Dogs and Kids Introductions

StephOfOz · 12-20-2006, 01:37 PM

Lucy's meeting my nephews (3 and 6) this weekend and she gets very protective of DH and me when meeting strangers. Any ideas (besides the obvious treats) to keep her from barking and scaring my nephews? She won't growl at them or anything but with adults, I have to keep Lucy intros very sweet, gentle and treat-filled so she calms down. IF the person (adult) does not listen to me and keep it gentle, she will nip at them because she thinks she's protecting me. She never growls, though!! Let me stress that. She just barks a lot.

Now I don't want her to nip at my nephews, I'm a little nervous and I think I can keep them gentle with her but any ideas about keeping her calm. She'll be leashed and by me all the time, I'll have treats, etc. etc. but she's not around kids a lot at all so any ideas are helpful!

Sugardog · 12-21-2006, 11:34 AM

Make sure that Lucy knows her basic obediance commands.

I'm not sure I like the sound of the situation though. Her nipping when somebody isn't being gentle is not her protecting you. In fact, it has nothing to do with you at all. It's her protecting herself. If she feels cornered and somebody is being rough and she feels threatened, she'll nip like that. If she is anxious about meeting new people, which is what it sounds like to me based on your descriptions, then attention and telling her "Its ok Lucy" is only rewarding anxious behavior. In essence, you would be telling her that it's ok to be anxious!

Growling isn't always a sign of aggression, so it really doesn't matter that she doesn't growl. What matters is that she nips. My dogs are trained to tolerate rough handling, especially from kids. They can be petted roughly, tails and ears pulled a bit, pinched, nose and feet played with and they don't care. If it gets too rough, they will leave and walk away, not n ip or use aggression.

I would get into contact with a behaviorist. I can't see the behavior, so I can't tell for sure, but just from the sounds of it, I don't think it would be wise to let the children get anywhere near her. The possibility that she will nip is too great and the safety of the kids should be top priority.

keekers · 12-21-2006, 11:56 AM

sometimes they say just to have the humans ignore the dog like not make a big deal or fuss over here & then hopefully lucy will ignore them as well or atleast be calm. good luck.. : )

StephOfOz · 12-21-2006, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the advice! And keekers, you're right, if we ignore Lucy, she'll whine and whimper off to a soft pillow. But I just want to make sure she's good with the boys!

I never thought about how telling her "It's OK" would be rewarding that behavior. I usually try to soothe her when she sees a stranger that way and then when she gets nippy, I pop her leash and scold her. She's always on the leash by the way, so I will be able to keep her from getting too close to them if she's yippy nippy.

Sugar, I love your advice, however, I don't really have a choice but to take her with me. We're going out of town Saturday night; I don't want to leave her in the crate overnight without us at home to be able to keep her on her regular potty routine. With more family coming over Christmas Eve night, I don't want to risk the smell of accidents in my small apartment when I get home on Sunday! I will have her crate with me and we'll probably keep her crated depending on her behavior.

Would it be a bad idea to give her a little insey bitty bit of benedryl before we go? Maybe it will help keep her a little less anxious?

Novel · 12-21-2006, 02:58 PM

Also, could you try crating her when your relatives first arrive? That is usually a very exciting time and maybe after every thing calms down it would be a better time to do the introductions.
I also second that no growling is often more problematic than growling when a dog is nipping. That means you are getting no warning. I would much prefer a dog that growls and then bites.
There is a great book out there that addresses this issue, "Click to Calm". See if you can find it, I have used the info in numerous situations. It really takes a great look into dog aggression, fear, dominance and introducing dogs with some of these issues into new situations and how to read their body language in these situations.

StephOfOz · 12-21-2006, 05:24 PM

She'll be crated at my grandmother's house. Fortunately, family isn't coming all over here. I'll look for that book! Thanks!

Novel · 12-21-2006, 05:29 PM

You are most welcome. I hope that it helps. It is written by Emma Parsons. Sorry I forgot that part. Here it is at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Click-Calm-Hea.../dp/1890948209
Also look for anything written by Patricia McConnell. I like this book in particular. http://www.amazon.com/Leader-Pack-ha...e=UTF8&s=books

12-20-2006, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
StephOfOz I love Lucy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: T-town Posts: 53 Rep Power: 0	Dogs and Kids Introductions Lucy's meeting my nephews (3 and 6) this weekend and she gets very protective of DH and me when meeting strangers. Any ideas (besides the obvious treats) to keep her from barking and scaring my nephews? She won't growl at them or anything but with adults, I have to keep Lucy intros very sweet, gentle and treat-filled so she calms down. IF the person (adult) does not listen to me and keep it gentle, she will nip at them because she thinks she's protecting me. She never growls, though!! Let me stress that. She just barks a lot. Now I don't want her to nip at my nephews, I'm a little nervous and I think I can keep them gentle with her but any ideas about keeping her calm. She'll be leashed and by me all the time, I'll have treats, etc. etc. but she's not around kids a lot at all so any ideas are helpful!

12-21-2006, 11:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sugardog Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 56	Make sure that Lucy knows her basic obediance commands. I'm not sure I like the sound of the situation though. Her nipping when somebody isn't being gentle is not her protecting you. In fact, it has nothing to do with you at all. It's her protecting herself. If she feels cornered and somebody is being rough and she feels threatened, she'll nip like that. If she is anxious about meeting new people, which is what it sounds like to me based on your descriptions, then attention and telling her "Its ok Lucy" is only rewarding anxious behavior. In essence, you would be telling her that it's ok to be anxious! Growling isn't always a sign of aggression, so it really doesn't matter that she doesn't growl. What matters is that she nips. My dogs are trained to tolerate rough handling, especially from kids. They can be petted roughly, tails and ears pulled a bit, pinched, nose and feet played with and they don't care. If it gets too rough, they will leave and walk away, not n ip or use aggression. I would get into contact with a behaviorist. I can't see the behavior, so I can't tell for sure, but just from the sounds of it, I don't think it would be wise to let the children get anywhere near her. The possibility that she will nip is too great and the safety of the kids should be top priority.
Sugardog Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 56

12-21-2006, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Novel Mush Face Lover Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 4,992 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 222	Also, could you try crating her when your relatives first arrive? That is usually a very exciting time and maybe after every thing calms down it would be a better time to do the introductions. I also second that no growling is often more problematic than growling when a dog is nipping. That means you are getting no warning. I would much prefer a dog that growls and then bites. There is a great book out there that addresses this issue, "Click to Calm". See if you can find it, I have used the info in numerous situations. It really takes a great look into dog aggression, fear, dominance and introducing dogs with some of these issues into new situations and how to read their body language in these situations.
	__________________ ~~~My Blog~~~

12-21-2006, 05:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Novel Mush Face Lover Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 4,992 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 222	You are most welcome. I hope that it helps. It is written by Emma Parsons. Sorry I forgot that part. Here it is at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Click-Calm-Hea.../dp/1890948209 Also look for anything written by Patricia McConnell. I like this book in particular. http://www.amazon.com/Leader-Pack-ha...e=UTF8&s=books
	__________________ ~~~My Blog~~~

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12-21-2006, 11:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
keekers Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 231 Rep Power: 49	sometimes they say just to have the humans ignore the dog like not make a big deal or fuss over here & then hopefully lucy will ignore them as well or atleast be calm. good luck.. : )

12-21-2006, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
StephOfOz I love Lucy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: T-town Posts: 53 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the advice! And keekers, you're right, if we ignore Lucy, she'll whine and whimper off to a soft pillow. But I just want to make sure she's good with the boys! I never thought about how telling her "It's OK" would be rewarding that behavior. I usually try to soothe her when she sees a stranger that way and then when she gets nippy, I pop her leash and scold her. She's always on the leash by the way, so I will be able to keep her from getting too close to them if she's yippy nippy. Sugar, I love your advice, however, I don't really have a choice but to take her with me. We're going out of town Saturday night; I don't want to leave her in the crate overnight without us at home to be able to keep her on her regular potty routine. With more family coming over Christmas Eve night, I don't want to risk the smell of accidents in my small apartment when I get home on Sunday! I will have her crate with me and we'll probably keep her crated depending on her behavior. Would it be a bad idea to give her a little insey bitty bit of benedryl before we go? Maybe it will help keep her a little less anxious?

12-21-2006, 05:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
StephOfOz I love Lucy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: T-town Posts: 53 Rep Power: 0	She'll be crated at my grandmother's house. Fortunately, family isn't coming all over here. I'll look for that book! Thanks!

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