Managing Dog and Infant/Child Interaction

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Vicstress

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OH and I were talking about this the other day as we've spoken about children in the future. Whilst I have no worries about Archie (who grew up with 4 young children before I got him) we did both say we'd be cautious with our new Border Collie. TBF, by the time we get around to children she'll be settled and hopefully have stopped the precocious stage she's in (with training) but it's something we've both been thinking about.

So, questions are, how did you cope with a young baby and a dog (not that I would EVER leave any dog in a room alone with a baby)

How did you get your dog used to the child when it started to crawl/walk etc?

Very interested in responses! :D
 
I keep them separate. Baby (15mo) currently has a fenced off babysafe area indoors to play in, dogs' area is in the kitchen. If she is in the kitchen, she's in her highchair, if she's in her area they can choose to approach and she can pet them through the bars of her fence. At other times, I'll be right *there* with the lot of them, ready to grab someone if needs be.

My older dog likes to stay well out of the way of the baby, but has never shown aggression. I think he'd be unsure and might perhaps snap if she crawled towards him....the young pup has grown up with her like another littermate and they adore each other! (still would not leave unattended obvs)
 
When my daughter was little we had three dogs, they were kept in the kitchen, with the door open and a child gate on it, when we were all in the garden they were supervised at all times. My dogs were all very good with her but I never ever left them alone. In the evenings when she went to bed they were let out of the kitchen. They coped very well with this routine as they still had lots of walks and attention.
 
I'm hoping by the time mine (due in October) is up and mobile we'll have done our extension and I'll have a nice big kitchen and usable utility room, otherwise there's no way I can shut my dog in the kitchen, it's far too tiny for a dog his size. I think I'll have to put a gate between our two small rooms and divide them that way. I don't plan on leaving them alone together, but although he's a great lump of a dog, I'm not worried about aggression from him, more worried he'll knock the baby over!

I've bought this book too, which I'm going to read at some point....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tell-Your-Dog-Youre-Pregnant/dp/0987053000
 
I have a 16 month old rottweiler and a 20 month old son. Since day one we have had strict rules. The dog is allowed in the living room with my son under strict supervision and knows to be calm when he is around. Her play time is when he isn't there and we have never played when he is. She generally lays by the door out of the way. My son is allowed to stroke her and he tells her to sit and knows to stroke her belly or her back and never around her face. My dog absolutely adores my son and they get on really well! She is crated at night and has the run of the hallway and kitchen in the day. I have never put pens up or separated them because I just feel as though that would make both of them want to be the otherside no matter what. If I need to leave the room the dog is sent to her crate under the stairs and my son is never allowed near her crate. It works really well for us! :)
 
My baby is now 8 weeks old and I really couldn't have hoped for a better response from the dog!

She was confused by the baby for about 3 days, then sulked for about a week. Now she sits next to the baby whenever she can and seems to understand that the baby is a mini human.

I never ever leave them in a room together, my dog is a saint when it comes to kids but it is just not worth the risk. We have a baby gate on the living room door, so If I leave the room the dog comes with me and I shut the gate behind me.

I let the dog stiff the baby if she wants to (when I am there), I don't want her to see the baby as something strange she is not allowed near. I draw the line at licking of feet! The pooch is more interested in dirty nappies...

My little girls favourite thing to do is chill on her changing mat and stare at the dog, dog even gets more smiles than her poor mama...
 
I think thats what I'll end up doing LML, having a gate between rooms, and making sure the dog is with me if I leave the baby somewhere, that way the mutt will feel like he's getting more attention too won't he? Only think I think I might need is a dog bed in both rooms so he's happy and belongs in either and would be happy.
 
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