Terriers and todders . . .

[bettsiom]

We have 2 english toy terriers and the older one started showing signs of anxiety / aggression once our LO started crawling.

We followed advice "baby about / dogs out" because that's what a dog trainer told us a while ago.

We're moving into a new house soon, so have the chance to hopefully make things better for both the dogs and the LO who I'm sure will be toddling around very soon, and have the opportunity to set the house up right and do some training.

So - what can I do to get the toddler and dogs used to sharing the same space?

I have heard one thing is to ensure the dogs have "an escape route" to ensure they can always get about the place without the baby being in the way. Our dog has a particular problem when the baby is in or near doorways.

Will we ever be able to have our child and dogs roam freely in the house?!

This could be a difficult one, as ETTs can be quite highly strung and nervy little dogs and not a first choice to have around children, but the dogs were there first and im sure you can make it work.

What have the interactions been like so far? When the dogs approach the baby have you been positive or have you scolded them and pushed them away?

Crate training may work, but it depends on the dog they may not like it - however creating a space that is totally the dog's is a very good idea.

You could also invest in a DAP diffuser and have this plugged in near the dogs' bed,, these release calming pheremones and are very good for anxiety in dogs (i wish they did them for humans!!)

I think the key is also not to force things, the dogs have to come to the child rather than the other way around. Are there any treats your dog really likes? you could maybe have your DS on your lap and feed your dogs their favourite treats, keeping everything calm, praising if the dogs sniff the child, let them sniff and be curious. maybe have DS playing with an interesting toy, or even (i'll be told off for this) let the dogs have the titbits from the high chair, when normally you may have told them off - basically, make your dogs think your DS is brilliant and a source of good things.

Everything has to be positive.

If the DS is crying, that is a good time to put the dogs in their crate with a tasty treat so they don't get concerned and worried.

I love ETTs

I am not sure i agree with baby about/dogs out though as that is telling the dogs the baby is something to worry about.

Thanks for the reply!

Think I might get a DAP diffuser as this may help with the anxiety of a house move too.

Interactions so far have been gentle and friendly with ETT2 ( the younger dog) and with ETT1, all is fine unless they are out and on the floor at the same time. So no problem if the LO is with us on our laps, in the playpen, or in the highchair ( they know treats will come at the end of LOs meal then :).

For example, if we had a baby gate up, dogs and child either side and the LO goes past where the dogs are ETT1 will get wound up growl and snap.

I have not allowed them to be out on the floor together because we had some close calls when LO first started moving around, and ETT1 would get anxious and freeze and you could see the hairs on his neck go up - a couple of times he even growled and snapped near the baby - this happened when they were both near a doorway, it's not like ETT1 was coming up to the LO in the middle of a room and attacking.

So at first, whenever he exhibited his anxiety signs I would pick the baby up and at that point he would bark and growl. Dog would then be swiftly put outside.

Then I decided not to put the ETT1 or LO through that anxiety again or risk it until we were in a position to create a better environment or handle it positively.

Hence the separation - and I have since also wondered about the baby about / dogs out advice ( given by a dog trainer we hired before the LO was born) as I don't think this has helped set things up for normal life and has perhaps created a bigger deal. That said, none of this was an issue until LO started moving round on floor independently.

No problem when we bought the baby home, no jumping up at prams or moses baskets etc.

It may amuse you to know that one dog is called Rocky, the other Samson - big names for little dogs!

:) I had a rotweiller called Tiny.

It might be worth getting a behaviourist on board as the dog is clearly quite distressed about havng the baby around - The house move will be further upset so i really thnk you need to keep them separate in the meantime, havng to cope with the move AND the changes in what the baby does may be too much.

In the new house the plan is that the dogs' bed will be in the utility room, and they will have a dog (well, cat) flap to go outside, so that can be their area.

I have been through something quite similar to this and unfortunately we have never been able to let the dogs and children roam free unsupervised.

We had 2 Yorkshire terriers for quite a few years before dd came along, same as you they took no interest in the baby until she became mobile. Then the older and bigger of the 2 yorkies was not happy about this little person and would bark and growl if dd crawl in her direction.

We ended up putting up stair gates to separate rooms and had dd and dogs at separate sides. (Although I think the younger smaller dog would have been fine it didn't feel right to only put 1 of them at other side of the stair gate)

3 dc later we got very used to keeping dogs and toddlers separate unless closely supervised. It was never something even through training and treats etc we could overcome enough to be comfortable with.

One has since died (she was 15 years old!) and we have a new puppy which is a completely different set up as puppy loves being with all 3 dc even the 15 month old and our old yorkie now chooses to ignore the madness and stays away through choice.

Sorry if this isn't the answer you were hoping for but what I was trying to show is you find a way that keeps them all safe and happy even if it means them being separated a lot of the time.

Tiny the Rotweiller - love it.

Thanks - I will make enquiries - I suppose it does seem to be something that is beyond standard training.

This website is good for advice www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/

Mummy2BI Thanks - and in the back of my mind I feel that's how it may go for us as well - but here's hoping!

Our older ETT is behaving as you describe with your yorkies, and the more placid younger one therefore has to be separated too of course!

We can live with the separation of dogs and little ones if needs be, I appreciate you sharing your experience and as long as they are all happy, if separate, that's fine by me.

I will give it a shot though - even if I can just reduce Rocky's distress that would be a good thing.

thanks Lilcamper will have a look. :)