to muzzle or not to muzzle

[Janel and Sophia]

I am hoping that I am posting this in the correct spot...

Here is my issue:   We are going to my daughters place, who has two small boys, 1 and 4. I will be baby sitting them.  Sophia, is still in full "Nipping" mode.   I really do not want to run the risk of her biting the boys, but I can't keep her crated all day, nor can I watch her and the boys all at the same time. The next best thing is to buy a muzzle, at least I won't have to worry that she does harm to the grand kids.   Am I being a bad Moma??  I would like to think this is the best solution.  Thoughts??

[Bonnie and Kona]

I had grandchildren about the same ages when we got Owen. We got to babysit for them several times overnight. I suggest you keep your puppy on a leash much of the time and be sure to bring her crate for time to sleep. You can work with her to sit when the children come near. This will take time but is well worth the effort. The 4 year old is old enough to learn how to be respectful of dogs and how to keep safe by not enticing the puppy to run and bite. Good luck, and I hope you will enjoy the kiddos and time with your puppy.

[Janel and Sophia]

Thanks Bonnie,   We will be bringing her crate, as my daughter lives about 900 miles from our home,  I will be b b sitting full time for two weeks.   I am not as concerned about the 4 year old as I  am the 1 year old....  My DH has a boxer, who is elderly, so that just adds another dimension to the fun..

As an  aside. We keep Sophia on a long leash at all times, crate her when she gets really 'Bitey".    This should be fun.....LOL  YIKES

[Bonnie and Kona]

I hope this is a great bonding time for you and your precious grandchildren.

[Janel and Sophia]

OOOPs should have said   Darling Daughter and not DH....  LOL

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Use a leash and teach the kids how to approach and be nice. When you don't want to watch him crate him and he will learn!! Coco and my 2 1/2 year old nephew get along great and she no longer tries to knock him down anymore.

[Janel and Sophia]

Hi Cheryl  I am hoping that the 4 year old will be co-operative, but it is Sophia that worries me.  We are still trying to teach her not to jump, I might add that so far I am failing at that...   I am going into this thinking it will be a good experience for Sophia..  hope I am not proven wrong.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I definitely understand your problem.  Our ALD was also very nippy and jumps up on people, especially my DH.  He used to be nipped daily and his hands were bruised from it.  Not so much with me, but I usually wear long sleeves and don't put my hand down to touch him when he is greeting me.  It got better when he got his adult teeth, but he is still a very mouthy dog.

About the muzzle, you might try that when she is out and about the house.  I would definitely keep her on leash at all times when she is out of her crate and when the leash goes on, also put on the muzzle.  You can release her to do her business outdoors, but then keep the children inside and let them just watch her.

I muzzled my goldendoodle, but for a different reason.  He doesn't bite, but he does eat anything he finds on the trails when we are out walking (on or off leash).  I tried using a muzzle and he hates it, but it does keep him for cleaning up the trails.  He figured out how to howl with the muzzle on (probably to express his distaste for it).  However, if the puppy sees the muzzle and leash as the price of going out of the crate, she will adjust just fine.

My suggestion would be to never allow the children to pet her or touch her without her being on leash and with the muzzle.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  Enjoy your stay with the grandchildren and I am sure Sophia will just love having them around.  Hopefully she will outgrow this nipping and jumping, but be careful in the meantime, especially when it comes to children.

[Janel and Sophia]

Thanks Lynda   Sophia also does the trail cleaning.  She will eat bugs, bark, weeds, rocks and just about any non edible thing she finds.  Yet when it comes to treats..... she is soooooo fussy!  

I am going to buy a muzzle or something similar and put in on her before we go, so she is used to it.  If I feel I need to use it when I am there, I will, but other wise I am hoping that I can teach her not to nip and jump.  It may not work, but I am going to give it a try.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Janel, I am sure you will be able to work this out so that you can enjoy your grandkiddos and your puppy will become more socialized. It's a win-win.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

What about an ex-pen or a baby gate where you could gate a small area to give the puppy a little more room than the crate but she couldn't get to the baby.  Have fun!

[Janel and Sophia]

Thanks this is going to be a challenge, that is for sure.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think the challenge will be the one year old.  Here's a discussion from the Training Group on the method my trainer taught me for "Babyproofing Murphy".  Maybe it will help. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/chi...

We went through the training exercise a number of times, but when I wasn't able to watch Murph with the baby, he was gated in another room.  The muzzle is certainly an idea, but it won't actually train Sophia about how to behave around the children...it will only prevent the nipping.  Good luck....this can be tough as I know from experience.