

Have a “sturdy” breed around children. A physically fragile animal has good reason to discourage children from play, but a baby may not understand the dog’s warnings. Or a child may accidentally hurt the dog without realizing it at all, and receive a bite in response.

Exercise is necessary, especially for active, energetic dogs. A tired dog has less energy to get into mischief—play fetch, tug-of-war, walk, practice “sit”—something to release that pent-up energy.

Expect breed to influence your dog’s behavior. Herding dogs may herd your children; you can discourage this, but the dog isn’t consciously doing it on purpose, and may have trouble pleasing you. If you plan to play Frisbee, look for an active breed.

Trust your instincts. If you think you need to separate your child and your pet, do it. Don’t wait for proof that having them together was a bad idea.
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*(Please be aware that pit bull is not a breed; it's like saying "hound." Bull terriers (the Target dog!), Staffordshire terriers, and American Pit Bull Terriers are all commonly referred to as "Pit Bulls," as well as many mixed breeds with a "pit bull" look due to bulldog, boxer, or mastiff parentage. In areas with legislation banning pit bulls, the legal specifications may define a pit bull as any dog that looks like one without papers to prove other parentage. Because there is no definitive way to identify a dog as a pit bull or not, it is common for a dog that has bitten to be named a pit bull after the fact; it bit, so must be a pit bull. Even so, there are no studies showing that a pit bull is more likely to bite than a random dog—though some other breeds are.)

I have three large dogs and one is a pit bull mix, when my niece and nephews are over I really don't worry about it too much, because all my dogs love the kids and I know that they know how to treat the dogs. Of course they are older, and I still keep an eye out. We have rules like if Willow (who is a little territorial around stuff) has something in her mouth NO ONE takes it from her, even if it is their favorite toy. The toy will be replaced. However, when my friend's baby was born and they spent a lot of time at my house, I was especially careful with all three dogs because one they had never been around a baby, and Pit Bulls especially are prey animals, they see small moving things as objects to chase, not that they don't like the baby just that to them it is prey. And the Pit Bull mix actually ended up being the one most careful with the baby, and other then being very protective and not letting the other dogs around her, we have had no problem with her at all. They all do really well with her and are actually very protective of her. I think you have to be very careful and remember dogs don't think like humans no matter what you think, they don't always do things for reasons that we think they do. I think you should teach your kids at a young age that pulling tails, and hitting dogs is wrong.I think as long as you are vigiliant and careful dogs and kids can live together in peace no matter what breed you have. I do have a friend with a 5 year old who I will not let come to my house, because he is very rough with his dog, which by five is unacceptable to me, but his dog is used to it I guess, but my dogs aren't. And I don't want him to do something to them and them react by biting. NO dog should be subjected to abuse by a kid old enough to know better. You just have to remember that if your dog has never been around kids it isn't going to be an easy transition for them, but they can do it, but you have to be patient. And I think a lot of times people don't realize that dogs get jealous, just like people they see you with the baby all the time and they want that attention back, you have to make sure they get the same amount of attention as they usually do. Like with the baby, Willow always had to sit beside me when I held her no matter what, and that was fine, she didn't bother the baby or anything just had to be around me. And actually the baby got bit by a little tiny dog at her dad's house that no one thought would ever hurt her. So it isn't just big dogs that have biting issues.

I have three large dogs and one is a pit bull mix, when my niece and nephews are over I really don't worry about it too much, because all my dogs love the kids and I know that they know how to treat the dogs. Of course they are older, and I still keep an eye out. We have rules like if Willow (who is a little territorial around stuff) has something in her mouth NO ONE takes it from her, even if it is their favorite toy. The toy will be replaced. However, when my friend's baby was born and they spent a lot of time at my house, I was especially careful with all three dogs because one they had never been around a baby, and Pit Bulls especially are prey animals, they see small moving things as objects to chase, not that they don't like the baby just that to them it is prey. And the Pit Bull mix actually ended up being the one most careful with the baby, and other then being very protective and not letting the other dogs around her, we have had no problem with her at all. They all do really well with her and are actually very protective of her. I think you have to be very careful and remember dogs don't think like humans no matter what you think, they don't always do things for reasons that we think they do. I think you should teach your kids at a young age that pulling tails, and hitting dogs is wrong.I think as long as you are vigiliant and careful dogs and kids can live together in peace no matter what breed you have. I do have a friend with a 5 year old who I will not let come to my house, because he is very rough with his dog, which by five is unacceptable to me, but his dog is used to it I guess, but my dogs aren't. And I don't want him to do something to them and them react by biting. NO dog should be subjected to abuse by a kid old enough to know better. You just have to remember that if your dog has never been around kids it isn't going to be an easy transition for them, but they can do it, but you have to be patient. And I think a lot of times people don't realize that dogs get jealous, just like people they see you with the baby all the time and they want that attention back, you have to make sure they get the same amount of attention as they usually do. Like with the baby, Willow always had to sit beside me when I held her no matter what, and that was fine, she didn't bother the baby or anything just had to be around me. And actually the baby got bit by a little tiny dog at her dad's house that no one thought would ever hurt her. So it isn't just big dogs that have biting issues.

The question should be is the dog is safe around the kid? I handle bite reports and I know for a fact that most of them could have been prevented if the parents told the kids not to pull on the dogs ears or tail. Is up to the parent to socialize the animal as well as the kid. It does not matter what breed or species it is. If it has teeth it will bite, be it a kid or a dog. Pitbull or chihuahua.

It's not that hard to figure out if dogs are good to have around babies. If the dog is properly trained and it doesn't have any records of biting or hurting a child or anyone, then the dog should be fine around babies. Just make sure the baby or child doesn't get too close to the dog and watch the baby or child just to make sure the dog isn't going to bite or hurt anyone.

It boils down to common sense parenting. I love my dogs and they've been great but I don't expect them to babysit my child. Never leave your child unattended anyway. Small dog, big dog - it doesn't matter. Any of them can inflict damage. If a child is attacked/bitten by a dog, you need to step back and figure out why. Did little precious pull the dog's tail? Don't expect that Fido will be okay with that. Did the child just walk past Fido? Then that's a problem.

I did have an incident with my rescue dog a couple of years ago. He did snap at my child but I didn't have him put down. It was hot (my dog doesn't do well in heat like that) and my son was bugging him. Now there was no damage done. Scared my son more than anything else. And I'm teaching my son that he needs to be different with the one dog as opposed to the other one.

To say get rid of a dog because it might bite is a lot like saying get rid of your car because you might die in a crash.

it is all how the dog and children are raised i have a boxer that i love to death she is a very well behaved puppy she is only a year old she can be hyper i am expecting my first child in july i am not at all worried because we have raised her to obey she has never bitten or attempted to bite anyone and when my son is older i will advise him to be nice to her and not to pull her ears and ect.

My first dog was my baby and when we had our daughter I never ever had a second thought about our dog she was a rottweiler/lab mix and I trusted her with the baby more that I trusted my husband at times if the baby fussed the dog would whine until we checked on her, as our daughter got older if she wanderer to far from us in the yard our dog would follow her or bark at my husband to alert us. She was the World's BEST Nanny!!! We were very sad whe she got cancer and we had to put her to sleep. For those that say I am crazy or that was a once in a lifetime thing. We currently have a 4yr old 110lb Rotweiler/Newfounland Mix and a 2yr old black lab that our daughter refers to as her brothers.

We have two dogs, an Akita and a Rottweiler/Papillion mix (crazy I know:). They have been our "kids" for the 2 years we have been married and I can't wait to introduce them to their new little brother that is due in May. Akitas were used in Japan for centuries as bear hunters and also as babysitters. The family Akita would be left to watch over the children while the mother and father went about their daily work. I was never more in awe of my beautiful girl than when my sister stayed with us for a week with her 8 month old baby. My Akita never left his side and would come and get someone when he let out even the tiniest cry, even in the middle of the night. My little rotty/papillion was his usual love-everyone-to-death self and licked the baby and went on his way, again unless the baby cried in which case he was very attentive. I think dogs need to be respected and supervised around children and in turn children MUST be taught how to interact with the dogs. I was bitten by our family dog when I was about 6 but I was the one who provoked her and I was the one who got in trouble, I think that was very wise of my parents. Be smart and remember that children have been growing up with dogs since the beginning of time:)

My Daughter was raised around dogs, and truly has loved them her entire life. We spent years teaching her to respect an animal, how to approach a strange dog, and all of those things.
One day, when she was nine, she was running down an alley while visiting my sister, and a neighbor's dog came over the fence, knocked her down, grabbed her ankle, and tried to drag her down the alley.
She ended up with 29 stitches,and scars that will always be there on her left leg. The family that owned the dog said that he'd never been aggressive, and that he was raised with their five kids. They didn't even realize that he was loose- though the ambulance took her to the emergency room before anyone went to knock on their door.
There is no guarantee that any animal will be safe around a child.

I have a 13 month old son and two dogs. I have an imperial Shih Tzu (7 lbs.) who is just as gentle and sweet with the baby as can be, and I have an American Bulldog (110 lbs.)who is good with him as well. The only concern I have, is that Rock (the A.B.) has never been around children before, therefore has not had "proper" training with them. My husband and I have regretfully decided to find him a new home, simply because we would rather be safe than sorry. It takes only a split second for a dog to lose his/her temper. If we would have had him with a child, as a puppy, things may have been different. I love all THREE of my babies, but I would rather Rock have a good home, than be isolated because of mistrust. Im glad this topic was posted. I think it is a very important discussion.

I guess it is truly according to the dog in question. I have spent lots of time around dogs as I volunteered at my local vet and shelter offices before I had kids. Some dogs are very sweet and would never harm a fly. While some show distaste for a baby right away. However, other dogs, even though you may not realize it,can be very sly in their unliking of a new family member. You will notice the curl of a lip that wants to growl, darting eyes where he checks to see if you are watching, nervousness, a possible snap, lungeing toward child, barking or growling when you are not looking, putting himself between you and the child, standing posessively over the child in a dominant stance, peeing on the child's items...such as a blankie and other little things that will let you know he is not happy and not adjusting. In fact, this last one not only pertains to babies, when my mom-in-law got a new bf, her totaly housebroken chihuahua let his disdain for him be shown by peeing on his side of the bed(a habit he'd never had before). It's just simply one of the ways they act out to show that things are not the way they want them.

Don't get too upset yet. There are perfectly wonderful family pets. In our family it is a lhasa/shitzu who has always been great around my kids, especially my 2 yr. old son who has been his best friend since they were both under a year old. They play and roll and romp all day! He has never shown any aggression or jealousy towards any of my kids. Only love and affection 24/7. In fact, he jumps the couch completely when he hears the bus coming because he gets so excited that the older kids are almost home!

Also, my mom has a german shepard that is her pet & guard dog. Even though this dog is extremely protective, she is a gentle lamb around my kids. My 2 yr. old son and 3 yr. old nephew can pull her tail, pull her ears, lay on her, have put hands in her mouth, and taken food from her mouth and bowl while she is eating...she never even reacts! Of course, I scold them & explain that those actions are "No-no!" and that some dogs will bite, but they'd never know it by her. She will lay right there like nothing is going on. She will even go to sleep with them climbing all over her!

Between training and temperment, these dogs are wonderful members of our family that we can trust not to cause harm to our children.

If you think your dog can not be trusted, take him to a good trainer, or for the well being of all involved, including Fido, find him a good home with someone who has no kids (or older kids if you feel that is a better fit).
Hope this helps someone!

Any dog around a child is unpredictable and can be a dangerous situation. I believe that as long as the interaction between child and dog is well supervised and the dog has been well socialized with children there should not be too many worries. I am a pit bull owner myself and I love the breed. I owned my pit before I had my son. when I found out I was pregnant, it never entered my mind to get rid of "Dooley". He was my first baby. I hand raised him from a puppy, I have a deep bond with him, and a responsibility for his life and well being. He lives inside the house with the rest of the family. My son is now four and we are expecting our second child. "Dooley" will soon be six years old and we are thinking of getting a puppy when the second baby is born. Dogs are good for children. Dooley was even a help when my son was born. He would fetch dirty diapers and put them in the trash. He was very concerned for the safety and well being of my son and would whine when ever my son cried for anything. Now that my son is older, he feeds and waters Dooley on a daily basis and even picks up the dog toys and puts them away. He is learning responsibility at an early age because of having a dog. When my son was a toddler and just learning to walk, Dooley would stand beside of him and let my son hold on for balance and they would both walk slowly around the room. I feel that with pit's it is all in the training and dedication of their owners. Irresponsible owners cause most of the trouble we are seeing with dogs in general, not just with the pit bull breed.

Regardless of what type of breed a dog may be, that is not a factor to determine the safety level around children. Dogs have good reasons in their minds for biting children and it could be a number of things. One reason a dog attacks a child is because the dog sees the child as an invader. If you have the child before getting the pet, you can probably avoid this problem. If not, then see how the dog reacts, keep an eye on him and never leave them alone. Another thing is kids tend to play rough with animals simply because they have yet to grasp the concept of gentility. They're clumsy and unpredictable, and if your dog doesn't have the right temperament(this doesn't necessarily have to do with the breed!), the child's clumsy activity can easily bother them, hence why they bite. Personally my dog was wonderful with my sister and I and we never had an issue. If you find your pet can't get along with your child regardless of your efforts, putting it up for adoption may be the only option. It's sad and may seem unfair, but if taken care of properly(aka not dumping the dog in a box and leaving on the side of the road) the dog can be just as happy elsewhere as with you. My point is, you can never say by any prior facts how your dog is going to react to a new little person in the house. It all depends on the dog and how you react. If you're dog is well trained and obeys you, you can probably teach the dog to behave, but you must stay consistent. Good luck, and I hope you don't have to get rid of your fluffy friend. :)

I really think that the people that are likening "pit bulls" to things like "loaded shotguns" are the people who have never been around them. The media is very irresponsible in regards to the types of stories that perpetuate the "vicious pit bull" myth.

Pit bulls have been referred to since the beginning of the 1900's as "nanny dogs" because of their remarkable tolerance of and affinity for children, as well as their sweet and mothering disposition. While it is true many pit bulls are DOG aggressive, the same is not true of humans - a completely DIFFERENT type of aggression.

In regards to what you see on television, a majority of the attacks reported fail to mention that the dog is an unneutered male who has been confined or chained to a small area - something that is proven to mentally incapacitate a dog and perpetuate violence. They also do not bother to tell you that there are TWENTY FIVE different breeds of dog commonly mistaken for "pit bulls" (or the fact that "pit bull" isn't even a breed!). Look at these pictures, and see if YOU can identify the pit bull. Chances are, you can't. :
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

All of that being said, dogs and children should never be left unsupervised, and children should be educated on dog behavior, regardless of the breed of the animal.

My niece is 3 years old, and lives with a boxer-greyhound mix, and 2 American Pit Bull Terriers - and has never had more doting nannies, better playmates, or more protective guardians. (The mix dog, as a matter of fact. Pit bulls make horrible guard dogs. They love people too much!)

Dogs are not to be trusted. A pitbull sodomized a baby last summer. Look at the following link.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=49447

We rescued a pit bull when I was 3 months pregnant with our first child. Our thinking for getting a dog at that time was that we felt it would be easier to get a dog established and then bring in a a baby than bring in a dog when the child is an abusive toddler. We've had no regrets. Our dog has been stellar with our son. We couldn't ask for a better dog. The initial question should have nothing to do with whether or not the people should keep their pit bull.. the breed has nothing to do with it. It's much more to do with whether or not the dogs (regardless of breed) are capable of adjusting to life with a baby.

I personaly am expecting a child in June. My husband and I have a pitbull that we adopted 3 to 4 years ago and I am so happy that we have him. I have no concern over allowing him to be around our child as he is a great, caring, and protective FAMILY dog. It is NEVER a matter of breed - It is all about the dogs aggresion. You should know your dog well and long before allowing it around a child.

I agree that you need to know the dog(s) in question, and also, the baby's habits.

It's not just a question of "is the baby safe around the dogs?" but also "are the dogs safe around the baby".

i.e: my cousin had a child who turned out to be a little asshole (for lack of a better word) they had to get rid of the dog that they had had for 10 years because the kid would pull the dog's tail and bash it upside the head with hard objects for no reason other than that it was "funny". The dog finally got fed up and bit the kid.

This dog wasn't a "bite dog". It was a shetland sheepdog.

On the other hand...

My fiance's little brother is almost two. The family has had a fox terrior/ chihuahua mix for 9 years. When he trips and someone isn't there to catch him, she lets him steady himself on her back.

Now the family has another dog. A Great Pyranees puppy. for those of you who don't know what a Great Pyranees is:

A large dog, even as a puppy it is humongous. He likes to play by nipping people and sometimes he even hurts me play-nipping with his little teeth. He's got some powerful jaws and he is only 2 months old.

Well. When he and the baby are together, they both play like puppies. Except, The puppy knows not to bite the baby.

In fact. Even as a quite young dog, he is fiercely protective of the baby. I was tickling the baby just tonight, and when he laughs, if you don't know that he's laughing, it sounds like he's screaming in agony. The puppy attacked me, thinking that I was hurting the baby.

Given he didn't hurt me, he just gave me a sharp nip and barked at me, as if saying "Leave my boy alone!"

It depends on the dog. But usually, babies are safe around dogs.

I have 3 labradors, and one boxer/lab mix and I can honestly say I have never had an issue of aggressiveness from the dogs to my little ones. I strongly believe that dogs are like children, they feel jealousy, hurt, sadness, happyness, all the emotions a human being would. the reality is that if you bring baby home and neglect your dog, chances are there will be animosity, the same can be said for cats too. the trick is to slowly introduce the new member of the family to the existing one or ones.

Its exactly what my husband and I did when we had our daughter, in fact when my daughter was about 6 months old it was my dogs that alerted me to the fact my little girl was in trouble. My little girl nearly suffocated in the middle of the night, the baby monitor never picked up a sound, but my dogs apparantly did and they made sure they woke me and my husband up. They growled and barked aggresively and urgently, something they never did. She would not be here today if it wasn't for them. Apart from that episode, they have alerted us to a break and enter and a chimney fire.
I am pregnant again, due on the easter weekend, and my dogs are part of the family, I am more worried about my little girl being more jealous than I am worried about my dogs.

I believe that is an incredibly unfair situation for dogs everywhere, being thrown out or given away like a sack of rotten potatoes just because you have a brand new baby. It is an unfair arrangement at both ends because Babies have a natural curiosity for the world around them. During the Sensory-motor stage (0-2) Children explore everything in their world in less than comfortable ways... for us and unfortunately dogs. Children gain information about objects or living things by mouthing, pulling, scratching, hitting, stomping, chewing, smashing, and or climbing on top of them. This is something which we can tolerate (at a certain extent) because we know that this is just something that children will do and need to do in order to develop properly, but of course the dog doesn't know this. What would you do if someone came up to you and purposefully stomped on your ear,or pulled your hair? Most of us would lash out and it would not be because we are aggressive or mean people, it is just a normal reaction. we as humans are lucky enough to have hands with which we can defend ourselves with, dogs only have their teeth. This situation is unfair for the child because if you take a child away from everything that can "potentially" harm them What will they learn about their world they might as well grow up in a safe sterilized bubble until they are "ready" or "old enough" to face the world, but then what? that person will be completely lost and unable to deal with anything (including viruses and bacteria) because they were never exposed to anything.

Its not just Pitt Bulls,that you should be asking,it is any dog.First a young child should not be left alone with any dog,Responsibility belongs with the adult,to protect the child and the pet.Yes we have a pit ,and she plays with our grand daughters,constantly,but they are not left alone,for both their protection.
Gordon

Its not just Pitt Bulls,that you should be asking,it is any dog.First a young child should not be left alone with any dog,Responsibility belongs with the adult,to protect the child and the pet.Yes we have a pit ,and she plays with our grand daughters,constantly,but they are not left alone,for both their protection.
Gordon

It depends on what kind of dog it is. If it is a family dog and I see tht they treat it well then its okay. I probably would say no or be caucious if it was a non family type dog.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160213017180&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

Plain & Smiple, Never leave your baby alone around any animal, why would you chance it??? Also never leave your baby alone where your other young kids can harm it... More babies are harmed by that loving sibling even killed than by the family dog... people use your head DON'T LEAVE YOUR BABY OR CHILD ALONE EVER WHERE HARM CAN COME TO THEM!!! by the way I have 4 house dogs from tiny to 175 lbs also 5 kids under 9, and 4 that are grown, never have I had one of my kids hurt by either a dog or another kid!!!!

It irritates me that because the dog is a pit bull, it is getting a bad name to have around a baby or children. It all depends on how the dog is raised. I was chased down the road years ago with my two children by a cocker spaniel who would have definitely bit me, had the owner not come out. I was raised with an eskimo chow, who idolized the ground I walked on and protected me. My two daughters were raised with two German Shepherds, who I never worried about their safety with those dogs around. Raise a hand to one of them, and you brought back a nub, but never hurt the girls or the family. I had a pit bull, who didn't have a mean streak in her body. Loved everyone. I have now, a part chow, rottweiler who loves the whole world, including children. You also have to train the child too, to not go and beat on the family dogs head, they do have feelings too, and breaking points. You have to supervise both dog and child. My kids were trained to treat the dogs good, as I was as a child. That should be true of any animal. Supervision is the key. And don't make the dog feel left out, because of the new baby, it needs to feel still part of the family. And get the same attention it got before.

Pit Bulls are not the only dangerous dogs. I think all dogs have a tendency to revert to their wild ways if provoked or threatened, and a new baby in the house can serve as a threat if the parents actually treated their dog as a child before the actual human one came along.

When our youngest daughter was born, we had to send our (so we thought) beloved chow to live with relatives in the country because he snapped on the very same day that we brought that little pink bundle of human joy home from the hospital. He growled and flung our other child’s stuffed bunny around by the neck in a violent rage. It was scary!

I think people should think hard as to whether they can handle a dog in any situation before they even think of having one. It is a life time comittment. But the dog must be properly trained and play always supervised. A dog in the family can be an asset. Children and dogs must be shown how to interact with each other. I have always had dogs and raised two children to respect animals. I am now raising a step-child and she loves the two large dogs that we have, one of which we have had since she was three years old. Although larger dogs are a better choice, any supervised breed is ok. Unlimited access to a baby or child by any dog is a caution and must be regulated by an adult at all times until the time a child can (him or herself) be left alone.

I had a Pit mix for 13 years..Kai was the best dog I have ever known! Absoluitly LOVED kids..in fact the neighbor children loved her too!
Countless times I recall kids coming to my door to ask, "can Kai come out and play?" When she was 5 we had a baby, her best friend and companion...they slept together,played together and occasionally even got into trouble together.
How sad we were when our sweet girl got cancer! BUT to the very end she was a grand dog!
I strongly believe..it is in the way a dog is raised and trained! My rescue dashund nipped at my niece years ago. But never a problem with the pit/lab I rasied fron 7 weeks old!
KAI DOG, ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS! 8/22/90-11/17/03

I absolutely love dogs and animals in general. If I as an adult choose to get close to their face or rough house with them, then it is my decision. Babies and children are not capable of knowing enough to make a decision for their own safety so it is left up to us, the adults. AND WOULDN'T YOU RATHER ERROR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY???? Besides who knows when that animal is having a bad day, is trained to be aggressive or may be feeling irritable when that person gets in their face, etc. Let's make those safety choices until they can make their own with adequate knowledge and experience.

Both of my girls were raised with German Shepherds. I had a male and female. They were also raised with cats in the house. I believe if the dog is not "ignored" when the baby comes home then there should not be a problem. Kids get jealous of a new baby and do things to them. I've seen the older child bite, hit, kick and do other things. Do you get rid of the older child? No you show that child more love and attention. I rest my case.

Our now 25 year old son was raised with my pitbull that was three years young when the baby arrived. Our pitbull was trained, socially adjusted (and yes, a purebred!) who protected our baby like he had given birth to him!
NO baby should be left alone as an infant with ANY dog! Why would a parent take that risk?

If you already have a dog you must integrate it slowly, gently to the new baby just like you would a sibling to avoid jealousy.

Let's not give pitbulls the bad rap here. Most PBs are violent due to conditions, owner handling and/or abuse. Spaying and neutering are always appropriate.

As far as getting rid of a dog: you wouldn't throw your kids away would you? If some help is needed with a current pet, seek professional help from a trainer in your area.

It is quite odd that this question has come up on iVillage at this very time. Just this past Saturday morning (2 days ago), we had our two, somewhat "old" dogs put "to sleep". One was a 15 year old female Cocker Spaniel and the other was a 15 year old female Golden Retriever. While they were both extremely loyal and friendly companions for my husband and I, I did not feel that my dearest companions would be safe around my 3 grandchildren all 10 months and under. Once the grandchildren begin crawling, I am most certain that they would be grabbing and pulling anything within reach of the dogs.

Everyone should be aware that older dogs, such as ours were, are a much greater risk to children due to how nervous they become the older they get. In addition, the Golden Retriever was completely deaf and mostly blind, while the Cocker Spaniel was loosing both hearing and eyesight. My husband and I both have been trying to process our grief these past few days, knowing that we have done the right thing. Both of these loved companions had a wonderful life and have given us every bit as much fulfillment in our lives as our new grandchildren will. While looking for a new home for your loved companions is the first and best option, please do understand that a new home to an aged pet can be very traumatic and in our case, I did not wish to impose that trauma on our pets, nor did I wish to try to find someone that would be patient and understanding with them regarding the loss of hearing and eyesight.

The only problem with having a dog and a child at the same time is that if a family brings a child into the home and the dog was there first than of course the dog is going to be put out since it's not receiving the attention it's use to. Parents need to find a balance. If you have a well trained dog and if you teach your children properly how to behave around pets than there will not be any problems. It does a child more harm to not be raised with a dog or pet for that matter. Always watch your children and intorduce your child and animal to each other for good results.

My daughter when she was three was bit by her Godmothers dog.. She had played with this dog since she was born never a problem .. well it only took one minute to change all that.. then 240 stitches to repair the damage in her face, a great plastic surgeon, many monthes of tears, a than a dead dog...
young children should never be left unattended with a dog Dogs are immature, exciteable and sometime do things that are impulusive.... It too late later to rethink this situation out and I still regret that moment 20 years later...

Our family adopted a dog from a shelter back in October. She is a shepard/rott mix. We were told that the children should NEVER be left alone in a room with the dog. They tell this to everyone! Our new dog is very docile, but you never know what could set a dog off. I abide by this rule. Hopefully nothing will ever happen, but knowing that I am in the room with the kids and the dog gives me peace of mind.

I remember when I had my son, now 21 in May, and I worried about my dog. I had been divorced for several years from my first husband and had gotten a German Shepard puppy. I trained her well and she became my 'child' for five years.
She let me know the day I went into labor. She would sniff my belly and whine and pace the floor. I DID go into labor that night.
I had to have a section and was in the hospital for a week. I didn't really know what to expect, but my Mom and stepdad had agreed to take her home if she became a threat.
She became a threat alright! To everyone else, but not my son!!!
It was absolutely the sweetest thing! She would get between him and any visitor and dare them to touch him, but not me or my parents. We were easily allowed. She loved my son dearly and I would often see her toting him across the yard by his diaper if he wandered too far from the house.
She's gone now, but all I can say is....depending on the breed of dog, and sometimes not even that matters...trust your instincts and have a PLAN.

I had two "pit bulls" when I was pregnant with my son. They were both young, about 1 and 1 1/2 tears old, and they were quite a hand full. They were hyper and rambunctious like any teenagers. They were great dogs, and I know they would have been great with my son. They were very protective of me when I was pregnant, and the youngest would curl herself up next to my tummy and sleep.
We found our girls a new home together before my son was born. This was only partially due to our concerns that they were a bit hyper to have arround a baby. My girls would never have purposly hurt the baby, but they were young, full of energy, and used to playing rough with one another. An even bigger reason for giving them a new home is that the people who took them 1. Loved them to death. 2. Had tons of land out in the country where they could run and play with no leashes. and 3. Could provide a better life for them than we could at the time. We lived in the city and didn't really have the kind of room that they needed.
I still really miss my girls, even though it has been about 5 1/2 years since they went to their new home.
I do not reget giving them away to someone who I know has given thenm a great life because I know that everything worked out for the best. On that note, I am convinced that we could have made it work, had that great opportunity for them not come along. It is just important that dogs and children not be left together without proper supervision before their relationship is well established and you are comfortable that they can be trusted with one another.
When my son was just a baby, he used to love it when a rotweiler we knew would give him kisses. He was still small enough to be in his baby seat, the kind that are used as infant cat seats. That big ol dog's head was almost bigger than my son, but he would oh so carefully stick his head right in there and gently lick my son. My son would squeel and laugh, and the dog would wagg his stump of a tail and almost smile. Of course, my son needed a bath afterwards, but he loved it and so did the dog.
On another note, my aunt has a cocker spaniel. He came into the picture when my son was about 1 yr old, and since we spent quite a bit of time there, that dog and my son practically grew up together. Let me tell you, that is one love/hate relationship if ever I've seen one. They have been terrorizing each other from day one, in spite of everyone's best efforts. Each and every time we visit (which isn't often anymore since we moved away), my son gets bitten. Nothing too serious, really. Just a little nip on the hand usually, but the dog has drawn blood. I don't really blame the dog though. I keep telling my son that by now, he ought to have learned that certain things will get him bitten, and they're still going to get him bitten tomorrow. The dog is kind of a menace, as my aunt is a terrible disiplinarian. She is completely inconsistant and her dogs "share" dominance with her, which results in them going potty all over the house and having very little respect for anyone. In fact, they listen and behave better for me than they do her.
I guess that my point is the same as everyone elses. Dogs and kids, even babies can be graet together if the dogs are properly trained and have a good disposition, the owner of the dog is the clear master, the proper supervision is ALWAYS present, and once old enough, the kids are tought to treat dogs well.

I never had any concerns of dogs being around babies. Dogs are not born mean, they are made to be mean. Same way babies aren't born mean, its the way they are brought up is how they will be when they get older. Many babies and dogs here. Never a problem. The problem would be with a cat. Cats don't know any better either, it's just unsafe to leave a cat alone with a baby, due to the cat smells milk on the babies mouth, and the cat goes and tries to get the milk and sufficicate the child. Again, that doesn't make the cat a mean cat. Mothers and fathers just need to use their common sense when having a child and a pet.

Common sense. That is what seems to be lacking. I don't care what breed of dog you have, you need to watch them. To them, this baby is another puppy and an annoying one at that. When a dog bites or nips, they are admonishing what they consider bad behavior by this funny looking and funny smelling "puppy". People tend to blame the dog and if something happens the automatic reaction is to get rid of the dog. What about teaching the child how to behave around the dog??? The child is being taught proper behavior with other humans, but not proper behavior regarding the family pet. Also, there is probably a bit of jealousy as the dog has now been somewhat replaced by the human puppy. You need to make sure that the dog doesn't become a piece of furniture. They have feelings too.

The first mistake people make is not supervising their dog when it is around their children. Dogs and children live well together, if both are properly supervised. Dogs inherently love children, but will react if the child hits them, or otherwise abuses them. They will also react when a child is crying - concern mixed with sometimes fear. They are not used to crying, it not being a trait they share, so crying to dogs is a symptom of something they don't understand, to them it might mean aggression or pain and dogs being animals are likely to respond accordingly by either trying to silence the enemy or stopping the seemingly injured thing. Owners of dogs, any dog, need to be on vigilent alert when their dogs and kids mix. Never leave your dog and child alone together. Training, training and more training are needed - both for your dog, your kids, and you.

No TODDLER is safe around any type of dog, especially if the dog owned that space before the child came into the family. This is not to say you should get rid of your dog when you start a family, although if it is a more unpredictable breed, like a Pit Bull or German Shepard, I would consider it. You should, however, always be with the child while near the dog, during the toddler years, and help to make them comfortable around each other. But do not take anything for granted. Even mild mannered Golden Retrievers have even been known to bite, and even kill, children. I grew up with dogs, mostly German Shepards, and I have a profound love for them. I am not afraid of dogs. In fact, we seem to understand each other. But dogs do not understand small children, and it is better to be safe than sorry. A child's life is too precious to take any chances.

When I was a teenager, I loved my baby brother so much that when my dog showed contempt for him, I immediately decided she had to go. I loved that dog who was about 8 years older than the baby, but my baby brother came first. I would never trust ANY dog around little children. Dogs cannot reason no matter what their breed. Right now, I have 2 baby grandchildren who have to live with 2 dogs. I have seen the interaction between the dogs and the babies. I suggested my son and daughter in law do something about the situation but they ignore it and say they won't bite. Hmmmm I feel sorry for the babies. They will get bitten. In essence, why would any adult take a chance on their children being bit?

I work at a Humane Society. You just got to make sure you introduce them properly. Unfortunately, some dogs, especially shelter dogs, will NOT do well with a baby at all. Your local shelter will probably have panphlets on introducing a dog to your baby.

Hi,

I'm a breeder. It's my hobby. I breed mostly toy dogs, but have always kept some larger dogs around as pets - mostly to protect the toy dogs and to make people think that the house is guarded. I currently have two Irish Wolfhounds, the tallest dogs in the world. I frequently have child care people here who don't know about dogs.
A few years ago I adopted 2 toddlers, ages 2 1/2 and 4 1/2.

Here is what I learned:
You shouldn't leave inexperienced children and dogs together ever. Despite warnings, kids can do things to dogs that leave the sanest dog feeling provoked. Kids can get too near toys, waterbowls and foodbowls for a dog's comfort.

Small children often go 'face to face' with a dog, which a dog may feel is a confrontation.

Small dogs are likely to jump up on kids, which children find threatening. Little kids in my house prefer the Wolfhounds to the toy dogs from that perspective.

Little kids try and pick up toy dogs but find them too heavy and then drop and hurt them. As a result, I got myself a couple of Ragdoll cats, one of the largest types of cats, and about the same size as the toy dogs - our Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are about the same size. When the kids were big enough and old enough not to drop the cats, we began to let them hold the toy dogs...otherwise they had to play with them on the floor.

Kids and dogs are an unpredictable match unless they grow up with the dogs in a supervised and proper manner. Of course there are always the possibility of accidents with children, no matter what kids are involved with, so think long and hard before getting rid of your dog. I recommend hiring a trainer to work with you and the dog before the arrival of children to increase the chances of working things out when children arrive. Having a pit-bull is not necessarily a bad thing. Pit bulls and other breeds can be or become extremely loyal family dogs, as long as you know what you are doing.

By the way, both my kids are 8 and 10 now, love the dogs and are showing and helping in the kennel because they want to, not because they have to.
Vanessa

When I was a baby (60 or so years ago) we had a collie and
shepherd mix. When the adults picked cotton I lay on a quilt in the shade. The dog lay there too. When I started turning over and crawling a little, she would bark and alert some of the others. She saved me from gettin snakebitten also. Joyfulnoise

I DONT THINK ANY ANIMAL IS SAFE AROUND KIDS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THERE THINKING AND IN JUST I SECOND YOUR ANIMAL COULD JUST SNAP I DEFFINETLY WOULD NEVER LEAVE AN INNOCENT CHILD NEAR A PIT BULL YOUR JUST ASKING FOR IT BE SMART USE YOUR JUDGEMENT BECAUSE YOUR INNOCENT CHILD CANT MAKE THOSE CHOICES FOR THEM SELVES PLEASE TAKE THIS ADVISE MY POOR SON WAS ATTAKED BY OVER A 100 POUND PIT MASTIFF MIX ALMOST DIED HOSPITALIZED FOR A WEEK AND DRAIN TUBES FROM HIS HEAD AND ARM IT WAS THE WORST THING WE HAVE EVER BEEN THROUGH IN OUR LIVES IT ALSO WAS A FRIENDS PET

I would not endorse having a baby or babies around the dogs they are just like people and very jealous. Especially if you have a pit, doberman, german shepherd, or rockweiler those are the most dangerous dogs that I know of, yes any dog can turn on you but I would not let the dogs get around the baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that a aby is safe around a dog. When I brought my newborn daughter in we had five dogs, one of them we recieved only two days later before as a stray. When we brought her in, I was extremely surprised when they "adopted" her. My dog Nanook who is usualy a violent and agressive dog would only let me around her and not any members of the family. He spent most of his nights sleeping with the other dogs around her crib, and when she would cry he would come get me with a bottle or diamper bag in his mouth. The stray we aquired was even more fascinated with her. Unlike Nanook, she would chase the other dogs away and not let them near her. She would often whine when we changed her and lick her face. Many of my other dogs would chase her around when she began to crawl. One time when she got to close to the stairs, Rocky, a pittbull, picked her up by her pants and led her somewhere with a less disaster risk. All the dogs would bark at small birds and other dogs when we went outside, as if telling them to stay away from her. Yes, I believe that it is safe to have a dog around a baby because they will not harm them at all. They merely want to protect them or get to know the little one so they can also protect them.

I have raised three children with a multitude of dogs, cats, birds, etc. I don't think I would leave a baby on the floor with a dog (any dog) or any other animal, but I do think that animals and children are all the better for being raised around each other - study after study has proven that. My children learned to treat all animals with love and respect. I have had many breeds over the years, but my Shepherds and Bully Breeds (AmStaff, Pit, Mastiff)have been by far the best with chidren, the most tolerant and the most protective. I am looking forward to introducing my first grangbaby to these wonderful friends and protectors next summer.

Look,everyone has the right to believe what they want,but it is all in how the dog is raised no matter the breed.I myself raised Chow mixes,and they were wonderful.They stayed with the baby ,an always let me know when something wasn't quite right.Everyone has a horrer story of some kind when it comess to dogs,but how many times do you hear of that animal being mistreated,or beaten,or evan starved for it to act that way ?Hardly never.All I can say is if you can not trust the dog that you raised,or would like to raise .Never get one to begin with.

i have a granddaughter, and i would not want a dog around her. there are people with kids who have been bitten or killed by a pet. these people never expected this to happen, why take the chance. my granddaughter is much much more important than any dog.

I've had dogs all my life including pictures of me in a bassinet and having my grandmother's dog guarding it. If the dog was well behaved and trained; I would not oppose this at all in fact, I'd allow it. Pit Bulls are another breed that I would not have to begin with even though I met a few great ones. I had a poodle years ago when a friend came over with her baby. We were talking and the baby crawled over to the steps that went down to the front door; my poodle went and prevented the baby from falling down them.
All pets and kids and adults need some attention and they love each other if in that type of home. I had a dog and cat at age 1 and now I look back saying boy, they took alot but they gave me alot back.

I don't agree with getting rid of the family pet because someone is afraid it will bite. We have a min pin and had him before we had our baby, so we knew we had time to prepare him for the baby. They are the best of buds right now. We know not to leave them alone, and we watch the baby with the dog when they are near each other. Everyone automatically wants to get rid of the animal as soon as there is a baby on the way. I think a family would know best how their pet is, temperament wise, so they should know if they need to find a home for the dog. Unfortunately the dog is the one that will suffer as most people just drop the dog off at the pound where they will be put to sleep along with the several thousand other pets that die each year.

Having a baby or babies? Get rid of the dog. As loyal as the dog may be to you, the baby is a new being into the family. The dog could perceive the baby as a threat to you if for no other reason than the fact that it is crying and there are new stresses on you as a new parent. I wouldn't take any chances, personally, because dogs can be very unpredictable in stressful situations. I don't mean to be fearmongering but I believe you have to make a decision when it comes to babies and dogs.

As a small animal veterinarian, I would highly recommend visiting with your local veterinarian about behavioural issues associated with bringing an infant into the home. Animals typically display a variety of warning signs before they actually act by showing aggression. This is true for ANY breed of dog. Pit bulls do carry a bad reputation with the public (thanks to the media's bias). There are actually other dog breeds more likely to bite than pit bulls. On a personal note: perhaps you should ideally speak with the couple in question as opposed to a bunch of strangers online.

I think it is a horrible and needless tragedy when people abandon their animals because they have a baby. The dog is a member of the family and, in many cases, was the first "child." Surely, with some common sense and planning, the family can remain intact. Certainly, child-pet contact should be monitored until all parties are comfortable. In addition, the child will be a better human being as a result of sharing her or his life with a dog.

I feel it depends on the owner.I had dogs most of my life 4 kids 9 grandkids when a dog acts out like biteing your one of your kids you need to get after the dog just like you would your kids. And it keeps hapening real bad and it depends on you like other people said the backgrand of the dog and the people it come from pit bulls I never liked them my son was atacked by one when he was a toddler.and the dog had to be put down.i felt bad for my friend it was his dog

I think that dogs generally show aggression out of jealousy. If they feel that they are not getting the same attention when the baby comes along,as they were beforehand, then they will start resenting the baby. They show that they feel this way by acting dominating over the child to put it 'back in its place', and show it who's boss. This includes acting agressive towards the baby with actions such as biting. This is also more likely to happen with an older dog,who is not used to having to share its owner. Generally,if the dog is a puppy and is raised with the baby, they are more accepting as they are used to sharing the owners time from the start.
So i think that if you are going to have both a baby and a dog at the same time, you need to ensure that you show the dog plenty of attention so that it is still sure of its place in the family.This will avoid any resentment. If,like may be the case with twins, you arent sure that you will have the time to do this, then i would suggest finding the dog a good home before the baby/s arrive.

I've never heard of a dog attacking/biting without a reason. Dogs have a different language than us, and most adult humans can't read each emotion clearly, so why should we expect babies and children to?

Gosh, it's sad that the press focus on all that can go wrong when a dog is not raised properly. I'm talking about Pit Bulls. I too was crazed by what I (didn't) know about the breed until one came into my life. I researched the breed and discovered that if they are well socialized and EXERCISED daily (not just a walk around the block, but at least an hours walk) they are great dogs. People forget that this wonderful breed was a family favorite a number of years back. They are great dogs for children because they have a high tolerance of pain. Now, that's not to say some dogs (any) can't snap and it's important to know your dog and monitor them when children are around. I have many toddler nieces and nephews and my dog LOVES them and has never snapped at them and has even played in the wading pool with them. Interestingly, he seems to know when a baby is too small for him as he will sniff but not give them kisses and chooses to sit with his owners. My pit has never bit, snapped or acted aggresively towards anyone - there was one exception, during a walk when a strange person approached, he didn't bit, just barked like he meant business. I think having a dog around a baby depends upon the responsibility and attentiveness of its owner. Of course, if my dog showed any sign of aggression, he'd not be allowed near children. I had a cocker who was more agressive than my pit and I've seen some pretty fierce small dogs who I wouldn't trust around me! Bottom line, like a child in a bathtub or pool, a baby (even a cat can get crazy) should not be left alone. Kids can be mean too and can irritate a dog but people don't focus on human bad behaviour just the animal.

I can't even begin to express how mad I get when I hear about the bad reputation of pitbulls. I've had 2 pitbulls since my son was born the summer of 2005. The eldest Sahara was 2 years old at the time when we brought home a abandoned 6 month old female pitbull, just one week before our son was born. Both of our dogs have had lots of love and attention. With Sahara we had pulled on her ears and tail and used her as a pillow. The breeder we got her from left her unattended alone on their couch with her 10 month old baby when Sahara was just 4 weeks old. After we brought home 6 month old Coco she received all the love she could have ever wanted from my husband and I and Sahara took to her like she was her mother. The two dogs were so happy together playing and getting to know each other they weren't concerned at all when we brought home our little boy. They were very attentive to his cries and loved to wash his toes at very opportunity. To this day they are like the 3 musketeers and I have never worried about either of them hurting our son. They love that little boy just as much as we do, when he falls they go to him and try to wash away his tears and pains. They both have assumed a nanny roll with him and watch him ever so closely, if he strays out of their site they let me know. I would caution someone about walking into my home late at night without knocking, the sight of our 2 pitbulls is enough to intimidate most people. To the people who know them both they are the biggest teddy bears in town. They are both extremely social and often go on walks and errands with me. All of the banks in town know our girls by name, and welcome them in for treats. They have also visited the court house and sheriff's offices to meet everyone. Our dogs are family and they know it. And to those we aren't familiar with the Pitbull breed, just a little info for you...pits are one of the few breeds that ARE NOT people aggressive. They are animal aggressive. They are incredible family dogs and are very loyal, when raised properly you will never find a better tempered breed. I have owned different breeds such as black labs, border collies, minature greyhounds, and a austrailian sheppard and they all have received unmeasureable amounts of love and still had their flaws. I would trust my 2 pitbulls with my life and my son and with our 2nd child that is on the way. I will never own another breed of dog.. I AM A PITBULL FAN AND LOVER OF THE BREED FOR LIFE!!!

I am sorry but this is all the sides.
the SPCA has a web page all about
pit bulls.
All dogs are different just like people.

When I saw this question posted, I expected to look at the postings and find a lot of irrational, paranoid answers listed. I am so relieved to see that there are so many intelligent dog owners out there, contrary to what the media projects. Everyone keep up the good work with socializing your dogs, protecting your pets AND your children, and spreading the word that it's NOT the dog, it's the environment! A dog, any dog, must feel secure in its situation to be "trusted", insecurity is what leads dogs to be anxious and defensive. And, it can happen in any household. If people could remember this a