a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

My DS is 10 mos old. We watch the two of them together like a hawk (I have a pointer mix who is 65lbs and big and only 2.5 years old). Generally he is amazing with my son. Lets him pet, stand up on him, etc.

So, last night was our first little situation. I was eating dinner on the couch (I know, we learned our lesson and will no longer be eating on the couch, table only). DS was playing in our gated area (which the couch is in) and our dog was begging (like always, I know, its bad). So DS comes walking giggling over and dog quickly snaps and got DS a little under the nose (a little cut). I freaked and dog spent the night out of my sights. DS is fine and I know this is partly my fault for eating where the dog was. I just am fearing the days when DS will be carrying food or something. Again, normally they are great and I know in our dogs mind he thought DS was going after the food.

We learned a lesson:
1. eating on done at the table
2. dog will go outside during Liam's mealtime (since he is now feeding the dog from the highchair)

Any other tips? Please, only dog people respond because you are the ones who would truely understand.

Thanks!

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

You just have to repeatedly correct the dog. Because at some point Liam will want to feed the dog - DS does it all the time w/ our dog. It's actaully pretty cute. You just have to get your dog to sit and wait. It will take time, but just be consistent and it will be fine.

The other thing you'll need to do, is to keep Liam away from the dog when the dog is eating. The last thing you want is for him to put his hands in the dog bowl while the pup is eating.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Oh my gosh how scary!

It sounds like your dog really has a possession issue with his food. Really all you can do is make sure that the dog and your son are always apart when it comes to food. Maybe talk to a professional dog trainer and see if they have any suggestions for training methods, cause it will be hard to keep a watchful eye every time there is food involved, know what I mean? Good luck!

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

how does the dog react if you put your hand near her food while she is eating?

My only concern would be that I know with my DS he is grazing alot during the day, he walks around with food and my dog will occasionally take it from him but in a very gentle way. My dog is not territorial regarding food at all. So DS can put his hand in her bowl while she is eating.

I agree with your new rules, however I would have you and your DH start testing her yourselves to see if she reacts the same to you regarding food.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Posted by Mere09

Maybe talk to a professional dog trainer and see if they have any suggestions for training methods, cause it will be hard to keep a watchful eye every time there is food involved, know what I mean? Good luck!

Message edited 11/24/2009 9:15:39 AM.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

To answer your questions,

my dog has never been this way with food. We've both put our hands in the dog bowl while eating and he was fine and backed away.

Also, when DS feeds the dog from the high chair he gently takes the food from DS's hands.

I don't know if this was a food issues or more of my dog thinking somebody else was going to get their hands on "his" scraps. I know this was my fault and this is why no more people food and no more begging. We're working on this starting today.

He is a great family dog. Loves my DS, wags his tail, lets DS climb and roll all over him. This was the only time in the 2.5 years we've had him anything like this has happened.

Message edited 11/24/2009 9:16:41 AM.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

we have two large dogs (black lab/great dane mix and a golden retr) alot of reinforcement has gone into certain things such as not touching the sippy cup... which i can actually proudly say that if ds drops it off the high chair they will not touch it... they have to lie down when he is in the high chair, not as successul with that... and we actually do not let them in the room with us when we are eating on the couch... we do not let our dogs into the play area that often more because of their size... i think the key with dogs is just constant reinforcement... as for a little nip... my lab/dane mix went and nipped at me recently but it was an isolated incident... if it happened often then i would worry

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Thanks, you guys are making me feel better. We're going to go get down with the training of our dog more and I do feel like this was an isolated situation. Our dog felt awful afterwards and actually went in periodically to check on DS in his crib. I do think he realized what he did.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I think its a good idea to keep the dog outside or in a gated area while your son is eating. And also be sure to keep your son away from the dog while he is eating.

Luckily, we have no problems with food, but my son did try to take my dog's bone once while she was eating it and he got a VERY loud bark in the face. It was really scary, but I am 99.9% sure that my dog would NEVER hurt my kids intentionally. BUT she could have grazed him with her massive teetch while barking at him (I know because she has done this to me when I was playing with her and just missed my eye) We dont give Delilah bones anymore unless she is gated up where the kids cant get to her.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

You mentioned your dog has had no problem in the past with you sticking your hand in his bowl when hes eating, I would keep doing this and even take the whole bowl away. As far as when you guys eat, have him lie down in "he's place". For example, when we eat whether it be at the table or on the couch, we don't let our dog beg by us (he used to be horrible with begging) we have in lie down in further away from us and stay there until we are done. It took some time, and he still has to be reminded, but they need to know there place in the chain. They need to know that they are last, its you guys, your DS and then him. Not sure if I'm explaining myself correctly, if you have more questions, you and FM me. Good luck with everything and be persistent and your dog should get it.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

The problem is that it can happen even when DS is not eating a meal per se at the table. It could be when DS finds a cheerios on the floor, etc...

You will need to work with BOTH of them and YOU eat the food. Learning that he can't snap at DS and will have to "share" food.

You might want to concider dog training with both the dog and DS also.

One of my friend did it when her DS was 18 months. The dog snapped at him because he was a bit rough. They BOTH went to the dog trainer and worked it out.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

in the puppy class i took, for the dog to get used to getting disturned while eating they have you put your hands in their dish with something better - so for instance i put ham in my fist and put it in his bowl - just a suggestion to try

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I'm guessing the dog may have also been surprised by him coming up. It sounds like you're on top of the situation and that's the best you can do- keep the food-dog-baby interaction to a minimum. And if it makes you feel any better, we've had a couple of food issues too. DS once gave our dog a treat and then went to take it back from her, my dog nipped him and gave him a cut on his hand. I was so upset over it, but it really was an accident. Yes they are animals, but lets be fair here, most of our kids have been or will be bit, hit or kicked by some other child too.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I don't have any advice for you... just because I am going to be in the same boat as you in a few months. DS is almost 4 months and we have 3 dogs (2 springer spaniels and a german shephard mix who is very old and crotchity) I am not too concerned about the springers, they are mushes and just love to play, but the german definitely has an attitude going, especially about the baby. We have crates for them in the kitchen, and especially when anyone is eating, they have to go in their crates...

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Thanks everyone. You've all made me feel better. We know we've got work to do. We're on it!!! Both DH and I were raised with dogs from babies on. I know its work, but in the end hopefully we'll get back on track.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I grew up with a beagle pointer mix who passed away while I was pregnant with DS (2.5 years ago). What I recall was that when we were eating we had to make sure that Hunter, our doggie, had food in his bowl. We would feed him meat scraps too, but he needed food in his dish. He loved little ceasars dog food. We could be eating fillet minion but if he had the purple top little ceasars he left us alone. He loved it so much. I am sorry that your dog nipped your son.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I think what you have in mind now going forward is a good plan. Feed the dog when your son is sleeping or put the dog outside when your son is eating. No more eating around the dog and your son in the same room or on the couch. We get so used to doing things we have always done and forget sometimes.

We are always used to otis sitting with us during dinner etc he is a pug. But now with the baby and if we are holding her no food goes into our hands unless she is in a safe place. Just some adjusting and I'm sure everything will work out.

Your not a bad Mom either so don't beat yourself up.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

No advice just

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Can you work on having your DS help feed dog, and make dog wait....so dog sees that DS is above him in the pack?

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

I think you need to practice this more with your dog and reprimand him on the spot. Basically set him up so he knows what the reaction will be.

How is the dog with toys?
Does he know his toys vs your DS's toys?
We keep the dogs toys in a basket and when he wants to play we tell him to go get a toy and he knows where his are.

We taught him that he cannot play with DS's toys but DS can play with his. If our dog is chewing on a bone my DS can walk up to him and take it away. Our dog will just look super sad.

We just repetitively practiced these situations.

When food is involved the dog acted the same way, but we worked with toys/bones first.

Our dog will still eat DS's food but only if it is not guarded, and he steals it very sneakily.

ETA:
BE SURE as your DS gets old that you teach him to treat other dog's with caution. My DS and dog are like brothers but at my SIL's house he grabbed a bone from her dog and he snapped at him and left a nasty scratch on his arm.

Message edited 11/24/2009 10:25:50 AM.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

We have 2 dogs - a Pug and a Jack Russell. Although the pug is more of a glutton the Jack Russell will sometimes nip at you if you come near the food (like stuff on the stove even if I am the one cooking!!).

We always correct him and usually will give him a "time-out" in the laundry room. I know it sounds silly but it really works. Also, we never have them around during mealtimes.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

Obviously you have to teach the dog, but you may also have to teach DS not to feed the dog, as much fun as it may be for him. Or at least to only drop food from the highchair. My DD is always around 4 dogs. I have 2 pugs, my parents have 2 labs, and they live downstairs from us and watch DD every day. The pugs are great with feeding. We let her feed them, she has a blast, and they are very gentle. One of the labs is the sweetest of dogs, and no matter what, would never snap at her or bite her. But, she simply cannot be fed by hand. She doesnt mean to bite, but she gets excited and misses and can get your hand with the piece of food--especially if it's a small piece. we have taught DD not to feed that dog in particular, but also keep that dog away when DD is eating something, especially not in her highchair. If it's limited to a food/feeding issue, the answer may simply be, keep the dog and the baby separated whenever there is food involved. So, maybe keep the dog in a gated room during snack/meal times. As DS gets older, you may be able to teach him more, but for now, separation during meals may be best.

Re: a little situation accured with my dog & son (please only dog people thanks)

You may want to consult a professional dog trainer for help. You need to condition your dog to not be possesive and agressive when it comes to food. The biggest thing we do is focus on regular obidience daily. Here are a few things we do with our dogs specific to food.

We feed them at specific times and remove their dishes as soon as they are done eating.

Make them sit and watch while we prepare their food. We put the food down and after a minute of it being there tell them it is ok to eat.

We constantly stick our hands in their mouths. While eating, chewing on bones etc.

We do not feed them from the table. They get table scraps after we are done eating.

It is similiar to teaching a child in the fact that you must be consistent for it to work.

Good luck!