hyperactive dog + baby = disaster?

Question

I have a 3 year old doberman pinscher, and she's really big, about 85 lbs. she's a very lovable dog but she's very hyper!
whenever people come over she jumps around and runs in circles. and now i have a baby and he's not crawling now, but in a few months he will be and i'm afraid that our dog might end up hurting our son accidentally by being so hyper. Even when my husband and I take her for walks she still comes home and runs around. And because we're in arizona and it's summer time, it's too hot to take her out to the park and let her run all of her energy out. any suggestions?

Answer 1

I think if I were you I would try some serious training with your dog. Your dog should be taught that being so rambunctious in the house is not appropriate behavior.
Dobermans are very intelligent so I know if you correct this behavior every time she does it she will eventually learn to STOP it!!
Start working with her now & hopefully before your son starts crawling she will do just fine around himWhen she is around your son now does she seem to know that he is a baby & tries to be gentle around him? I know my Dobies sense that they are different from adults & do very well around babies.
As I said, Dobies are very smart & they will amaze you what they will pick up & how fast they learn.
When my granddaughter lived with us & was crawling around & starting to walk I had four Dobermans in the house & they all would simply go the other way when she was crawling or simply walk up to her & give her a kiss.
Good luck & just work with her. She'll be the dog you want her to be!!!
. EDIT: You will not need a crate if you train her. If you start crateing her & never have before she will think she is being treated differently since this baby came along & may become VERY jealous!!
I have had Dobermans over 26 years & I have never owned a crate.
All you need is time, patience & be willing to train your Dobie!!

Answer 2

Please don't depend on a playpen or babygate, unless you keep the baby in your sight at all times. The main reason being, dogs can easily jump in/over or tear/jump through them, but also because the baby needs to explore and room to stretch his legs too. If you don't have a crate, I would get one. Don't keep her in there too much/long, just when the baby is up/about and you can't closely supervise. If it wasn't so hot, I'd also advise finding someone you trust to walk the dog or watch the baby so you can take her out. I know it's not easy getting out with a little one, regardless of the weather. I definitely recommend obedience classes or, at least, working on it at home. It doesn't take long, simply 15 minutes a day. The treadmill is a good idea, if you can get her used to it. Babies/toddlers and hyper dogs don't mix...but if you're fair and firm it can work. Be consistent w/rules and reward good behavior, every step of the way.

Edit: It's important to have a place to put the dog when she can't watch them closely. At some point in the day, you have to cook, clean, shower, etc. She can try shutting the dog in a room or even putting her outside, but she'll feel just as 'shut out'...if not more 'shut out'. That's why I recommend a crate. She can be safely confined and still be around the happenings of the family. It's not a substitute for training...it's just a helpful tool. Change isn't going to happen overnight, and even when it does happen...babies/toddlers should never be around dogs (any dog) unsupervised. The dog may or may not like the changes that need to be made, but in the 'family pack' the dog is outranked by all. If not, expect problems. It's almost like kids, tough love...lol.

Answer 3

Our dog was really hyper too. We just had to be really firm with her when she was around the baby. Also, you can make or buy harness things you can put weights into, so when you walk your dog you just put this little weight jacket on her and it helps expell some of that energy. You could make one and use water bottles as weights. That way when you take a break she has fresh water to drink. I've also heard of people making their dog walk and jog on treadmills as an alternative to walking them outside. Anything to get that extra exersize!
If our dog got hyper around the baby she was immediately corrected and made to lay down. You have to be REALLY firm with this or just keep the dog in another part of the house when your baby is wandering about. =)

Answer 4

When I had my dobbie (years ago) and my children were little, I put the children in a playpen. Better safe than sorry. Just when your back is turned and you aren't watching them until your child is old enough to walk and not get hurt from a hyper dog.
At 3 years old, your dog should be starting to calm down a little. Good luck.

Answer 5

You want collars and leashes!! They certainly have way too much vigour which is not being burned off. In the meantime, earlier than you discuss with the pet store - take them out into the garden and play ball with them, run them ragged for a good hour or so and then optimistically you can get some peace! Going for walks two puppies who have in no way been walked earlier than shall be intriguing... Plan in your first expedition taking a at the same time earlier than you even manage to depart the condominium!

Answer 6

First, I'd suggest making sure the dog and the baby don't share the same space without your supervision, but you probably are planning on that anyways.

What about ordering a canine treadmill? (or if you know how to use a human treadmill by typing the leash correcly to the sides) Exercise your dog that way every day to wear out her energy will probably help a bit.
http://www.pawwws.com/order-1.html

Answer 7

Give that dog a job! :) Now that you have a baby there are loads of things your dog can do to help and thus take his energy down a notch.

Find a great dog training club in your area and take your dog to class once a week while you let someone your husband take care of your baby. Call it "mom's night out" or "doggie date night". You must learn and practice how to obedience train your dog and set limits for him. He jumps and runs around because, perhaps, you have not found how to better communicate your wishes to your dog. Training class will help you to know what to do and do it consistantly.

Once you have learned how to give even one command you can begin to employ your dog in the worthwhile job of "helping" with the baby. Have your dog "sit" or "down" in the same room when you change your baby's diaper and then give him a treat. Get your dog's attention and have him "come" or "heal" with you when baby cries and you go to get your baby or comfort him and give your dog a treat. Baby eats, dog "downs", you treat. Baby sits, dog "sits", you treat. Etc.

If your dog begins to get hyper around the baby, or wherever you don't want him to, give him commands for behavior that are more appropriate for the situation and give him a treat (food or praise or whatever).

Your dog will be expending energy and feel satisfied but everyone will be happy because he will displaying more appropriate behaviors and will be contributing to the family in his own way.

I have four children - ages 2 - 10yrs. I began giving our new dog a "job" when our second child was a baby. I wondered, one day, as I changed the diaper of my youngest child "Why does this dog always have to sit right next to me when I change a diaper?!". I then remembered that it was because I had told him to. I had forgotten his "duty" but he had not - and after all those years.

He also recently decided (on his own) that it would be his job to stay watch under our baby's crib at nap time until the baby woke up. Precious.

Your dog doesn't know what else to do but be hyper right now. so, in short:

1) Give your dog a job to do.
2) Be a loving, assertive trainer.
3) Make everything "baby" mean WONDERFUL things for your dog

and he will become more satisfied and less hyper when you don't want him to be.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Well, some of the other suggestions may work, but there is always the chance that your dog will be so excited by his new "playmate" that he may do anything to get at him to play with him. You may have to consider giving the dog to a friend until either the dog calms down, or your son is old enough to handle the dog.