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Puppy V Baby, how do I referee their fights

36 replies

JamInMyWellies · 12/03/2008 08:57

How do I help my 9mth DS bond with the 10wk puppy I am spending as much time as poss on the floor with them togehter, but the puppy is biting/nibbling alot have read that making high pitched yelping type noises help the puppy to understand its too much. I have been doing this but unfortunatly the puppy seems to think the baby is fair game and am just waiting for the baby to bite back. It wont be long he is a determined little man at the best of times.

OP posts:
Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 12/03/2008 16:05

doggy crate

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 12/03/2008 16:07

we had a similar situation as you, toddler, baby and golden retriever pup, was CHAOS!! He actually quite enjoyed being in the crate, we often left the door open and he would go in on his own, it also gave him a safe haven away from the children.

Agree with teh high pitched ouch sound, has to be loud and has to be high, then completely turn back on dog and ignore, they soon get hte message.

mom2latinoboys · 12/03/2008 16:32

Jam I think you're doing all the right things. Just remember that it's as important to teach ds about how to behave around the dog, as it is to teach the dog how to behave around ds.

CountryGirl2007 · 13/03/2008 02:31

I really cannot fathom why people insist on handing over money for a crossbreed when they could get a nice dog from a shelter and give a donation instead which would be used for helping more dogs.

marmadukescarlet · 13/03/2008 14:48

(CG2007 I'm with you but as I had already been seriously judgemental on this thread I kept quiet)

WriggleJiggle · 14/03/2008 15:33

By the sounds of things you're doing everything right already. Dog crates are great and will give your dog a big of piece and quiet. Can you put the dog crate in a position so that it is enclosed or put cardboard against 3 of the sides. It needs to be a safe place for the puppy to retreat to, not somewhere it may get poked from all angles. Maybe put a low cardboard box infront of the door so puppy can clamber over it into crate but baby can't?

A high pitched 'cry' and turning your back when the puppy nips should work really well, but don't go overboard on it. If you do it too many times close together it will not be seen as serious. So if say, puppy nips 3 times in 5 minutes, then stop playing completely, stand up and completely ignore for a while. Puppies crave attention.

Provide lots of acceptable chewing things.

Provide lots of time to burn off energy.

Building a close relationship is really important. Perhaps try raising the status of your ds. Ds can (ok, I know he can't but just pretend) prepare food for the puppy, issue the command to start eating / announce walks / give treats.

There are many games that require interaction but no actual contact - you can help ds to roll ball for puppy, well as much as a 9 month can!

bluenosesaint · 15/03/2008 10:58

Countrygirl and marmaduke - i don't mean to sound rude but what has that got to do with the advice that Jam is asking for?

How she spends her money is irrelavant.

Filly - Jams post was obviously written 'tongue in cheek' at least thats the way it seemed to me ...
I have used the term myself on many occasion - we got our GR pup when my (then youngest) dd was 3, and our GR thought she was fair game too ...it didn't take much gentle teaching to show the pup otherwise.

Jam - i agree with what others have said. A crate would be a Godsend for puppy and baby (and you) and gives time apart for all. The nipping stage doesn't last long and by gently but firmly guiding the puppy it will soon stop. One important thing (IMO) is to make sure that the baby is not at 'eye level' with the puppy as even a playful puppy bite can be quite nasty.

There is lots of good advice on this thread, i would listen to that and ignore the irrelavant/negative posts.

Your baby and puppy will soon have a great relationship as long as everything is dealt with sensitively now

Qally · 21/03/2008 21:26

There's a brilliant training book called "The Perfect Puppy" which is sold everywhere, including Pets At home, and is sponsored by the RSPCA. It helps with this sort of thing, and I can't recommend it enough. The yelping thing definitely works a treat, but maybe you should keep the pup away from the baby, just until pup has learned to inhibit his bite?

One comment I would make is that dogs are very, very status driven. They have a clear role in packs, they know exactly where they stand in it. Your puppy may well think the baby, being less developed, is junior to it. That's a problem. Personally, I'd keep a baby that small apart from floor play - you need to have the baby on your lap and the puppy on the floor, because height = status to a dog, and all being on the ground is a signal for rough playtime. You can also control matters better if you are in the same place as the baby, so to speak - and also, it makes it clear to the dog that the baby comes first.

I'd ask your vet about a good (positive reinforcement, not punishment-based) dog training class. The trainer will be able to offer you great advice. Dogs can be nightmares if not handled firmly but kindly from day one, and cockers are working dogs, which means brains but also sometimes wilfulness.

Good luck!

woodstock3 · 29/03/2008 17:34

we got our lab when ds was four months old and the puppy a month younger - kept them apart for a bit apart from very brief introductions until the puppy had learned not to bite us (mostly) and we could then teach him not to bite the baby (it's not real biting, just mouthing but it can hurt).
to teach it about biting, ignore the puppy when it bites - stop the game and walk away, say 'no' firmly. the puppy will desperately want the game to continue. if biting continues, he gets gently put in the crate (or sent to basket or whatever). good behaviour eg licking, playing gently is rewarded with praise/treats/fuss.
qally is right about status - the baby (and all other humans) are always fed before the dog; the baby is at first always higher up than the dog (on your knee when its on floor etc; baby sits on sofa, dog isnt allowed; baby is allowed on bed, dog isnt; baby is carried, dog isnt); baby (carried) and indeed all humans go through doors and up/down stairs before dog; dog is not allowed to pick up baby's toys.
given a few weeks of this, introduce dog and baby more often: watch them constantly and reward the puppy for all instances of gentle behaviour.
ours quickly got the hang of it. now ds can climb all over him, pull his ears, use him to pull up on and the only thing he gets is a longsuffering look. teaching the baby to be gentle with the dog on the other hand is taking rather longer.....

JamInMyWellies · 29/03/2008 17:52

Thankyou, things have greatly improved we have been following all the advice. They are actually becoming quite a pair. Now if i could just persuade the puppy to stop peeing on the floor......

OP posts:
bethoo · 29/03/2008 18:04

when your puppy gets over zealous pullit away with a firm leave or a firm no, if it continues move it to another room so it associates biting with being ignored. no dog likes to be ignored. this is just a puppy phase. i ok as i had two boxer dogs when my baby was born. (the other died a month ago). my 13 month old can now wave a biscuit in dogs face and a firm no will stop him from taking it. my baby likes to feed everyone even me!
good luck and if you let your puppy know that biting is not allowed he will learn.

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