I haven't read the whole thread but have LOVED browsing all the pictures of your dogs and children guys. FANTASTIC and just how it should be imo.

Dani, this woman is a total moron! Perhaps you should refer her to my organisation who have statistic to show the benefits companion animals bring to children, such as confidence and strength. I feel sorry for her child! Sorry, harsh I know but grrrrrrrrr!!

p.s. the only thing I worry about having a child with Woody is being able to share the love I have for him (which is huawge) with a small one. Silly I know but it actually really is a worry.

LOL - don't worry, it all comes naturally (well to most of us anyway ). I have four dogs who I love to pieces, but still manage to love Ben (my son) as well

dogs and kids mix fine as long as both are supervised and the dog gets plenty of 'time out'...

lets face it, kids just want to pet the dog and play.... dog love it but need time out sometimes....

my children (if i have any)!? will have dogs, and grow up with them

I also haven't read the whole thread (would take me all night) but I love these pics! Both your son and dog look wonderful together .

As for having dogs and children together I think it's fine as long as they're supervised - common sense really innit

the concept of family dog is still alive!!!!!!!!!

I cannot IMAGINE having grown up without dogs. There were always dogs...my grandmother's poodle, my aunt and uncle's Siberian husky, eventually our own dog (first a border collie that was a bad fit and then Pepper, a mutt we had for 14 years).

Kids and dogs are a great mix if the parents are just smart about it.

My son has a great little staffy. Asbo plays with my grandkids all day long with noproblems. I do think it's sensible to never leave a dog alone with a child (any breed) but thats as much for the dogs protection and peace of mind than anything else.
Actually I feel sorry for some of the people who react like the mums you write about. Obviously they know not what they are missing out on. My life is enriched by my dogs.

I grew up with dogs and when I had a child of my own, she seemed terrified of them. To help her overcome her fear we got one, then another and then a third.

She is fine now

My auntie couldn't have children and tried to adopt ( back in the 70's) and was told that to adopt a child she had to get rid of her border collies - hence to say some small child somewhere was adopted by someone else.

Ruby and my 5 year old son are the best of friends, whenever we are sitting down in the lounge it is always my sons lap that she goes and curls up on I only get cuddles when my son has gone to bed

I do think family dogs are an important part of children's upbringing personally. Both myself and my husband had dogs all through our developing years and still have. Our kids have always had dogs and now we have grandkids, they too are actively helping with the family dogs. I met a young girl the other day who we see regularly whilst dog walking and they have 2 springers. She told me she is pregnant and sick to death of people when told she's pregnant, saying "when are you getting rid of the dogs then?" As she says, these dogs are like her kids already and she and her partner have no intention of getting rid of them. They realise that there may be a few teething problems due to the fact they treat the dogs like kids, but obviously this is a society opinion now - you can't have dogs and babies.... why not? It has worked for generations so why should it change now?