re: Dogs And Babies?

here are some pictures of my son collin and joey.

This is our Newest Boxer. His Name is Cowboy and He is 6 months old
This one below is Cowboy with Our Newest addition..cooper..the mini dachshund. and here is one more of collin and joey

Quoting *Tera*:“ here are some pictures of my son collin and joey.”

My husband and I got a giggle out of these pics! How cute! Can't wait until we can take pics of our kid with our dog!  

Quoting *Tera*:“ I was just wondering what people thought about kids and dogs?? My husband and I have a 90lb AKC Boxer ... [snip!] ... they see a big bull dog.. And just assumed all bull dogs are killers. But I say punish the owner and dog not the whole breed.”

I just don't know. I believe your dog is very well trained, and while you can have really great supervision of your child and animal-- it only takes a split second of 'animal instincts' to take over and your child could be scarred for life. When a neighbor's dog goes in 'heat', every amount of training you've done with your dog could very likely be completely erased-- because nature and insticts are so much more powerful that learned behaviors. The fact that you've let your child take a look at Joey's 'teethies' makes me nervous-- I agree that dogs should be treated as dogs and not as other children... but they also shouldn't be treated as a playmate for children. I've worked a the 2nd busiest ER in Missouri and saw way too many children whose faces were ripped off by dogs-- and in the midst of it, parents who were in shock and kept repeating, "I never thought *rex, or insert any dog's name* would do this..."

To each their own-- however, I have made the decision to not have any pets around my children until they are larger than the animal in question AND they are old enough to know how to act around a animal. Because even though they are a pet 2nd, they are an animal 1st. Animals, no matter how hard they are trianed, are unpredictable. I LOVE my cat Trogdor-- I got him as a 17th birthday present. He's the most loving cat ever-- but he won't be living with my family whle my child is being raised. He's living with my parents. He's very happy there and my mom and dad are very happy to have him, you know, since they now have a empty nest.

Quoting StudentNurseJen:“ I just don't know. I believe your dog is very well trained, and while you can have really great supervision ... [snip!] ... my parents. He's very happy there and my mom and dad are very happy to have him, you know, since they now have a empty nest.”

I know what you mean.

My boyfriends sister and husband have a dog that is EXTREMELY well trained. It is such a smart dog, but it even turned on my bf's mom when they were here visiting and you would NEVER expect that from him. It's my personal choice to keep dogs away from my children because I don't want to take the risk. But if people out there think their dogs will be okay with the child then that's fine too, just my personal choice. :]

Quoting StudentNurseJen:“ I just don't know. I believe your dog is very well trained, and while you can have really great supervision ... [snip!] ... my parents. He's very happy there and my mom and dad are very happy to have him, you know, since they now have a empty nest.”

all of our dogs are fixed so we dont have to worry about how they will react to females in heat.. also i never turn my back even for a second on your child when the dogs are inside..we have a very large fenced yard so when i cant watch them very closly they are put outside or put in there crate.. my son is not allowed to enter the crate or even get to close to it so if at anytime the dogs feel annoyed or just want there space they can go to there crate..they each have there own and its in a quite room..but i respect your choice to have no pets.. we dont allow collin to stay anywere were there are pets or be around other animals unless me or my husband is there.. we are very carefull and i always keep in the back of my mind what can go wrong..joey has been proffesionally trained along with training from us..and our youngest boxer cowboy is currently in training and we work with both of them daily..and our new puppy the mini dachshund will be in training as soon as he is old enough..i feel my dogs are safe.. i know all animals have a mind of there own but i personally dont beleive in "bad dogs" i think its the humans that make them bad.. yes some dogs are more likely to be bad but i think with a little love and a lot of training any dog can be trained.. but i dont think all dogs are child safe..nor can all dogs be trained to be kid safe..

Quoting Beth [due 12-25-08]:“ I know what you mean. My boyfriends sister and husband have a dog that is EXTREMELY well trained. ... [snip!] ... risk. But if people out there think their dogs will be okay with the child then that's fine too, just my personal choice. :]”

i understand everyone isnt like me..we have a best friend who was attacked by dog as a child and now will not allow her kids to be around animals..so we always crate our dogs when ever she is visiting..i dont have a problem with this at all..its her choice..but i think she is teaching her kids to fear dogs..which i think could be a problem later in life..i think kids should be taught to respect dogs and animals..for instant even thur i know i can take food out of joeys mouth when he is eating and i know i can put my hand in his food bowel and he has been trained to stop eating and move back whenever i do so.. we NEVER EVER allow collin near them while there are eating... collin isnt allowed to invate there space and they aren't allowed to invate his..they are not allowed in collins room or allowed on the couch uninvited.. they are very good about follwing there rules..but i do know they have there own mind.. and we monitor them very closly and whenever we can not watch them we put the dogs outside in our fenced yard.

Quoting *Tera*:“ i understand everyone isnt like me..we have a best friend who was attacked by dog as a child and now ... [snip!] ... there own mind.. and we monitor them very closly and whenever we can not watch them we put the dogs outside in our fenced yard.”

Well, there have been MANY dog attacks in our town since I have grown up. We had this dog roaming our neighborhood (a pitbull) for two months and would come into our yard and chase us around when we were like 7. It was extremely scary. Also, I just barely posted a topic about my sister, brother, and her two friends getting attacked by a dog recently. I don't think it's about teaching them to fear dogs, it's teaching them to be smart around dogs. I'm going to always tell my children, you don't pet strange dogs because you don't know them. (although, your case is a little different with your friend). I know you're not one, but it's irresponsible owners that make people fear dogs. I can't imagine why ANYONE with an aggressive dog would leave them off of a leash if their yards aren't properly secure. And those are the dogs that generally get out. Our big dog is a sharpe mix (idk what else) and she is extremely aggressive around strangers even though we raised her right and exactly the way we raised our other animals (who are in no way aggressive). But we always make sure our backyard and fence are properly secured so she can't possibly get out. Obviously I know you do the same. :]]

Quoting *Tera*:“ all of our dogs are fixed so we dont have to worry about how they will react to females in heat.. also ... [snip!] ... lot of training any dog can be trained.. but i dont think all dogs are child safe..nor can all dogs be trained to be kid safe..”

Above, I see a picture of your child in 'Cowboy's cage-- WITH the dog. As for the 'in heat' example, it was just that, an example. Also, just because and animal is 'fixed' doesn't mean that the 1000's of years of behavior engrained in it's genetics will just 'disappear'-- yeah, neutered animals show less aggresion in the midst of another dog in menses, but it is ALWAYS still a dangerous situation. As for dog's being 'child trained' -- it's not fool proof, and even worse-- KIDS are nealy as unpredictable as dogs... and you can't trust a kid to behave appropriately around dogs until they're old enough to have a firm 'logic based' system for reasoning. I could write more, but I have to leave for work now.

Quoting StudentNurseJen:“ I just don't know. I believe your dog is very well trained, and while you can have really great supervision ... [snip!] ... my parents. He's very happy there and my mom and dad are very happy to have him, you know, since they now have a empty nest.”

i agree nature and insticts over ride learned behavior.. all our dogs training is based ona packor peaking order...they know they are below collin in the peaking order or pack.. we had joey professionally trained and he attends a refreshment class every couple months.. we also work with them daily.. and we includ collin in this..so they see him as a leader as well..

Quoting StudentNurseJen:“ Above, I see a picture of your child in 'Cowboy's cage-- WITH the dog. As for the 'in heat' example, ... [snip!] ... they're old enough to have a firm 'logic based' system for reasoning. I could write more, but I have to leave for work now.”

Your right he is in the crate..and I should have clarified it.. He is allowed in the crate when the trainer is here and only then(we pay extra so he will come to your house and train our dogs.. I want to know whats going on and how they are trained so I refuse to just drop them off and then pick them up a couple months later when they are trained)..our trainer suggested we let Collin in the crate to make sure the dogs realize collin is the leader…I am not sure how it works.. I am no expert.. I just know its supposed to keep them from guarding behaviors

Quoting Beth [due 12-25-08]:“ Well, there have been MANY dog attacks in our town since I have grown up. We had this dog roaming our ... [snip!] ... make sure our backyard and fence are properly secured so she can't possibly get out. Obviously I know you do the same. :]]”

Your definitely right.. Its irresponsible owners who make people fear dogs or breeds.. Sharpeis can be more aggressive then some other dogs.. Along with American bull dogs, rottweilers and a few other breeds.. They tend to be more dominate then others.. Its funny how most of the dog attacks you hear about are “Pit Bulls“..you never hear of a American Staffordshire Terrier (am staff) attacking people..even thu they are the same dog..AKC Gave them the name American Staffordshire and UKC gave them the name American Pit Bull Terriers..the same dog and be registered as both a am staff with akc and a pit bull with ukc..

Here are a few web sites I think everyone should check out..

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

My personal favorite-http://www.coldsteelpits.com/coldsteelfindthepitbull.htm
Some random facts-
The Washington Animal Foundation did a survey on human fatalities by dogs
in 2001 and came up with these figures, Rottweiler (6); Labrador (2);
Pomeranian (1); German Shepherd (2); Chow (1); Wolf-Hybrid (1); Akita (1);
Doberman (1); Beagle (1); Presa Canario (2); Pit Bull (1); mixed breeds (6).

Every 10 years or so a new breed of dog is victimized by irresponsible owners,
breeders, bad media coverage, and now it’s the pit bull’s turn. In the 70’s it
was the German Shepherd, the 80’s was the Doberman’s turn, the 90’s
Rottweilers and pit bulls had all the bad press, and now it’s the pit bull’s time
to suffer again. And, unfortunately, in a few years it will be another breed that
will be in the spotlight

The American Pit Bull Terrier was the #1 family dog in the US during first part of the 20th century. They are Loyal, loving, devoted, funny, and almost human
like in their emotions and expressions!

The American Temperament Testing Society does temperament testing
throughout the year at breed clubs and compiles the statistics. Their overall
pass rate for breeds is 80%, and in the 2002 statistics, APBTs, AMSTAFFs, and Rottweilers were all in the 82 percentile, meaning 80+% of the dogs tested
passed the temperament test. That is a very high percentage, especially
when comparing to breeds which are common family dogs, such as,
Golden Retrievers and Bichon Frise tested at 77%, Chihuahua at 71%,
Greyhound at 81% and Lhasa Apso at 71%. These test results are available at
www.atts.org

Quoting *Tera*:“ Your definitely right.. Its irresponsible owners who make people fear dogs or breeds.. Sharpeis can ... [snip!] ... tested at 77%, Chihuahua at 71%, Greyhound at 81% and Lhasa Apso at 71%. These test results are available at www.atts.org”

Thank you hun :]

Quoting *Tera*:“ Your definitely right.. Its irresponsible owners who make people fear dogs or breeds.. Sharpeis can ... [snip!] ... tested at 77%, Chihuahua at 71%, Greyhound at 81% and Lhasa Apso at 71%. These test results are available at www.atts.org”

I love those stats, I always post them when people tell me that pit bulls are vicious horrible dogs that will attack everyone. I know that pits have awesome temperments and this just proves it