Quote: mike arnold

You have a four month old puppy. ... You have to train the dog every day - maybe two sessions or 15 minutes each. ... You have to train your children - they have a responsibility in training and reinforceing your training. They should have a full understanding of their do's and don't's in being with the dog. Otherwise, a child is just another puppy and all that includes. ... You use a crate but you were not clear about a schedule for the dog. Up, out, feed, rest, crate, train, exercise, feed, sleep, etc. - I didn't expect a defined schedule but you should have one for a four month old dog, given you have six children. ... I can yell, and I can grab, and I can toss a dog into a crate but that is not training... If you think for one minute you will get a family dog that comes ready-made, you are in for a surprise. You get the family dog you work to develop. ... Ms. Dyger, six kids and a dog... A lot of work. I don't think you need an animal psyche-type but rather a simple beginning dog training course. And maybe a friend who has a trained dog who could offer up some suggestions. ... It seems to me you are at the stage where you can either decide to really train the dog or...

Well, I was trying to highlight some points from Mike, but really the whole post is perfect.

A 4-month-old puppy and 6 kids. This is something you work towards going well, not an out-of-the-box experience. "It seems to me you are at the stage where you can either decide to really train the dog or... "

This is the right place, though, if working for it is what the O.P. decides to do.

If not, then of course the dog must be re-homed and maybe a lot of thought given to whether a puppy is really right for this family at this time. JMO.

 Quote: jacqueline dyger

Hi, I am new and am a novice dog owner. Taz was a fearful younger puppy. . . He seemed to outgrow that as he is fine outside now.. . she would be willing to take him back but wants me to meet with a trainer/behavioralist first to assess the situation. . .

Well, first off, I didn't read the whole post, don't need to. I can't give you a better answer than the other Mike A. did.

I'd only add a couple comments of my own:

My current GSD was fearful and very fear-aggressive when we got her at 18mos. It took well over a year to get her to where we've conquered 98% of her problems. In our case - maybe yours, too - I think it's part genetic, and they won't "outgrow" it. I've seen recent examples of where she regressed (after a couple years) and we had to back up and work a little harder. So it's not going to be a one-time "fix."

I don't think a behaviorist's or trainer's assessment is meaningful at all unless you decide you'll commit the time and effort to life-long training. And that's an awful lot to add to someone with the responsibility of 6 kids. You can't afford make a mistake and put your kids at risk.
Probably better to return or re-home the dog. With kids as young as age one around, it might be better to wait a few years til you add a puppy to the family.

JMO

Mike

I can hear Ed saying that this is 100% owner problem, not dog problem. From being on this site I have realized the huge mistakes I was making. The more I have read from this site the more I realize that I am dealing with a very dominant pup.
I have missed a lot on the structure part and have realized that I have given him to much space and leeway in the house. I didn't even have him on the leash anymore once he was potty trained. That is what they told us to do in puppy class was to keep him on his leash with me at all times when he wasn't in his crate.
The things that I was working with him on was getting him to stay if the door was open as he would try to bolt as soon as the door opened. He knows sit, drop, rest, which means he needs to go in his kennel,hide and seek,come,etc..
However, that being said I missed a lot on pack structure and giving into his dominant trates. For instance, when he wants attention he will lick my hand, bark at me and raise his paw. mouth my knee, etc. I would pay attention to him.
I know that six kids is a lot but for me it is everday life. I'll even add my hubby and our cat to the list. We have our routine and so does Taz but I failed to establish his rank in our home. I am still having the trainer come as I am not convinced that I need to get rid of him. I will listen to his opinion. I also have a list of questions to ask him from the things I have learned from this site. I want a trainer that can train me along the lines Ed does. I also ordered the puppy 8 weeks to 8 months and the basic dog obedience video's and plan to watch them with the kids. The work, I am willing to do and can do as I work with him now. I just need to learn how to properly work with him. As far as I can see that means setting up a new routine and starting from zero. I am sure I will be asking more questions.

Hi Jaqueline,
Your pup sounds like a nice pup who will benefit greatly with a routine and pack structure.

Six kids is a lot of stimulation for any puppy, so keep this one incident in perspective.

If you have not done so, read the E-book on marker training.(clicker-type training) You will see some of this in the puppy video also.

One word of caution regarding allowing chew toys out around the kids. As the puppy matures he may become more possessive of toys; keep the chew toys and treats reserved for quiet time in the crate...

Sounds like you are on the right track!

Just my opinion and people probably won't like it, but I wouldn't recommend mixed rescue dogs for people with small kids. Especially german shepherd, chow mixes etc. I know that it's the owner's responsibility and all that jazz, but if someone is inexperienced it's kind of like buying a ferrari for a 16 year old, too much car!

If you decide to rehome the dog, (and don't let ANYONE make you feel guilty about that) then consider a standard poodle. I breed and show them as well as bull terriers and the standard poodles are really good with kids, not high strung like the toy poodles, hypoallergenic and very, very soft mouthed. I currently have a 6 month old standard puppy who can carry a roll of toilet paper around in her mouth without even making a dent in it. Of course, you can get a crappy, poorly bred poodle, so do your homework. But maybe a breed that is easier to manage and more "user friendly" would be a good choice for you.

I have a three year old, I'm pregnant and I have five dogs so I know what you mean about the kids being just part of every day life. You can do it, it just takes committment and planning ahead and making sure everyone follows the rules! Sometimes husbands can be the worst ones!

Please let's not make "great with kids" breed recommendations ... for many reasons, but also because this is a "puppy-biting" thread, and not a "shop for new puppy; recommendations wanted" thread.


P.S. Breed enthusiasm is nice, though.

Jaqueline,

it sounds to me like maybe the dog has resource guarding issues.
First incident was with a toy, and so was the second indicent.
I think that maybe your dog took the motion of your son lowering his head to blow raspberries as a motion towards the toy you said he was chewing on at that time.

Has there been other instances of the dog guarding food or toys?

To me, and I'm rather inexperienced, it sounded like the puppy was "correcting" the older child for the raspberries. Maybe he didn't like the sound or thought he was being too rough with the younger child, but it seemed like a correction to me. Of course, it's all guessing....

Was the puppy on leash? Did he have the option of moving away from this commotion?

I'm really inexperienced but we also had problems with our dog- who is a german shepherd rescue around this age. He also was very fearful at a very young age, and then I started to notice resource guarding and more bossy behavior at home. We don't have kids yet, but plan on it. This website has been a great resource, and you will probably get more experienced advice than I have. Here's a few things we changed and right now I have to say I am so pleased with my pup:
A wait command takes a few days but they figure it out fast. To go out and in every door-- use a leash and your release word.
Kona had to earn everything- even with just a simple sit. (he does still have a toy basket) but if I'm a part of the game he earns my attention.
Tug--I know some people don't play but I feel it has really helped us. He loves the game- and so at first I'd say give and switch him for a favorite treat. I'd play again, and do that several times until I was done playing. Fav tug toy goes away, he does some marker training for a treat. Now he's older, we've added give, and take it (at which time he's allowed to get the toy again), and even a wait while playing fetch. If he violates the rules, or gets teeth on skin-game over. This seems to have helped his toy guarding issues and his self control and patience.

I'm no expert- and I learned most of it here, but I've seen huge changes. It's a little time intensive- and at four -six months I was frustrated too but over the last two weeks I can see things paying off. Good luck you've found an invaluable resource!