Help!

[Staffygirl88]

Hi again,

Sorry for having to ask advice again

I was mowing the back lawn yesterday and took my eyes off pup and son for a minute and when I turnt to check on them the pup had hold of my sons trousers and was trying to pull him down and my son was freaking out. This is the first time anything like this has happened. How do I handle a situation like that? I don't want her to never go near my son and when I locked her in her pen afterward my son wanted me to let her back out (I didn't until I finished mowing). I want them to have a relationship but I want her to know that she can't treat my son like that.

Also, I went to help my mum mow her lawn later on in the day, and mum told me she was chasing after my son, I didn't see it but mum said it was like the pup was stalking my son I'm worried because she is going to be a big girl and I want to nip this in the butt before she gets any bigger. How can I stop her treating my son like he's prey?

Edited October 25, 2010 by Staffygirl88

[Gretel]

I'd be keeping them seperated when you can't supervise.

[Staffygirl88]

I'd be keeping them seperated when you can't supervise.

Definitely. But I want to deal with the problem so I can be sure that it won't happen ever again

[persephone]

What was her body language when she was 'stalking' grabbing?

What was your son doing?

How does she normally play around other dogs?

You will find lots of useful information HERE

Often when pups/dogs play they do 'set'/ stalk .. it's exactly like kids sneaking up on someone .... until they get close enough to grab!

However, this is not acceptable behaviour if pup does not follow the NO TEETH on human rule

My suggestion would be to get a GOOD trainer in to observe and help.....Your kids need to know how THEY are to behave around the pup as well... it is not only the pup who needs rules .

[Janba]

I woud also look at the lawm mowing being a trigger - some dogs get very hyped up at lawm mowers and whipper snippers - I know 2 of mine do. I would lock the pup away when you are mowing.

I would also follow the advice of getting a good trainer in to help as it is very hrd to give advice without seeing exactly what the dog is doing.

Edited October 25, 2010 by Janba

[WreckitWhippet]

Never mow the lawn and have dogs and children together. Apart from pups and dogs becoming frightened or excited, you will not hear cries for help and will certainly miss signals from your dog, that it's not happy.

I know of quite a few people who have had dogs kill each other whilst they've been mowing and there have been reports of dogs biting children whilst the parents have been mowing.

[Staffygirl88]

What was her body language when she was 'stalking' grabbing?

What was your son doing?

How does she normally play around other dogs?

You will find lots of useful information HERE

Often when pups/dogs play they do 'set'/ stalk .. it's exactly like kids sneaking up on someone .... until they get close enough to grab!

However, this is not acceptable behaviour if pup does not follow the NO TEETH on human rule

My suggestion would be to get a GOOD trainer in to observe and help.....Your kids need to know how THEY are to behave around the pup as well... it is not only the pup who needs rules .

I don't know what her body language was like, I didn't see it unfortunately. She won't do it if I'm watching because I've watched them and tried to find what triggered it. Seth (my son) was pushing his Tonka truck around, running. I normally correct her or distract her if she looks as though she's going to chase him, so if I'm watching she just looks at Seth when he runs past but then lays down or something, she ignores him which is good.

She hasn't been around a lot of other dogs except for puppy class which is only once a week and the last class is tomorrow night. She's been snapped at by a couple of older dogs, one I thought she deserved because she just wouldn't leave the other dog alone. But my neighbour (my sister) has a staffy that is just a bit nasty to most dogs. She's tried to get at Topaz so we keep them seperated.

When we play we do play a 'stalking' game with a toy that was meant for cats a little mouse on a string and she loves that. Seth will throw the ball for her and she plays fetch fairly well now

I only have one son, he's 2. He knows not to stir her up and he's not allowed to go near her when she's asleep.

I can teach her not to mouth me, but if she starts mouthing with Seth, he just freaks out and starts jumping around trying to get her off I know that's stupid because it'll encourage her and I'm working on it

[Staffygirl88]

Never mow the lawn and have dogs and children together. Apart from pups and dogs becoming frightened or excited, you will not hear cries for help and will certainly miss signals from your dog, that it's not happy.

I know of quite a few people who have had dogs kill each other whilst they've been mowing and there have been reports of dogs biting children whilst the parents have been mowing.

Topaz has always been pretty relaxed around the mower. She will just go and lay down on her bed or play in what's left of the grass most of the time. I'll just have to keep them seperated when I'm mowing the lawn because I can't be watching them constantly.

That's quite scary!

[persephone]

You will find helpful stuff if you click here

What a shame she doesn't have much play time with other dogs ... they need it when young, so they learn lots of behaviour rules ;)

[Staffygirl88]

You will find helpful stuff if you click here

What a shame she doesn't have much play time with other dogs ... they need it when young, so they learn lots of behaviour rules

Yeah I know ;) I live in a very small village and there's not a lot of locals that have dogs and the ones that do aren't very well socialised. She's having a puppy sleep over after puppy class on Wednesday

[raineth]

hello there,

agree with all said above

also just wanted to say that at 2 there really is a limit to what you can expect your little boy to do (as I'm sure you know) ;)

[Obviously you encourage him and reward him when he's doing the right thing with your dog]

But I really highly recommend that you spend a lot of time with puppy attached to you via lead that is attached to a belt around your hips/waist.

This means you are right there for every interaction between the pup and your son - you are right there to divert, correct, or reward any behaviour (from the dog or your little one!).

obviously I don't mean you should be doing this mowing! definitely put the dog out of the way for that.

also puppy needs breaks and sleep time and play time etc... when you can't really hvae him attached to you. I found this most useful during busy times of the day and when the puppy was in its witching hour

I did this with my pup and I think it helped to make him an absolute saint in the house from a very young age.

[Staffygirl88]

hello there,

agree with all said above

also just wanted to say that at 2 there really is a limit to what you can expect your little boy to do (as I'm sure you know)

[Obviously you encourage him and reward him when he's doing the right thing with your dog]

But I really highly recommend that you spend a lot of time with puppy attached to you via lead that is attached to a belt around your hips/waist.

This means you are right there for every interaction between the pup and your son - you are right there to divert, correct, or reward any behaviour (from the dog or your little one!).

obviously I don't mean you should be doing this mowing! definitely put the dog out of the way for that.

also puppy needs breaks and sleep time and play time etc... when you can't really hvae him attached to you. I found this most useful during busy times of the day and when the puppy was in its witching hour

I did this with my pup and I think it helped to make him an absolute saint in the house from a very young age.

I've read that I should attach a lead to myself when I'm around the house but was reluctant to try it because I try to get her to stay in the loungeroom while I do the washing etc but I'll give it a go and you're right in saying I'll be there to supervise any and all contact between them

[AmandaJ]

Do not allow puppy to see your son at eye level - He (Iyour son) must maintain control - your son MUST be above puppy's level.

I know this is not easy with children -been there...done that....it is IMPERATIVE

[The Spotted Devil]

Hi again,

Sorry for having to ask advice again :rolleyes:

I was mowing the back lawn yesterday and took my eyes off pup and son for a minute and when I turnt to check on them the pup had hold of my sons trousers and was trying to pull him down and my son was freaking out. This is the first time anything like this has happened. How do I handle a situation like that? I don't want her to never go near my son and when I locked her in her pen afterward my son wanted me to let her back out (I didn't until I finished mowing). I want them to have a relationship but I want her to know that she can't treat my son like that.

Also, I went to help my mum mow her lawn later on in the day, and mum told me she was chasing after my son, I didn't see it but mum said it was like the pup was stalking my son I'm worried because she is going to be a big girl and I want to nip this in the butt before she gets any bigger. How can I stop her treating my son like he's prey?

Agree with the sensible advice already given. I just wanted to point out that pup may well be having an AWESOME game of tug with your son's trousers, rather than actually trying to pull him down - I know it's still not appropriate behaviour but for puppy it is fun and initially may be difficult for the pup to discriminate. That's where you come in - supervise, distract, redirect and reward :D

Edited October 27, 2010 by The Spotted Devil

[Staffygirl88]

Do not allow puppy to see your son at eye level - He (Iyour son) must maintain control - your son MUST be above puppy's level.

I know this is not easy with children -been there...done that....it is IMPERATIVE

That would be really hard. My pup's an Amstaff and my son's only 2

But I am trying to make her see that he is above her in the pecking order, Seth always goes through the door/gate before the pup and he hand feeds her and tells her 'bed', shes not listening to him at the moment but I'm hoping if I keep it up she will eventually.

[persephone]

tells her 'bed', shes not listening to him at the moment but I'm hoping if I keep it up she will eventually.

Every time he tells her 'bed' and she doesn't go , or get immediately put there, she IS learning..but learning not to take any notice of him

[raineth]

don't forget that it is really hard for both your littlie to manage to give instructions and your pup to understand them

a few things I taught my kids:

"look for rain"

If I said "look for rain" the kids folded their arms across their chest and looked to the sky.

This was used when pup was demanding attention or getting over excited.

this is good because its very easy for a situation to come up in which the pup learns that getting in a child's face results in lots of exciting noises and movements from the child which they find very exciting! A "look for rain" position is not reinforcing to a puppy

We practiced different kinds of voices: happy voice and "boss voice". and we practiced when to use them.

so happy voice was for when the puppy was good obviously.

Boss voice is just that bold assertive voice you use when asking your pup to do something.

I find kids seem to want to only ever use the happy voice, so its good to practice

you can make this a game for your little one and he gets lots of praise or maybe even a sticker for doing it right

do you get her to sit for her food bowl?

I would be getting your son (with you right there ofcourse) to give her her dinner. But only if you are asking her to sit for her food bowl. Its one of the more simple things that get the message across that your little one is to be respected

[Staffygirl88]

tells her 'bed', shes not listening to him at the moment but I'm hoping if I keep it up she will eventually.

Every time he tells her 'bed' and she doesn't go , or get immediately put there, she IS learning..but learning not to take any notice of him

When she doesn't listen I put her in her bed.

[Staffygirl88]

don't forget that it is really hard for both your littlie to manage to give instructions and your pup to understand them ;)

a few things I taught my kids:

"look for rain"

If I said "look for rain" the kids folded their arms across their chest and looked to the sky.

This was used when pup was demanding attention or getting over excited.

this is good because its very easy for a situation to come up in which the pup learns that getting in a child's face results in lots of exciting noises and movements from the child which they find very exciting! A "look for rain" position is not reinforcing to a puppy ;)

We practiced different kinds of voices: happy voice and "boss voice". and we practiced when to use them.

so happy voice was for when the puppy was good obviously.

Boss voice is just that bold assertive voice you use when asking your pup to do something.

I find kids seem to want to only ever use the happy voice, so its good to practice

you can make this a game for your little one and he gets lots of praise or maybe even a sticker for doing it right :D

do you get her to sit for her food bowl?

I would be getting your son (with you right there ofcourse) to give her her dinner. But only if you are asking her to sit for her food bowl. Its one of the more simple things that get the message across that your little one is to be respected

I'll try the 'look for rain', Ive been pretty lucky with her so far shes not very excitable, shes very placid and if she gets really excited she does a little jump and run which is pretty cute lol but she doesnt jump on me or seth anymore, its getting guests to lay down the law with her too instead of saying 'oh shes so cute and shes just a baby and wants a cuddle' bla bla bla drives me mad. Ive kicked people out of my house for hyping my dog up I hate it.

Seth raises his voice but its an excited voice coz it gets higher when hes being louder

But thanks for that, it makes a lot of sense.

She has to sit and make eye contact with me before she gets her food, and can't eat until I say 'Eat', but I'll let Seth put the bowl down tonight

[raineth]

I'll try the 'look for rain', Ive been pretty lucky with her so far shes not very excitable, shes very placid and if she gets really excited she does a little jump and run which is pretty cute lol but she doesnt jump on me or seth anymore, its getting guests to lay down the law with her too instead of saying 'oh shes so cute and shes just a baby and wants a cuddle' bla bla bla drives me mad. Ive kicked people out of my house for hyping my dog up I hate it.

Seth raises his voice but its an excited voice coz it gets higher when hes being louder

But thanks for that, it makes a lot of sense.

She has to sit and make eye contact with me before she gets her food, and can't eat until I say 'Eat', but I'll let Seth put the bowl down tonight

that bit that I bolded: that's good! and gradually get it to the point where Seth is getting the sit, eye contact and saying "eat".

its hard with a pup and a little one isn't it!

I'm sure you'll get there