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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog doesn't like my grandson - what to do?

43 replies

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 16:51

I have a five year old Chinese Crested Powderpuff who I adore. I love her and she loves me. She sleeps on my bed and I get lots of licks and fuss from her. I also have a 9 year old grandson who I also get on well with. I do school pickup twice a week and he often asks for sleepovers, which I am happy to agree to as we get on well.

The problem is that the ddog hates my grandson. She doesn't like visitors anyway, and barks like crazy when they arrive. Then she chases them out of the door when they leave. My dgs is terrified of her as she runs at him and snaps at his toes whenever she sees him. She hasn't bitten him yet but it's only time. I have a dgd as well who doesn't get attacked. I'm thinking I might have to re-home ddog which I would be sad to do. If it was a man I'd get rid of him, but not a little boy. Any ideas, MNers?

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 01/05/2022 16:52

Have you only just got the dog?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 16:54

No need to re-home the dog - for now, just ensure they are always kept separate when your grandson is visiting

At 9yo, he's old enough to know to leave the dog alone and to not approach - so just pop the dog behind a baby gate or use a tether to keep him/her away from your grandson to keep everyone self in the short-term.

Long-term, you will need a professional behaviourist to work with both of you, but as there's a child involved, this will really need to be in person so everyone an be observed and monitored safely. Good luck!

Witchesbelazy · 01/05/2022 16:55

The dog needs keeping away from him while hes there for a start if it was a German shepard it wouldn't be allowed to run and snap at his feet and chase people out so why ok for a smaller breed?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 16:56

Witchesbelazy · 01/05/2022 16:55

The dog needs keeping away from him while hes there for a start if it was a German shepard it wouldn't be allowed to run and snap at his feet and chase people out so why ok for a smaller breed?

I agree with this too. What are you doing to stop your dog behaving like this?

Original poster
Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 16:56

pumper no I've had ddog since she was a puppy.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 01/05/2022 16:58

Just keep the dog away , rehoming would be a massive over reaction .

Original poster
Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 16:59

I put ddog on the stairs behind a stairgate, but I can't leave her there for several hours or 2/3 days while dgs is visiting. Or I put her outside, but the door needs to be be open as there is another dog that needs to get in and out for toilet etc.

OP posts:
JoeGoldberg · 01/05/2022 17:01

Sounds like she needs some training. It wouldn't be acceptable from a big dog and it's not acceptable from a small one.

Frogface8 · 01/05/2022 17:01

Behaviourist to work with the dog & grandson - his reaction to the dog probably isn't helping the situation

Pumperthepumper · 01/05/2022 17:02

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 16:56

pumper no I've had ddog since she was a puppy.

So is this something that’s been going on for five years or is it a change in the dog?

Original poster
Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 17:02

And dgs doesn't tease her or go near her. As I said, he's terrified and screams and runs away.

OP posts:
PutinIsAWarCriminal · 01/05/2022 17:04

She needs training. She needs firm boundaries in place and to know that these behaviours are not acceptable. I would suggest a professional trainer to work with you, your dog and your grandson. I agree with those who say that you would not accept this behaviour from a large dog, and little dogs are allowed to get away with far too much.

biggreenhouse · 01/05/2022 17:05

screaming and running will get most dogs chasing you, so he needs to learn how to calmly move away from her. buy a pen and have her seperate but In te same room ? seperate half the room off with a divider?

alexdgr8 · 01/05/2022 17:05

you seem more attached to the dog than your GS.
so either no visits, or get rid of dog.
that's the only safe option.
apart from physical damage you could create a phobia of dogs in your GS by putting him in this stressful situation.
your home becomes a war zone where he can never relax. totally unfair to GS.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 17:06

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 16:59

I put ddog on the stairs behind a stairgate, but I can't leave her there for several hours or 2/3 days while dgs is visiting. Or I put her outside, but the door needs to be be open as there is another dog that needs to get in and out for toilet etc.

No need to do it for three days, but just as a temporary measure until you can engage with a behaviourist - it won't hurt the dog to be on her own for a few hours with a stair-gate keeping everyone safe.

For now, the rule will just have to be "no sleepovers" until this behaviour is sorted, unless you can send the dog to kennels or a boarder while he visits. The dog is stressed and your DGS is scared - so it's not fair on anyone for them to have prolonged contact at the moment.

Another temporary option is to leave the dogs at home, pick DGS and look after him at his own house, or take him out for tea/to the park instead.

Original poster
Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 17:06

pumper she's always hated visitors but I think her behaviour has got worse as she's got older, especially towards dgs. Maybe I ought to keep her on a chain or muzzle her, but I quite understand this would be considered cruel and as I said, I do love my ddog.

OP posts:
SockFluffInTheBath · 01/05/2022 17:06

Stair gate to keep DDog safely away from DGS?

Pumperthepumper · 01/05/2022 17:07

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 17:06

pumper she's always hated visitors but I think her behaviour has got worse as she's got older, especially towards dgs. Maybe I ought to keep her on a chain or muzzle her, but I quite understand this would be considered cruel and as I said, I do love my ddog.

I’d speak to a vet then. What were her parents like?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 17:07

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2022 17:02

And dgs doesn't tease her or go near her. As I said, he's terrified and screams and runs away.

That won't be helping but if the dog is charging at your DGS, barking and snapping at him in the way you describe, it's hardly surprising that he's scared.

carefullycourageous · 01/05/2022 17:10

Well you have to stop this happening immediately because you are being incredibly cruel to your grandson to allow this doog to frighten him so much - so the first step is to not have the dog and child in teh same space.

You are not behaving responsibly when you say you won't leave the dog in a another room.

Sorry, but you need to wake up and sort this out before the dog bites your grandson.

Maydaysoonenough · 01/05/2022 17:24

Ddog needs to relearn it is a ddog. It doesn't get to choose to sleep on human furniture or chase them. Once ddog growled at dd when she sat next to her. Ddog was banished to the floor. A few years down the line she is OK next to her now. Your ddog is ruling the roost..

70kid · 01/05/2022 17:25

You could put a metal bolt in the floor and attach her lead to this to ensure she can’t get to your grandson if you place it where she has a comfortable bed to chill on and water and toys this will prevent the dog from getting to your grandson
or you could put up a stair gate and ensure the dog is kept behind that when your grandson visits .

i had to do this with my old dog as she detested my adult son
on her own in the house it wasn’t a problem
on her own with my son no problem
both of us together she was like the devil possessed but the lead made sure she couldn’t freely get to him and within a min or so she had calmed down and would go to sleep

HardRockOwl · 01/05/2022 17:27

You describe your relationship with your grandson a bit weirdly. 'I also get on with him..'

JoeGoldberg · 01/05/2022 17:28

HardRockOwl · 01/05/2022 17:27

You describe your relationship with your grandson a bit weirdly. 'I also get on with him..'

That's what I thought too! Weird phrase to use about a grandchild.

Your dog needs to learn boundaries. Not fair letting her terrorise a little boy.

PollyRoulllson · 01/05/2022 17:29

Please get in contact with a qualified behaviourist who will be able to help you with this. They will work out a behaviour plan that will work for your situation. The situation will not go away on its own and will escalate.

Some of the "advice" and criticism on this thread is barmy!