Dogs And Babies?

I was just wondering what people thought about kids and dogs??
My husband and I have a 90lb AKC Boxer named Joey.. We got him 1 year before our son Collin was born. He is very very well trained.. He will not eat anything until you tell him “okay eat” including human food. I have gave him a chip and counted to 3 then told him to “let go” and he spit out every piece of the chip..he knows all the basic commands..sit,stay,lay down, fetch, heal, bring it, come, go away, up and down, let go...he knows bad guy(means bark and growl) he knows were the living room is and the bathroom are and he knows mommy and daddy..for instance if he brings me a toy and I don’t want to play I can say bring it to daddy in the living room and he will bring it to my husband in the living room..

He knows get in the bath tub and freeze(don’t move) Well when we found out we were expecting we stopped letting Joey sleep in our bed or even enter our bedroom, we forbid him from entering the guest room(now the nursery) and we stopped letting him ride outside of his crate in the truck and we started baby proofing him..playing sounds of babies crying and started telling him “this is Collin’s”

My son was born one week before Joey turned one year old. When we brought Collin home from the hospital we covered his face and let Joey sniff him..and that was all Joey needed. He never tried to get close to Collin unless he was invited to come close. We never had a problem with Joey being jealous or anything. When Collin got older and started to crawl around he would crawl all over Joey and because he was taught to be slow and carefully around Collin..(boxers are known for naturally being good with kids) he wouldn’t move if Collin was touching him or trying to touch him..he would even change his breathing..when Collin wasn’t around Joey would breath very fast and loud..almost snorting constantly..but when Collin was close he would breath really shallow and softly. I never left the room when they were together even thou I trust him 100 % I just don’t think its good parenting to leave a toddler unattended (unless asleep) weather or not there is a dog in the house.

Collin now can walk and is starting to run. Joey and him play hide and seek, and fetch.. Joey is always careful to put the toy down gently and just close enough for Collin to reach..he never tries to take it away from Collin and he always drops the toy right away if Collin grabs it.. Collin loves “pushing” Joey down and lifting his lips to look at his “teeffy“. He learned to pull up on Joey instead of a couch or coffee table like most babies do. They are inseparable.. Joey sleeps by the door outside of Collin’s room.. Because like I said earlier he was taught not to enter that room.

I am not saying all dogs are good with kids.. I truly think Joey is so great with children because we treat him like a companion animal and not a kid. We give him “jobs” to do because he is a “working dog“ his whole DNA screams put me to work...he has also been very well socialized since we got him at 9 weeks old. We researched dog breeds for months before we decided on a boxer. When we got him we understood what boxers were about, were they came from, what they were bred for and so on.. Yes part of the reason we choose a boxer was for the “mean or tough look“(my husband works out of state and is gone half the month) but he was never taught to attack or trained to be protective.. He was trained to bark and growl on command and I know he would attack if he felt he needed too but we never encouraged biting or attacking.. I know this is just my dog and not every dog. I think kids and dogs go together like cake and ice cream.. BUT ONLY IF the dog is properly trained.. Even thru Joey is so great we still get looks in the park and people still ask how I can have such a big dog around a baby..I assume its because most people don’t see a boxer 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.

We have a boxer as well - they are a great breed to have with kids 

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 agree. I think it's the owners that should be punished. I have four dogs to train before my baby gets here, different breeds. All our dogs are rescue dogs and working dogs. I found that they really do better in a pack, but I'm not sure how they will be arounda baby yet. They stay outside now, but I would like for them to co-exist equally.

I have a friend that has a rotwiller (sp?) or something like that! He is a good 70-90 pound dog! But he LOVES his baby! I see pictures alllll the time where the baby Nick is sitting on him like a horse and he is 1 1/2 years old! They are the cutest pictures!!!!! I think it is GREAT to have such good dogs like that! I wish I had a doggie = )

I want your dog he's seems like such a good boy. I actully have to get ridd of my dogs and cat because I do'nt trust them around kids. Exspechally my little dog she's always made me nervious so I'm not taking the chance. Now the Pit I'm not sure if she'd be good or not but she's still a puppy and has no training and has abad habbit of jumping so I just do'nt want to take the chance. And the cat hates it when kids cry she'll start hissing and swipping at them so yah she's a no go. I'll miss my little furry babies but I think that I'm doing the right thing.

i have way to many dogs.. i have 2 chihuahuas (one male one female).. a toy american eksimo. a boxer and a sherpei. and they are all great withjade except the female chihuahua. she is 15 years old. so she doesnt really like to be touched

Wow, that's a smart dog you have! lol.

I think it's good for kids to grow up around animals, I just personally wouldn't trust my bigger dog around my baby. Only because of the stories I've heard about dogs snapping out of nowhere. Like one where the baby was crying and the mom picked him/her up out of the bassinett but he/she was still crying and the dog just snapped and knocked the owner over and mauled the baby to death. I'm not saying your dog would ever do anything like that, I just don't trust any dog that much lol.

We specifically got a boxer because I know how good they are with kids. I have honestly never seen a boxer be even somewhat aggresive with a child and I have owned 3 now, and had several friends who have them. My husband and I both had dogs from the time we were born until adulthood and remember our dogs as some of our best childhood friends. I believe that any dog who has responsible owners can be wonderful for and with children. I want my dog to be extremely attached to myself and my child(ren.) My husband is a Marine and could be gone for extended periods of time, so I want someone to protect us in his absence. My husband wanted the same qualities in a dog. So a boxer was the perfect answer. I think all kids should have a dog!

My kids will be raised around all diffent kinds of dogs becuase I do rescue work. My favorite breed is the Pit   I know I will get dirty looks all the time, but I really dont give a crap. I grew up with a pit and they are the most stable tempered dogs I have ever been around when trained correctly. IN all my time in rescue work the only dogs I have ever been bitten by or snapped at by are Chihuahuas.

I HATE people taht give up pets becuase of baby. I dont hate people easily, but I cannot stand those people. If you think you mihgt give up your pet when you have kids DONT GET A PET. They are not some disposable item or some accessory.

I'm fine with my baby being around animals, my parents have 4dogs and 3 cats, they are SO good around kids, the only thing I have to worry about is all the drool they'll leave on him lol. My brother in law on the other hand has a pit and a chihuahua, and don't get me wrong I have nothing against the breed, I think it all come down to the owner, but when I see two cages in their kitchen I take that as a red flag. Plus I have no idea how their dogs are with kids so I'm not comfortable leaving the baby with him at all.

Quoting G33kerz:“ I'm fine with my baby being around animals, my parents have 4dogs and 3 cats, they are SO good around ... [snip!] ... that as a red flag. Plus I have no idea how their dogs are with kids so I'm not comfortable leaving the baby with him at all.”

Why are the cages a red flag? Many dogs are crated when owners are gone (mine will be) its actually a type of training (google crate training)

Just letting you know that they may not be caged due to being bad dogs   I wouldnt leave my child unattended with dogs EVER, because they are dogs, and I would definetly want to know the dog, so I get that.

Quoting Dev22:“ Why are the cages a red flag? Many dogs are crated when owners are gone (mine will be) its actually ... [snip!] ... leave my child unattended with dogs EVER, because they are dogs, and I would definetly want to know the dog, so I get that.”

Maybe because the cages are in the kitchen?

All that dog hair flying around while you're cooking. Ew.

But I'm just assuming, and you know what that does.... =X

Quoting Dev22:“ Why are the cages a red flag? Many dogs are crated when owners are gone (mine will be) its actually ... [snip!] ... leave my child unattended with dogs EVER, because they are dogs, and I would definetly want to know the dog, so I get that.”

Its just the fact that I hardly know anything about my brother in law and how he treats his dogs, I don't know what their temperments are like or what those cages are really used for. I've met him maybe twice since I've been with my husband. Thats why I put up the red flag. He is off the baby sitter list anyway, him and his wife smoke pot, its just not the kind of environment I want my kid to be around.

Quoting G33kerz:“ Its just the fact that I hardly know anything about my brother in law and how he treats his dogs, I don't ... [snip!] ... off the baby sitter list anyway, him and his wife smoke pot, its just not the kind of environment I want my kid to be around.”

Oh yeah diffinetly, I just wnated to let you know that cages dont mean bad dogs  

My BIL is off my babsitting list as well, for drugs and about a billion other reasons (he is going to be very pissed about that, but I dont give a crap) he is an abusive ass and I dont want my kids near that. Sad thing is he has 2 kids of his own.

Quoting G33kerz:“ I'm fine with my baby being around animals, my parents have 4dogs and 3 cats, they are SO good around ... [snip!] ... that as a red flag. Plus I have no idea how their dogs are with kids so I'm not comfortable leaving the baby with him at all.”

my joey has to be crated when we are not home because he freaks out when he is left alone.. he will chew on everything and scratch the hard wood floor.. he is an amazing dog but he does have flaws.. i dont think cages mean "red flag" i know a lot of great dogs that are crate trained.. i know we have 2 boxers and just got a mini dachshund...they are all crate trained.. it makes house breaking so much easier.. and the crates are useful when we have family functions.. some kids/adults are scared of big dogs so we just shut the dogs up in the crates outta the way just to respect their fears..