“We’re starting a family and can’t trust our dog around a baby. We love our dog, but we just can’t keep him.” 

Rescues and shelters hear this frequently and yes, safety is the number one priority when it comes to kids around pets. The fact is, dogs and children can co-exist but parents MUST do two things: (1) Supervise, supervise, supervise! And (2) Teach their children and dog to be respectful of each other. It goes both ways and if that respect isn’t gained then growling, nips, or bites may occur. 

Before the baby arrives, plan ahead. Acknowledge that your dog’s life will change, too. If your dog does not have good manners, get a handle on that before the big day. Once the baby comes, but your dog is having a difficult time, seek help immediately. Often it can be resolved before trouble occurs. 

Certified trainer Madeline Gabriel, CPDT-KA, explains why you should never leave children unattended with dogs or puppies.

• There is a high penalty in our society for a child getting bitten, even a nip-type bite that essentially leaves little to no physical damage. Knowing your dog may need to die if something happens should logically lead adults to a higher level of vigilance.
• Dog bites to young children under 5 are almost always going to be to the face or head so there is little room for error. Children’s skin is more fragile so even a “small bite” is going to make a mark. And, it is a much bigger deal when a face is bitten than, say, a skinned knee.
• Children, pretty much by definition, do not have the physical, emotional and mental maturity to consistently make appropriate behavior choices. It doesn’t make sense to leave another creature to fend for themselves with a child who pulls their tail, jumps on them, or disturbs them while asleep. 
• Dogs respond in ways that make sense to dogs. This should not be a surprise to anyone. To a lesser degree, dogs can be annoying, too, and young children should not be expected to manage this by themselves.
• It is a generally accepted responsibility for pet owners to control their dogs and for parents to keep their children safe, with legal repercussions for neglecting these responsibilities. You can’t do either of those if you are not present. 
• It’s really pretty easy to make sure dog or child is with you or safely separated if you are not able to guide their interactions. It’s not like it’s so impossible to do that it is an unrealistic expectation relative to the benefit.