Children vs Yorkies

[AngelFae]

Originally Posted by idreamofyorkies

Anymore stories/opinions from people are welcome. My next question would be, if someone were to own/breed even Yorkies and did so with their small children. Do you think baby gates/places for only pups and places for only kids could work out in a large home? What would be advice on if someone were to do it, advice on this from the ones saying hell no and don't do it would be great since you guys are the ones with the most fear about it!

My neighbor (whom I got Blazer from) also runs an in-home daycare. After the pups were born she put Abby (Blazer's mother) and the pups into the spare bedroom and put up a babygate at the door. Abby could jump the gate if she wanted out and we could get in there, but not the kids. The kids were allowed to look at the pups quite often, but could only touch them when an adult was holding them. As the pups got older we allowed the kids a little more access (one child in the room at a time, sitting, holding the pup on their lap.) Eventually we moved the pups to the gated off kitchen so that they got used to hearing and seeing more things- children, vacuums, the cat, ect. We would allow "puppy play time" where one or two were allowed out of the kitchen to play around the seated kids with their mother and "aunt." Later down the road we would take the pups outside (private, fenced in yard) with the children and we would form a circle for the pups to play in. These pups learned to play around children and the children learned how to be around the pups. All of the children (ages 3-9) in the daycare have smaller breed dogs- Pugs and Shorkies- and have always been around the two small dogs in this daycare. The only close calls we ever had with a pup almost being hurt was by an adult.
Blazer is from a litter of 6- half of the pups went to families with children. One pup is being trained to be a therapy dog in a small group home setting where at least one woman is in a wheelchair. We turned down quite a few people who were interested in Blazer's littermates and really weighed the possible issues with letting the pups go to the homes that they did. I understand the need to screen but I feel that it is super important to screen based on knowledge, not just a random rule "No kids, no other dogs, no cats, no old people, no non-fenced yards, no blah blah blah." My neighbor personally knows every person that has ever taken one of her pups and still gets updates on all of them from time to time.
When it comes down to it I feel that you need to train kids how to be around dogs and you need to train dogs how to be around people. No one is perfect, even the best trained make mistakes, but that's life. I don't live my life based on the worst case scenario possibility, there is ALWAYS a "what if" and you'll just go crazy trying to live like that!

Sorry if that was a rambling mess... LOL!

[yorkietalkjilly]

But the poor little dog pays the "what if" price ultimately if the owner can't afford to fix it when a little child hurts it very badly. And let's be practical - they do. They are children after all and you can't train childhood out of them. How many times do children fall, break things, hurt themselves, show little judgment, make mistakes every day just in normal life moreso than other age people doing the same type things? You cannot expect a child to be totally safe around a small, fragile dog - it is expecting far too much of a little child. There are sturdier dogs that are much safer around our little kiddos. I love children, dote on them, can't wait for my first grandchild(bought its first toys years back) but I recognize their limitations around small, living animals.

[concretegurl]

Everyone remember about 6 months ago there was a string if post by new members and all 4 of them ended up with dogs with broken legs-one considered amputation, another putting dog down the other two multiple surgeries.

Eb and flow I suppose.

I don't think my first two kids were 'normal' little kids neither was I actually, some kids really are just either very advanced or just of differing personalities.

A giid point might also be are you planning an inhome breeding program or detached kennel?

[idreamofyorkies]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

Everyone remember about 6 months ago there was a string if post by new members and all 4 of them ended up with dogs with broken legs-one considered amputation, another putting dog down the other two multiple surgeries.

Eb and flow I suppose.

I don't think my first two kids were 'normal' little kids neither was I actually, some kids really are just either very advanced or just of differing personalities.

A giid point might also be are you planning an inhome breeding program or detached kennel?

As of now I can't say I am "planning" anything. Just learning, and with a "this is something I would love to do one day" attitude. I have been learning for years now from both mom and sister, and now am branching out to learn from others as well. When/If I do ever go into doing something like this on my own one day I would like to be able to look back and say, "Yes I gained an extensive amount of knowledge of what I was getting into and going to do before I did so" .. However, if I were to ever do this I would want my babies in the home with me. So maybe I should have just said that lol.. but if that day were to ever come who knows? I would think being out of home in a detached kennel might get rather lonesome though, i'd have to get them some flatscreens and radios lol

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

Sorry for the novel!

I wanted to add my big rule here with dogs:

Noone, absolutely no one touches approaches or bothers my dogs ever if they are on a dog bed.

Dog beds are the dog's safety zone, period.

If the dogs want attention they are more than welcome and mostly do come to us jump on the chairs couch, laps etc, but the dogs are well aware when they don't want to be bothered they go to a dog be-at least one in every room here.

Here too, we have a cage in the kitcen that they can go into any time of day or night. We have several beds in our living space that I teach all of my little ones that those space are off limits !! That when they are there you dont touch. If and when they want to play or to be petted they will come to you. I introduse my four dogs to the little ones slowly throughout the first week or so. I let the two more laid back ones into the room for the first few days and than the lippy ones. aka: Miah & Ruby. I have gates that I use if I feel that the dogs need a break from the kids or vise versa. My main priority is the safety of the children who are in my care and by raising my dogs to be well socialized, behavied and trained to be around children of all ages has worked wonders and I wouldn't call that Luck, I'd call it Knowledge, Teach and they shall be taught.

I dont think that a small breed dog should be kept from knowing the love and tenderness of a child !!

But that is just my opionion....

Edit: thats too funny...
Of course Princess has figured out it's good fun to snatch something (mostly my shoes) and race for a dog bed..BASE/SANCTUARY!

Originally Posted by Britster

I think it just all depends - on the dog, on the kids, on the parents. I think it's a bit more maintenance with small dogs, just because of their size... it's easier for them to get hurt, even by a well meaning child. But then again I think that too often people are way too lax when it comes to big dogs and kids. They have a Golden and just think "oh he puts up with everything and doesn't care!" and then allow children to climb on, pull ears, etc. Every dog has a breaking point and I think ALL dogs and children should be watched together very closely. So if you are doing so, there is not much difference between a small dog and a bigger dog, because IMO they both need to be watched just as much. But of course there is going to be breeds that ARE more tolerant than others. Jackson is fantastic with kids, but will get nervous with really loud, obnoxious kids, and I NEVER allow him anyone to pick him up. He's big anyway though so most kids can't. However if a child were to hurt him accidentally even, he most likely would snap. And he's very sweet and trained and well mannered, but his threshold isn't as big as, say, most Goldens.

I think it just takes common sense, teaching children right from wrong, and socializing dogs to children.

So very true...

[mydogzeus]

I don't think you should buy a Yorkie when you currently have infants/toddlers living in your household. If you watch Dogs 101 (likeido...), then you may see that Yorkies tend to be aggressive at times so, little children won't help that situation! Yeah... Yorkshire Terriers aren't Recommended when you live in an enviroment involving kids AGES -10. My stepmom recently gave birth to a boy, whom Zeus barked at furiously when he first saw him!

[dawn27]

I can bring any age child infant on up into my home and my dogs are the first to run and greet them at the door or follow them into the play room to have their bellies rubbed. They prefer the children over the adults ! They will bark at the parents dropping off their children in the morning but get excited over seeing the kids. I credit that to them being raised with small children and having had other children in our home off and on throughout the years. They have been taught how to behave and trained from day one. That children are a big part of our lives and they are here to stay.

If you dont allow your Yorkies to interact with small children how will they ever know how to behave around them. They will grow up in fear and being scared of them (kids & babies). That to me seems like a disaster in the making. Yorkies and all dogs should be socialized among all ages of people young and old. As well as other dogs and animals in order to make them less likely to be afraid or react in an aggressive way toward them for fear of the unknown....

[Teresa Ford]

Children and Yorkies ? I would want my Yorkies to go to someone just as Yorkie crazy as me. When I had children they were the focus of my world. Now my Yorkies are my focus. Some people think that is crazy and I don't care. I am not a person who can do something a little bit. Just about every aspect of my life involves my Yorkies.
I can not work with abandoned, sick, dieing or abused children, my spirit is not strong enough, and that is not where my gift is and I get so very depressed. But I can foster, train, and work with dogs. I can help and love my Seniors with Alzheimer's Disease.
I guess some families and Yorkies can work wonderfully. My boys were too active and not overly careful, the Labs were perfect for them. When the Yorkie came he was mine, And the boys were into cars and girls by then.

[darnlora]

My son is now 33 and we had our 1st yorkie when he was 2. Scruffy was a big teapot of 14 pds would i do it all over again? yes and my son is adhd. But he learned responsibility, love, compassion, and Scruffy was his full-time Bestest Buddy! When Scruff passed It was one of the toughest things my son ever went thru.......Both of them loved each other like no other!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by dawn27

I can bring any age child infant on up into my home and my dogs are the first to run and greet them at the door or follow them into the play room to have their bellies rubbed. They prefer the children over the adults ! They will bark at the parents dropping off their children in the morning but get excited over seeing the kids. I credit that to them being raised with small children and having had other children in our home off and on throughout the years. They have been taught how to behave and trained from day one. That children are a big part of our lives and they are here to stay.

If you dont allow your Yorkies to interact with small children how will they ever know how to behave around them. They will grow up in fear and being scared of them (kids & babies). That to me seems like a disaster in the making. Yorkies and all dogs should be socialized among all ages of people young and old. As well as other dogs and animals in order to make them less likely to be afraid or react in an aggressive way toward them for fear of the unknown....

[Rachael1983]

We got Troy 3 years ago. My daughter was about to turn 7 at the time. Many breeders I talked to wouldn't sell to me because I had a small child. However there were a few that wanted to meet her and see how she interacted with the yorkies prior to selling. I think parents should teach their children responsible pet ownership and watch all dogs with their children no matter the breed.

My experience with Troy and my daughter has been they are the best of buds. Troy plays nice with her friends but that's because I socialized him around ever type of person when he was a puppy.

Yorkies and Children can be done.

[MikaTallulah]

I would not risk little kids around my yorkies. Why set the dog up for injury if it can be avoided? The child and/or the yorkie could get injured. That being said is I ever had kids they would be taught from birth to be nice to the yorkies .

Mine are great with kids but 100% supervised when with kids. If I can't watch the yorkies go away to an x-pen, different room with lock up high on door, etc.

[gracielove]

When I got married I already had a small Maltese so when the kids came along I had to teach them how to behave around the dog. I was a stay at home mom during the years when the kids were small. I was pretty adamant about having a peaceful loving home. Running and wild play took place outside. The kids had their own playroom where they could safely have their toys and play.

It does depend. Because I worked in a Family Medicine office for many years I was able to observe a lot of kids and how they were being parented. I know there are people out there that cannot mange their kids much less a dog. Hopefully, there are still level headed people out there that know how to train a child how to be gentle.

When kids are in the 0 to 3 year age range you really have to be on top of things. A couple of toddlers around a little dog would be a challenge for anyone. My Maltese would sit on the furniture when we were in the family room just to keep from getting underfoot. She did stay really close to me so I knew she was alright and she was never left alone with the kids. She did not enjoy hanging out with the toddlers but she was always right at my side.

[ChibiLuv]

I was wondering about this too. I have 2 yorkies, they are not 'fragile' and I know my little girl loves kids but my boy isnt so much of a fan. I would like to think someday down the road we could adopt a kid (not an infant). I am not sure how to get my dog more socalized with kids as I don't know anyone with kids. I am sure though with the right training for the dog and the kid they could live happily together. I would hate to think having a dog would prevent me from ever having kids. I think its all about the responsibility of the parents. I know no matter what I would not give up my dogs, I hate when people bring dogs into the shleter becasue they "bit" the kid but dont care at all what the kid was doing to deserve to be bit.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by ChibiLuv

I was wondering about this too. I have 2 yorkies, they are not 'fragile' and I know my little girl loves kids but my boy isnt so much of a fan. I would like to think someday down the road we could adopt a kid (not an infant). I am not sure how to get my dog more socalized with kids as I don't know anyone with kids. I am sure though with the right training for the dog and the kid they could live happily together. I would hate to think having a dog would prevent me from ever having kids. I think its all about the responsibility of the parents. I know no matter what I would not give up my dogs, I hate when people bring dogs into the shleter becasue they "bit" the kid but dont care at all what the kid was doing to deserve to be bit.

I agree and rehoming Georgie was not an option period. Our son is 5 now and there has not been any issues. He respects Georgie's space and understands he is small and he has to be careful.