🚀 go-pugleaf

I agree with everything you say. Luckily, some dogs and cats have a
special trait I call the "kindness gene". These are the ones that pass
the "tug, pull, poke.." tests and get to visit people in the hospital.
Some patients can be worse than kids! Our Standard Poodle, Julie, is
like this. She mothers everything! She even puts up with the kitten
kneading her belly!
Off the topic a bit- My last dog, Trucker, also loved kids,cats etc.
One day at a BBQ, a child about 3-4 y.o., held out a hot dog to him. As
dogs will, he figured "Why not", and took it. Unfortunately the parents
caught only the last second of this, and freaked! "Your dog bit my
child..." Had to tie the poor guy up. Should have tied up the kid... 
:~)
Regards,
Shel.

 ( Parenting groups stripped from cross-post  ;-p  )
-- 
Remove NOSPAM from addy.

Brett Palfrey <Brett@tesco.net> wrote in article
<7bk9h3$6cr$1@epos.tesco.net>...
> 
> Whilst I would agree that animals and children can be raised together
> resulting in a trusting and harmonious relationship I would just make
one
> point.  An animal that is hurt or in pain will bite back.  It is its
only
> line of defence and an entirely natural reaction.  I speak as a
Mother of
> two and a dog owner since a small child myself.  A small child cannot
be
> expected to always understand the boundaries between a playful tug
and a
> sharp hurtful pull and an animal - however trustworthy and well
trained -
> cannot  always be expected not to defend itself.  That is why there
should
> always be careful supervision.
> 
> I love my kids and I love my dog.  I want neither hurt and therefore
have
> had to train each to be gentle with the other.
> 
> Tofty
> 
> 
>