[Dawn53Fl]

I don’t trust any dog with small children.

We’ve only had Weimaraners, and they’re a fine family dog, One Weim we had we’d raise since she was 2 days old (mother dog had problems.) She was sleeping in a chair and one of the grandchildren was a toddler and stumbled and fell on her. She woke up, and snapped, missing the baby’s face by a fraction of an inch. Never did anything like that before, never did it again.

But small kids faces are right at the mouth level of a larger dog...so if there are toddlers in the room, either the dogs are up or heavily supervised.

[kanawa]

Good post Dawn53F1 with valuable information.

[Dr. Sivana]

She was sleeping in a chair and one of the grandchildren was a toddler and stumbled and fell on her. She woke up, and snapped, missing the baby’s face by a fraction of an inch. Never did anything like that before, never did it again.

As a counter, I am NOT a "dog person" but we had a rat terrier/Chihuahua mix (3/4 rat) and when my toddler son tried to stick his fingers in the outlet, I yelled at him, and Bella barked at me to protect the small boy. I yelled at the dog, and she piddled on the spot in fear. Her maternal instincts were with the child, even though I had to remind her who the head dog was in the house.

[magna carta]

Yes! you can never let your guard down with dogs and kids just like swimming pools.

[djf]

I would trust a collie or a lab with a small child - other than that, all large boned dog breeds are pretty much out of the question.