[Eris13021]

let me start out by saying that i have 5 children ages, 8,6,4,2, and 7 months old. All my kids have been around dogs since they where born. My oldest has been bitten about 3-4 times by her grandma's dog. So now here are the questions:

1. Bear if the kids get too rough with him will push against them till they fall down then lay on them he usually does this with my 4 year old. Does anybody else have a dog that does this? He barks at me as if to say come get your kid. I dont leave them unsupervised either .

2. My oldest daughter is slightly scared of dogs well of one particular breed. How do I get her used to that breed?

3. How do you break a dog from jumping on the couch whenever he feels like it?

 

[Keechak]

2. My oldest daughter is slightly scared of dogs well of one particular breed. How do I get her used to that breed?

3. How do you break a dog from jumping on the couch whenever he feels like it?

1. Find people with very calm and very sweet individuals of that breed and bring them over to your house and let your daughter pet them. Or educate her about the breed.

2. What I used to do with my dogs is raise all hell when they jump on the couch and then prise the heck out of them when they get off.

 

[Eris13021]

most people i know have the breed she is scared of. I've fostered that breed but she is so darn terrified of them it makes me want to slap her grandmother.

 

[Keechak]

then I suggest getting a puppy of that breed for therapy work for your daughter if your willing to take in a new dog. I have never met a girl who could resist an 8 week old puppy lol

 

[Eris13021]

tried that she is just so scared of the breed. Its one of my favorite breeds too!! Now with Bear she is fine, she loves him.

 

[deege39]

I can sort of add a suggestion for the "couch" issue...

My dog, Donatello, waits for permission before jumping on the sofa... I trained him to do that for a few reasons. 1. being, behavioral problems; He was a cocky little dog, and I read a book that explained when you give your dog certain pleasures like all-out-free-reign to the sofas and chairs, they view themselves as having a certain level of authority... Other's look at it like resource-guarding... However you want to put it, I was tired of Donatello acting and behaving like it was his sofa... He wouldn't move over for me to sit down, I'd literately have to sit on him, and only then he'd scoot over but likely give me a slight growl like, "How dare you..."

2. Every morning, we'd wake up and he'd make a mad-maniac dash for "his" spot on the sofa... My sisters are not scared of dogs, but they like making a scene... Jumping and screaming...

So here's what I did to correct those behaviors...

I took a leash to bed with me every night; Every morning I'd put a leash on him, forcing him to walk calmly behind me or beside me. Then when we got to the sofa I'd put him in a "sit-stay"... Then when I was ready, I'd point to the sofa and let him jump up.

Then during the day, after walks, I'd put myself between him and the sofa; Even if I had to thrust my hand in his face, I'd make him "sit-stay"... I'd sit down on the sofa, "pretend" to ignore him then point to the sofa and he'd jump up...

You could, in theory, go at this however you see fit of course... But I'll tell you, it's made a world of difference in his attitude with me alone. Donatello moves over on the sofa if I want to sit down, in the mornings we no longer need the leash- he's got the whole "walk-calmly-at-my-side" thing down pat...

Good luck with the rest. : )

 

[Keechak]

well then If it was my daughter I would say a therapist would be in order. It is compleatly unreasonable to be terrified of a 8 week puppy. I would say she has a phobia which I think is something that needs to be cured to live a normal life.

 

[MissMutt]

Do you still have Eris, BTW? I know this is off-topic but I haven't seen any mention of her lately.

 

[Elana55]

How old is the fearful child? What is your reaction when she exhibits fear (even if it is unreasonable fear)? Are you or other people playing into it where there is nothing to fear?

If she has witnessed nasty behavior by a particular breed of dog at Grandma's you need to make sure that stops happening (don't let her interact with Grandma's dog or with Grandma unless the dog is confined).

If she is showing unreasonable fear, then I would not reinforce it by attending to it, comforting etc. and see if that improves.

I will likely get flack for this but in myexperience, therapy is highly overrated.

As to the couch.. You keep removing the dog from the couch by his collar if necessary. As he is getting off the couch, you say, "Off!" and as soon as all 4 are on the floor, say, "Yes!!" and give him a treat. Repeat as necessary. When he understands "off" you then use it as he is getting on the couch and feed treat for all 4 on the floor.

 

[Mdawn]

As to the couch.. You keep removing the dog from the couch by his collar if necessary. As he is getting off the couch, you say, "Off!" and as soon as all 4 are on the floor, say, "Yes!!" and give him a treat. Repeat as necessary. When he understands "off" you then use it as he is getting on the couch and feed treat for all 4 on the floor.

*nods*

This is basically what I did with Uallis when he was starting to show signs of being "possessive" of his couch.