14wk Old Pup Bit Child :(

[cavNrott]

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Edited May 19, 2009 by cavNrott

[Australdi]

Erny...wher have you gone!?...whe're still waiting for the "new" topic!!!! ...I'm an aries...so I get impatient...so bare with me as I pump you to hit submit!

Aus

[cavNrott]

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Edited May 19, 2009 by cavNrott

[Australdi]

The new topic has been up since 11.34pm.

NP..I finally found it! & have responded according to my own weird compulsions

aus

[Guest DodgyDoggie]

HI Michelle and welcome

I have 5 kids and 3 rottis aged 20 month 15 months and a 14 week old pup

You will get good advice here but its a bit like advice when you have a baby; you have to sort though it all and work out what will work for you.

I found talking to a trusted vet attending puppy school and obedience with the kids helped heaps. I also had phone contact with a couple of rotti breeders, who I called on a regular basis

while Cavnrott have pointed out some fantastic points, I must point out how important it is for the children to behave around the pup.

First I would not play tug of way with a young pup because of teeth issues, if you feel you have to its important the children win at all times. If the child is not winning get the child to do a sit command then remove the toy from the dog. If the children cant do this then dont let them play them game to start with.

Secondly you need to train the kids too- No eyeballing the dog not laying on the dog, no letting the dog lay on the child, no laying at the same level as the pup. If the pup does nip at them tell them to give a high pitch squeal then freeze, if the pup nips again high pitch niose then withdrawel their attention. Never hit the pup. A pup cant tell between a nip and a bite. no mouthing at all is to be allowed. I found my rottis can be mouthly dogs and have always had to stay ontop of it, with the kids. ALl your kids need to be consistant, all the time

Thirdly do not let any child tease the dog, now this can be as simple as the child sitting at the table eating when the dog is sitting on the floor watching said child. The child puts food in thier mouth while eyeballing the pup. the pup takes this as a challenge and jump to snatch food. Dont let the kids hold balls/toys above their heads, this encourages the pup to jump and and again snatch, a child could get knocked over and hit their head or the puppies mouth could miss the desired object and close on part of the child.

The children also need to know that a pup like a baby gets tired and needs to sleep alot, if the pup is sleep deprived it can get grumpy and growl

You must also teach your children that when the pup does growl its the pups way of saying back off leave me alone. Get your children to back off then report to you. so you as the adult can assess the situation

I am one who feels that a large family and rottis can work but it needs training but everyone. I have my dogs and I have my children, I want them to live happily together. And one of the cutest things I have seen is my 5yo run to her dog and bury her face in his neck and bawl because I have growed at my 5 yo. her doggie just licked her tears away and layed with her. He also lays with her while she is sick. and he is her best friend when she needs to play with someone

This is what I think you want to

Edited September 16, 2006 by DodgyDoggie

[Livi]

What a lovely post DodgyDoggie.

I only have two children myself but I find the kids harder to train than the dogs

The pride on their face (the kids) when they 'get it right' is really cool though.

I'd make a big effort to notice when the kids are doing the right thing around the puppy and praise them

You are going to need a truckfull of praise ready to hand out to children and puppy But it will be worth it, the effort you put into the early training of the whole family will result in years of love, devotion and the pleasure of owning a well behaved doggy.

[Nekhbet]

DodgyDoggy and CavvnRott have given some great advice. Its hard to make clear judgments on a forum so dont take everything to heart Michelle! We have not seen teh exact circumstances so people make assessments on what little information they get.

You are doing well, definately on the right track! How do you manage all those kids PLUS a puppy, I have enough problems with a grown man and two boofheads

Some great games for the kids to play is throwing toys out and the dog brings them back for a treat. I wouldnt encourage tug-o-war games at all, as the pup gets bigger and stronger it will naturally start winning, or if it decides to be cheeky and take something the kids are running around with (toy, sleeve) and the child tugs to take it away the dog can start playing again. I am the only one allowed to play tug with my dogs, its too much for others to try.

Also, never play games where YOU or the kids chase the dog. Tempting and funny, but the dog learns that running away is a game. Its bad for recall or emergency situations where you need the dog to come back and he bolts off thinking its a game.

Smacking really doesnt work. Dogs minds think VERY simply. Black and white. He growls because he feels threatened his food will be taken away and gets smacked for it. All this teaches him is to not warn you when he feels threatened, and one day he may go straight for a lunge only because he knows vocalising is a no no. Warnings can be a good thing, your dog starts with a passive way of letting you know his displeasure. Physical punishments would simply repress these and the dog would be forced to step up. The dog wants his food, let him eat in peace and then praise him when he finishes. If he's eating or chewing a bone etc make sure the kids understand this is his quiet time and to leave him alone (having a crate he can be in while he chews can make him feel safe and keep the kids away so no accidents happen while he's learning)

I'm a little hesitant to let the kids squeal loudly if the dog nips or mouths them. Puppies do that to each other (same level) but higher pack dogs chastise. I have seen dogs set off by the noise children make but since I have no kids and one of my dogs is not kid safe I cant comment further on this.

You'll be fine. Maybe get a trainer to come in just to go over everything and assess how your current situation is progressing (and get the dog desexed as soon as its possible) and fill in any gaps you may have.

[Guest DodgyDoggie]

Nekhbet I have to agree totally on the chasey game

The kids taught my oldest dog to play keepers off and cahsey. Yes its a fantastic game and the dogs and kids love it but his whole recall sucks big time

The high pitch squeal might not have comea across as I meant it to.

A short yelp type noise was more what I meant, enough to make the pup stop and relise hey that hurt my playmate and now the game has stopped