Puppy Update and Kid Question

[Jenny & Henry]

So, Henry is home!!!  We are just so in love with this little guy.  He is doing great with potty outside.  He is eating pretty good too.  Going to bed in the crate next to my side of the bed and no whimpering or anything.  I think he knows I am right there.  Last night he slept from 10:00 pm until 5:30 this morning.  I was so proud of my little guy. 

 

He LOVES my daughters, who are two and five.  He constantly wants to be with them.  As he has gotten more comfortable he has been playing more and he will try and bite them (playful of course) and I have them standing up and putting their back to him.  The two year old (just about thee), is doing better then the five year old.  <sigh> 

 

Does anyone have any other suggestions.  I am assuming we will just have to ride this phase out.  I love to play with a puppy like that, but from what I read we should not encourage that at all, even when they are this little.

 

Any advice, tips or just thoughts would be greatly appreciated! 

 

Thanks,

Jenny

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Great name chosen!  :)    I've held onto that name for over 6 yrs, if i would ever have a daughter, but no chance at that, i have 3 sons!  So now i have my female doodle Ayla!   Hope your child stays safe- our Storm's teeth were like razors!!

[Jenny & Henry]

So, I sat the girls down tonight and we had a good talk about rules with the puppy.  The best way for them to get it was it's like how if we tickle we use our fingers/hands and Henry don't have them so he uses his teeth.  I used tickling cause I want them to know he's just playing and in their eyes being "silly".  I think they got it.  We practiced being a tree and they did great. 

 

Henry was so cute and playful tonight. I love seeing him get more comfortable with us.  I love that he loves the girls as much as he does, I'm still surprised.  I guess I thought he'd be like my cat and ignore them till they were age 4 and up.  HA HA

 

He's doing so great with the potty still, other then the fact we got a cold spell again and it's pouring like crazy.  Yea!  I am just loving that.  I just love my little marshmallow!  :D

 

 

[Becca & Lucy]

My kiddos where 3 & 5 when we got Lucy. She went after my little one every time too! Its a phase, its hard but ya can make it through it. I have a lead that I can clip around my waist. I use that when I need Lucy to calm down when we have guests. I bet it would work great with your kiddos also. My son was HORRIBLE about turning his back. Thankfully it was a pretty short lived phase and we only lost about 3 shirts in it :)

[Jenny & Henry]

Ha, funny cause I thought he put a hole in my five year olds today.  It was like a thin henly type shirt and I hear it kind of pull, but it was ok.  I am just gonna have to stay on the girls to have fun with him, but follow the rules.  I might start leashing in the house some I guess.  This seems to be a good option that has been mentiioned by a few of you. 

 

 

[Gabriele Gardner]

Jenny,

Thank you for asking this question.  We got our puppy, Bentley, a week ago and we are having the same problem with our girls.  We have twins who are six and they are constantly running, sliding on the wood floors, dancing, playing wild, etc. and the puppy wants to join them by chasing/nipping.  He also is attracted to the ruffles on their clothes and is always nipping at them.  The girls get pretty upset about that since they love their clothes.

 

I am really happy to see the ideas everyone has given.  I am also going to try sitting on the leash and talking to the girls about becoming a tree when he is chasing.  I have never had a puppy around my kids before so this is all new to me.  I can already tell this group is going to be an invaluable resource.  Thank you!

 

Gabriele

[Jenny & Henry]

Yep, this is new to me as a mother.  I was always the child with all my previous puppies.  :)  My two year old is like that, she is always dressed up in her dress up clothes or has a tutu thrown over top of her pants.  Last night i made her take the tutu off because it was just too enticing to the puppy.  I think she secretly enjoyed him trying to get it though.  HA HA

[Gabriele Gardner]

Amanda,

 

Ha, ha, I'm not surprised that your younger two are less fearful.  I have been doing the same as you with having them help with feeding, taking him out to potty, giving commands, etc.  I think that is important too, AND it helps me when I am trying to get other things done.

[Jenny & Henry]

It is important, I am gonna have to let them start helping more with that stuff too. 

[Jenny & Henry]

That will be a nice phase to get too, just letting the dog out.  How old is Grayson?

 

We still take him out on the six foot lead.  Then we go to the other side of the yard for play time.  Once he realizes he's off the lead he runs and tries to eat mulch.  :(  We'll move him and move him and he keeps going back, so then he is back on leash play time. 

[Jenny & Henry]

That is so funny!  I can so see a two year old doing that.  Bet you couldn't figure out how a tiny yorkie was getting the door open.  :) 

 

So, Grayson was like 6 months when you could just let him out?  I will consider myself lucky if I can start doing that at six months.  We have a fenced in yard, which will be so nice when hes much bigger and we can just go out and play with him. 

[Trina L Lavoie]

We let Bruno out by himself from 8 weeks. We have a fenced yard and with two little ones in the middle of winter I really couldn't go out with him on the leash all the time. We had to fix a few areas now that spring has hit so he can't go under. Only down side is that he won't poop when I walk him now, or maybe that is good! ...and we know have to train him to stay out of the flower beds but he was fine with it.

[Jenny & Henry]

Lucky you, I'd love to do that. I know Henry would be out there eating dirt or a rock, trying to get under the deck.  Funny how simple my yard looked til I saw it from an 8 month puppy phase.  LOL  My little stinker will have to be on the leash for a little while longer for sure.