I have 2 labs, 3 cats, a 5 year old grandson and a 4 month old granddaughter.
The cats leave her alone. The male dog has the grandson as his boy. My black lab as adopted the baby. (Shadow- because she is black and very affectionate and protective) has to be around the baby at all times. She wants to lick Bria (the baby). If she (the baby) cries, Shadow is very protecive. When we go to pick up the baby, Shadow is right there standing between us and the baby. She doesn't growl, but my dog gets worried.
Is this a potential problem? What can I do to make sure all needs are taken care of.
Answers:
Sounds like everyone is trying to protect everyone else. Personally, I wouldn't worry unless one of the dogs becomes aggressive or threatening to any of the humans. Every female lab I've ever had has been the best mother of anything she feels is in her care. This could be a very good thing for the children.
A friend of mine had a lab and two very young children. When her son was three or four, her husband took the child and the dog down to the riverbank, mostly to let the dog play in the river. Dad took his eyes off the kiddo for just a second, and he looked back when the dog barked. He saw the dog push the child to the ground, and his first instinct was to be angry at the dog. Then he realized his son had been on a steep part of the bank and had lost his balance and was falling, and that's when the dog knocked him backwards, away from the river.
Let the children enjoy their special protectors for as long as they can. I think the dogs only want to take care of them.
Children and dogs can be a bad combination. Well-meaning advice on the Internet is not what you need - please seek the help of a real live positive trainer to help you. A "protective" dog can be a big problem and you need an expert to help you sort that out ASAP.
http://www.iaabc.org/
and
http://www.apdt.com/
what happens sometimes is that dogs will try to lay claim to the baby. So what you have to do is jut make sure the dog remembers whos in charge.
Labs are great with kids. Labs and german sherpards and huskies. Ive had all 3 and they are equally great breeds.
If she ever gets to the point where she barks or becomes aggressive to anyone trying to tend to the baby, make sure you address that immediately the first time it happens.
But if shes merely trying to be attentive, I dont see its become a problem as of yet.
This is the bond most parents want betwen their kids and babies. Just dont let doggie go overboard.
Sounds like you have two very loving dogs. I would not worry about it only if they get aggressive. I have an australian shephard and she LOVES kids and babies. But I know she would not hurt them for nothing. Some dogs are just very loveable.
theres no potential problem unless you allow there to be.
just remember, dogs and kids under 5 dont mix. the only way a dog can tell a kid it is annoying them is to growl or bite. kids have small hands, they arent always gentle, they dont always stop or go away. kids under 5 dont understand how dogs work.. they cant tell whether a dog is annoyed or wants to be left alone.
i wouldnt allow your grandson or baby to be around any dog without DIRECT supervision. and that doesnt mean you being in the same room, that means you holding the dog or holding the baby when he/she is near the dog.
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I agree with raspberryswirrrl she is right when the baby and the dog are in the same room just hold one of them. Also let the dog know that you are the boss not him/her.
I have a dog and a 6 month old baby. My dog is always around the baby but my husband and I are in room or around with the dog is to close to the baby.
The baby wants to play with the dog but sometimes pulls on his ears so we tell the baby to be nice and say that is enough fun for one day.
I would say for sure it's a potential problem. I can understand her not wanting strangers neer the baby, but to not want you near it says to me she is very jealous.
You need to get her some obedience training right away. Also whatever make sure the dogs are never left alone with the baby. Any dog should never be left alone with children however well behaved the dog is. You never really know what might happen. It only takes a second for something bad to happen. I had dogs when my kids were small, but never werre the 2 together without at least one adult.
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