[boomschtick]

I have a cockapoo puppy that is about 10 months old.

He has gotten it into his head that the back yard is his domain and he can do whatever the heck he wants to. When the kids are out there he is aggressive with them. He will start running and get some speed behind him and just run into the kids. He will jump up on them and nip at their arms and legs. If they are wearing pants, he’ll grab onto those and start tugging. Also, he’s impossible to catch when he’s back there with no way to corner him. He can and does literally run circles around me.

For the most part, he does not do this in the house and he never does it to me. I assume that means that he knows I’m the boss and he does not think the kids are also in charge.

I could use any suggestions you might have to squelch this behavior. My kids don’t want to go out there with him as a result.

Thanks!

[Chris_Texas]

Originally Posted by boomschtick

I have a cockapoo puppy that is about 10 months old.

He has gotten it into his head that the back yard is his domain and he can do whatever the heck he wants to. When the kids are out there he is aggressive with them. He will start running and get some speed behind him and just run into the kids. He will jump up on them and nip at their arms and legs. If they are wearing pants, he’ll grab onto those and start tugging. Also, he’s impossible to catch when he’s back there with no way to corner him. He can and does literally run circles around me.

For the most part, he does not do this in the house and he never does it to me. I assume that means that he knows I’m the boss and he does not think the kids are also in charge.

I could use any suggestions you might have to squelch this behavior. My kids don’t want to go out there with him as a result.

Thanks!

This is a serious problem. Get professional help immediately. Do not allow your kids near him.

[applesmom]

Has he been allowed to do this since he was a small puppy?

It sounds more like he just wants to join in their play and hasn't been taught how to behave properly around playing children.

To break him of this habit you'll need to be there constantly when the kids are outside and he'll have to be on a leash the entire time.

It's going to take a lot of calming, dedication and patience to straighten him out with active children running and playing in the yard. But it can be done fairly quickly if handled with 100 percent consistency.

[boomschtick]

Originally Posted by applesmom

Has he been allowed to do this since he was a small puppy?

It sounds more like he just wants to join in their play and hasn't been taught how to behave properly around playing children.

To break him of this habit you'll need to be there constantly when the kids are outside and he'll have to be on a leash the entire time.

It's going to take a lot of calming, dedication and patience to straighten him out with active children running and playing in the yard. But it can be done fairly quickly if handled with 100 percent consistency.

That was what we were thinking. He's not a crazy dog and we are not worried about serious injury. He just has the wrong idea of play time. Thanks for the input.

[Chris_Texas]

Originally Posted by boomschtick

That was what we were thinking. He's not a crazy dog and we are not worried about serious injury. He just has the wrong idea of play time. Thanks for the input.

You have a ten month old dog that's "nipping" your kids to the extent that they don't want to go near him. This is aggressive play and, in my opinion, behavior that you need to take seriously. I am not saying that your pup is incurable or needs to be pts, but in my opinion you need to deal with this.

[applesmom]

How old are the kids?

[cshellenberger]

He has gotten it into his head that the back yard is his domain and he can do whatever the heck he wants to. When the kids are out there he is aggressive with them. He will start running and get some speed behind him and just run into the kids. He will jump up on them and nip at their arms and legs. If they are wearing pants, he’ll grab onto those and start tugging.

Have the kids DEAD STOP, turn their backs, look away from him and tuck hands in the arm pits and IGNORE him when he chases them, this is all a game to him. Here's an excercise YOU can do with him to stop this

http://www.dogforums.com/3-dog-train...cool-down.html (Rev Up/Cool Down)

http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm

Also, he’s impossible to catch when he’s back there with no way to corner him. He can and does literally run circles around me.

ANY time he comes to you outside, REWARD heavily with his favorite treat!!! Name hte behavior "COME"

BTW, get a 20 ft lead and don't allow him off of it outside until you get him trained.

[Sugar Daddy Otis]

Do not allow your kids near him.

This is a puppy- not an agressive attack dog! This puppy needs to be taught how to behave around children running around playing- that is impossible to do if you take the kids away from the dog.
Believe me- I have a 125 pound 9 month old- I know what you are going through. This puppy just needs to learn- the above advice from cshellenberger is the right path...It didn't take long and Otis now knows how to act when they are out running around with him. I agree and keep him on a long leash to correct his behaviors you feel are too rough and have the kids ignore him when he is wanting to play the wrong way.

[cshellenberger]

Originally Posted by Chris_Texas

This is a serious problem. Get professional help immediately. Do not allow your kids near him.

This doesn't necessarily mean the kids can't play with him it's basic training that he needs.

[boomschtick]

I totally agree. He's just wanting to play with them, but his version of playing is not OK. It's not that they don't want to be around him. They just don't want to be around him when he's acting up. Now that the weather is getting warmer, we'll be able to work on his behavior more. I think that the long winter without anyone out there with him has given him the wrong idea of who's in charge back there.

I'm not sure how successful the kids will be with the stopping cold and ignoring him when he's tugging on their pants, but we will certainly give it a shot!

He's probably due for a bit of leash time too!

[Chris_Texas]

Originally Posted by cshellenberger

This doesn't necessarily mean the kids can't play with him it's basic training that he needs.

Allow me to clarify. I should have said: do not allow your kids near him unsupervised.

[boomschtick]

Originally Posted by applesmom

How old are the kids?

9, 7, 5 & 2