When my son was born I had a year old Chihuahua and a two year old Siberian Husky. Both dogs were great with him and wouldn't let an adult near him. The Siberian was my baby sitter when he was in the back yard.

Right now I have a small American Eskimo about three and a Border Collie mix that I got from a shelter and he's about five. Lately I've had a youngster I take care of sometimes that's only 22 mos and both dogs are great with him. I'm so proud of my little eskie because she's not used to kids but he can do anything to her and she doesn't complain. They tend to be biters. The border collie on the other hand has been around kids but he's given him some warnings because he wants to jab his finger in his face.

I had a Keeshond that had a good temperment and was good with kids and very protective of them. The Dutch use them as babysitters.

The most important thing is that the young ones have to be taught how to treat a dog and if the dog loves you, he will love your babies. And, of course, temperment enters into it. Some dogs will tolerate a lot, but there have been two instances where I live that dogs in daycare centers have been teased to the point that they get fed up and bit a child and the dogs are the ones that have to pay for it.

Last but not least, my son had a male Rottweiler that would put up with anything and everything and enjoyed every minute of it.