Puppy and daughter not getting along??

[trinnaman123]

We have a miniture weiner dog who was our number one baby before our daughter who is now 1 1/2 years.  She is at the point she can get pretty excited about things which can really scare the dog. sometimes they are good friends and he steals a toy from her and they chase each other around. it's great, my daughter is never as giggly-happy as when they play together. He does get very upset with her. The dog is about 5 but acts 10. He sleeps most of the day and would just do absolutely nothing but lay around if he could.  Anything disrupting his sleep upsets him.  So yesterday my daughter was have a great time throwing the news paper ads in the air and watching them drop, the dog was in my lap about 2 feet away. He got so frustrated/scared by what she was doing he nipped at her. He has done it once before and has never bit but nipped. She didn't even cry. But still we have to be concerned for her safety. We also have to be concerned for the dogs safety. I am not sure about how to deal with this. We have considered giving the dog away. But he is like our baby and her best friend?? Any tips on how to keep the two from hurting one another? Any advice is appreciated.

[mackenziesmummy]

Aug. 11, 2008 at 10:55 AM

ugh i hate when that happens i have a pug who only does that to my 4 yr old, I can no longer trust him around my daughter it totally confuses me when i can let them all play together yet he doesnt nipp my one yr old, just the 4 yr old.  it makes me soo mad because my daughter really loves him yet he would rather nip at her. we have consulted vets and trainers and Nothing has worked.. i am at my boiling point with him because he seems to nipp her all the time herefore he has been put outside and i will NOT allow him in the house while my husband isnt home, he maybe small and that but it only takes a sec for him to fully attack my daughter and I will NOT allow that to happen. im sorry i dont have any advice except maybe keep an eye on him, and try not to spoil him, one trainer even told me he is doing that because he see's himself as the dominant one and her not.

[MSugarKane]

Aug. 11, 2008 at 6:55 PM

The dog is an animal and will act like one no matter what you do ......even the best dog in the world should never be trusted with a child.  We had a dog when the girls were growing up. He was a very good dog but he had no clue about his size and strength...(Great Dane/lab mix)....I never let the children and him alone. He had his kennel to go too when I couldn't be there with them all.  Sometimes I wished I could have caged the children (LOL)  but Max got the kennel.   Dogs do like kennels and are never too old to learn to be in one especially when getting over excited with small children around. Its like their cave or den that a wild dog/wolf would go too when he needs to get away.   Good luck.

[KWS]

Aug. 15, 2008 at 4:06 PM

I always had a dog when I was growing up.  It was great although I was nipped several times.  You will have to evaluate whether the dog is being mean or he is trying to tell your daughter to back off.  They will often nip their own pups to let them know they are doing something wrong.  You will also have to let him know that your daughter is higher on the pack list then him.  Sign yourself and him up for some dog training classes.