Jack Russell female - she is very, very tense around our 11 month baby boy?

Question

What to do...we wish we did not have to part with her, but all the signs of an attack (snap) are there to be seen. Is there any hope as we love our little dog and she adores us adults?

Answer 1

I have a book about dogs. It's called Hound Health Handbook by Betsy Brevitz,D.V.M. It has an exact section on "Bringing Baby Home." that's on page 179.
I'll type up some of it. " The problem with dogs and infants is that dogs don't see infants as people, exactly. Infants look different, smell diferent, and move differently than older children and adults. They don't even stand on two legs like people do, so for all a dog knows, an infant could be some interesting variety of squirrel or rabbit. For that reason, all dog owners should be cautious when introducing a baby in to the household. It's possible for even a well-behaved family dog to display predatory aggression toward an infant." Then if you read farther there is tips how to deal with it. for you situation i think that these tips will help the most.
" - to introduce the dog to the baby, sit on the couch holding the baby comfortably in your arms while your husband brings the dog over on a leash. Talk to the dog and pet him while he smells the baby's feet. don't encourage the dog to lick or nuzzle the baby. the less contact the better." the next tip is probably better.
" - If your dog shows aggression toward the baby- stalking, prolonged staring, growling or incessant efforts to get close to the baby or into the baby's room- call a veterinary behavoirist for an emergency appointment. until the vet. gives you advice keep the baby and dog separate.


hope this helps..any more questions e mail me.
[e-mail]

Answer 2

the dog will not understand the sounds the baby makes or his position in the family peaking order.

Try to visibly feed your little lad, then the dog, but do it with the dog in sight, so he sees he is bottom of the food chain.

You should of course, never trust a dog alone, regardless of how placid they look etc....

EXTRA - The dog will not always be jealous of him, you just need to share you time together. i presume you have had the dog many years and at time treated it as a substitute child, up on your lap, treats after meals off your plate. So it will take the terrier some time to adjust.

The lesson here to anyone else, is treat you dog as dog from when you first get it, not like a little child. It prevents future problems.

Hope it works out.

As the Gerbil, well of course it well, Jack Russells are probably the best dog for hunting rats with and their breeding has been developed as such. Fast and nimble on their feet, close to ground, rapid reactions.

I know lots of people who have had several jack russells over the years and 4 kids, so dont loose hope, with all this getting rid of the dog talk. In a few years, your little lad could be walking the loyalist jack russell he could wish for. Just work at it.

Answer 3

Jack Russell's are definitely not "kid friendly" dogs. From experience with my own, he is very needy and wants my attention all the time. If anything else, including my other animals gets it he goes nuts. I'm not sure there is much to do about it, other than taking more time to train the dog or hire someone to help train the dog with you. They have the tendency to launch at kids thinking they are under attack from a small person. Don't let your baby tug on her or do anything that could make your dog think she's being punished. Jack Russell's are very stubborn, independent dogs and in no way should you leave your child alone in a room with the dog.

Answer 4

She thinks he is a puppy-he is her size, he screams and yells when excited (yaps) and cries when upset. He scurries around after her to chase-she chases back. To her this is an odd little creature that you fret over more than her now. It is pushing all her buttons, so she may feel that an occasional push back is ok-she feels that she is higher up the ranks than him (she was here first, she is a more capable pack member). Plus JRT's are hiper little dogs-they were bred to hunt vermon and they are h--- bent to do it. They are great little dogs in the right home.

I think you need to do some serious work with your pup. First, take a dog class with her and go over basics again (sit, down, wait). Second, start making her go to a down stance around baby while you supervise-down is submissive, show her that he IS higher in the pack and she better respond. She needs to engage in some submissive roles around him. Hold him while you put out her food-let her see that he knows where the food is and can put it in her dish (just don't let him eat it). She should be engaged in the NILF feeding method-so she should always be made to sit and wait while you put food out for her and then told when she may eat. NILF is Nothing In Life is Free-she must perform a task to get a reward.

Also, don't let her rule the house. You need to tell her when she plays, don't let her bring a ball and get a game going on her terms-that is a dominant behavior. Don't let her play any game with her mouth on your hand, arms, etc-teach her that her mouth has no place on the baby or you. No more rough games. Also, exercise with walks and give her trips out with you for some mental stimuli. Don't make her feel like the baby took over her spot, show her that the baby is higher up than her, but she has a place in the family too. If you really want to keep her, you can. The key is work and supervision. Never leave a dog, any dog, unsupervised with your child. And start now teaching the baby to use gentle hands on the dog-no pulling hair and ears or pokes in the eye. You basically have two babies now-I hope you can work it out. If not, try a breed rescue group to re-home her. The shelter or pound will be a death sentence if they know she has any issue with little kids. Good Luck!

If you

Answer 5

Sorry to have to say this but you have to get rid of that dog asap!! If you can see all the signs then you need to do something before the inevitable happens-no matter how much you love your dog! Surely you love your child more?
My niece was attacked by her Grandparents little dog when she was little & all the signs were ignored by them,the end result is a very pretty little 10 year old with various scars on her face for life!! It's not worth it mate!!
The dog will settle in nicely with another family-someone without kids,you will miss each other but it will still be happy in the long run.

Answer 6

Everyone compares my lil mixed pup to a jack russel. I don't see it but they do... She looks like one a tiny bit, (not that much) and is a bit high strung, but overall she's a crazy lazy pup! lol

Uh, I had a problem with one of my dogs and my son when he was first born. The first answerer is correct, you need to make sure to show the dog the pecking order. Make sure she knows just because there's a baby around, you're NOT going to love her any less. If you have your little boy on one side of you, try to get her attention on the other side of you, and prove to her that HE is not something to be scared or jealous of. Make sure to let her sniff the baby's stuff, and get to know this loud whining little boy. I'm sure, from the sound of it, you tend to scare her away from the baby, whenever she's too close, or acts curious, or agitated around him. I wouldn't yell at her. Let her be curious, but be very careful. I know 11 months seems like a long time for the dog to get used to your new arrival, but now the baby's becoming mobile. He will be at her level. Keep a waterbottle close by, and this way you can correct her if she seems a bit too tense, without freaking her out.
My mom's dog was scared sh*tless the first time I brought my son over to her house, and when my son screamed, she jumped up on the couch next to him, and was looking at me like "What is wrong with this thing!? Shut him up!!!" But also licked his face to make him feel better.

It is always your call, and you be the judge if you feel she is too much to handle with a baby in the house. Good luck with them, and congrats on the baby!

;o)

Answer 7

I agree which you shouldnt right away supply upo your dogs as quickly as you deliver a infant domicile, or the dogs shows warning signs of jealousy yet on your man or woman words the dogs "hates" your son and is "risky" those are very sturdy words, if those ever arise and you have tried each and every thing then i rather think of you are able to desire to re domicile the dogs I also have a staffy and am via supply beginning anyday now, we can do each and every thing we are in a position to to be sure the dogs gets on with the infant yet any warning signs of possibility or hatred and my mum will take the dogs so we are in a position to nonetheless see him an he's well-known with we nonetheless love him yet he's now no longer a great gamble to the the remainder of the kinfolk, do you have an in depth pal/kinfolk member which would be prepared to take on the dogs?? then you certainly can nonetheless take him out at weekends etc

Answer 8

My jack Russell gets that way around my pet gerbil. She will tense up and stare at him and I just know she wants to eat him! I would be scared of a dog like that if it were around a baby, to be honest. Your baby should come first in your life and the dog second. Maybe keep the dog separated in one room of the house. My dogs are only allowed in 2 rooms of mine. They know if they go into the wrong room there will be consequences!

Answer 9

Recent stories in National newspapers should give you a clue. Latest one, child's bottom lip ripped open when (small) dog tried to get at biscuit child was eating.
No need to say more. Sorry but get rid NOW!


Just reading a little more of the previous answers. Please don't even think about training the dog 'not to' or trying to keep the child and dog apart, all it needs is one complacent moment, and you will regret it for the rest of your lives

Just read later answers,and really can't believe what people have written. OK they are dog lovers, so does that not mean they are human being lovers too. For crying out loud don't you people realise 'DOGS DO NOT UNDERSTAND PSYCHIATRY'

Answer 10

The first answer is the best one. You have to realise that no matter what a dog is a pack animal and thinks of the family as it's pack. It's up to you that it is not confused about where it is in the pack order. Things like feeding the child first is telling the dog in a way it understands where it is. Screaming at it and shooing is ways it doesnt understand. Learn how to treat the dog like a dog and not as a small human.