just got a puppy

[knat]

Just got an 8 wk old gold cocker spaniel. He's lovely. Called Charlie and has settled in pretty well so far. Have a 3.5 yr old dd. She loves Charlie but finding it very hard work with her and puppy!!! Her behaviour has got worse. She's still getting attention from us and I wouldnt say it was any less as Charlie sleeps alot at the moment. Anyone got any advice on 3 yr old and puppy. Any general advice welcomed. Thanks

hello there, haven't got much advice, but didn't want to ignore your post - i have a 4yr old, a 2 yr old and a 5 month old german shepherd cross lurcher and it has been the hardest time since having my son!

I found that the kids were totally unsure how to deal with the dog, didn't really know how to relate to him at all. I ask the 4yr old to help feed the puppy which he thrived with, as he felt that he was helping.

Is there anything a more specific that triggers her behaviour? My guess its its a type of sibling rivalry but aimed at the puppy?

the dog needs to know his place, i know it sounds harsh but he needs to know he is the bottom of the pack. They prefer it that way TBH, easier life for them, then they dont have to be the protector. So always give attention to dd before the puppy etc, let her eat first in sight of but away from pup. Once puppy knows his place, dd can feed him from her hand, good to let her have dog bowl on her lap and feed from that (dry food!), then pup wont ever see her as a threat to her food (this is important!). The puppy has to fit in with you, i know it is exciting at the moment but it is important that dd knows she comes before the dog. Once she feels "in charge" i'm sure she will be happy with her new "brother"

First thing - get a crate. They are great. We have a cocker (now a year) and had another puppy at teh same time with 3 year old dd.

Get yourself over to cockeronline website. They have a fab forum with loads of advice and a section for puppies.

Btw the whole bottom of the pack idea has been widely discredited for some time now.

Crate is a very good plan. I got my doggie a couple of years before ds was born and the crate made toilet training ever so simple! Now the crate is a place of refuge for the dog - ds (now 2 and a bit) knows that we absolutely leave the dog ALONE when he goes into his cage/crate - whenever ds' antics get to be too much our good old doggie knows he is safe!

Take the puppy to training classes if you get a chance, too. Also, ds loves to feed the dog his evening meal, so I have encouraged that (don't know how long this enthusiasm will last, but I am encouraging it because it is great to have a "chore" that ds does willingly, and also it helps him learn about caring for the dog as well as viewing it as a playmate)

Charlie must be so cute - I am almost jealous, I love puppies!

her bad behaviour isnt aimed at Charlie. I think she's so excited and doesn't understand how to behave with him She keeps putting her hand out to his mouth and he playbites her obiously which to be honest she hasn't got upset about. Also trying to teach her not to take away his toys when he has them in his mouth. She also puts her face right into his sometimes, especially when waking(!) which he has gone to playbite once. He does have a wonderful temperament but obiously we just want to minimise any unpleasant accidents. We have a crate which we put him in for his sleeps and we havea stairgate on the area where his crate is so dd cant go into him there and generally she does leave him alone.

knat - can't offer any really good advice about your situation because my pooch was already fully grown and trained when baby came along (different set of probs to contend with ). I think it is like anything with a small child - you need to keep reinforcing both good and bad behaviour - remove the puppy into cage when child upsets it (dog gets the message to calm down - child learns that if she doesn't play nicely puppy will stop playing) and lots of praise for puppy and child when behaviour is good. Sorry not much help - but I guess it is an adjustment where you will come to the best arrangement to incorporate Charlie into your family with time!

Hi, I've got an 11 week old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever, had him 3 weeks and my dd has just turned 2. Dd does know to be careful around dogs as we've got a 15yr old collie too. At first there was a fair bit of play biting from our puppy - rhubarb - but he's got alot better now. Dd enjoys helping to feed him, put his lead on, give him toys etc. They still run away with each others toys alot - but siblings would do the same! He's in a crate and is doing well with his house training. Dd is also learning to give him commands too. It was great when the weather was better as they love playing ball in the garden together and generally following each other about outside, hopefully it'll improve soon, and we can take him out for walks as of tomorrow!
As an aside hercules - where did you hear that the pack theory has been discredited -there are alot of trainers who swear by it and recent books that cite it - it would make sense as dogs are descended from wolves and works in alot of instances - what theory do you have for preventing dominant behaviour?

Dont know enough about it but I've read this on cockersonline website I go on. I've also read a much acclaimed booked called culture clash. I think it's something to do with dogs realising humans are not dogs and having been so domesticated now that they are unsimilar to wolves.

I'm no expert but I no longer bother with the whole through the door first business.

Read culture clash if you want to know more.

It talks also about the way animals think and they have no moral code of right and wrong and the ay dogs have been disneyfied. One interesting point made was about for every lassie type action of a dog defending its owner there would be hundreds of examples of dogs snapping, growling etc.