Do you think they should mix?

Is it better for children to be raised around animals, or not?

If a (young) child is frightened of dogs, is it better to keep them away from dogs, or try and show them there's no need for any fear?

If your child was afraid, would you tolerate that fear and try to protect them from exposure to friends' pets so they're not upset, or would you use friends' pet dogs to try and demonstrate that the fear is not necessary?

Just curious about general opinions......

I firmly believe it's better for children to learn to be respectful, confident and relaxed around animals.

I'd teach them the basic rules -
[LIST][*]Always to ask the owner's permission to approach a dog (and not to approach an unaccompanied dog)
[*]Treat the dog with respect (no pulling, poking, squealing, hitting, teasing, raising hands etc)[/LIST]
Then I'd let them see other people interacting with their dogs, pointing out the way the dog is approached, calmed, instructed, praised etc.

If the child demonstrated it was interested and keen, I'd ask a dog-owning friend for a calm and quiet introduction where the child can be fully supervised and any unacceptable behaviour nipped in the bud.

My dog is very calm and child-friendly but I'm not sure I'd allow an untrained child near her

All kids should have pets, or at least access to animals if they can't have a pet in the home. It teaches them to care about things (and people), to be gentle with them and that life is precious.

If my child was afraid of animals I'd do as the poster above suggested, for sure, and read books and watch films about animals. Animals are everywhere, and difficult to avoid, so it's far better that they overcome their fear of them, whilst at the same time realise how to be safe around them. It's easy enough to teach a child not to pull their fur and to stroke them 'nicely'.

If a child is phobic/scared about an animal, e.g. a dog and allowed to avoid that particular animal, he/she will have their behaviour reinforced. By allowing supervised interaction with an animal, the child has an opportunity to learn to overcome their fear.

We always had dogs when I was a kid. At least one of our own and my Dad had a soft spot for dogs so would occasionally take one in for a short time that someone wanted rid of. He'd try to find a decent home for it.

Never any incidents of aggression from any of those dogs.

Its the bouncy ones that the child should avoid at first as they are so eager for a fuss they jump and it can be daunting.

Have you any friends or neighbours with a calm dog, so you can both watch the dog pootle about, chatting about its tail and hair, ears, wet nose etc. the child will become used to body language of this dog. and slowly and surely will get more confident. Be sure to point out the "friendly" body language, so as the child is learning about this dog, he can see it is not bearing its teeth (which is a sign of anger or attack), and will therefore learn how to spot a friendly dog and spot a not so friendly dog. You could also play the idiot and ask the questions to the owner, so the child can hear the answer, the child wont feel their thoughts are silly if you are the one asking the questions.

As for children and dogs, the right dog is wonderful for a child. I had a border terrier, and she was like a sister to my daughter, they played together, slept together, how many children have played barbies with the dog, mine did, and the poor dog would come downstairs wearing a frilly dress, odd socks (4 odd ones) a hat, and sunglasses on many occasions. She looked better in dungarees though.

The important thing is to teach the child to respect the dogs feelings, and that it is understood the dog feels pain, and the signs when the dog has had enough. (Mine would just get up and walk away, and if followed would keep walking, daughter soon got bored and would let her wander off.) Saying that she never chased her, just tagged behind the dog.

I asked my daughter "How did it feel to grow up with a dog" and she said."There was someone I could get up to mischief with, there was always someone to play with, always someone to cuddle, and be cuddled by"

I grew up with a dog as well, she was quiet, and gentle, but was so sweet she gave me love, and support and never told my secrets or worries to anyone.

just for information, it is important for you to teach this child to be confident around dogs, even if they have no desire to interact with them. If a dog is nervous, and comes accross a nervous person, they both sense each others nerves and will both overreact to each others movements, that same nervous dog with a confident person, wont be worried if they can tell what the person is about to do, say walk past them, not stopping , just going past, the dog will just watch the person, whereas, the nervous person will stop, look at the dog, step forward, stop, look at the dog, and the dog will have no idea what the person will do, and may become defensive- which is where the over reacting to each other kicks in.

(I hope you can understand what I mean)

I agree with the comments above, and it's nice to hear people thinking the same as I do (although I'm positive there are others out there who disagree!).

What made me think about this is that I know of someone who has 2 small children (aged 4 and 1) and when visiting a house with a dog, she always requests the dog is shut away because her children don't like it - she makes this request as the front door is opened. Even though the dog is no threat, and is playing with other visiting children.

Would you shut your dog away, if a person like this visited you?

Choco - I totally agree with your views on how a beautiful relationship between a child and a dog can grow, I've pretty much always lived with dogs and was lucky to experience that total love with doggy pets myself

I grew up with dogs as a small child. I was well protected by them. I could not be discplined as the dog would growl at my parents. So,the dogs went.

I miss my dogs.

Pets teach children responsibility,love and when the pet dies about grief.

I'd say that most dogs are more wary of children than children are of dogs! I cannot abide parents who pander to their screeching tantrum induced children who want animals to be 'shut away' before they will enter the room. It just makes the child even worse around animals. We had our brat of a niece over once and she leapt onto the dining table because we refused to pander to her and lock up our lab puppy (not exactly a blood thirsty monster!). We no longer have the dog, she was more traumatised than the brat I think!

I always ask people if they mind cats ( as we have one ) and if they do I will shut him away. Similarly we used to do the same with the family dog. I think it's personal choice, and you can't force someone to interact with an animal if they don't want to.

What breed of dog do you have mrsh?

Darn, I was going to mention this, how my dog protected my daughter.

Now cats are another issue! I have selected friends carefully so few own cats! The one who does talks about him like he is a person. He even eats breakfast with them and got to 'choose' the wooden floor they had in the kitchen. He makes a run for it when I come round. Funny that!

I grew up around hundreds of cats (almost literally!) but just don't see the fuss with them as pets. I personally want to stick a rocket up next door's so it stops digging up my front beds to use as a toilet. Grrrr!

I think I'd rather ask them not to bring their children! That way they'd get an idea how I felt being asked to lock away my dog.

As mentioned here, I used to lock my dog away from certain children to protect her. these kids woul just not leave her alons, and I feared for Poppy's sanity.

A neighbours boy used to really hurt her if she was in the garden, and I tild him a had given her permission to bite him if he was nasty to her, and he never came into my garden again.

I trained my dog, and parents should train their children.

Oh yes, I heartily agree!

We had a lovely dog when I was small, but she bit me quite hard on the arm (I was about 14). I was too scared to tell my parents because I thought they'd have her put down, so I used TCP or something and luckily was fine! Had to wear long sleeves for a while.

But that has made me nervous of dogs around my children, because my dog was lovely and showed no signs of being a biter (she never did it again, and don't know why she did in the first place!)

I think it depends on the dog. I'm not sure about Rottweilers etc around very small children. I think you are dicing with trouble there.

I especially hate it at the park when I see a big Rottweiler romping around. I get nervous then when my small children are playing.

I do put the Cresties in their crates and put Murphy on a lead if someone visiting is nervous of dogs or if we have workmen round and the dogs could get in the way. I always ask people coming in if they are OK with dogs.

But shut them in another room? Nope. Don't like it, don't visit.

Lots of people are like that sadly

I'm currently (still) walking a neighbour's Rottie. She is so soft and well behaved, absolute delight to walk. But even on lead I get filthy looks, if I dare let her off or put her on a long line, I get 'evils'.

I'm sure she is lovely. I think it's all the bad press. And if you haven't had much / any experience of dogs yourself, you're bound to feel nervous. I've never spent any time with Rottweilers etc and I think I am hugely influenced by the media on this one.

When they run they do look like huge and powerful animals (well they are I suppose!) and it just automatically sends panic up in me. I worry the dog is going to knock the little one flying, if nothing else.....! I can't help it!

Its sad but these dogs do have a bad reputation but its mainly due to their upbring.

We have a rottie and 2 small children (a 2yr old and a 8month old), i have never worried about the children and the dog together. The dog will lick them if they are sat down, he'll have a sniff of them and i have no doubt that he would protect them at all costs. If one of them is crying then he paces the floor fretfully until they settle. If i'm in the other room he will stare at me until i go and see to the children - as if to say 'mum! your children need you!'.

they both have grown up with him all their life although now my 2 yr has developed a slight fear of him if he walks too close. i dont think its directed to him personally as she is also scared o fher own shadow these days. I tell her to stop being so silly and i'm sure she will get over it. The dog is certainly not kept out of her way.

My 8month old loves nothing better than to be in his baby walker and chase the dog around. The dog doesnt find this threatening but does perfer to be outside out of reach!

My step daughter was bitten by their family dog a few years ago (a lurcher - a recommended family dog!)which could have caused her to be scared of dogs but her mum has kept a family dog (not the same one) and my step daughter is not scared of dogs.

im 15, and we've had a dog for as long as i can remember!
i think we've had 3 in total so far
me, my brother and my sister have always taken turns in helping feed the dog, and taking it for walks etc.
it's taught us about responsibilty and love and i cant imagine life without our current dog!!!

That is probably the main problem. When I see a Rottweiler or similar dog, I don't know how it has been raised or trained. I have to err on the side of caution I suppose, and so prefer to keep my children away.

I'm sure your, properly loved and brought up, dog is a completely different! Although you can never,ever be 100% sure I suppose.

My parents want to get a rescue dog and that worries me around the grandchildren (they have one very small one, not mine!) as you just don't know what experiences those poor dogs have had before and how they will react to babies.

Of course it's their decision, but if I had a choice, I'd rather they waited until the tiny ones are a bit older!

I have a terrier, she looks a bit like a slimline westie. She's noisy, barks a lot, but just because she's excited to see people and wants to play.

I've had many children visit in recent years (I have 2 boys, aged 4 and 2 so their friends are often brought around) and some are frightened of her noise, or even just the sight of her. But if you throw her a ball she'll play with you for hours. I never leave her unattended, and always keep half an eye on where she is and what she's up to.

Of those children that are frightened, most of them do not live with animals, or have had very little exposure to them. I find it so sad when children are scared with no reason they have no idea of the joy they're missing out on. Many that were frightened now love to throw her her ball, and end up playing with her more than my sons!

I agree with the shutting away for her own safety against potential little terrors, but am finding it increasingly difficult to agree to shutting my dog away in the lounge for the duration of a visit, just because a little girl has an irrational fear

I totally understand Its just knowing what a big soft girl she is, it makes me a bit sad She lives with two Maltese Terriers (whom I can't walk - I couldn't get them to behave for me so another neighbour has the 'delight' of their company) and she is so mindful of them, and of my little Cresties. Very, very agile for a big dog.

It is a joy to watch her running about off lead - but I only do it when no-one else is around (apart from other walkers who know her)