Home > Dog behaviour > Around children > Jealousy of your child

Management

• Quiet dog down if need be with change in diet.
• Make the dog earn treats and affection, never demand them.
• Train to get instant obedience to commands by rewarding obedience with affection and treats.
• Make nice things happen when the child appears such as:

1) play hide and seek with the dog on the lead -- working up to having the child hide nearer and nearer the bedroom -- finally inside.

2) at the dog's meal times, sit the dog on the leash and wait. Finally call the child to bring in the food, put it on the floor AWAY from the dog and walk away. Only then release the dog.

3) walks -- let the child go up to the dog with the lead and say "You want a walk?"

4) after you have taught the dog to sit, down and stay on command have him on a leash beside the child. Both together give the dog a command with you there to push him into the right position if needed. With time lower your voice and increase the child's until the dog obeys the child. The child should be the one to give him hugs and treats when he obeys.

5) keep the door to the bedroom closed during the day. Avoid the situation when the dog is in the bedroom (its territory) and the chid enters. Turn the situation around -- have the child in the bedroom playing on the floor and go in with the dog on a long lead. Go in speaking to the dog with a friendly voice, distracting it and reward it with pats and food if it remains friendly. Slowly get closer to the child on each occasion and work up to having her play beside and then on the bed. During this extinction of his territorial, aggressive behaviour ignore the child and keep your attention on the dog. If he shows any signs of aggression -- stops, stares or growls -- immediately say 'No', jerk the lead and make him lie down, then lead him away, out of the room. Give him no reward, no attention. Repeat at this level until aggression lost.

6) extreme provocation for the dog is when the dog is on the bed with you and the child runs in. If you see the situation developing take hold of the dog and do not play with him, nor pat him nor speak lovingly. You are both WAITING. 'Where's The child? When the child comes in to the far side of the bed, then make a fuss of the dog. 'The child's here, now we can have fun.'

GENERAL AGGRESSION TOWARDS CHILDREN

If the dog growls and doesn't just attack, he is saying 'At this moment I don't want to be touched'. This should be respected. Tell the children while at a distance not to pat the dog. If he should growl, ask the children to back off and make the dog lie down and stay lying down (submissive posture). As in the aggression towards children instructions work to have the dog have fun with children, start with the family then include outsiders and younger children. Always stop while the dog is still having fun and wanting more. Only when the dog's attitude towards children has been changed by playing with them can you start to allow strange children to approach him. If a group of children can walk by talking to him and he pulls forward to greet them, then is the time to let him go up to each one. The next time let them put a hand out for him to lick and only when he is friendly towards an outstretched hand let the children touch him. A scratch on the chest is less threatening than a pat on the head.