Yorkies and Children ...
 

I would love to talk about about policies of some pet rescue organizations in not adopting any of their Yorkies into families with children. This is the response I received from several rescue organization when applying to take in another rescue.

Thus far I have limited experienced, having only rescued two female Yorkies. Both Yorkies were rescues who had been very abused and neglected, but have been wonderful with my six-year-old daughter, Hannah (and vice versa).

I'm hoping to initiate a conversation about this so I can understand why some rescue organizations won't adopt to permanent homes with children. I'm also hoping some may consider changing these blanket policies because there are probably a lot of great homes out there with children who would love a Yorkie.

I have attached a video of my daughter with Tika (who we've had for three days now) and how cute they interact with each other. Tika is very nervous with everyone she meets, but gets very excited when Hannah comes home from school. I personally think it's good for Yorkies and children learn to play together and love each other.

I see no problem with how your daughter interacts with Tika. That is just not how some kids act though. Some parents don't raise their children to respect animals. The rescue can't know for sure unless they spend time with you and that is not possible.

I would never allow a family with younger children (maybe 4 years old and under) to adopt a Yorkie because it is common for kids to run and trip and fall. Falling on a Yorkie would mean serious injury or death for it.

I agree about yorkies and children. My Sawyer loves my grandchildren too death, and they are very good with him; however, I would not be so trusting of all children. A yorkie can be hurt very badly by even a well meaning child. The rescue organizations do not have the time to check on all childrens behavior, so they may err on the side of safety for the dog. Your daughter is darling, and your fur baby is very lucky to be in such a nice home, but that is not always the case. have a great Holiday!:)

I had never heard of this policy before the whole Ellen Degernes thing. And, I too thought it to be absurd. My daughter does excellent with Meka and she is 5 yrs old. and has been doing good since we got Meka at 9 wks.

I do however, think that they should put a limit on it (maybe, w/ children under 5), because I can understand that kids can be rough, and envious if not given enough attention and in some cases act out on the animal for that.

And.... I just wanted to add that.... Just because there isnt a child present in the home, doesnt necessarily make it that much safer for a Yorkie. I mean, why doesnt this rule apply to homes with other animals? Who's to say that another animal isnt capable of hurting a Yorkie and maybe doing way worse than a child can do? :confused:

I don't agree with the policy either, but maybe their concern is more for the child than for the dog.. Rescue dogs can be unpredictable, because no one knows their history.

No, I don't think it's more for the child than the dog..I think it's terrible that some breeders and rescue organizations don't want people with children having yorkies..I brought my children up around dogs(small and big), and my g-kids have been brought up with them as well..I have seen children that have been more gentle with little dogs than adults. They need to change their rules! A lot of breeders sell to adults, who have no children, and then on down the road, they end up having kids, and treat the dog like crap..I even spoke to a woman about 3 years ago that had a yorkie for sale for $100..of course I called, and she said she was already sold..I asked her why she had sold her, she said because the puppy was her baby, but when she had a baby, that the yorkie would never accept the baby, so, out went the yorkie..I think a parent should raise their kids right and teach them from a young age how to treat animals...pets are very good for children and can help them through a lot of hard times..I really do feel for you..!

I'd like suggest a way for Yorkie rescue organizations to determine if the parent has good parenting skills, leading to a safe, loving environment for the Yorkie.

Before I adopted Tika, I spent some time applying to various Yorkie rescue organizations. Some had questionnaires or application forms that were short and some had questionnaires or application forms that were very in depth.

The best questionnaire (in my opinion) was one that asked basic, open-ended questions about the Yorkie breed such as "Please tell us about the Yorkshire Terrier breed's teeth" and "What special health issues should you watch for in a Yorkshire Terrier." These questions weeded out the people that really know about the breed from the ones that didn't.

So in regards to children, why not ask a series of questions such as "What kind of experience does your child/ren have with pets?" and "What would you do if you walked in and your child was being rough with the dog?" and Answers to these questions would really give a rescue operation insight into how parenting is done.

I'm not saying it is a good idea to send a Yorkie who doesn't like children to a home with children, but to determine based on the breed and it's size that all dogs should never live in a home with children limits their dogs' chances for finding a loving, forever home.

For example, I have a wonderful home with the ability to provide unlimited veterinarian care because of my business. When Tika is fully house trained and settled in, I could very easily take in another "wounded soul" and spoil him/her for the rest of his/her life. Being rejected from providing a good home for a dog that needs me because I have a daughter doesn't make sense to me.

I know, it makes you feel like you're punished for having children, when you can easily love a child and a dog..I don't know what it is with certain breeders, and rescues..to me, I would much rather have a dog around children playing with them and loving them and getting love back in return, than to put with an older person that won't get on the floor and play with them..I know exactly where you're coming from..Lucky for me, I never ran in to any breeders like this!

I understand both sides to this, I have a young daughter who is so gentle and can safely handle copper and another tiny female I was pup sitting. Emma knows the rules and that she is big enough to potentially cause harm to them by stepping on them and dropping. She doesn't run in the house, or even outside if the dogs are around. All Em knows is little dogs.

However, I have two neighbors with good kids that no matter how many times i remind them not to pick up the dogs and so forth they cannot seem to remember. They get too excited at the idea of a "tiny puppy" I would not place a dog in these homes because it wouldn't be safe, I think that it is too hard to judge a young child that you don't know, the potential risk is too much.

But when I look at rescues it makes me sad because we would be a great home for one of those little angels, we have a lot of love to give and the resources and knowledge available but we also have a young daughter.

I have to add the highlight of my day is seeing Emma on the floor playing with copper, watching them play fetch or her teaching him tricks. There is nothing neater.

The purpose of a rescue organization is to find the best home possible for dogs that have already lost one home for one reason or another. It's about what is best for the dogs, not about the people applying. Small children and small dogs are generally not a good mix. They are just too fragile. Why take a chance on the safety of a dog they have been entrusted to place in the best situation possible?

I have heard too many stories of toy breed dogs being dropped by small children with tragic results. A friend lost her little Yorkie puppy years ago. Her husband was a vet and their daughters were wonderful with the puppy. Unfortunately, one of her daughters let a friend hold the puppy and the puppy started wiggling. He was dropped and broke his back. He had to be euthanized.

That's a tragic story.

But couldn't the same situation happen if you adopted out a Yorkie to a grandmother and her grandchildren came over for a visit?

But, this has also happened to grown adults too..I have spoken to one lady who is in her 60's, she had a little yorkie that wiggled out of her arms and fell and died too..so, it's not just children, and the thing is, if one wiggles out of someones arms(adults or childrens), children are closer to the ground, and so there wouldn't be as long of a fall..so, you have to look at it like that too..

Of course tragedies can happen with any age person and a small dog. The goal is to minimize the risk, though.

Rescue groups get hundreds of applications and must "profile" to find the ideal adopter. Families with small children, renters, students, people who have given up a pet before, people without vet references, etc., all are a higher risk group. Since the goal is to find the best home for the dog, people who have these risk factors are usually passed over.

Don't forget, good breeders of toy breed dogs usually won't sell their puppies to families with young children either.

Rescue groups are just as careful when adopting to seniors, too. Obviously you wouldn't want to place a small dog with someone physically unable to care for or keep a dog safe or someone that the dog would outlive.

I know a lot of good breeders that will let people with children have their dogs..but, they check and see how the kids do with dogs..My daughter got a yorkie when her son was young, the lady asked for my daughter to bring my g-son, which she did..this lady was elated with the way my g-son did with her pups, and he was only 3..:)

Ideally it would be case by case, but it can be hard to evaluate someone's child, I have seen the sweetest four year old throw some pretty outrageous fits that seemed way out of character. Most of us wont let a child we just met even hold our dogs, let alone take one home. I actually brought a few personal references to my last breeder having other people who had been with Emalie evaluate both the good and bad, then I let her decide for her self weather or not she felt we would ne the right home for him. I know that I have seen a couple bigger yorkies for rescue that had even mentioned were good with kids, what is wrong with rescuing a furbaby that is on the bigger side? More to cuddle with.

Larger Yorkies are just as wonderful as smaller ones, but many rescue organizations have blanket policies regarding all their dogs never going into homes with children.

The part I don't understand is if each rescue organization receives hundreds of applications for their dogs (and must weed out families with children) then why is there still a need to find homes? Most rescue organizations feature between 6 to 12 dogs on their websites. If hundreds of people are applying for them, why are there Yorkies looking for homes? I would think that at least 6 to 12 families out of hundreds of applications would qualify. If not, perhaps it might be time to re-evaluate organizational policies a bit.

My frustration is that I can provide an absolutely wonderful, loving home to a Yorkie with the ability to access unlimited veterinarian services. To be judged and told "no" because I have a child is frustrating.

In closing, I would like rescue organizations to know I have a great deal of respect for the work they do. My commentary above is not meant to attack, but to generate debate and encourage those with blanket policies (no families with children, ever) to reconsider.

I can understand their reasoning in not adopting to homes with small children. The dogs have already been through so much usually and they want to find a perfect, forever home. They have to have rules and guidelines in place, and they clearly have a reason for doing so.

Many small dogs in rescue are very fearful of children and that can be another reason why the rescue makes that rule.

It can be frustrating for potential adopters, but I completely respect the rescues reasoning for it.

Plus having small children isn't the only reason some won't adopt out to certain families. Small children, no fencing, too many animals, work hours, ect all play a major part.

i can most definately understand why they do this..to an extent. and i support them..BUT, i think that alot of times it is difficult to get a dog(whether you have children or not) from a rescue or a REPUTABLE breeder! Applications, interviews, etc. etc. are most often times required and looked over VERY thoroughly-which, to me make sense(especially with the smaller breeds), not to mention..if a dog has been abused, neglected, or just 'not wanted' anymore:rolleyes:..rescues want to make sure that it wont happen again..and that the dog will go to a good home..that will give it a good life, full of love! But being so thorough with the checks, applications, etc..i would think that depending on the situation of the dog being adopted or sold by a breeder(who actually cares;)) they would consider homing the dogs they know would be ok with children..and then along with the interview process view the children in the home as well? i know this could be even more time consuming for rescues, etc. but most of them are already, VERY extensive in their rehoming process! ..so why not take each situation as it comes and take the interviews another step further? especially if it means giving a dog a home..that much sooner and to maybe a better family that it would have gone to if not?(..who knows?!)

i do know what you mean..i believe that there are MANY children who would be better with some of the dogs, then alot of ADULTS that own them:rolleyes: but that could go the other way also..and ALOT of kids dont know how much work & responsibility goes into owning a dog, in general..let alone a small dog, which requires even more(in so many ways). its kind of a weird situation..i think. because you just never know!

(PLUS there are SOOO many instances, where people lie about having children, because they know the rules pertaining to some of the rescues and breeders!) so really its almost better for them(LOCAL rescues & breeders, at least) to be open to putting dogs with families, they KNOW are ok with children, both physically & personality-wise..just making sure they are viewing each family as it comes!!

so really.. I think it could be VERY beneficial and dont see a problem with pairing the RIGHT dog with the RIGHT family!! im all for that..as long as they are able to make the process a little more extensive, so they KNOW that the each situation would be more than ok. Plus, i think in most cases, a family that is really going to love and care for the dog and that show that they really want this for all the right reasons, are the ones that wont mind going through some of the processes required now-let alone another step further(if kids are involved).

Like someone mentioned in a previous post(sorry i forgot to look again who it was) but my lil girl Avery..absolutely LOVES LOVES LOVES kids(and babies)also!!:p i love it because she gets soooo excited and the kids show the same affection back to her!!(Buuuut..there are some kids(family & friends) that we make sure we ALWAYS are supervising when they are with her..and there are others..who we know are VERY careful, respectful, and mature when playing with her(because they know she is small and requires different supervision))Which goes to show you that each situation is sooo unique and could potentially(if done the right way) be the best thing for the dog. Each situation needs to be judged as it comes..because they are all soooo different in how the kids are, let alone the parents sometimes. ya know?:p

OK-im done..thats my novel for the night-haha. after i probably lost some of you after the FIRST paragraph!:eek::p

I think what scares me most about small dogs and children is that little kids are very clumsy and don't always have a sense of what is rough.

I know when my friend brings her son over (he's 2 years nearly) he goes to pet the dogs but whacks them instead. Well -- he only did it once because I put the dogs in their expen to keep them safe. But it really scared me!

I do plan on having children some day and it worries me how to keep them safe. I mean they are so small that even sometimes I have to "tap dance" around to keep from stepping on them and I'm paying a lot of attention.

I go on a case by case basis on selling to people with children. I wont sell if they have toddlers and most of the time 8 years or younger. Kids just dont realize how strong they are and a toddler has a death grip for hands. They can easily kill a puppy. Kids do not have a sense of responsibility when it comes to leaving the front door open or making sure the dog is secure before opening the door. And if a swimming pool is involved, even adults have "accidents" with Yorkies as well as their kids. I have had families come over and let their kids run willy nilly all over my house and even walk on the chairs and end tables. And I have had families come over and the kids are very respectful and well behaved.Then I have to wonder if that is the way they act at home.

Can you all tell I dont have kids?? I have never wanted any and dont really care for them. But there ae a FEW that are very nice and trusting and are gentle with Yorkies.

Well, when dealing with a rescue, I suppose we all need to remember that some of the rescues have been abused by children or are just scared of children and have never been around them. If only all six-year-olds were like your daughter...

I completely understand your frustration. However, please keep in mind that rescues save more dogs each year than the 10-12 you see on your computer screen. The numbers are staggering and there are always those coming into rescue to replace those who have been successfully placed into their forever home.

My hope is that all of us who rescue, whether from a small breed specific rescue or from the humane society, be thankful that others are doing their part to save these little lives.

As far as rescues go, I believe that the volunteers who give their hearts, homes, time, gas, money, tears, and love to countless animals have earned the right to determine whatever restrictions they feel are best.