I hate the lovely dog

[Sunshineantelope]

When I was a child I had an awful experience with a dog. Logically I know this dog had bad owners, most dogs are great etc, it doesn't help, I just don't like dogs. It's not a phobia, I can be around dogs, pet them but I hate them jumping up and getting excited, it makes me so nervous.

Now I have a little one and I don't want them to pick up on my fear. A family member has recently got a dog. It's an objectively lovely dog. Its a good breed, not too big, its patient, kind, very sweet to my little one. Family members partner has a lot of experience with animals and is doing a great job.

However it is a puppy. It gets excited and jumps up, will play fight with its mouth (has never bitten but will mouth). I know its just having fun and its sweet but i flinch and i know im coming across nervous when toddler is playing with the dog ie. Throwing the dogs toy.

I was ok when we were having the occasional visit but my relation recently had a genuine family emergency and has to leave the country for around 2 weeks. They have no one else nearby and we were happy to take the puppy.

My partner has had dogs so knows what to do but is out at work. Im with the dog more. I feed it, take it out, very happy to do long walks to tire it out but I hate playing as it makes me so jumpy. Im also on edge whenever the toddler is around.

I want to love the dog, its so sweet. Any tips on how to get over my nervousness of accidently being play bitten, how i can be confident my child is safe (i know is logically but still) and any ways to bond with the dog.

It’s perfectly reasonable for you to be wary of this dog around your toddler and of being bitten yourself, even accidentally. If the dog wants to play and is getting bitey you can get a long piece of fabric like a dressing gown cord and play with that with it. Wiggle it along the floor and let it pounce on it - you can keep the cord in your pocket and then if the dog is getting overexcited and bouncy you can redirect onto that.

never leave your toddler and the dog together and keep their playtime to a heavily supervised minimum. If you’re uncomfortable with it then you can put your own boundaries in place. Better to be over protective with a strange dog than to relax too much because of what other people think.

snd I’m not suggesting the dog would hurt your child on purpose but you don’t want your child being knocked over or scratched while the dog is trying to play - so you play with the dog and let them be around each other when it’s all calm. It’s not for long!

Dunno if it helps or not... but being accidentally bitten while playing with a still mouthy puppy isn’t that bad.

I mean, it’s not fun 🤣 I’m not recommending it as a good thing to do, but like, it’s not like being bitten by a dog trying to bite you, either in how sore it is or as an experience.

You do want to be cautious with a small child though to be fair.

Thank you for your responses! While I wouldnt leave the unsupervised ever, the dog is actually wonderful with the toddler and very careful but i worry Im radiating fear that the toddler will pick up. The dog isnt the problem, i am.