he tends to nip at them if they come near him he is constantly beside me when there are children around and puts him self in places the make him confined like under the coffee table by my feet .he gets very nervious and agitated when the kids come close to me i dont want to have to lock him in a compleatly difrent room because i dont think that will help the situation any but only make it worse my friend sujested i get a shock collor if he cant get over this i will have to give him away or put him to sleep he is my best friend and a part of my family what should i do
2006-11-14 06:52:06 · 4 answers · asked by tasha k 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Remember, when the baby is born it won't be running around pestering the dog for quite a while.
If you go to the hospital for the birth, have somebody take baby's unwashed clothes to the dog before you get home, so he recognizes the smell. If you can, also record the baby crying and play that for him before you get home.
When the baby gets home, make sure it's a happy experience for the dog. He gets lots of petting, and he gets treats when he's near the baby.
Use your judgment, but most dogs recognize babies as being like puppies and are not aggressive toward them. A few dogs have been known to regard a baby as prey, and this is dangerous. That is why you need to make him see your baby as part of the family, not as a stranger.
Your dog's behavior toward children does not sound predatory. It is more the way a grouchy dog reacts to an annoying puppy. He needs to be taught to relax and be more tolerant. In your position, I would take him to parks where he can observe children. I would pet him and give him treats when children are present, and eventually, when he's ready, let children give him treats.
A shock collar would have no part in my socialization of the dog, though it may have other uses.
I've had several dogs, including one that went through an adolescent phase of wanting to be the boss of the house. They have all turned out friendly to people of all ages, and to dogs and other animals as well.
2006-11-14 15:14:51 · answer #1 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worried about the same thing when I was pregnant because my dog is WAY overprotective and didn't like ANYONE except members of our family. He would literally bite anyone that came around. Once I had my baby (who's now 8) I was VERY nervous but he loved her! As newborns, they don't pose a threat to the dog because they can't grab at them or hit them. You might try giving the dog a blanket that the baby has used to get used to her smell even though she will probably already smell like one of the family to the dog. As the baby grows older, you can teach her the right way to treat a dog and I'm sure they'll be ok together. If she starts hitting at the dog, just take her hand and show her how to pet the dog nicely. I used phrases like "easy" or "be nice" to teach my children how to pet the dogs. My parents rescued a dog that was abandoned and mistreated by children and my 12 year old worked with her constantly to help her be at ease around children. It's hard to say for certain but I don't think you'll have to get rid of him. Just take it easy when the baby gets here. I hope it works out for you!
Good luck!
2006-11-14 20:27:03 · answer #2 · answered by Georgia Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a german shepard he was very very protective too and nip at other kids but never at me or my sisters me and my sisters had him since we were all born. He may be acting like this bc he knows you are pregnant and trying to protect you. you can not really tell how he is going to react until you bring the baby i bet he will be nice to the baby bc it will be yourse. My German shepard was like that i had hamsters and cats that i brought home and if he new that i like these animals he would not harm hair actually he would help me find them. He was always nice to me when i was a baby he even slept under my crib. So you may not have a problem with him. He may just have to get used to the baby wich to do that is you bring home baby and let him smell her. She should be fine with the baby but you will have to wait until the baby is born to really know how he will act towards her but im pretty sure he will be fine with your baby.
GOOD LUCK
2006-11-14 14:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by knowssignlanguage 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nipping is good if you live on a farm with live stock. He doesn't like kids and he could of been abused as a puppy by kids. My mom's dog doesn't like kids bec of that reason. Try the collar or get rid of him. Sorry, to give you the bad news. I like animals myself!
2006-11-14 14:58:54 · answer #4 · answered by Monet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋