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imdll · 11-17-2011, 03:52 PM

As others have said, teaching children to respect animals and how to handle them properly is vital. Having young children and dogs is possible and there are members of YT who have yorkies and toddlers. It can be done but is an incredible amount of work and takes a lot of training one's children along with a crazy amount of vigilence and the regular training that comes with having a puppy in the house. Some people don't realize just how much work it will be until they are in the middle of it. Please consider the factors very carefuly before making a final decision. It is always tragic when a dog becomes injured due to the actions of a child or becomes a fear biter etc. No one wants to see something like that happen.

The ultimate size of the dog you are considering is also a major factor. The smallest dog we had when our children were young ended up only being 10 lbs full grown, she was a Miniature Schnauzer and was supposed to be about 15 lbs but that's not how it worked out. I don't think I would consider a dog of any breed that might grow up to be smaller than 10 lbs and truthfully 15 lbs is probably closer to an more optimum small sized dog for young children. A child does not have to be acting agressively toward a dog in order to hurt it or scare it. Many an injury has come from a dog being over loved so to speak or tripped over while playing.

I guess for me the bottom line is that young children and smallish dogs can co-exist in the same home but it is not something to enter into without a great deal of study and consideration of all that is invovled.

As far as the initial rough actions from your daughter toward the puppy it sounds quite similar to how some young children react to babies when they first meet them. Children of two require lots of teaching and only you know what your daughter's disposition tends to be. Just try to be as realistic as possible and if she tends to be a more physical child by nature then it wouldn't be wise to try and to teach her to be less physical while trying to raise a puppy at the same time. You however are the best one to be to make that determination.

Something else that just crossed my mind is that your daughter could become jealous of a new addition to the family and that is one more thing to take into consideration and to watch for.

I wish you well as you decide how to proceed and if this is the best choice for you and your family.

11-17-2011, 03:52 PM	#47
imdll Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 129	As others have said, teaching children to respect animals and how to handle them properly is vital. Having young children and dogs is possible and there are members of YT who have yorkies and toddlers. It can be done but is an incredible amount of work and takes a lot of training one's children along with a crazy amount of vigilence and the regular training that comes with having a puppy in the house. Some people don't realize just how much work it will be until they are in the middle of it. Please consider the factors very carefuly before making a final decision. It is always tragic when a dog becomes injured due to the actions of a child or becomes a fear biter etc. No one wants to see something like that happen. The ultimate size of the dog you are considering is also a major factor. The smallest dog we had when our children were young ended up only being 10 lbs full grown, she was a Miniature Schnauzer and was supposed to be about 15 lbs but that's not how it worked out. I don't think I would consider a dog of any breed that might grow up to be smaller than 10 lbs and truthfully 15 lbs is probably closer to an more optimum small sized dog for young children. A child does not have to be acting agressively toward a dog in order to hurt it or scare it. Many an injury has come from a dog being over loved so to speak or tripped over while playing. I guess for me the bottom line is that young children and smallish dogs can co-exist in the same home but it is not something to enter into without a great deal of study and consideration of all that is invovled. As far as the initial rough actions from your daughter toward the puppy it sounds quite similar to how some young children react to babies when they first meet them. Children of two require lots of teaching and only you know what your daughter's disposition tends to be. Just try to be as realistic as possible and if she tends to be a more physical child by nature then it wouldn't be wise to try and to teach her to be less physical while trying to raise a puppy at the same time. You however are the best one to be to make that determination. Something else that just crossed my mind is that your daughter could become jealous of a new addition to the family and that is one more thing to take into consideration and to watch for. I wish you well as you decide how to proceed and if this is the best choice for you and your family.