My son just punched our puppy for jumping on him.
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Anonymous
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I think everyone is overreacting. The boy reacted in a physical way to the dog physically getting in his face. OP, it sounds like your son is annoyed by the puppy and doesn’t want to be jumped on all the time. As someone who likes dogs, but absolutely hates jumping and dog claws all over my legs, I get it. He overreacted, sure. But ask yourself how often is the dog irritating him and in his space? Just because you think it’s cute doesn’t mean your son feels the same way. Train your dog, OP. Until then, keep the dog away from your kid. Common sense. |
Anonymous
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How big is this puppy?
I can see even a lab or golden retriever puppy looking big and scary to a 6-year old. Size matters. |
Anonymous
| If it's part of a larger pattern of aggression, I'd be concerned. Otherwise I'd work on training both the dog and the child. Hitting is not acceptable. Dogs are going to be dogs until they are trained. We don't hit the dog. If he hits/hurts the dog again, the dog will be rehomed. |
Anonymous
Where are we, The Twilight Zone? Why rehome a puppy for jumping up on a boy? |
Anonymous
| If the boy is hurting the puppy, then the pup may become aggressive. |
Anonymous
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Use of force with animals is a complicated thing that has to be taught.
For many people, for example, putting a bit in a horse's mouth and riding over jumps is okay, and correcting a refusal with a crop is okay, but "excessive" use of a whip is not okay. Pulling on the bit is okay but drawing blood with a bit is not okay. It's complicated! Giving puppy a quick correction jerk of the leash for pulling might be okay if your intention is to avoid a tug-of-war and you're using positive reinforcement as well. Using the leash to pull puppy towards something he is scared of is not okay. Jerking the leash because you're mad at puppy is not okay. So, kid needs to understand that any force with puppy is always part of a considered training system and never done in anger. I would say take puppy and kid to a puppy class (or to a private session with a trainer) so kid can have a better understanding of the process. |
Anonymous
it’s not complicated for the vast amount of the US population that doesn’t go horseback riding. |
Anonymous
| If he had pushed the dog away or gave it a swat down, I would be less concerned. Punching the puppy is concerning. |
Anonymous
Okay, you’re right. The boy should be rehomed. |
Anonymous
| I would board the dog for a few days. Say he needed to go to the vets and needs some time to heal. |
Anonymous
I have to assume you're trolling or you're some very over dramatical person who makes mountains out of molehills. Got to be one of the two. Maybe you would be happier if they just euthanized the puppy? |
Anonymous
Force free training is a rapidly growing movement. People are competing in high levels of dog (and horse) competition without choke collars or bits, and seeing plenty of success. My hope is 5 years from now there is no conflict at all--people realize that force is unnecessary. (In your example, the vast, vast majority of trainers now see even leash pops as unnecessary--between circling, front harnesses, fading treats...loose leash walking is able to be accomplished by the average joe without force, and thus with far more safety). |
Anonymous
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Your son's only 6. Unless the puppy is seriously hurt (doubt it), I wouldn't really be too upset.
Also, it matters if your son reacted physically WHILE the dog jumped, or if he want after him afterwards. Either way, nothing to be too upset about unless there's lasting damage on either your son or the puppy. |
Anonymous
| I have an older child and we've really had to work hard at training the puppy and the child how to have positive interactions. The puppy thinks she's a playmate, and she will go along to a point, but nipping or excessive jumping by the dog is not OK. We worked with a trainer in the home for a few sessions, particularly focused on child/dog interactions and it was so helpful for all of us. The puppy needs to know your child is senior to it in the pack (without getting punched) and your child needs to know how to safely get away from the dog. The adults also need to be trained! Your vet may be able to recommend good trainers to you. We like Joyce Loebig of Rewards Dog Training. |
Anonymous
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OP- your DS is six and if he's not otherwise aggressive or have significant behavior concerns, you can talk with him. Tell him what a responsibility it is to have a dog and how we must always be kind because dogs don't understand--they are like babies.
Let him know that everyone will work on training the puppy and over time, with training and growing, there will be less jumping. I wouldn't punish your son too much- you are trying to promote kindness and a good relationship. I would let him know however, that if the dog's safety ever becomes a serious concern, you won't allow unsupervised play time with the dog and may eventually consider re-homing it to keep it safe and happy. |