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  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
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    Australia
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    My Nephew and his love for dogs

    Hello all, I just wanted to share this lovely story and get your views on it. My nephew is 8 years old and has severe down syndrome and developmental delay. Anyway he loves dogs, and especially when dogs lick his face he just lights up and it really relaxes him. He loves when they lick his eyes forehead and lips. I've got a lot of criticism because I just used to let my labbie do it as I figure as long as he is having fun and not hurting anyone there's no problem. He used to sit with Cleo for hours and let her lick him.

    I'm just interested, what would you do? Would any of your labbies be the same way? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Grand Rapids, MI
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    Well the only problem with it is germs. I mean you never know what the dog has got into. Like if a dog eats rabbit poop, which they do and can, then licking up around the eyes can cause pink eye and other things. There is a lot of bacteria there. So yeah its spreading. On the other hand exposure to this bacteria can also help keep his immune system up and running making him healthier. The other thing depends what your dog is eating, raw fed no way that's basically smearing raw meat all over the childs face. However the germ thing, that's kind of choice you have to make. Dogs have germs, bugs, they track mud into our homes and we love them just as much for it.

    The only thing I would really caution is watch how excited the dog is getting. A lab sitting there licking and playing with a squirming laughing child can get very excited very quickly and then you have a lot of weight flying around the house as another great fun game for labs especially when excited is body slam game. This is the only real danger I see. You may have to separate them if you see the dog getting super excited.

  3. #3
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Australia
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    Thanked: 1
    thanks jeff, that was my thoughts as well. I spoke to the vet who said as long as the dog is healthy and vaccinated there shouldn't be a problem. Cleo was never the very excitable type, she'd be one to just lie and relax with you all day.

 



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