Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

My family has a tiny shitzu maltese (lives at parents' house). When I go back to work, DS will be spending a lot of time at my parents' house. I'm afraid our dog will bite DS when he starts crawling/walking. The dog occasionally bites all of us. The dog is so tiny that his bites are completely harmless but I'm still concerned that he will hurt our little one.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

I have a 5lb yorkie that is non-aggresive and has never bitten any adult but has bitten DS. DS was playing a little to rough with her and he jumped on her. She got nervous and snipped at him. She didnt break his skin and he was OK but I just keep an eye on them if he is petting her. Most of the time he ignores her

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

I wouldn't put your child in a position to get bitten in the first place. Pick him up when the dog is around. Put him down when the dog is elsewhere.

I almost had my lip torn off by a Doberman when I was 7 years old and I didn't goad him into doing it. You simply cannot trust an animal with children especially an infant I don't care HOW much training a dog has.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Posted by Bridex100

Posted by Kerie-is-so-very

Posted by Bridex100

My family has a tiny shitzu maltese (lives at parents' house). When I go back to work, DS will be spending a lot of time at my parents' house. I'm afraid our dog will bite DS when he starts crawling/walking. The dog occasionally bites all of us. The dog is so tiny that his bites are completely harmless but I'm still concerned that he will hurt our little one.

A dog that bites is going to bite a child. Are these play bites or is it aggressive? By the time my DS started to crawl or walk, we knew what to expect from my dog. He's a lot more concerned with stealing toys than with DS crawling or walking. So far, he has only snapped at DS. We don't alow it but it is good that he gives a warning and he does not just bite as soon as he feels threatened. If we don't feel we can watch them both very closely, we separate them.

Usually it is play bites. His bites don't break skin and don't hurt us adults so we never paid attention to the dog's little bites. It's not like he'll just randomly come up to us and bite us. I can't help but be worried that he will bite DS though.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

I have a very large dog. Even though he is duper mild tempered, it still took him a while to get used to the baby. Especially once DS was on the move, we set up a playgate area..baby could not get out, dog could not get in. This allowed both to get to know each other safely. Now that DS is walking, and my dog is def. used to and tolerant of him, there is no need for the gate, but ALWAYS constant supervision. DS loves to climb all over and hug his doggy, but I teach them both to be gentle, and if I feel its too much, I remove dog from the sotuation for a while.

However, if you have a dog with a propensity to bite already, I would prob. keep them seperate at all times (babies and toddlers, just do not know the limits well enough to prevent injury) a bite will likely happen. SO buy your parents lots of gates, and keep them in seperate rooms, unless DS is in your arms.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Posted by lulugrrl

I have a very large dog. Even though he is duper mild tempered, it still took him a while to get used to the baby. Especially once DS was on the move, we set up a playgate area..baby could not get out, dog could not get in. This allowed both to get to know each other safely. Now that DS is walking, and my dog is def. used to and tolerant of him, there is no need for the gate, but ALWAYS constant supervision. DS loves to climb all over and hug his doggy, but I teach them both to be gentle, and if I feel its too much, I remove dog from the sotuation for a while.

However, if you have a dog with a propensity to bite already, I would prob. keep them seperate at all times (babies and toddlers, just do not know the limits well enough to prevent injury) a bite will likely happen. SO buy your parents lots of gates, and keep them in seperate rooms, unless DS is in your arms.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Play or not, too small to do too much damage... all this does not mix and match with an infant, kid. The dog bits. Plain and simple and he/she should not with a child.

I suggest a pack and play and teach both dog and child to interact together. Dog = train on not bitting. Child = train on respecting dogs.

But if you know the dog bits even in a play situation, this is an accident waiting to happen.

And even if the dog is so small he cannot hurt YOU, he/she may very hurt your child who has very soft bones/skin.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Where do I begin?

I will sum this up as best as possible

My dog (25lbs) has bitten me and DH. It isn't a severe bite b/c he is small but still, its a bite. So - when I found out I was pregnant we got a trainer to help with his agression. We used Best Friends Dog Training (MuttManners) and they were great.

So now Katie is 9 months old and is starting to really grab at Murray. She got him one time and pulled his hair, he yelped and he has not forgiven her since. He is scared and nervous around her and if given the chance he WILL BITE. He has snapped at her

So back to the trainers we went. I was just there this weekend and basically, I can't make Murray like her. I will do my best to teach Katelyn her boundaries but if I have to step out of the room for a second, one of them comes with me.

When she starts crawling I will have to constantly keep an eye out and be on top of it

I am also praising him like crazy when he is near here and calm. Giving him cheese, treats, petting, etc. If he gets anxious and shows his teeth I give a correction.

So - this is my life. I am not lucky enough to have a dog that has the patience for a baby. Unfortunatly my dog has major issues. Its extremely frustrating, but it is what it is.

Message edited 5/4/2009 7:49:50 PM.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

A dog that bites, even playfully, will bite a small child. I almost lost an eye from our cocker spaniel.

Re: Does anyone have a small dog that bites? I'm worried our family shitzu maltese will bite DS.

Can I just say this, from a person who has a nippy dog? Some people mentioned picking the baby up when the dog is in the room. Just be careful how you go about that. My nephew is very afraid of my dog. My sister and brother in law would pick him up when the dog was in the room, even when my nephew was 5 years old. The dog thought it was a game that my nephew was being held over him like a piece of bait. It just made him want to jump at the kid more and nip at his feet. I am lucky because if we separate my dog from people, he often just uses the opportunity to catch a nap. He is very friendly but he is possessive over his toys and sees kids as a threat to anything he "owns." We work on his issues constantly. He loves my son and he shows it but I will always assume that he would still bite if he felt provoked (and what makes him feel provoked is not what people might expect).

Anyway, just be careful about holding a child physically above a dog. Even a little dog can get a lot of height if he/she wants to!