Managing a Puppy Doodle and Toddler

[David Gordon]

Hello..

We have had Charlie for about 3 weeks now and its been pretty good.  I have a 20 month old and 5 month old so yes we are busy.. Charlies doing well with potty training and only a few accidents.. Mostly me trying to catch him in the act to teach its not ok to potty inside.. He knows right away to potty outside because I took him out every 30 min it seems.. Charlies last shots are Saturday and then we are off to socialize more..

My question is right now our biggest effort is managing the play between him and my toddler. 70% of the time my toddler is easy, plays nice, pets him and gives him treats.  20% hes chasing him, screaming laughing and being harmless but its starling to Charlie at times.. 10% hes been a toddlers, trying to squeeze him, step on him and just not knowing how to interact.  I am RIGHT on top of things with him and redirect right away.  I also do this the second Charlie starts to nip, chase or get out of control.  My fear is did I get Charlie at too young of a age for my boy.. I notice Charlie isnt really scared of my son but he does leave the room when my son is pushing trucks and running around like a manic..

Charlie returns and will play with Issac and is happy to see him.. I just want to make sure Charlie doesn't develop a fear of him which can lead to aggression..  My son was bit in the face by a dog at 8 months so we are a little more precautions.. My son LOVES charlie and its a joy to see them run around outside and play but just wanting some advice on what to look for.. how to monitor their play and is there a best practice for how to let toddlers and puppys interact.. thanks for the time!

[Toni Clayton]

I think staying on top of it, (which is sounds like you are)  and giving Charlie a safe place to escape to when he needs it is your best bet. I had asked my pediatrician years ago about a suggested age before we got a dog, and she had said  3 at minimum...and I was still on the fence, so it gave me time. I also/still do crate train, so it gives everyone a respite, especially since George had a hard time settling when he was smaller.

[David Gordon]

Yeah.. Ideally we would have waited but we noticed with our second child it has helped alot with jealous of my oldest.. hes so entertained by Charlie he doesn't tend to care that Mommy or Daddy is spending time with his little brother.. Thanks for your reply and yes I have been very diligent about keeping the boys away when Charlie retreats to his crate.  We have two in the house, one in our bedroom for complete privacy and one in the entryway where he can go retreat and come back out when he wants.. I do let my son interact with him at times when hes in the crate by giving him treats and petting him but thats normally when letting him out or putting him in for the night..

[Toni Clayton]

I understand...I have two boys, now 7 & 9. I didn't want a dog as much as my husband, which is how I held out so long. Now he's my baby, lol, and I've been converted to a dog person.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just my thoughts and my experience to share with you.  When I was a young mother of two toddlers, both under the age of two, I got a chocolate lab puppy. Beautiful boy. 

The puppy would chew on my crawling 6 month old's feet.  Brutal. The puppy got in the diaper bin on a constant basis and shook the dirty diapers all over the wall.   Kind of like, ' When sh%t hits the fan"   There is more, but I got through it because I got the puppy for me for many reasons. Not for my children, although I often heard I was such a great mother because I got this dog for my boys. Not true.  I was home alone all evening and  night in a suburban area with no lights, and of course, I like dogs. I finally had my own home and promised myself when I got a real place where I could keep a dog, I would.  I would and I would do right by him.  I questioned myself daily as if I took on way too much and if I was doing right by this little chocolate bundle, and my human babies.  So much on my shoulders, 

I really dont know how I made it in those days except for the fact that I wanted this puppy.  Finally, I took my puppy ( not my boy's puppy) to training when it became more than I could deal with.  It helped immensely. Sure, you have children and not a lot of time but it is the only thing that saved my sanity.  I wasnt new or naive when it came to dogs.  My best friend showed dogs too so I spent a lot of time in her little make-shift training ring.  Still, I was dealing with a very young family and a wild, off the wall, puppy.

The training, without really knowing, was to help me, help my family and my puppy.  Priceless.

Puppies and toddlers pose a lot of issues but so can unattended children at any age.  

For now, keep this puppy for yourself and your husband.  It is not a child's toy.  I mean that in the kindest way. Dont let your child play with him.

If you think about it, we dont let our infants on the floor to play with the two year old either.  This is your new baby!  In years to come he will be priceless to you and your family. He will be part of your family and will still be there for your kids in high school.  The hardest day was to tell my son during his first year of college,' his' ( eventually, with maturity and age it was his bonded friend ) dog died.  

Dogs and families have lived together for centuries.  Most of the time it works but honestly, many times it doesn't.  

Good luck 

[Toni Clayton]

That was beautifully honest Joanne...I will admit that we got our George for my husband, I'm the one who has done a 180 and become a dog person. We also did it to help our older son overcome his fear of dogs, which might sound counter productive, but has seriously worked. We were at a doodle romp on Saturday and he (my son) was able to be there and not be fearful or panicky...and even stood in the line up for pictures with a ton of other dogs, voluntarily, again, calmly and without fear (not without caution though, ;-)). But I still rarely leave them all alone together, since George is still a puppy and can still get crazy. My boys are 7 & 9, and George is 7months.