re post #3 - sliksps
hey. slick! :--)
supervise, supervise, supervise...
no child under 10-YO should be alone with any pet, think of all the poor fish who were flushed down the loo after kids went to see the film *Finding Nemo*, and how many tears were shed when the child realized they had NOT sent their saltwater Tang home to their own wonderful world... but had actually killed them, even tho they did NOT mean to do so!
kids can do thoughtless or unintentional things to hurt or frighten a pet, and food, bones, etc, can be objects of deep contention. ALSO - parents should Never!! model behavior that a child may imitate, and could be hurt in the doing: parents who HIT their pup or dog may inadvertently cause their child to be hurt, when they smack the animal in their turn and the startled or hurt dog reacts with teeth!
teaching children as young as possible to Pet with an open-hand, not to grasp in a fist (toddlers), and that animals are never to be CHASED or cornered!! to be touched, can save a world of grief.
dogs + kids can be terrific companions - many of us grew-up with a dog in the house, LOL, and we + the dogs survived beautifully!
** Living With Kids + Dogs Without Losing Ur Mind ** by Colleen Pilar is a very good reference for parents or eventual-parents - U may be able to gete it via the library.
having a plan in place ahead of time, or deciding that circumstances mean that a pet or a puppy is not for U until the kids are older, is much preferable to being in a heartrending situation, with the child crying over the loss of their pet, and the parent frightened of or angry with the animal!
those emotional-wringers are so, so hurtful for everyone.
INTRODUCING pups to kids, or dogs to children, *before* the baby is born, while U have time, is also a project in itself. using powders, ointments, and so on, that U will use on the baby * On You * beforehand, is a way of making the baby more-familiar before they even are born...
cheers, and happy training!
--- terry