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  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    28
    Thanked: 11

    Children and Crazy Puppy Times

    First of all, I want to thank the wonderful people of this message board that supported me through the death of my beloved almost 15 year old chocolate lab, Hershey. Your kind words meant more to me than words can express and I need to do a better job of paying this board's kindness forward. Everyone has a different time when it is "right" to bring another baby into their family again. For me, while my heart is still broken over Hershey, it was still big enough to bring another baby home. I started looking around and doing some research for another lab for our family. I found a litter that happened to be born on the day Hershey passed. For me, this was special. One baby went to heaven and another was born.

    Now, we have a beautiful 11 week old yellow lab named Bella. She is gorgeous, sweet, and is a biting demon. LOL!!!! I expected all of this as I went through it with Hershey. We are doing the yelping, giving her chew toys, etc. to deal with the biting. We've had her for about two weeks and are seeing SOME progress, and I mean only some. Her bite is slightly softer and she is releasing quicker when we tell her no. Again, I expected all of this. The first time around with Hershey, I had no clue. I thought she was this aggressive mean dog which was soooo far from the truth.

    Here's where I need help and where I underestimated how difficult life would be with a lab puppy in my current life as I didn't have children the first time around during the puppy days. I have a three year old daughter. She loves Bella but she is scared of her due to her nipping. Bella undoubtedly is going to be a gentle sweetheart but right now, I can't let her be around my daughter too much. I can only let my daughter pet Bella when I am holding her or when she very sleepy. Otherwise, Bella is after my daughter to nip her toes, hands, clothing, etc. In fact, it's difficult to let Bella play much at all with the entire family (we also have a 10 year old) because she mouths everything). I feel very guilty as it seems like we hold Bella for a while until she gets crazy and then put her in her pen (larger than her crate we use for night and when we are gone). I seem to have more success with Bella on my own during the day locked up with me in the kitchen while I do my work (I work at home some days of the week) as there is less to get into...lol. It's very difficult to get my three year old to stay still, etc. We do have training scheduled to start in a couple of weeks so I know this will help a little.

    I will take any advice you have to offer on how to get through these months with children. I know it will get better eventually as I chose another lab specifically because I do have children and a little selfishly over my love of the breed too.

    Thanks!
    Jenny

  2. #2
    House Broken Maggie's Mom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    226
    Thanked: 131
    My daughter was almost three when we got our puppy Maggie last year. There have been times when we have had to keep them separated by baby gates much of the time. Until Maggie was seven or eight months old I had to keep her on a leash at all times (and attached to me) in the house so I could control. They would also have to "take turns" running in the yard- puppy went on leash when kiddo wanted to run. During the rough phase (3-7ish months) my daughter was often frustrated because she could not play with Maggie as much she wanted to. During that biting/jumping/clothing grabbing phase I let my daughter play with Maggie in very controlled ways, some examples: I held the dog and my daughter hid small treats around the house/yard, I bought a doggie puzzle and my daughter filled it with the treats and set it down, my daughter kicked a soccer ball and hit tennis balls with her racket for Maggie to chase. We also went to Build a Bear and let her build her own puppy, she is really into pretend play, so when I would brush Maggie, she brushed her "puppy", she could walk the puppy around the house, feed it, train it, etc. Now with Maggie at a year old things are getting much easier. There is an awesome friendship between the two now. I still would never leave them alone unsupervised, but they spend most of the day together now mostly problem free. It will get better!!!!

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Maggie's Mom For This Useful Post:

    jenebekka (11-10-2014)

  4. #3
    Moderator
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Greenwood, Delaware
    Posts
    7,348
    Thanked: 7148
    It will get better. The biggest issue to overcome is the puppy see's the 3 year old as an equal. When we got Sophie, my grandson was 3. It took a lot of time and effort to convince him to not make squeaky noises, and to not run from Sophie. Once he figured this out, things got better. These two are now the best of buddies.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to barry581 For This Useful Post:

    jenebekka (11-10-2014)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog Jax's Mom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    792
    Thanked: 332
    I don't have advice but I do have prayers. I'm sure you will get excellent advice from the folks here.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Jax's Mom For This Useful Post:

    jenebekka (11-10-2014)

  8. #5
    House Broken
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    145
    Thanked: 154
    Keep the pup on a leash inside so you have control of her and she can not chase or nip the kids. Instead of crating which is good for naps (which pups do need) start working her on some basic obedience. Tire her out mentally. Take her out, roll a ball, try to get her to physically expel some excess energy. Do say AHAH or NO when she goes to put teeth on skin. You can substitute a toy before she actually nips- wave a toy so she focuses on that instead and then praise her when she takes it. Keep a schedule and stick to it as closely as you can as it makes life easier. I always crate pups when I am preparing dinner as the kids are usually energized, I am busy and it is over load for a pup. So, figure out when it is most hectic and then work the schedule around those times. Have the kids help train. Even 3 year olds can give simple commands- sit and then reward with a treat. You hold the leash so the pup can not jump. If the pup is not gentle taking treats then spend a lot of time working on that. If needed, you can cup your 3 yr olds hand with your fingers over the edges of her fingers and then treat flat on her hand so no puppy teeth make contact.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Lauranj For This Useful Post:

    jenebekka (11-10-2014)

  10. #6
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    28
    Thanked: 11
    Thank you all! We have a trainer coming tomorrow to start puppy obedience. I think this will help everything get better....with lots of patience and time. =)

 



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