by Marianne Lange

Created on: July 25, 2008

Small dogs are safer around children from the standpoint that the chance of a single life-threatening event is less likely with them than with larger canines. That may not sound as comforting as one would like but it is true. A bite is a bite. It will hurt a child even if it is from a small dog. It will cause fear and will cause some damage but it will not be as physically impacting as a bite might be from a stronger more dominant type of animal.

Children and dogs always a concern. This is expressed from every breeder, writer and expert on children or canines and from parents. Underlining every purchase comes the warning about supervising children and dogs. For first time parents who have pets already and are awaiting the birth of that new, first baby, there's the underlining fear, "What if?" What if the beloved pet won't accept my child? My dog didn't.

Cooper was my companion before I was married and before my son arrived on the scene. I have always been an animal person dogs, cats and horses. Cooper was friendly to everyone, a good natured Dalmatian. Unfortunately, he didn't accept my son. I didn't see it coming while the baby was small, he seemed to be fine. As my son grew to be a toddler, Cooper was not as happy and began to snap. It broke my heart but an eighty pound Dalmatian could have easily overtaken a 20 pound baby. The choice was made. I found a great home for him with loving friends. In that respect Cooper and I were both lucky.

Older children can be taught but there are those years when it is just not possible to control every behavior of younger children and their interactions with pets. In a moment, with a larger canine, a life could be over. You can try and supervise and work on exposures both from the baby end and the canine end as well but a moment with a large dog could end the lessons forever. With smaller animals, this is the time when you might actually have a chance to change behaviors on both sides and because the pet is smaller, it is less likely to have that catastrophic event. Because of the size factor, you just cannot take a chance with a child's life.

Small nasty dogs are out there. They can be jealous, damaging and physically hurtful but because they are small, you can take a chance to try and work through behaviors and I firmly believe behaviors can be changed. Sometimes preparations can be taken. Work in a controlled setting with children. Plan this ahead of time if you are expecting and are worried about the future relationship of your pet with the new baby. Plan exposure in a practiced setting with "borrowed children" if you can. Keep the sessions short and keep them positive. Dogs, like children, have short attention spans. You'll be amazed what you can accomplish.

Can this be done with a large dog, of course it can but the caution is there. A large dog in a moment can do a great deal of harm. No one and no animal is 100 percent safe all the time. I am not approving any attack or bad behavior but without a doubt a small dog is safer in this type of situation.

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