My B bit my kid

[dash]

Last night I was on the forum actually when I heard my B yelp and my son started crying. My dog has never bit anyone in an aggresive manner. Anyway, He had bitten my son on the shoulder. It didn't really break the skin and he was fine this morning. When I asked him what happened he said he hugged him to tight. Has anyone has success in getting their child to understand little dogs are more delicate and can not be squished? I know Greggy loves Dash but he always wants to pick him up and hug him. Greggy is 6 and knows better but I feel like a tape recorder trying to convince him to be gentle.

[Quercus]

Dash was giving him a warning. The fact that it didn't break the skin indicates that he has good bite inhibition...and just wanted to tell your son to stop.

At 6, your son should be able to understand if the dog gives you a warning, you need to stop what you are doing...not only with your own dog, but with other dogs as well. We are still working on this with my son, he is three. Maybe Dash's lesson will stick better than Mom's I never get carried away reprimanding the dog, if she growls at a child behaving badly (in this case also behaving normally). I do say "No"...in a low, firm voice, and give them a time out in the crate for awhile. If you blow up at the dog, you will just confirm in his head that there is reason to be uncomfortable when the child approaches.

Meanwhile you can work on strengthening their relationship by having your son do some basic training exercises involving lots of yummy treats. Have him practice calling the dog off of sleeping (or couch, or whatever) and reward him with something yummy. The dog will start to look forward to your son approaching.

[jys1011]

Oh Dash...I'm so sorry about that. I hope your son is ok.

It sounds like Dash got scared...IMO (after reading a bit) generally dogs don't like to be hugged. Humans LOVE to hug and dogs well they can become more tolerant of the hugging. But if you see pics of people hugging dogs check out the dogs eyes & face. It usually doesn't look too happy (dog tilting his head away, mouth ends forward & wide eyes).

It may just help to work with Greggy by explaining that this scares the dog...Dash may think that he might get hurt.

[dash]

Great suggestions thanks. I actually didn't reprimand Dash at all. He never left Greggy's side after he bit him and I just ignored it. I don't feel the dog did anything wrong. He yelped so he was obviously hurt or scared. Hopefully Greggy learned a lesson. Neither seems to have bad feelings. I think both feel bad.

[nomrbddgs]

I'm so sorry both were hurt! Oh, my yes! By all means integrate your son into basic training with your B. This will give both of them some time together.

And BMOM don't tell Shadow he doesn't like to be hugged and kissed-he begs me to pick him up and cuddle. He is unusual though, most B's hate to be cuddled.

[spitfirekrl1]

We've never had that problem..well, yet anyway. My son is 7 and he will get her very riled up to the point where she is play growing and nipping. We tell him that we don't like him to get her that excited and if he continues more than likely she will end up hurting him unintentionaly but trying to calm her down or make him stop running around seems to be pretty useless at times.

As for the hugging, Alani is very unusual in that manner as well. She seems to really like hugs. She will press her cheek up to yours and sometimes give a quick little lick (the most we ever get from her) on our ear.

[JazzysMom]

>>He is unusual though, most B's hate to be cuddled.

Jazzy LIVES to be cuddled. And fortunately for her, in a family of 8, there's always someone ready to snuggle with her.
When the kids or I hold her with her face close to ours, she'll lean in and close her eyes, like she's saying "ahhhhh". And if you kiss right between her eyes... yeah, she's a cuddle-bug.

[nomrbddgs]

Ohhhh, and here I thought Shadow was the only one who liked to be a baby-even held like one!! Everytime someone sees me holding Shadow in a cradle form they say, "Oh, I wish my B was like that!"

Somehow I'm glad I'm not the only one who has 4-legged babies!!

[JazzysMom]

Oh no. If you pick Jazz up, esp when she's tired, you can walk all over the place with her on her back, cradled like a baby in your arms. She'll often hang her head way over backwards..looks so uncomfortable, but she'll sleep like that.

Sometimes she'll be facing me, kind of squished up against me, and put her head over my shoulder to sleep -- kind of like a baby with its head on Mommy's shoulder.

She's 2 yrs old, but very, very much a baby.

[Quercus]

It seems to be an individual thing with Bs, just like with people...some love to be cuddled, some tolerate it, some hate it. Of our six, we have some of each Blondie loves to be cuddled....Ivy hates it....everybody else is somewhere in between.