Big dog small children

[saffyjay]

Has anybody got ideas has to how i can get my dog to be acceptable around children? My Wiemaraner has had many training issues that she has come through very well and she is a super dog however, small children their high pitched noises and quick movements send her waffy. When my friends 2 year old made a loud playful noise she snapped at him and she has been known to launch at small children in the street anyone smaller than a 7 year old can be a problem for her. She is so gentle with big people and i dont want her to get into any bother with the little ones.

[leelapops]

Hi there. Your Wiemaraner sounds lovely :)
My Collie has the same issue with kids, any child under the age of 11 really. He's two-and-a-half, and hasn't grown up around children, so has little experience or understanding of their unpredictability, and the noises/movements they make.

I just keep him under my control around any children that I know will upset him, not allowing him too close to them. Fortunately my family doesn't contain any younger kids-I know it sounds extreme, but I would rather remove him from the situation completely than stress him out and risk him snapping and being branded dangerous. Some people may suggest gradual exposure to children as a desensitisation method, but I don't want to put my dog, or any child, at any risk.

Revisiting what I have written, I see that it isn't so much an answer as sympathising, sorry! But I do know how you feel; I am sad that Jack isn't a more approachable dog, but that's his nature and I wouldn't want anyone harmed so I do what I feel is best for his and anyone else's safety.

Good luck :) Lisa.

[kita1]

My friend has a ridgeback that is exactly the same.

In the current climate of dog attacks etc. I would not take any chances, even good friends can fall out over a dog nipping a child. A dog can be taken off you and destroyed for simply causing fear of attack.

The normal course of action would be to slowly expose your dog to children at a distance first (when she does not respond to them reward) and gradually get closer. This takes alot of time and work, and to be quite honest I would be reluctant to do it in the present climate. So many children are terrified of dogs anyhow, often they scream and run even when they see a very placid dog.

My friends dog also launches herself at children in the street and from what I have seen of it quite frankly it terrifies me.

Personnally I would walk the dog in a halti at all times and totally avoid any children. Remember most children are unpredictable and do not know how to behave around animals (I have had children come up and throw their arms round my dogs neck!!) thankfully he has never responded by snapping, but it can happen so fast and if your dog ever catches a child your world will be turned upside down.

Sorry if this answer seems negative, but I know how much hard work it will be to get your dog to accept being around children. I would never leave any young child alone with any dog, even for two minutes whilst you are in another room.

[lankeela]

What you have got to remember also is that you will never be 100% certain that any 'desensitising' has worked, and you will always be on edge around children. It would be very difficult to find the right children (and enough of them) whose parents would be willing to put them at risk to help you, so I would go with avoiding children at all costs. Not a bad premise to follow anyway in my opinion!

[saffyjay]

The problem is that i want to start a family and i want her to be fine around my own children, I would never leave my child with any dog not even my own but I can only hope that there is more of an answer than just getting rid of her. I feel that simply too many dogs are given up on through serious lack of socialisation and training, maybe I am guilty of this when it comes to children however its never been an issue until now.

Thanks for all comments and ideas keep them coming please.

[winny]

http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/
Try this link. I can sympathise as my friend has a dog which does not like children (the dog was rescued so we dont know why exactly) and she simply puts the dog out and keeps it under cose control when children are around which would have been my main answer had you not reposted. Try jan fennell as she has amazing results and now is the time you can give full attention to her method before the children arrive. I remember having childred with my rescued dog around not knowing weather he liked them or not. We were so lucky that he loved them. Do the training now but be aware you may never fully trust the dog . Jans method may seem a bit odd at first but persevere and it is not crazy at all.

[kita1]

Please don't take this wrong, but you might be interested in this question:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question351936.html