My son and neighbor's dog?

1661 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Bordermom, Mar 17, 2012

LeoLamaze

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2012

I've recently moved into a new duplex with two friends. My 18-month-old son will be coming there on a regular basis to visit me. I've recently found out that our land lady, with whom we share the garden, has a dog (border collie/lab mix) that seems to be very poorly socialised. Whenever we've been at her place to sign contracts and the like, the dog has seemed extremely afraid and has been barking like mad. Our land lady says that it's because he is a guard dog and that it takes him time to get used to strangers... I don't buy it. Even the most alert guard dog would not act this way around strangers if it was well-socialised.

The dog is often outside in the garden without a leash, and when he is not in defence-mode he seems like a wonderful, energetic and playful dog. Because I will be living here for years, I want to introduce my son to this pooch, but I also want my son to have good experiences with dogs just like I have had, and I am afraid that if the dog barks aggressively at him, it could potentially install a life-long fear of dogs in him, which would be a nightmare, as I am very fond of dogs and want to introduce one into the family in a few years.

So what to do? As I see it I have three options, but all suggestions are welcome:

1) Should I kindly ask my land-lady to only let her dog out into the garden at designated times, so that my son and the dog will never have to meet?

2) Should I try to encourage her to spend more time socialising her dog to people and other dogs, so that in time the dog will be happy to meet and greet my son?

3) Should I offer her to spend some time with her dog and provide some much needed training and socialisation myself before introducing it to my son?

Many thanks in advance.

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Bordermom

· #8 · Mar 17, 2012

I wouldn't stress too much - is the garden the only place you can take your son outside? Chances are unless the landlady is very, very good about picking up after him, it's not going to be ideal for your kiddo to be out there with the poop. Honestly I'd just leave the yard to the dog and take the kid to the park or for walks. At his age he's not going to really 'need' to see a bunch of dogs and can't do much with them anyway, he's not going to understand not pulling ears etc. and he's not stable with walking to be able to walk a dog for quite a while. Plus he's right at face level and kids tend to stare which doesn't work well with some dogs.

When you see dogs on the street you can figure out if they're kid friendly or not fairly quickly - we went to a dog show last weekend and there were a few dogs that dragged their owners to see the kids. Other dogs didn't seem to care....

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Bordermom

· #9 · Mar 17, 2012

luvmyfurballs said:
Border Collies are herding dogs and I'm guessing that after everyone meets and are on happy terms, this dog still might try to herd your child(especially if it hasn't been around kids). This will be great fun for the dog not so much for the baby So be prepared for the baby to fall and get knocked over until the dog realizes its not to be herded--it doesn't mean the dog is being mean its doing its job. Treats are always a good way to a dogs heart.

I don't let my guys play 'tag' with Kilt because she does love to run and nip/bark at them. Not her fault and while my kids think it's very funny, someone else's kids might not. So I just have them doing things like walking (two leashes, I have one, kid has one unless it's the older dogs that will come right back) or hide and seek (kid takes treat and goes and 'hides' and dog goes for treat).

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