Did any of you have trouble with your dog when your baby began crawling because the baby was touching the dog and coming into it's space and what did you do to correct the behaviour if the dog was growling or snappy?
Please only answer if you can give me suggestions and tips that involve keeping the dog and not banishing it from the family.
Thanks.
2007-03-18 13:49:49 · 19 answers · asked by Donnertagskind 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I live in one room loft. The dog (a great dane) cannot go anywhere else. As for his age he is five, but was raised on a farm inside the house with children ranging from 6 months to 3 yrs. The problem is that a boy (3 yrs old) charged him hit him and screamed thenm ran away, since then he has been very unsure with the very little ones.
And again I repeat, if the only advice you can give me is to get rid of the dog please do not answer! Thank You.
2007-03-19 05:51:04 · update #1
We had this problem too. Only difference is that we have a Rottweiler and he is the biggest baby. All he wanted to do was play with the little one and make sure she was ok but he was so huge that he ran her over. We ended up putting a baby gate in our kitchen doorway to separate him from the rest of the house and the kids. He is still close to us and gets a lot of attention because we are constantly in and out of the kitchen but he respects the gate and never tries to cross it. He's over 100 pounds so he could EASILY knock it down but he never does. As my daughter grew she would go closer and closer to the gate and started petting him and he started licking on her and now they can run around the back yard just fine together. He still tries to herd the little ones at times but he doesn't run them over anymore.
Edited To Add-Since you are in such a small space and he is a VERY big dog (I used to have a dane and I love them), have you considered doing the baby gate thing for the bathroom area maybe? I know he is probably larger than the bathroom but it would be cheaper than a crate for his size, those are outrageous! At least while the baby is having floor time. They do have those play centers that are a huge circle of baby gates all attached and maybe you could use that to block off a section of a room or something. How do you do it with a Great Dane in an efficiency?
2007-03-18 14:03:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Put up baby gates. Give the dog his areas and the baby his/hers. Right now the baby is on the dogs level and he may feel threatened. Never leave them alone in the same room. If you have to go in another room put the dog outside or the baby in a playpen. The dog and the baby will eventually be ok probably by the time he/she is 3-4 but until then keep a close eye on their budding relationship. (If you can afford a dog trainer go to one if not call petsmart for more info: pamphlets, training books, and advice from their trainers). Good Luck!
2007-03-18 18:00:48 · answer #2 · answered by candy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dog needs to be involved in the family situation, never leave any dog with a child unsupervised. A deep growl or no when it growls, or squirt some water from a spray bottle into its face when it growls. Be persistant, but just remember never hit the dog because they will recognise being with the baby is a bad thing, always heaps of praise for good behaviour.
2007-03-18 14:49:58 · answer #3 · answered by Calais 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We brought our baby home to a house with 4 dogs. 2 large and 2 small. We let the dogs become famuliar with the baby from day one. Only one of our pups (a jack russell) does not care for our daughter crawling on him and playing with him. He has a kennel he can go into to get away from her and our daughter has been taught that is his space and she is not to mess with him in there. We had to close him in there and let him bark at her for getting up on the gate a few times for her to understand. But he was in there and she was on the outside so she was at no risk for being hurt, just scared a little. She's 9 months old now and goes no where near the kennel, regardless of the dog being in there or not.
2007-03-18 14:24:44 · answer #4 · answered by Connie B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe when you are letting your little one crawl around the living room you can put up a baby gate to keep the dog out of the area. Just be careful, and don't let the baby and dog be together when you are out of the room. I have a dog too but I am still pregnant and I am worried about the same thing. But thats what I am planing on doing if its necessary.
2007-03-18 13:59:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does your dog have a bone near him/her or a toy? They can be very protective. If it does you can put them up while the baby is around. If not you could sit on the floor with the baby and dog, make sure the dog is behaving around the baby and the dog might accept the baby if your there with him/her for awhile. It just needs to get used to having a baby around.
What type of dog do you have? A lot of small dogs don't usually like kids period, and for some it never changes.
How old is the dog?
Is this your first baby? If you've had your dog for awhile and this is your first baby, it could be jealous of the baby.
2007-03-18 13:56:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to start off by saying, good for you by trying to correct the problem instead of giving the dog away like so many people do. We have 2 beagles (my first babies) and thankfully they have been great but we have had a couple of incidence. Our dogs have their space which is their crate, a place they can go to to get away. Our daughter is now 17 months and I taught her that the crate is a no, no area just like a couple of other places in the house. I haven't any trouble since that understanding has taken place. You may want to try that. If your dog has a place to go to get away and still snaps, the dog must understand that your baby is alpha to him/her and get after him/her every time he/she snaps and show her that she has an area to get away. Teach your child hugs and snuggles, my beagles LOVE it, ok, well most of the time. It couldn;t hurt to ask your vet either, they may recommend a dog trainer. It's worth the money to keep your pet!
2007-03-18 14:05:08 · answer #7 · answered by 10 pts for me? 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You could always try a crate. When the baby is down on the floor you lock the dog up in the crate. Or you could also try when the dog growls at the child and then you put the dog in the crate. Make sure that all your dogs toys are put up so that they are not around the baby and make sure the baby can not get to them to play with them. I know with our dog we would hold her and the baby at the same time and let the baby pat her and they began to get used to each other.
2007-03-18 14:02:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well I have 2 children and another child comes over to play a lot..I also have 3 pitbulls...they are all sweethearts, and they are protective over our children. I don't let dogs or cats near my children unless my children ask to see them. I have a detached garage. My 11 month old dog sleeps in the garage, the 3 year old dog in the laundry room, then the 8 year old dog in the huge kitchen, then I rotate all the time! Having dogs around isn't right, you just can't trust them, I don't care if the dog is blind, no teeth, and no legs. You don't have a dog around a child. It'll help them be more immune to dogs, but that's it. What if the dog licks the floor and your child comes along? What if it pees on the floor, cleaning it is never clean enough. Leave the dog outside, and quarantine him in a large space when inside.
2007-03-18 16:24:55 · answer #9 · answered by fourcheeks4 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If your dog is prone to aggression or if you're unsure of how a new child will effect your dog, you need to see an animal behaviorist and trainer. Parents should never leave a child alone with an animal for any reason EVER. Kudos to you for being a responsible pet owner by taking a proactive approach to this situation rather than getting rid of the dog.
2007-03-18 14:02:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋