Is there any way we can keep our dog?

[Anonymous]

We have a 9 month old baby who is crawling and standing. We also have an 8 year old mixed breed dog who is obsessed with the baby. The dog is not aggressive at all, but has a very dominant personality and is rambunctious. When we first brought the baby home, the dog was totally out of control but seemed to calm down after a few weeks. However, as the baby has gotten more mobile, he has gotten more rambunctious and hyper around her.

A couple of days ago, he reached through a baby gate and scratched her in the face with his paw. My husband and I were both there and saw it - he was trying to play/get attention, not hurt her. She is okay and does not even have a scratch on her face, but he came VERY close to poking her in the eye and could have hurt her really badly. And the baby was very upset by the scratch and was inconsolable. It scared both of us to pieces how close he came to really hurting her.

We have spent the last couple of days trying to find a way to be able to keep the dog and not worry that he is going to hurt or maim our baby. We tried keeping him away from the baby completely, by throwing treats in the opposite direction. As long as the treats keep coming, that seems to be keeping him away. But the baby wants to crawl over to him, and then he gets overexcited and wants to lick her and paw her. He is a great dog but is just super hyper and really probably is not suited for a household with small children. He is somewhat more manageable if we get him lots of exercise, but even then he is pretty hyper. And, I'll admit, we can't always find the time to get him the exercise he needs.

I'm so torn up over this. I love the dog, but I love our baby too, and we are responsible for protecting her and we couldn't live with ourselves if he hurt our baby. But he is an older, mixed breed dog, and sat in the shelter for awhile even when he was younger, so his odds of finding a new home now are not great. And I can't imagine not having him around. We also have another dog (who is fine with the baby) and it would be hard on her too.

I'm desperate. Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to manage our dog so that we can keep him and feel confident that our baby will be safe?

[Anonymous]

Take him to a trainer.

Is he neutered? (I'm assuming so if he came from a shelter).

Is he getting enough exercise and attention from you? If not, step it up and see if that helps.

[Anonymous]

You must know you posted in the wrong place. You will get inundated with posts on opposite ends of the spectrum.

[Anonymous]

Before anyone starts in on with me, I know people and dogs are not the same.

But I hurt my 15 month old pretty badly playing with him--I was swinging him around stupidly and dislocated his elbow.

I wouldn't get rid of me for what was an accident.

Sounds like your dog was not being aggressive, and being put out of his home for an accident is probably not the right solution.

If the dog is not aggressive, behavioral training should help. Keep them separated when you can, supervised play when you can, and remember getting rid of the dog is a permanent solution to a temporary problem (your baby being very young and more vulnerable to playful accidents).

[Anonymous]

Keep them apart. Put up gates or keep him crated. I am an animal lover -- I live on a farm, with a dog, cats and horses, but I would not let this dog near my baby because until he is better trained.

The treat strategy is not a long-term one. Call a dog trainer and get some better coping techniques. And KEEP THEM APART. I cannot emphasize that enough.

It is for the dog's own good. If he does something to your kid no one will take him and you can't keep him. He will have to be put down. Don't let it happen.

[Anonymous]

Just keep them separated for now as best you can. Don't ever leave them alone together. EXERCISE HIM MORE. Take your dog to a trainer if you can. I would not get rid of my dog for a playing accident if your baby wasn't even hurt. It would be a different matter entirely if your dog bit the baby but that is not what's happened here.

It is so sad how fast people will get rid of their dog. When you brought that dog into your family, you made a commitment to him. Try to honor it.

[Anonymous]

I left a baby gate up long after I needed it to keep my Lab in the kitchen. I never let my children crawl on the dog or antagonize her in any way. I know some people allow this but I didn't want to find out the hard way that my dog lost her patience. Our dog was not that interested in the kids though, much more bonded to my husband and I. I know your baby is young but you should (imo) redirect her from bothering the dog and hopefully it will work out! We just lost our dog at 13 so I hope you can find a way to keep her.

[Anonymous]

Some behavioral training may be all the dog needs. It's very important that your dog learns to respect you and your husband as it's "leader" and the baby as well. It's also, of course, important to teach your baby as she grows with how to appropriately pet and play with the dog. And never leave them unsupervised.

Also be sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise - that can help curb bad habits and behavior as well.

Some say that chaining or caging a dog can make it more aggressive. However, I think using a baby gate to keep them separated occasionally would be alright.

[Anonymous]

We have 2 big dogs and a 10-month-old so I can sympathize. I agree with all of the PPs' recommendations. It's not easy to find the time to exercise your dog, train him, supervise him, and manage things like baby gates (get the ones with clear plastic rather than bars) but please please make it a priority to do these things before you decide to give up your dog. Obviously baby's safety comes first but giving him up should be a LAST resort, especially when he has not shown any actual aggression. An 8-year-old hyper dog is unlikely to get adopted and would likely live out his days in a shelter or be put down.

[Anonymous]

OP, we ran into problems with our two dogs when we had kids. I called the vet crying, literally. He talked some common sense into me. PP's suggestions are on the money. Our kids love our dogs now that they are older!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, he is neutered. 15:17 - how did you resolve things with your dogs while your kids were little? I appreciate the trainer suggestions and will look into that. If anyone has been able to find a way to deal with a similar situation, I would like to hear how.

[Anonymous]

14:17 here -- my dog is not good with my DS. I supervise closely and keep them separated. The dog spends time with us after the baby goes to bed and with me during the day (I work from home and baby goes to daycare).

But I do not ever leave him a position where he might lose his patience and snap at the baby. I don't think he would, but I don't trust him -- he WILL growl at the baby if he gets annoyed, and that's enough for me to make sure he never has the opportunity to be tested further.

That's how I deal with my similar situation. My cats are good with the baby, and we teach him "gentle" constantly with them. Sounds like you have one good dog that you can train the baby with. Just don't leave the kid with the untrustworthy dog until the baby is old enough to be reliable -- probably 5 or 6.

[Anonymous]

Take him to doggy daycare two days a week, like Tuesday and Friday. It will help get his energy out, and that'll calm him down for some training.

[Anonymous]

First, never allow the dog to be alone with the baby. Second, never allow the dog to be alone with the baby. Third, never allow the dog to be alone with the baby.

We were not certain that our dog would take to our baby, but ended up being very, very lucky that the dog accepted it was last in the pecking order. And even though the dog has only nipped once at our now 6 and 7 year olds, I never left the dog alone with them when they were infants and toddlers. To this day, I never allow the dog to be with the kids when they have friends over (many children do not know how to behave around strange animals and I will not take a chance).

Good luck - get help, be consistent, and keep the dog and baby apart.

[Anonymous]

Doggy daycare is a great idea. It will get the dog some exercise and give you a break from constant supervision. It's not cheap, but you had to have known when you adopted a dog that there might be hidden costs down the line.