Small Children

Scotty · Graduate

Small Children

C_J · Master

I have had Casper for over a year and found that rules for both greyhound and child right from the start has helped. Casper is not allowed in Aedans room and Aedan is not allowed to touch Casper when he's in his bed. When Aedan was younger, probably about 2, we did have a few instances of him climbing in beside Casper but as he has grown up with Casper and these rules they now both follow the rules and when I get a foster he knows the rules are the same. I think the safehaven of Caspers bed helps a lot, if everything gets a bit much for him he just gets up and goes to his bed. With foster dogs, Aedan is told before they arrive that if he wants to touch the dog, he has to ask me first. Some fosters have been quite scared of Aedan - I can understand why as it must be quite scary and unpredictable as he whizzes past on his scooter or dances about singing! When Aedan asks to touch the fosters I sit with him and we pat and cuddle them, it not only helps show Aedan how to behave, but lets the foster dogs know that Aedan is ok and not to be scared of him.

I think its a case of make some rules, stick to them, and show your daughter how to behave around them, don't let her get away with pulling ears and tails and then as she grows up she will know exacly how to react around dogs and treat them with respect.

Hope this helps a little, I am no expert, I am just saying how I deal with my toddler and my grey

Jane

greyflintstone · Master

We did the same as Jane when we first got Freddy. At that time Andrew was 5 & Toby was 2.5yrs! They all learnt very quickly that the dogs bed was for the dog only. Freddy knew that if it all got too much for him he could escape to his bed - which was in the kitchen and therefore even further away from the noise & kids! We've done the same with the kids friends and nieces & nephews. I would agree wholeheartedly with Jane, make the rules & stick to them - no matter how many tantrums might arise!

You're right to have supervised access. Fergus may well be growling at her to warn her away, but a growl can easily turn into a snap. Don't let your little one get away with ear or tail pulling - at 18 months she's old enough to learn that you can't get away with things like that. Does Fergus like to be brushed? Maybe you could get your wee one to help brush Fergus, or give him a treat - that way he can slowly begin to learn that the little people are not so scary after all!

Sharon

Gail · Big Cheese

I agree with all that has been said so far and i understand your concerns. I have a 15 month old baby and while the dogs are all treated exactly the same in every other aspect, i do have different rules around the wee one.

Callan has been taught since day one that he only touches the dogs with an "open hand" so no chance of him grabbing and he has learned that very well, he is not allowed anywhere near the dogs beds and likewise they are not allowed in his room. Sally and my new arrival Chess are both fine with the baby touching them and actually seek him out for cuddles, although it is always supervised by me and they are never left in the room with him for a single second. Neo on the other hand prefers to avoid the baby and has gave a little growl in the past when Callan got too close just like your Fergus, i tend to keep them apart because i feel it is Neo's choice not to interact with the little one and i am happy to respect that and see how it develops as Callan gets older, Neo has always been fine with older kids.

I have a stair gate on my lounge door and when the wee one is playing on the floor then the dogs have a bed the other side of the gate so they can still see and hear all that is going on but they can't be grabbed by the baby or get over excited themselves and end up standing on him!! I also give Neo a treat every time he remains in the room when Callan is playing and i have noticed that lately he will jump up on the couch out of harms way but will remain in the room, possibly now that the baby is walking he sees him as something different or the treats are associating the baby with something good.

I suppose just like people, all hounds are different and we have to set different rules depending on their characters but i'm no expert, i just do what works for me and keeps both the baby and the dogs safe and stressfree.

Hope it helps to know that Fergus is not alone

Amanda · Master

All sounds like good advice. We have a 6 yr a 4 yr and a 12 mth old. All know to leave Blue alone and he does not go in any bedrooms. Hazel is told "gentle" every time she goes to touch him and we hold her hand flat to help her stroke him. Now when ever Hazel hears the word "gentle" she looks around for Blue! She loves looking at his toes and he is very happy to let her do this but if he gets up and moves then it's time to leave him alone.

Hazel has pulled Blues ear but she was told no and moved away and Blue was praised and made a fuss of. We have always gone with the opinion that the children are never to young to learn to respect the dog as I am sure you are teaching your little one the same.

Have you thought of making Fergus a safe quiet area he can retreat to when it all gets too much for him? I know the noise gets to us all sometimes and we need a little piece so it must be the same for dogs.

Hope things sort themselves out

Amanda

Scotty · Graduate

Thanks for the advice.

Both dogs have their beds in a large cupboard under stairs (door removed) so they do have a place to go and Rubi (daughter) has now stopped going in there. The tail stuff with Trinnie has only just started and we are stopping that, ear pulling hasn't happened for a while. Although Trinnie has not got a problem with it you never know and I don't want her to do it to Fergus.

I've been letting her cuddle Fergus with me so that he gets used to her and will try out brushing him with Rubi.

Cheers have a fab Christmas.