Dog suddenly frightened of baby now she's crawling, anyone else had this?

[GirlsAreLoud]

Our dog is very gentle with our DD but basically like to give her a wide berth.

DD has recently started crawling and is obsessed with the dog and has started chasing her. Obviously I've been catching her when she does it and distracting her with something else but the dog seems really frightened that the little blob in the corner is suddenly on the move!

Has anyone else been through this and how did you help the dog through it? So far I've just been giving her plenty of access to get out of the room and keeping DD away from her bed so that she knows her own territory is just hers. Anything else I can do to reassure her?

[MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours]

Not exactly but the cat (of my name) started to pull all his hair out when DD started to crawl. It was stress and I ended up getting him tablets. He had a tendency to pull his hair out anyway (flea allergy).

We just kept DD away from the cat as much as possible (partly for her own safety - he is indeed a git) because she kept yanking his tail, which made him yowl, which made her laugh (poor moggy). Gave him a lot of attention when we could and eventually they got used to each other.

[bella21]

Be very careful. This is often a time dogs find very difficult. Never leave them alone together and never allow the baby to corner the dog.

[bumpybecky]

yes, our dog was the same when they started to crawl. She had the worried look and growled a bit at first. She got the hang of it by child 4 though!

She's never deliberately bitten a child, but has occasionally accidently nibbled a bit when a small person was feeding her something they shouldn't have been or trying to pinch some food off her! both of those types of biting are my fault for not watching the small person well enough. She's never hurt any of them like that though.

[GirlsAreLoud]

Thanks everyone.

[Bella21]

More info here:

Dogs Trust Advice

[completelyabsolutely]

What size dog do you have? I have found a crate to be really helpful with my dogs - we have Jack Russels and they go in there to escape dd (18 months)and then I can shut the door to keep dd out rather than the dogs in iyswim.

That way they know they always have somewhere they can escape to where they are safe from dds rather over enthusiastic cuddles.

Can you give your dog a bit of space by putting her bed in the kitchen and bringing her through when dd has gone to bed?

[GirlsAreLoud]

Thanks completely, her bed is already in a crate and it's tucked away under the stairs in the hall so she has plenty of space from DD. She's got another bed in the lounge (spoilt!) but won't go in it now til DD goes to bed.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

luckily our baby 13mths doesnt really chase annoy our woofa also 13mths

its more the nearly 4yr old that annoys him

but yes our monster puppy has a cage/bed which he can go in and ALL the children KNOW to NEVER go in there - its the dog own place and where he will go when he has had enough

[Iklboo]

Don't think our dog was frightened of Ds, more frightened about hurting/standing on him (she's a whippet greyhoud cross with very long legs - she looks like a furry ironing board).
Obviously don't leave dog & sprog alone together. DS & dog are now firm friends and she'll go to sleep with her head on his knee if he's sat on the floor watching TV