Help...upset again...Chewie incident.

[Laura & Chewie]

As you all know, I have posted about Chewie and our problems with resource guarding and some handling issues.  We consulted with a behavioral vet a few months ago who explained if this is his tendency, it can't be cured, but definitely decreased and controlled with practicing avoidance and desensitization.   For the most part we know his triggers and have been respecting them and behavior has improved.  98% of the time he is absolutely wonderful, funny, loving, smart and is a hugh part of our family.  We love him dearly!

 

With this being said, he is a "mouthy" dog.  At almost 15 months old, he still uses his mouth a lot to play.  He loves running around with something in his mouth, etc.  My granddaughters are here daily (7 and 8-1/2) and have a number of little friends they play with on my street.  Chewie absolutely loves the girls and is very good with them, but I think he thinks he's one of the kids and when they get wild, he gets wild too.  When he gets real wild, he gets nippy.

 

A little while ago, he was outside and the kids were pushing a toy wagon up and down the drive.  They did it faster and faster and he got wild and grabbed at the leg of the little girl next door.  He did not break the skin, but did leave a mark and it bruised.  This happened very quickly.  I am so, so upset this happened.  Her mother, remarkably, isn't upset...in her words, he's still a puppy and gets riled up.  I appreciate her not freaking out, but I am.  Even though he didn't do this to hurt her, it is still unacceptable.  Another thing worth noting...when I wheel the garbage can out to the curb weekly (and back again) he carries on then also.  Something about that garbage can moving (or me pushing it) really upsets him.  Now compare this with the kids pushing the wagon and acting crazy too...I just don't know.  He is very reactive...don't know if this is something that mellows with age?

 

I just don't know what to think...what if that has been her face not her leg.  I won't make excuses for this incident, I don't want to be in denial.  Just not quite sure what to do now.

 

As always, all opinions and/or advice welcome.

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

I would make sure that when ever the doodle is with the kids - I was also there. That way I can watch how they are playing - see when things are getting too excited - and take the dog away before she gets worked up.

His thing for wheels you can work on in your own time when the kids are not there. Reward him when he is calm and stop moving it if she shows any excitement. He will at some point tire of the game.

So far he gets excited and it keeps moving so he gets more excited and tries to catch/herd it. If it stopped every time he went after it - that would be no fun at all and he would stop trying to chase it.

He is still young too so all this should get better as he becomes more mature.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

When my boys were young they used to get rowdy with our Mastiff and Lab. The boys were little and the dogs were bigger. Out in the yard playing ball always started fun and ended badly.
The kids are kids--but the dogs are too. Rough play with dogs or kids usually ends up with someone getting hurt. I agree, put Chewie up when the kids are riding bikes or are running hard. When a lot of kids are outside in the action--the dog wants to join but joining in play for a dog usually includes the mouth.
In this case I don't think Chewie was being bad, he was just wanting to play but dogs and children play different and I don't think they compliment eachother with play styles.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree with all. I used to have a small terrier who would chase the girls on the sled down the hill in winter, but he always bit the sled, not the kids. I guess I got lucky there---but neighborhood kids would sometimes cut through our yard by coming down the same hill out of the woods and this same dog got one of them in the ankle once. Since the boy had surprised the dog by coming suddenly into the backyard,I could hardly blame the dog and they didn't either. This same young man went to Hollywood several years later and starred in some pretty big movies--including Pearl Harbor. When he comes back home, he still mentions that my dog bit him--in a joking way, of course. I guess he learned a lesson!
My doodle, Lyric, who is the mouthy one of my two doods was at the dog park the other day and one couple brought their 8 yr. old who was running around chasing the dogs--this spelled trouble to me and I was getting ready to leave, but luckily, Lyric was a bit afraid of him and kept a safe distance--phew! She also gets too wild and leaps very high and tries to mouth your hands. Her bite is very soft though and she would never break the skin. I am trying to break her of it anyway as people find it very annoying (who wouldn't!?)