[cellerby]

I have heard that pit bulls are great with kids, but recently I heard that they are only good with kids they were raised with, not ones that are born into the family once the dog is older. Is this true, or does anyone have anything to say about this? I am just wondering cuz me and my husband have a 5 mos old pit and are planning on having kids in the future.

[Zoe]

I think a large part of it depends on the owner, combined with the temperament of the dog as well as PROPER socialization with kids, and teaching those kids how to properly interact with dogs. If you want to have kids, start researching about it and learning how to have them interact positively together and start socializing you pup with different kids. A good relationship between kids and dogs doesn't "just happen". It has to be orchestrated properly by you.

[Miakoda]

All dogs need to be socialized with infants, children, and adults.

However, even without it, a good dog with a stable temperament will not act aggressively towards a child even if it doesn't know what it is. A few dogs will just be a bit more wary and cautios upon approach, but it should still show curiosity without any defensiveness and/or aggression.

With that said, I've had dogs in the past that were never raised with or even socialized with children. Yet every single one of my dogs took to kids like kids take to ice cream on a hot summer day. The only problem I've had is with rambunctious dogs knocking a child over on accident.

[Galadriel]

I can only give you my personal experience. We adopted Honeybunch at around 2 1/2 years old and have no idea if she had ever been around kids at all. My munchkins are almost 2 and 4, and Bunch has been great with them from day one. My Mom's APBT wasn't around kids until she was around 6, and my parents adopted a baby. She was also awesome with the little one from the outset.
As stated above, it's important to socialize ALL pets with ALL types of people.

[Rai_77]

My boy loves all children, all the time.

Of course, as it's been said, you always want to supervise at all times, without exception, with any dog.

[PNWPBR]

My hardest issue is keeping the dogs from licking the kids to death!!!


But of course, dogs should never be left around children unsupervised, regardless of breed.

[Teal]

We have an almost 5 month old son, and a whole bunch of dogs. Each of my dogs have adjusted to the baby differently... some have taken longer than others to really come to terms with him - but NONE ever showed ANY aggression towards him. They either weren't interested in giving him kisses, or just watched him from a distance. Now, they all love him and give him kisses. Just give your dog time to adjust to the added stresses of having a baby/child in the house, and don't try to force them to be friends right away. Let them both adjust to each other and give them time to get to know each other. I used to say "ALWAYS supervise all encounters" ... until I had a baby. It is unrealistic to think you can watch your dog and baby EVERY single second, especially if your dog is just a member of the household. Sometimes a phone will ring, etc. and you have to leave the room for a second - it DOES happen. But as long as your dog is trained and stable, those moments shouldn't be a problem - I wouldn't have a dog that I couldn't trust being alone with a child for those few seconds... and I'm sure I might hear some crap about that, but that's the realistic side of things.

[Rai_77]

Originally Posted by Teal We have an almost 5 month old son, and a whole bunch of dogs. Each of my dogs have adjusted to the baby differently... some have taken longer than others to really come to terms with him - but NONE ever showed ANY aggression towards him. They either weren't interested in giving him kisses, or just watched him from a distance. Now, they all love him and give him kisses. Just give your dog time to adjust to the added stresses of having a baby/child in the house, and don't try to force them to be friends right away. Let them both adjust to each other and give them time to get to know each other. I used to say "ALWAYS supervise all encounters" ... until I had a baby. It is unrealistic to think you can watch your dog and baby EVERY single second, especially if your dog is just a member of the household. Sometimes a phone will ring, etc. and you have to leave the room for a second - it DOES happen. But as long as your dog is trained and stable, those moments shouldn't be a problem - I wouldn't have a dog that I couldn't trust being alone with a child for those few seconds... and I'm sure I might hear some crap about that, but that's the realistic side of things.

It only takes a few seconds for a serious injury to occur. Carry a cordless phone if that is your issue, if someone knocks on the door, grab the dog's collar, and take him/her with you to answer it. If you need to go to the bathroom, take either baby or dog in with you.

NEVER EVER EVER leave a child and ANY dog alone for ANY length of time.

[megschristina]

Originally Posted by PNWPBR My hardest issue is keeping the dogs from licking the kids to death!!! But of course, dogs should never be left around children unsupervised, regardless of breed.

This is very true, this is how accidents happen.

[Michele]

It is unrealistic to think you can watch your dog and baby EVERY single second, especially if your dog is just a member of the household. Sometimes a phone will ring, etc. and you have to leave the room for a second - it DOES happen. But as long as your dog is trained and stable, those moments shouldn't be a problem - I wouldn't have a dog that I couldn't trust being alone with a child for those few seconds...

I'm not comfortable with this. I think, no matter how well trained and stable your dog is, anything can still happen in that few seconds. I would not take the chance. JMHO.

[luvapit]

I agree that you should NEVER leave a dog alone with a child, regardless of breed, no matter how stable or socialized it is. Something could happen very quickly I have also read that dogs have been known too, to unintentionally harm a baby while trying to CARRY it to the parent/owner...a lot of infant death by dogs are actually caused that way.

[Miakoda]

Teal, I also have to disagree.

It is very realistic to not just think, but to know, you can always keep an eye on an infant/child and the dog at the same time. I am proud in saying that in my sons 20 months of life, he has NEVER been left alone with one of the dogs even for a split second. If I have to go into the other room, even just to turn the oven off, either he went with me or the dog went with me. I spent most of the time with the dog on a leash with the looped end around my ankle....thus where I went, doggy went. It's still like that to this very day.

Not to mention that I never have more than one dog inside at a time with Cole and me. First, none of them get along. But even if they did, if something should happen, say a fight breaks out, I cannot deal with the dogs and the child all at the same time.

Prevention is key and although it takes some extra time (usually just a few extra seconds), it's always worth it in the end.

[megschristina]

Good idea with the leash around the ankle, and taking the dog with you if you can't take the child. I'll keep that in mind in case I have children someday, and employ it while watching my nephews.

[cellerby]

I am going to have to try the whole leash around the ankle thing just to try and keep her out of trouble!

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by cellerby I am going to have to try the whole leash around the ankle thing just to try and keep her out of trouble!

It's worked for me! I did it/do it with all my dogs when one is inside and me & Cole. Only when the husband is also home and in the mix is the dog allowed to not have to go everywhere I do.

[nikki_k]

Pit or not it doesn't matter, any dog who was previously the baby of the family has to potential to get jelous of a new baby. My parents had a english springer spaniel when I was born and that dog HATED me, it would growl, snap, ect and nothing they did helped. It eventually got used to me but I dont think it ever liked me too much. Anyway my mom just had to be very careful when we were in the room together. I dont remember any of this I was too young but I have been told about it several times. Just make sure that once you do have kids to givev plenty of attention to your dog too. Personally every pit I know loves kids so much I wouldn't worry too.