I need serious answers. Leave your hearts out answer with your minds.

[rottie597]

My Cally had had no child experience when a good friend came to stay with her 6 month old (but she DID have obedience training.) She was very gentle with the baby, slept right next to her playpen and ran to the baby's Mom when the baby woke up and cried:) The only mishap was when baby, Mom and I went out leaving Cally unguarded ( I wish I had known about crate training then!!) with the visitor's suitcase available. I'm afraid the baby's rubber duckie got it

[Mattweiser]

I will post a somewhat contrary reply:

My Rottweiler does not like kids.

having said that, he does not dislike kids either. He is comepletely indifferent to them. If I take him to a park, with kids running around yelling and playing, and there is a group of adults standing off to the side talking, he will run up to the adults and greet and play with them... he will absolutely ignore all children.

I have a now 5 year old daughter, he on rare occasions will play with her, but 90% of the time, he will simply ignore/avoid her.

There are potentially many reasons for this (he is a rescue, and I know a bit about his history.... not good, and involved a child)... but I decided that if he chooses to not be around kids, that is fine with me as long as he is never aggressive towards them, which he is not..

I guess my point is, not all dogs are into kids, but then again, there are humans that aren't into kids either.....

[Judi W]

Matt, I stated that not all dogs are kid dogs, but that should not mean they cannot be well-adjusted family dogs. It simply means they don't seek out the children for fun. It is that rare dog that regardless of training and socialization is hostile towards children that I suggested the breeder be contacted and yes, they do exist but those dogs have more complex issues.

[ILoveRotts]

Congrats!


I have a 6 month old baby girl & 3 Rotts. My Rotts were all full grown when the baby was born. Lucy is our 1st child so the dogs were not "raised" with children although we socialized them a lot with other people's kids. We also trained them very well.

My key advice is not to ignore the dog when you bring the baby home - it's tough 'cause you've got you hands full but you have to make the time.

My dogs love Lucy - when we come home - they always check to make sure Lucy is with us!:D It's fun now because she pays attention to them & is now even reaching out to touch them! They love it!

PS We did our research when chosing our breed & the main reason we chose Rottweilers is that all the books said how great they are with children!

[Mattweiser]

Originally posted by Judi W
Matt, I stated that not all dogs are kid dogs, but that should not mean they cannot be well-adjusted family dogs. It simply means they don't seek out the children for fun. It is that rare dog that regardless of training and socialization is hostile towards children that I suggested the breeder be contacted and yes, they do exist but those dogs have more complex issues.

Judi, I wasn't disagreeing with you... ;)

I actually misread what you wrote (in regards to kid dogs)... and I agree completely with the rest of your post....

come to think of it.... I haven't disagreed with you all that many times have I?? :)

[Judi W]

I just didn't want you to think I was so stupid that I thought all dogs adored children. ..................

[My3Rotties]

Congratulations on the soon to be arrival! Let me tell you something that my friend did when she was going to have her baby and when she had the baby. First she had her husband bring a blanket to the hospital a night before and had the baby wrapped in it..then her husband brought it home and gave it to her two dog's. When the baby came home they let the dog's sniff the baby. They made it a point to include the dog's in all of the baby affair's so they wouldn't see the baby as a threat to them. they would let the dog's sniff the baby all the time, even licking the baby. they made sure they still petted the dog's all the time..still paying as much attention to them as they did before the baby. The baby just turned a yr. old and the dog's love her..as too even being very protective to the baby if some stranger comes near her when she is in her stroller. Now they are having another baby and they will do the same thing. So, make sure that you don't ignore your dog, let him sniff the baby, lick the baby(optional) and just still pay attention to him as you do. If the dog goes near the baby don't yell at him for doing that either. Good luck!

[RottieGirl86]

re: " I am always distressed when a single man has a best friend dog and then when girlfriend/wife and baby comes into the picture all of a sudden dog is no longer best friend and there are reasons found that make keeping it a decision to be made. Please consider if that is the case and why."

Wow, that hit home. When I got my Nanday Conure, I knew he'd be alive for max of 30 years. I made the decision to keep him for that time period, as long as he lives. I have told former boyfriends the bird comes with me. I won't displace a pet ( I can understand if allegery related, where meds don't work.) But, honestly, we're a team package :)

This is NOT for everyone, but this is how I approach it. LOL.. no inference meant about your situation, I just think long term since I was a teen.

Same holds true for my dog. I have an older dog who I have to cook for and at times hand feed. She'd starve otherwise. (She is recovering from a mouth infection.)

These animals give me so much love, I couldn't rehome them unless I was homeless myself.

All dogs are pretty much trainable, genetics asside ( * we have a trainer locally, only 1 dog in 25 years did he find not trainable & had to put down. Thsi includes those with bite histories.) If you have more deep concern, do get the animal temper tested.

As a toddle, my niece would twist & turn Sasha's ears. That dog sweat bullets, as my brother watched on ( I was not present, I only heard the stories.)

I'd suggest looking up the number of bite reports too - to put your mind at easy - it's terriers, cocker spainels, etc. who top the list.

Anyway, best of luck and congrats on the baby.

[dragontear2s]

I have a 20 month old rott who had her first experience with a baby about 5 months ago. She is well trained but I wasn't sure how she would act when my best friend brought over her 10 month old son. Sharess loved him instantly. We would takes walks together and she would make it a point to walk next to the stroller and to keep checking on Tracy to make sure he was okay. I would never leave her unattended with any children, but I just made it a point to show her she was still in my heart by petting her and praising her as she acted sweet to the little boy. Now whenever she sees him it is instant kisses, and he says "doggie" everytime he sees a rottweiler, pic or real one. This was one of his first words.:D
Also, when I was working at the kennel I saw a couple people bring in skull caps from the baby to let the dog get used to the smell. From what I heard it helped.

CONGRATS ON THE NEW BABY!!!!!!!!