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Originally Posted by Nena2007  Oh how awful!! How big was the dog? As you may have guessed, I do have a small child. That is why I am going to be buying a bigger puppy to get a bigger dog. To help out in that respect. I also plan on having strict rules with my daugther with her around the dog. |
There is a great article in the AKC Gazette (a monthly periodical that most aren't aware of). It's titled taking care of your toys.....Here's a bit of what was written under- Childs Play. Small children are another concern. Many breeders will not place toy breeds in homes with children under 12. Leah Getty of Alberta, Canada grew up with toy dogs and has a toy Xolos, papillons, Chinese Crested Chihuahuas, and tw daughters aged 7 & 10. She admits that it has been a great experience for her children, but also incredibly stressful for her.
"Honestly, I would not recommend toy breeds for young children. It requires constant, exhausting supervision"
Her older daughter received a Chihuahua when she was just 5 1/2 "I realized it was a mistake immediately and considered placing the puppy with my mother until Victoria was older. By then, she was so attached to the puppy it would have broken her heart to take him away."
The alternative was rigorous supervision and strictly enforced rules.
"The dogs and children learned mutual respect, but it's unrealistic to expect kids to take on that level of responsibility. Crates are essential. The dogs need a place to go for safety and protection. I prefer designs with complicated latches that the kids cannot figure out. They are only allowed to walk the dogs without adult supervision and never at off-lead dog parks. I don't encourage the kids to pick the dogs up at all; it's only allowed when they are siting on the floor. They are never permitied to let their friends pic up the dogs.
On the other side of the coin in this article.
Childen are not the only ones guilty of carelessness, a breeder in Connecticut has bred and shown MinPins for 35 years.
My dogs normally live to 18. I want them to live long, happy lives. When someone comes to see my puppies I really drill them on safety precautions. For one thing, it's dangerous to carry a MinPin puppy with its legs against your body. They can brace themselves against you and spring right into midair. I wish I could send new owners home with a big bag of common sense instead of a bag of food. Repairing a blown kneecap or broken leg costs a minimum of $1,500. She says the number-one reason cited, in her experience, for leg fractures in toys is that the tiny dog was being carried and jumped out of the owner's arms...