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Puppy Stuff!
Problem:
Our pup is full of life and we love her, but we have a two year old child and the puppy keeps nipping him. I can play fetch with her, and she is great, will mind me great, but she keeps biting my 2 yr old.
How do we get her to stop biting and pay attention? I don't want her hurting our baby, but I don't want to get rid of her either. She is about 12 weeks now. Also she will not come in until She is ready! AHHH Please help!
Solution:
Are you using a crate with your puppy? If not, you need to be. A two year old child is not capable of correcting a puppy, so it is your obligation to keep them separated and protect your child from the puppy.. A crate or some gates in your home will help you do that. Your puppy should never be allowed to nip at your child - EVER. If that means keeping them separated 100% of the time, then so be it. Keeping your child safe in your home is your primary responsibility. Additionally, you need to teach the puppy what is appropriate to bite and what is not. Toys are okay, people and especially small children are not. Keeping her on leash in the house around the baby will allow you to correct the biting behavior.
You also need to tire this puppy out. At 12 weeks, she is full of pep and energy and needs to play. You need to set aside some time each day to play games with her - tennis ball, frisbee, tug, trick training, crate games and other activities that will stimulate her mind and tire her body. When she is in her crate, she should have a rope toy, stuffed kong or chew hoof to keep her busy and allow her the chewing that young puppies need.
To teach a solid recall, she should not be outside without a leash until you know that she will come to you 100% of the time. Also, you should teach her to come to you and then release her to play more. If she must come in and stop her fun every time you call her, why should she want to come in until she is ready. In the yard, put her on a long line and play restrained recalls. A restrained recall is where you have your husband or a friend hold the puppy. You call her name and run away from her. When she gets excited, she is released to come to you. Let her catch up to you, do not turn back until she is fully engaged with you. Dragging a rope toy or a tug will help stimulate her excitement. When she comes to you reward her with a short game or a treat and let her wander off again. Do this several times a day.
Right now it sounds as if you are allowing the puppy to call the shots in this household and that needs to stop. You control the resources: Food, toys, games. Your husband needs to become more active in this as well. Get some really high value treats at the pet store or make your own and stash them in jars around the house. Your husband should call the puppy to him, as for a sit or down, and reward her. If he will play with her, that would be even better. She needs to learn her place in the pack. That place is with you, your husband and child at the top and the puppy as a member of the pack.
There are some great book resources out there to help you with training. Patricia McConnell has a book on training the family dog that is a great resource.
Good luck with her. Managing a puppy and a 2 year old can be a challenge. On the other hand, if you can teach your puppy appropriate behavior around your son, you will build a bond between them that will provide your child many years of happiness with his dog.
Maryellen Miller
MABCR Volunteer
