Dogs and Kids (home with dogs but no kids yet) what to do?

Question

Okay we have 2 dogs a year old male toy poodle and an 8 month old female Lab/jack russell/chihuahua mix) we don't have kids yet but plan to. Our poodle seems to really like kids and is very curious of them. Our lab mix not so much. We've determined that they both love little boys I don't know why. But our lab mix can't stand little girls. I don't know if it is because when ever we come across a little girl they scream at the top of their lungs in a shrill voice "doggy" and come running where boys tend to be a bit more cautious and typically ask first before approaching (a lot of that is how they were raised) I still don't get why a little girl will continue to run toward a dog even if the dog is barking...

My question is we want kids but what happens once we have one. If we have a girl will our Lab mix hate her or will she be okay. No worries on the poodle he loves kids. I mean our lab mix loves boys but their is that worry if we have a girl. And I'll admit there are only a few little girls in the family (most have hit teen years) and those little girls are too rough with dogs so spending time with them would make things worse I think.

This will work. We would never ever give our pups up. We made a commitment to them but do you think they would adjust

Answer 1

The Schnauzer can't stand kids (with the exception of my roomie's grandkids). I would much rather have him around than kids, though. I'm not too fond of them myself. Ugh.

Keep the dogs and forget the kids.

Answer 2

My suggestion is that you warn the kids that come around your dogs to be more relaxed around them. Or relax that person so that they don't make the dog freak out. I hope this helps you, and good luck!

Answer 3

You are really in tune with your pets.  

The screaming little girls sound like prey.  

I highly doubt that you will raise a screaming little girl, nor will you let your daughter abuse the dog as the other girls in your family do.

I wouldn't worry about starting a family and having the dogs dislike your child.

Go for it!

Answer 4

It's actually easier to have dogs first, then children.  

Before you have kids, make sure both dogs go through several rounds of Obedience Training (Getting them both through Advanced classes would be great).  

If your dogs are well trained, then chances are they'll adjust just fine to the pitter patter of tiny feet, weather it's a boy or a girl.  You also have to train the child as it's growing up around the dogs to make sure they know how to treat the dog.  Pulling of ears or tails, or hitting the dog is not something you should allow.

Answer 5

I have three dogs and I was worried about this too. When my daughter was born my husband brought home some blankets from the hospital that smelled like her and layed them around the house. When my daughter came home we introduced them to the baby one on one and they have been wonderful. Of course we never leave the baby and dogs alone unsupervised.

Answer 6

Well, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit is what your dog should think.  Maybe keep the little girl, if you have one, out of reach of the puppy until your lab mix gets used to her.  Oh, and one more thing, good luck with your kids and dogs. :)