Infant killed by "family" dog

[Rite]

Waianae Infant Dies After Dog Mauling | KHON2.com - News, Sports, Weather | Local Top Stories

I think that this must be the 3rd, maybe 4th time this has happened this year - and that's only the ones I've read about. I wish people would take their children's safety a bit more serious around their animals. Animals are unpredictable, period, end of story. It's just so sad.

Rite

[Holly]

That's so sad! There was a story on Oprah once about a single mom who brought her newborn home and her Husky basically mauled the baby to death when she went to the bathroom.

Luckily, our pug couldn't break skin if she wanted to. She had a bunch of teeth pulled when she was a puppy and the rest of them are more like rounded nubbin's.

[ErinJean]

OMG how sad! Can you imagine how guilty you would feel as the owner/parent? People just do not understand that at some point, no matter how 'great with kids' their dogs are, they are animals, and can snap if the mood strikes.

Our dogs are good with kids, too.. and when they're outside, the neighbor kids love to play with them. I always insist that either their parents or I am out there when they're playing with them, though, both for their safety, and frankly, my liability if anything did happen!

[sallykupkake]

I'm not trying to start a debate here, but I will say that I am not suprised to read the dog was a pitbull mix. I know there are good ones out there, but I do not trust pitbulls one bit. Just like I don't trust German Shepherds, Akitas, Dobermans, Chihuahuas, etc. If our dog ever showed one bit of aggression to anyone she would be gone. It's just a risk I am not willing to take. It is so sad to see these stories and know they probably could have been prevented.

[StarBean]

That sickens me. I don't trust any animal, ever, but I know all the pet owners will disagree. There's still an element of natural instinct in any pet. What the heck could that 2 month old have possibly done to instigate an attack?

Thankfully, the only animal my kids are ever around is the in-law's 12 year old golden retriever, who Calleigh likes to poke in the eyeball and yank his ears, and he will not so much as wince! He's so good that when she drops food off her highchair tray he lays down on his tummy next to it and just looks at you and looks at the food, just waiting for you to say "Go ahead, Samson."

[Puck]

That does bring up the issue of dog socialization, though. As much as it is true that you should never leave your dog unsupervised with your child, you should also not assume that it will be easy on your dog when you bring your baby home. Any dog needs socialization with children and babies (or preparation, at the very least) to begin to be suitable for a family with young ones. We train dogs to use the bathroom outside, to sleep in a certain place, and not to beg at the table -- there *are* things you can do to help your dog cope and learn.

My mom and I both have beloved dachshunds, and it does worry me. While they are intelligent and easily-trained with food, they are also smaller dogs and more prone to be snappish when startled. It's both better and worse that my doxie is mixed with chihuahua -- she is very sensitive to the sound of my voice and is easily conditioned by praise or scolding. But it also means she's a scant twelve pounds. She's generally curious and affectionate around babies, but nervous around toddlers. I am very much a dog person, but I don't want that to blind me. I realize this could be trouble.

I've already started looking for socialization and training guides. If anyone knows of anything online, please let me know. I've heard of the wrapping a blanket that the baby has been in around a doll and praising the dog for interacting well with it. I've also seen strategies for giving the dog a treat while you breastfeed so she won't be jealous. Anyone else have advice?

Here are some guidelines from the Humane Society of the U.S.