[Ditter]

You think it is silly to say dogs often recognize small children as another animal? Go tell that to the vets in my brothers vet clinic. A discussion of 4 vets with a combined total of aprox. 120 years of experience said that. I have heard professional dog trainers say the same thing.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, I do think it's silly, because we aren't in their heads. I don't know what my dog thinks I am, besides Food-God and Door-God, and "she who we must obey". Pack animals, and herd animals, understand the concept of young, and normal well-balanced dog brains do not go after children as prey, but rather see them as small, sometimes annoying parts of the family, that they either see as something to protect, or as competition for affection, depending on their temperament.