Grandchildren & snap dragon Doodle?

[a.k.a. Rodney]

any good ideas about getting kids & doodle used to each other?

kids are eager. doodle is a snapping dragon...well, maybe just a nibbler sometimesBUT a jumper for sure..should i just keep them away till she gets better manners??

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I think a simple "yes" to this question may suffice....but how old are the grandkids? They also may need to be taught how to deal with her along the way.

:-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

 Since he is so small if they can't co-exist peacefully I would just get an ex-pen and put the dog in the pen except for short little trials to teach everyone how to exist peacefully together.  The first thing I had to teach my Niece was "if you run and scream they will chase you, nip you and knock you down".  She finally got it!

[Patti and Bosco]

I like Lucy&AnnaBelle's Mom's answer.  I would also teach the grandchildren some proper ways to approach any dog.  Perhaps set up some fun training sessions with the grandchildren and the doodle. 

[Julie and Charlie]

Yup, when my doodle sees kids, I have to constantly supervise and teach both the kid and the dog. I don't see that as a reason to keep them separate, just that they both need adult supervision and training :)

For instance, Charlie frequently sees a little girl. Her instinct is to get on the floor when she sees Charlie, and then Charlie comes up to her, and then she giggles and rolls on the floor. Charlie thinks that is a play sign, and climbs on top of her in typical play fashion. So, we've been teaching her that she needs to not do that... and trying to have her give some simple commands to Charlie, like sit, shake, lie down.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have 5 grandchildren and have found that most of the problem comes from the children.  Of course, an infant or very young toddler isn't going to know right from wrong.  But, by 3 or 4 years old you should be able to explain to the child that if they squeal, wave their hands and lunge at a dog the dog is going to either bark, lunge, lick, possibly snap or turn and run.  My three grandsons were not raised around dogs nor animals and still to this day (9, 7 & 5 years old) are not comfortable around dogs nor do they "get it" on proper behavior. They visit here once a year from Boston and I always have a problem because Gracie Doodle just loves to lick and tag along. She adores the kids. The licking is what scares the kids...especially since they are short and she is a standard GD and very tall.  But they also egg her on and try to get her to chase them, then when they fall over they cry. This August when they visit I have to start all over because the #4 child is a little girl who will be 3 in December.  Meanwhile, I have a 14 month old grand daughter that is my daughter's.  She has a Rhodesian Ridgeback and has from day one been raised around the dog and goes to the dog park every day with her mom and loves "oofs" (her name for dogs and the sound they make)!  They live in Northern California and come visit every few months.  Gracie adores little Eowyn and is so good with her.  We keep on Gracie with the licks and try to have her only do a few at a time.  Otherwise it will go on for 5 minutes.  But, little Eowyn has learned how to put an arm up and "deflect" an on coming dog or kiss.  Gracie Doodle is 6 years old so that means when she met the first grandchild he was 3 years old.  He actually did the best with Gracie because he was the only child and it was easier for them to get along and bond without the interferrence of all the other kids. To this day they are buddies. One on one is the best way to start in a quiet room with no distractions.  Squealing, jumping up and down, running and flapping hands and arms are red flags for dogs!!  One thing I know about my sweet Gracie Doodle is that she hasn't a mean or viscious bone in her body.  She would never ever snap or bite a child or person.  I also worked very hard when she was a baby training her to not bite and allowing me to do whatever I needed to with her body.  She is 100% trusting!  So, long story short...the children need just as much training as the puppy!

[DJ & Chance]

Both the children and the dog need to be trained.  My puppy does fine with children who are reasonably calm and who don't approach him with wildly waving arms and erratic gestures but rather gently, with a hand out where he can see and sniff it.  If children don't do what I ask them to do when approaching my puppy, that is the end of their opportunity to play with puppy.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes, I totally agree.  I think you've gotten some great advice here.  I really think you need to develop your training strategy (from other posts I see you're working on some problem behaviors).  The children are another distraction that must be worked into your training program.  Until you feel you have some control over the dog and the kids understand how they should be relating to the puppy, I would limit their contact unless you are actually working on training.  Don't give them a chance to practice the unwanted behaviors.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Use a kiddie corral or an ex-pen to separate them when you can't supervise. The children need to be calm and gentle with the dog.  If the dog is biting and nipping, you can put the dog in the pen or corral and the kids can sit next to it.