Dogs and Kids Lessons Learned #1

Hi fellow doodle friends.

I've hesitated to post this for two weeks but its nagged at me so much I guess I felt the need to finally start a thread.

I know I've mentioned I've helped teach training classes in the past (for local obedience club) in the capacity of teaching KPT (puppy) and basic obedience and some basic agility. I'm extremely knowledgeable about beagles (my breed in young adulthood before doodles also all training was my 10 years prior to kids) and moderately knowledge about some basic dog behavior.

However until I got Brisby (our first doodle) I never really had kids and dogs in a household together. I wasn't a human mom and dog mom at the same time. I've set some serious rules for both human kids and my canine kiddos. Both in my opinion can randomly forget the rules. I have a 8 (almost 9 year old daughter) and a 5 year old child (son). Daughter is 1 year post treatment survivor of leukemia. Son has special needs-cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The reason I am telling you this is that I am pretty overprotective of my kiddos due to medical issues. Anyway, Im pretty strict on the fact that the kids CANNOT treat the dogs like baby dolls, stuffed animal, etc. We have rules like no hugging them, no jumping on them, do not dress them up, etc. I know many of you will laugh at the last one but kids do all kinds of crazy things.

So my kids are decently versed in not messing with the dogs and treating them with respect. However, kids are kids and dogs are dogs. The other night my 8 year old was playing with her crazy brother. She was laying on the floor and blowing imaginary "darts" at her brother. She shouldn't have been on the floor. That's one of my rules when dogs are out-no kids on the floor. However, as kids do, she forgot and fell down on the carpet while she "blew" an imaginary dart at alex. Brisby was right in her path and got blown in the face which startled him. He reacted and pawed her face, giving her a pretty red scrape. Of course, he thought she was doing something to him and reacted. She had paw scratches on her face for the next 2 days. While she was ok physically, besides superficial stuff, she was scared. But she actually apologized to Brisby and told me she shouldn't have been on the floor blowing air in Brisby's direction. We did not punish Brisby and Grace actually knew she was in the wrong and hasn't been on the floor since.

I guess I just wanted to show that these kids/dog things happen even in hypervigelent households but you can educate your family when it happens. You can train your dogs and your kids.I love my kids, and my dogs. Mistakes happen on both sides. Its how you chose to handle it and learn from it and move forward that matters.

OK Im rambling.

PB&J says Hi to all.

. \I

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Brown on April 2, 2014 at 7:32am

Thanks for sharing. Pawing is a pretty common dog behavior. I think it was just bad luck and because your daughter was on the floor that caused him to scratch her face. Dogs often paw at people and 99% of the time it is a benign gesture.

But I take your point that accidents can happen. We all do our best to prevent them.

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Permalink Reply by Leslie J on April 2, 2014 at 9:48am

This is an important post! I had twins who were 4 when we got Cocoa. They were old enough to learn about dog behavior- mainly if you run around and act like a puppy, she will treat you like a puppy!!! To be successful with kids and dogs, the kids must understand how dogs interact, then, as in the case of your daughter, they understand that the dog was only responding in a predictable manner.

From a young age, my twin boys have always been gentle and patient with toddlers, and I think they learned this from Cocoa. Like a puppy, toddlers behave (or misbehave!) as they are compelled. We must manage the circumstances for the best possible outcome.

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Permalink Reply by Valarie on April 2, 2014 at 11:57am

This is an important consideration that should be discussed by dog lovers. Kids plus dogs can be a recipe for disaster - even with diligence in training (kids and dogs) and super vigilant supervision. We had our sweet Clay for several years before we started fostering children. We knew it would require some serious management putting stressed children in the same house with a dog who had NEVER lived with or been often exposed to little ones. A 17 month old little boy (D) was placed in our home. He was very gentle with Clay and Clay never demonstrated any behavior that concerned me. My husband was very insistent that we never leave them alone together, even though our little fellow wanted Clay to sleep with him. We never allowed it. D had lived with us for over two years when one day D and I were home alone. We were playing in the family room. The phone rang and I went to the kitchen to answer. While on the phone I heard Clay bark and D cry out. I dropped the phone and ran to the family room. D was crying, had bloody scratches on his face. He was so upset that he vomited. We went immediately to the emergency clinic. Thank goodness no serious injuries. D told me that he had one of Clay's toys, he was holding it up to throw it for Clay to fetch. Clay loved to chase tennis balls. Clay of course was excited to play and jumped up to get the toy and as he came down his claws scratched D's face. I was horrified at the injury and so concerned about D. I was also concerned about Clay and the safety of continuing to have them together. We worked through it thank goodness but it was an especially difficult time. So again this is a very relevant problem and there really are no easy answers. Jenn, it is obvious that you love your children and your pup and are trying very hard to keep everyone safe.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on April 2, 2014 at 12:20pm

No matter how much we try to control EVERYTHING, this is a good reminder that life happens and we cannot control EVERYTHING. It sounds like Brisby was being playful, which is a good reaction, just wish it had not been your daughter's face that was the recipient of the paw.

Not long ago a new puppy owner posted that her dog bit her on the nose when she put her face down by him. I said to her that she shouldn't have had her face by her dog's mouth - then the very next day, I snuggled my son's new puppy and put my face right in his - duh. Nothing bad happened which is what happens 99% of the time, but it reminded me that accidents can happen while we are living our lives, and while my advice was spot on, it was not totally realistic. Now would I put my face into an excited hyped-up puppy's face - not on your life!