Open discussion.

I have two daughters,

3yr old
1yr old

My three year old enjoys our new pup and can't get enough of her! My 1yr old gets a little scared of him. Our 4 month old golden at times thinks our 1yr daughter is a 'toy' and plays with her. We started with a firm NO when he gets into a little too close. Nothing to be alarmed with, just a pup playing. We keep a close eye on the baby at all times.

Welcome, welcome to another golden owner with kids! I have three kids and two goldens. My daughter, Alexandria, is 7, my son, Brandon, is 5, and my little guy, Owen, just turned 2. My goldens are, Midas, will be 3 in December, and Graham is 15 months old. Its a crazy, fun filled house and I wouldn't have it any other way. My dogs and kids get along wonderfully.

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I have a 7year old boy and a 5 year old girl-we adopted our adult golden in January, and the kids are big enough that they can play with her pretty well without getting hurt, because she's pretty calm most of the time and plays at their level. I personally would not get a puppy of any large breed if I had an infant or toddler because I would not feel I could supervise closely enough to be safe (which would have to be every second that baby and dog were in the house freely together). That's just me, if others can do it more power to them! But personally I think it's better to wait until the kids are bigger physically, just so they can withstand an "enthusiastic" big dog :-). When we have friends over with babies or toddlers I generally put Polly on a leash and hold it or keep her outside.

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I respect your reply.

We are looking at it from another direction. If we can train our pup to be good around children it will be environment overall, with our Max useto crying, screaming, pulling etc as he gets 'older' and who knows may be around for another baby

BUt I do see where you are coming from. Max, isn't over active and we're home to keep an eye on the baby 100% of the time.

Like I said, if other people can manage it more power to them! I have no problem with puppies and babies together, it's just way more than I would want to take on myself! Actually to be honest having a puppy period is more than I would want to take on, which is why we adopted an adult. But as long as people know what they are getting into it can work beautifully-but of course we all know the flip side, those who had no idea that puppies have teeth and will use the baby as a chew toy if given the chance, so they dump the puppy.

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Some goldens are very mouthy, so things might get worse.

When we got Brady, my youngest just turned 4, the older kids were 8 and 9. Brady would turn into a "land shark" with them and their hands looked like hamburg, their clothes were ripped and that was with close supervision and using gates and crates appropriately. None of the tricks that our trainer taught worked 100 percent of the time.

One of the biggest things was when the girls cried, screamed or ran from him to get off, it just enouraged him more. I believe it is the screachy sound that a little girl makes that encourages them. Thank goodness they still loved him.

He finally stopped when we got him another puppy at 2 years old.

Now that he is 4 years old, occasionally he will want to wrestle with the girls, but he now knows how to control his mouth so he doesn't hurt, will stop when told to.

Funny thing is, our second GR never once has been mouthy.

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My dogs are my kids We're never having human babies.

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Michelle, Tucker, and Pucci

No children, Flora is my only living charge.

This poll reminds me of something my brother's now-wife said to me that really irritated me. She said she wouldn't get a puppy until she and my brother had a child, because in her opinion puppies should always be raised around children. I was like... wtf? When I later informed her of my opinions regarding working mothers and daycare she reacted with so much vehemence that I had to chuckle. I guess we all have our opinions!

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Kids and dogs are a heck of a lot of work and you have to go into it with eyes wide open, especially when having kids and puppies together. Whew, it literally is like having another "child". I got Midas when I was five months pregnant with my third, crazy, right? Maybe so, but I made it work. I enrolled Midas in obedience classes the day after I got him and we stayed in classes until I was literally about to pop. He is currently in a class to become a therapy dog. But he is also an absolutely stellar dog, super mellow, happy go lucky, loves his people and everything else that breathes and I also have an awesome husband who is extremely supportive of me going that extra mile to make our dogs great citizens. Are kids and dogs or puppies and kids for everyone? Answer would totally be "no". You have to be able to devote time to everyone and it can be difficult at times, but if you do put in that time, it really is rewarding. I have absolutely no regrets.

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My son, Noah, will be 2 on October 29th! He loves his Goldens!

So, in all, my babies consist of a 2 year old human baby, a 3 year old golden furbaby, a 5 month old golden furbaby, and a 6 month old crazy kitten! Fun house!

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