Dog biting kids while they play

[you_broke_my_wookie]

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Hello all,

So, we have a 6 month old Sproodle, he's lovely, very very friendly with humans and other pets (although I think he wants to eat the Guinea pigs).

Now that the weather is warming up my 2 boys have started getting out into the garden, several times whilst playing he has ran up to them and bit them, always on the face. It's not like they are playing with him and he's getting over excited, he will appear from nowhere, nip them then disappear again. My youngest who is only 3 was on his bike earlier today and he caught him just under the eye.

Other than locking him inside or putting a muzzle on him, can anyone recommend a way of dealing with this?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[dogmatize]

Keep the dog in while the children outside playing? I feel that children as young as yours should not be unsupervised with a dog. The dog is still young and may benefit from some training.

 

[you_broke_my_wookie]

hi dogmatize,

I agree, keeping him inside is the simple and obvious option, and at the moment it's not a problem. However come the summer the kids basically live in the garden, and keeping the poor thing segregated from the rest of the family isn't fair. That's why I'd like to get started on some kind of behaviour training before that happens.

We do supervise play and Harry is at puppy training. He's a gentle soppy thing, this is the only problem we're having with him.

 

[gypsysmum2]

The behaviour needs a proper diagnosis. Some dogs have strong predatory instincts, and you say he wants to eat the guinea pigs so perhaps he has this trait? These dogs will chase and bite at things they see as prey. It is not a deliberate act of aggression just an innate instinct that comes out in some dogs. Squealing children do sound like prey and could trigger this instinct.

We must remember that dogs do not have morals. They do not know that biting things is wrong.

Bite inhibition should be taught at a very young age. When puppies use their teeth on skin or clothing we should yelp and ostracise the puppy so that it has a negative emotional reaction. This, over time, teaches the puppy not to use its teeth on us. It must be done absolutely consistently to work. Every single time the teeth touch skin or clothing we yelp and stop all games and interaction with the puppy. It is never an accident.

At first you will see no difference but if everyone does it every time then the puppy will respond by inhibiting the bite. If it continues then the yelp should be followed by isolating the puppy. Just leave the room or put the puppy gently outside or in the house for a short time. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

With young children they could be taught to yelp and be a statue. Dress them in protective clothing so that they can withstand the puppies attention after the yelp.

The yelp is to help the puppy connect its biting with being ostracised. The two things must be timed so that the puppy can make the connection. You could also use a word of your choosing. Some people use "gentle" or "off".

A house line, attached to the puppy, might help as you don't want to be chasing the puppy around to isolate it as it will have forgotten why by the time you do it. Do stage one for at least five days before moving on to isolation.

If you feel out of your depth then I would contact a behaviourist from either COAPE or APBC to come to the house and assess your dog as an individual so that you get on top of this problem sooner rather than later.