Dogs and babies

[JanieB]

I've just spent Christmas at my daughters together with my 2 dogs. They are jack russell poodle crosses. I love them to bits.

I have an 8 month old great grandson with a stinking cold and the inevitable runny nose. One of my two dogs has taken it into his head to look after the baby. I have to say they are well acquainted and he took on this role before said baby was ill. He decided to ensure that all snot was cleaned off regularly but the adult humans don't go along with this. Our problem is to stop him licking the snot off the babies face whilst not telling him off because his dog reasoning is a caring one.

[Jimny14]

Sounds like a very caring dog, I don't know your house lay out, how you normally treat the dogs etc but is it possible to keep dogs in another room while baby is playing on the floor and only let them in when baby is in someone's arms or in high chair etc?

[Jay22]

At least he won't grow up allergic to dogs Janie!

[Scarlet]

Diabetic dogs will will lick the faces of the diabetic if having a hypo, especially when the kids are sleeping...he'll come across worse things I'm sure

[JanieB]

House full of dogs. Daughters boyfriends 2, my son's 1, daughters 1, grandson's 1, my 2. I think you get the picture. My little Princiepoo decided to be godfather to my baby great gs. It's not just the licking, he also follows the baby around and warns us if he thinks he's in trouble. When we call him away he just goes in a loop and back to the baby. It's actually very cute in itself.

[Scarlet]

I was at my brothers today.....we had the ferret chasing the kids!

[veggiechicken]

I wouldn't let my dogs lick a baby's face in case it made them ill - they don't like going to the Vets.

[Scarlet]

I kept my dog in the kitchen while the kids were little, he would either lick their faces or eat their biscuits if given free rein!

[Jimny14]

Sorry to say Janie but it sounds like you are unable to keep dog away easily and although well intentioned your dog would appear to be acting in a way in which you find unacceptable. I can only see one logical solution. If you don't want the dog to lick the baby's face it would appear you need to teach the dog it is not appropriate. Hopefully the dog will stop the licking but still be protective over the baby.

[mrsbusy]

I wonder what the dog might have been licking before licking the babies face ....I am feeling queasy btw

[Potstubsdustbins]

I had a whippet that would gentle pull my son back onto his changing mat if he rolled off, when he was asleep in his crib you could always find the dog under the crib...

[Snoop Puss]

Sorry, Janie, dogs shouldn't be licking people's faces, less still babies' faces. There are lots of articles on the Web about this. Dog mouths are home to assorted bacteria that are potentially harmful to humans. One article reports that "a dog’s normal mouth bacterium was blamed for meningitis in 42 infants in France under the age of four between 2001 and 2011".

It is a caring trait in your dog, no doubt about that, and between dogs it would be entirely appropriate. But not between dogs and babies.

[veggiechicken]

I'm with you on this Snoop. I think the world of my dogs but I know what else they lick and licking my face is a definite no-no. Adults can tell a dog to stop but a baby is defenceless, may think its a fun game even. How would a dog owner feel if the child became seriously ill or went blind after being licked.
If the child's parents are'nt happy with this, why don't you respect that, Janie?

[Jungle Jane]

Could one of the adults wipe the snot from the babies face,get there before the dog. Whenever I see a baby with a dripping nose at mine or a friends (not a stranger) I'm on the case with tissues & it's easy because you're with the baby all the time. Sometimes the parent doesn't mind the snot dripping,I have to wipe it away,I'm the same as your dog Janie!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I'm exactly the same JJ cannot stand a snotty nose, maybe it is because I was always told off as a youngster if I had 'silver sleeves', quick clip round the ear and a hanky thrust in my hand.