children and dogs

Do you mean alone as in in the room by themselves with the dog?

Or in the house alone in charge of the dog?

The first would probably be about 12

The second 16 at the earliest.
 
I may get some shocked looks here but I am happy to leave my son in the room alone with my two dogs.
My son is 7 and I have actively got him involved with their training and he can get them both to sit lay come to call and send them to their bed when the have been naughty and will say he gets them to do all of them better than me some times :rolleyes: Sure they including my son think Im a push over :(
I feel that if any one with kids get any pets that they should get the kids involved with the training after all my son is above the girls in the pack racking and the girls know it shame the haven't worked out that Im top dog yet and not just the one that feeds them hummmm
Will also sat that my old dog in Cyprus use to sleep in my son's bedroom when he was in bed and if anyone excluding me went pass his room to go to the little boy/girls room he would lay their growling until they passed.
All my dogs seem very protective of my son :D
 
i was thinking more alone in a room or in the house as opposed to say taking them for a walk.

i did not have a dog growing up, but found my own way home from school at about 10 or 11, would it be acceptable if we had a dog?

just interested in peoples thoughts really, dont have any children!
 
frankie7 said:
i was thinking more alone in a room or in the house as opposed to say taking them for a walk.

i did not have a dog growing up, but found my own way home from school at about 10 or 11, would it be acceptable if we had a dog?

just interested in peoples thoughts really, dont have any children!
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I personally would not want my 10 year old coming home to be alone with a dog. It all good and well them being in control of a dog, knowing how to make them sit ect but if something were to happen at 10 years old they would not know how to or be able to fix the issue.
 
We got our first family dog when I was 8 and was left alone with him quite early on, my brother was only 5 at the time and wasn't even allowed to touch the dog if my dad didnt say it was ok. When we got the ridgey I was 10 and my brother was 7, he had far more freedom with that dog as she was a far softer nature than the old terrier!

(Mum confessed recently that the old terrier was bought as a guilt present for me!! My brother was a major attention seeking child sooo... they bought me a dog! haha!)

My god daughter is 14 months old now and has met Betsy on several occasions, B is very good with her and just cleans all the food off her hands/ face / clothes but my GD is becoming more active every day, she doesnt know that the dog isn't a drum / food / toy so I don't let her approach the dog when I have her.
Her mum thinks I am over cautious, they have a 6 month old staffy x god knows what puppy that my GD is allowed to harrass constantly, IMO it is an accident waiting to happen.
 
We got our family dog when I was eight, slept on my bed went to the horses with me, yes I went on my own it was only ten/twenty minute walk (depending on how many blackberries I picked) down a lane.
And as for not knowing what to do I admit when I was eight he was cut and although mum said it was fine I insisted on putting a plaster on it. But by the time I was eleven and dog ran full pelt into the greenhouse and cut a vein I knew to apply pressure raise it and call mum to come give me a lift to the vet. Even got towels ready for the car. Now regardless of my being there he may have run into the greenhouse but at eleven I expect most children, especially those who have been around horses to know how to be responsible and administer basic first aid. Same way as they should be able to spot lameness and colic, not be relied on to but be able too.
Children live up to your expectations. So expect a lot of them!
NB I know some children aren't exposed to these things but I was lucky that nothing was hidden from me, when my pony nearly died of colic again when I was eight I was told I had to stay with her.
I'm sorry to rant but feel very strongly that children are limited by what we expect of them.
 
Llewellyn said:
I'm sorry to rant but feel very strongly that children are limited by what we expect of them.
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Thats fine that you think that but as a child who at 13 tripped over the edge of the rug and accidentally landed on our wonderful family spaniel and ended up with 14 stitches in my arm and face from a bite and had no one there to deal with the dog and help me i will disagree with you!
 
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I think it would depend entirely on both the dog and the child.

I was left alone with our dog from around 7 onwards (my elder brother would have been 9). This would probably horrify some people, however there was never an attitude in our house of 'the dog would never!...'. We understood that incidents might happen, and we were taught what we needed to know in order to reduce the risk of them happening, and what to do if something did happen. No more or less than any adult should know. We also had horses, cats and a whole host of odd human pesonalities to deal with (the joy of growing up in a country boozer) and the odd dogs that came with them.

The good parts? When I was eight I vaulted a wooden fence and was left with a large shard of wood stuck through my hand for my trouble. It hurt and I was shocked. But I knew what to do and where to go for the fastest help. I've been on hand with numerous incidents around horses and never felt the need to panic. I was taught responsibility for animals at a young age, be it watching over my pony with colic for the night or not bothering Jan-the-mad-alchy's dog when it was sleeping because I had been TOLD and it had been EXPLAINED and if I went and fussed it anyway and got bitten it was MY FAULT. I really think kids miss out on a great opportunity to learn how to deal with life if they're constantly kept safe and wrapped in cotton wool.

Having said that I have young nieces, the eldest is five. I wouldn't let her loose near a dog, never mind leave her alone with one. And that includes the stereotypical patient lab etc. She simply doesn't have (and is not interested in learning) the respect for an animal's personal space or the sense to be left with one (including me in the room but not in arms reach). Therefore she isn't, for her own sake and the dog's.

Hence... depends on the dog, and the child... and thus my essay is done :p
 
Fully agree Pix - great post:)

I didn't get my first dog until I was 11. Up to that point from the age of about 7, I was walking & looking after friends dogs. My daughter has been brought up with dogs & has been left alone with them at various times. Accidents can happen anytime, but thats life. As Pix stated it depends on the dogs & the childs temperaments!
 
blazingsaddles said:
Fully agree Pix - great post:)

I didn't get my first dog until I was 11. Up to that point from the age of about 7, I was walking & looking after friends dogs. My daughter has been brought up with dogs & has been left alone with them at various times. Accidents can happen anytime, but thats life. As Pix stated it depends on the dogs & the childs temperaments!
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Well said Pix and blazingsaddles! I have 2 sons of 9 and 11 and I have left them alone with our dog for short periods of time. The Daily Mail article concerning the barking on a Nintendo game is bizarre, are they going to ban barking sounds on the radio and TV as well? Terrible thing to happen to the little girl tho but don't think you can blame a computer game
 
I was 2 when my parents bought me a JRT puppy (in a strictly spangle household), though he lived outside with the other dogs. We were all told NEVER to go near the dogs unless we had an adult with us. About age 6 my cousin tried to take one of the spangle's raw bones and was bitten.

I was allowed to walk and play with him (my JRT) in the garden about age 7. Age 9, I was laying on the floor next to him as I watched TV, and rolled over (he was asleep) and put my arm round him. Result? a 999 call and me almost losing my nose :(

Children are quicker to act than think and don't understand body language.

My 10yo stays home with the dog whilst I nip to the shop (takes me three minutes to get there and back) though she's crated at the time and he's instructed not to let her out unless someone comes to the door.

She tends to follow me round anyway, and is the type of dog that likes her quiet so if she's not wherever I am then she goes in her crate, suffice to say she's never alone with the children.

This is only because she's a very young bitch, and one that is easily irritated by children. She also needs a firm voice at times and forgets her manners and I don't feel the children have the authority in their voices yet. She'll listen to them, but not always...
 
Gawd, my parents and I have been very laid back over the years reading some of the posts. I can't remember if I was left unsupervised with dogs when I was very young, but bearing in mind my mother had at least a dozen GSDs I think it was quite likely. When my friend and I were 14 we were left in charge of a kennel of about 10 GSDs whilst my parents went on holiday. My grandmother (aged about 70) was living in the house but all the care of the dogs was down to us. My children were never left with the dogs when very young, but then they were never left until 13 or 14 as I wouldn't be happy doing that. But when I did start leaving them at that age I was reassured that they had a GSD with them, they had both been taught from a very young age to respect the dogs, although all my dogs would give up a bone, toy etc happily, a lesson they are taught from being tiny pups. I do agree that children are far too wrapped in cotton wool, and nowadays sadly a lot of children are scared of dogs due to media reports etc, but the trouble is in this health and safety crazy world they will never learn. I used to take my dogs into the local primary school (and young pups, great socialisation) and the kids soon learned how to approach big dogs etc, unfortunately a new head took over and decided to stop the dogs visiting.:mad:
 
I grew up with my dogs being like my bother and sister. My poor knackered mother often left us playing outside while she did the cooking etc or tried to sit down for ten minutes!
With my children, if I ever have any, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them totally alone with the dogs til they were about 8/9.
 
I forgot to add... I had my very own GSD bodyguard up untill I was about 3 months old. She was my mums dog and we were never left alone together obviously but Tess became very very protective of me, never left my side mum says she was never remotely off with me but one day she snapped at my dad when he went to pick me up. They tried to seperate us but she became more and more agitated and agressive. My mum had to PTS :(

I think that put my mum off leaving us alone with big dogs.

Both sets of my grandparents had an old miserable terrier each. (Found out recently that they were both actually my dads! - I didnt half rock the boat when I arrived!) I was NEVER allowed to touch one of them and he lived untill I was about 14, the other I was allowed to stroke if he came to see me but never to approach him. 'If he bites you dont come running to me' was a common phrase and I think it made me respect that dogs can and will bite if you p*ss it off enough. Every child should be instilled with that respect.
 
Well the only time I've been bitten badly ( I was 2?/3?) I was in a room full of adults, so accidents will happen wherever IMO. And also, the only time I've ever seen a child bitten was under adult supervision. Maybe that says something about the adults in my family though!

I've always been alone with dogs since I was about 5, running around outside/playing with them, mainly terriers and labradors. I was taught since teeny not to bother animals and always ask permission from owners to stroke dogs. I also learnt pretty sharpish not to pull a dogs tail while its eating :o

From 11 I was in sole charge of Tinkerdog, walking, feeding, grooming and was frequently home alone with her. Also from 11/12 my friend and I were in left alone with her 4 GSDs, feeding them, walking, playing etc.

I wouldn't have any problems leaving a sensible child with a sensible dog from 6, but then I probably shouldn't be allowed children. :)
 
I was totally shocked when I read this article. Quote" Megan was playing at a friend’s house in Bolton when the accident happened. The dog, named Saracen, has since been put down."
You may all think I am nuts but I would have the owner put down!
I have four dogs (a yorkie, a yorkie cross, an english bulldog and a weimaraner) and two kids and there is no problem at all. The yorkie is convinced that my youngest son is hers and follows him round all day making sure he is alright, and will bite anyone's toes who tries to go near him. These incidents happen when the dog is not a member of the family. I always shut my dogs when people come round especially children.
Why would you leave a bull mastiff cross in the room with an unknown child????
ggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh they make me so mad, these poor animals.
 
I agree re leaving an unknown chid and dog together. My mum would never leave the ridgey with my friends because she was a sensitive soul and was easily upset but she woulod happily wrestle with my younger brother on the floor all day and never ever ever told him to sod off.

On the note of dogs being protective of children, I think it is far more dangerous than the dog not giving a toss about the child. I posted on here a little while ago about a family friends Ridgey that attacked a well known child because he was playing rough with the little girl the ridgey 'guarded'.
My mum had to part with her dog for the same reason (Didnt bite a child but easily could have).

Not sure how you would stop it happening though, I dont have kids yet but when I do I will do everything in my power to stop the dog becoming overly protective of the baby.
 
I was brought up with dogs from a baby and have never had a time when we didnt have dogs. I cant remember when I was first left on my own with the dogs. My 11year old sister wont stay in the house alone unless she has a dog as she feels safer with one of them there. All of us were brought up to respect dogs and understand the signs they give form a early age.
I think its more about the temp of the dog.
 
I couldn't even begin to count the number of times we as children trod on, tripped over on, accidentally squashed and otherwise unintentionally walloped our family dog - he never so much as bared a tooth. The worst he did was to sneak up on my little sister when she was asleep and stick his nose in her ear to make her jump!

All about temperament.
 
I dont have kids or any coming into my home, im not sure what age I would leave a child in a room with my dog, depends on the child and the dog, I was left alone with dogs when little for as far back as I can remember, I remember playing in the dog run with about 16 german shepherds when I was about 11, and one of our Gsd's slept on the end of my bed when I was tiny.
I also had my own dog (border colli) and was doing obedience with her when I was about 7 so spent all my time with her on my own, I was never bitten by any of our dogs as a child nor was my sister, we where taught to respect the dogs, so other than play, stroke and cuddle them, I did trip over them or grab hair to break a fall or jam paws in doors by accident, no dog ever snapped, the where very placid Gsd's.
think it depends on child, dog and parent really.
 
littlemisslauren said:
'If he bites you dont come running to me' was a common phrase and I think it made me respect that dogs can and will bite if you p*ss it off enough. Every child should be instilled with that respect.
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Oh I remember our variation on that phrase so well! I heard it daily, usually with a 'bet you will anyway, daft child' tone of voice that made me determined not to do it :D we had....

If it bites you...
If it scratches you...
If you fall and break your neck/squish your brains/go splat.. (and I'm NOT clearing it up!)....
If you burn yourself...
If you hurt yourself....
If you grow up to be a fool....
If you get hit...
If you scald yourself....
If it collapses on your head.... (my brother and I decided to make our own really awesome under ground den- and it was awesome! It leaked awesome from every soily pore).

Well I think you get the point :D All the above qualified for the additional '....don't come crying to me for sympathy!'

Of course being kids we did one or two (or all...) of those things at least once. And we went straight to mum and dad for sympathy too when it went wrong! After all, if you can't trust a parent with your mess-ups who can you trust? :p We learned from our mistakes, the parents had an opportunity for a golden 'I told you so' lesson (but always after the cuddles and stemming of the blood flow). Life resumes, but with slightly more educated risk assesment on the part of the kids.

I had good times as a child :D Bloody times, now and then, but all good :D
 
Myself and my four boys have grown up with lots of dogs around ranging from GSD's to Terriers. I would NEVER leave any dog alone with my kids. If something went wrong I bet my bottom dollar it wouldn't be the dogs fault. But as someone else said you only have to trip over and scare a dog and it will attack - it's instinct and self defense and not their fault. They have powerful bites and even a small dog like a terrier can do a lot of damage. A local child nearly lost her ear after bending down to say hello to a friendly pet terrier.

As an adult I am old enough to make my own decisions and if I get hurt by a dog then I know what I have let myself in for - kids are easy targets and a lot more innocent and unaware no matter how much they have been bought up with dogs and been to training classes etc.

I know it sounds over the top but if I leave the room where the dogs and my kids are either the children or the dogs come with me - always - even to the loo :D
 
Must add my dogs are soft as butter and never so much as a grumbled at the boys despite being tripped over, or pulled around by an over enthusiastic clumsy but well meaning toddler - I agree there are some breeds more likely to be snappy hence I now have spangles but even then I still don't trust the kids around the dogs.
 
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