Thankyou for so many replies, it's been very interesting reading them.
I must admit I am surprised that these days there is some hostility towards mixing toddlers and dogs, as if the two are a bad mix, yet I was a babe in arms when my parents bought their first dog, a Newfoundland puppy, and they owned giant breeds throughout my childhood, taking on a 2 year old mastiff when my youngest brother was one year old.
It was natural in our family to have dogs, just as it had been in my parent's families, and there are dozens of family photographs of us all lounging over dogs in our terry nappies in the 70's
I do find it sad when I read that some breeders/rescuers advise that only a puppy should be considered with young children, and then advise that a mother with young children cannot cope with the needs of a puppy, because this is basically insinuating that parents with young children are irresponsible to own dogs, yet there must be thousands of happy homes in the country where dogs and toddlers coexist blissfully.
I would NEVER allow my children to mistreat an animal, even accidentally. My older two children already know how to handle our cat with respect, and even the youngest is learning.
I agree with the person that said it goes two ways, all children need to be taught proper respect towards animals. Quite how this is possible if young children are not socialised with animals is beyond me though? I would be very upset if my children developed a fear of dogs. But then I'm sure there are owners out there who do not make any effort to teach their children how to handle and play with their pets and then encounter problems.
I suppose it's about being sensible. But like someone else said, I know several families where dogs were introduced while the children were babies, and it worked out very well.
I think we will give it some thought and make a decision in autumn.
I really am grateful for all the helpful replies posted here, thankyou.
