Puppy Putting Children Into Tears

[chloebear]

A big thank you to everyone that has given me advice, I will get to work on changing our training routine tomorrow to get on top of the issue before it gets serious. Now I just need to work out some games to play with Holly.......

[Kavik]

This thread has been really interesting! Thanks Erny for some great advice - this will come in very handy when my new addition starts walking and causing toddler mayhem amongst the dogs!

[chloebear]

This thread has been really interesting! Thanks Erny for some great advice - this will come in very handy when my new addition starts walking and causing toddler mayhem amongst the dogs!

I have come to realise that what young children and todlers do in everyday play gets puppy very exicited. My two year old runs around waving his arms and screaming whilst he is playing. Our last dog was 4 before we had children so we didn't have this issue, I have this morning already changing our training patterns.

[Erny]

This thread has been really interesting! Thanks Erny for some great advice - this will come in very handy when my new addition starts walking and causing toddler mayhem amongst the dogs!

Hi Kavik - what I've mentioned above doesn't need to wait until your new babe becomes a toddler. In fact, it is designed FOR new babes. When your baby cries, call your dog and reward (assuming you can afford to let your baby cry for a small minute first). Note : you should do the same for those moments when toddler takes an accidental fall in proximity of the dog - assuming your toddler isn't hurt. In this way, you are teaching your dog not to rush to toddler (as you would NORMALLY do) as its first reflexive action.

If you train your dog to do this and achieve your goal (ie that your dog automatically comes to you at the sound of your child crying) it can be a handy exercise for those times when you might be outside and you don't initially hear your baby crying. With any luck, your dog will come find you.

Edited November 3, 2007 by Erny