What a wonderful observation!

 Quote: Sam Smith

Not sure what to say here, but this goes against of how dogs reacted in our family when growing up......maybe dogs have changed over the years .....we had hunting dogs such as Irish Setters, Blue Belton Setters etc and they were great with family and friends alike....

One of my daughters has two smaller dogs and they are also great with strangers.....

 Quote: Debbie High

I don't allow my dogs to be around my grandkids at all. They are either in their crates or outside pens. It is really hard to explain to small children how to act around dogs. They tend to forget what you said two minutes later....it's just not worth it to me.

We have our grandkids coming for a week in Easter, I don't feel it is right for me to crate the dog because they are coming, there must me something I can do to diffuse the situation with our pup.....

People have changed, first and foremost.

Growing up, how much time did we ever spend indoors? I don't know about you, but I was outside from sunup to sundown.
Any time spent with a dog was outdoors, where the dog could always CHOOSE to be close or not.

How much time did you spend playing on the floor in your livingroom? I don't know about you, but the livingroom was for sitting on the couch and watching television and not annoying dad while he watched the news.
If you wanted to play, you went outside, or to your room.

Kids these days are just different.
The dogs haven't changed. We have.

WOW! We must have grown up in the same house. I don't remember you but I remember this way of life. Nuttin' wrong with it either.

 Quote: Nora Ferrell

WOW! We must have grown up in the same house. I don't remember you but I remember this way of life. Nuttin' wrong with it either.

That was my childhood too.

Needless to say, TVs were not in kids' rooms. LOL! I laugh to imagine it!

Computers ... well, they were in science fiction movies, not in my bedroom.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

.... Forcing the situation just reinforces the dogs deeply held belief that the world is scary. All it takes is one accidental poke in the eye (hey, as an ADULT, I've inadvertantly poked my dog in the eye, it's easy for a kid to do it and not mean it), someone to step on her foot (again, a very easy accident) or worse. ..... The second any of those things happen, the dog has been told that their fear of the world, and the fear of new people, was completely justified. You've reinforced a belief you DON'T want the dog to hold. .... Instead, you VERY strictly control meeting new people so that the experience can only POSSIBLY be good, and negate the dog's theory that the world really sucks. .... If the dog meets nice calm adults who don't stare her in the eye, don't force her to accept petting or stroking and who offer her calm, quiet verbal praise and tasty treat when she approaches on her own... well suddenly it becomes hard to hold on to the idea that the world sucks. .... Prove her wrong, don't prove her right.

WONDERFULLY put!

Yeah, we had one TV and it got one channel and that was for the news and the occasional boxing matches that my Dad and Grandpa watched.

We didn't have central air, or any air conditioning at all, for that matter, so summertime, you played outside so you could find a cool spot.

You know, Connie, as to the poster with the shy dog - my dog isn't shy, but when I first got her (grandson was 2, then) I was more worried about the pup than the grandbaby.

Maybe it sounds like I have my priorities crossed, but he could protect himself more than she could.

I hope this helps, Sam, but I really think the posters saying to keep them separate is the best advice.

I am sure the children will think of the puppy as a new toy, but this may be a real good time to teach them about animals, becoming good handlers and respect for animals.

Good luck.

My pup was painfully shy when we first brought him home. He took to us immediately but was terrified of everyone outside our immediate family. We spent lots and lots of time out of the house around people but without anyone ever touching or getting too close to him. I got very good at telling people no they could not touch my puppy

Then as he got more and more comfortable I would aks anyone who smiled at him or looked interested if they wanted to offer him a treat. I would make it clear that he was shy and not to try to pet him, just hold the treat out in your hand and let him come and get it.

I believe you said your oldest grandchild is 9?

If she is, she might be old enough to help you out some with this. You could have her sit on the floor calmly and just hold a treat in her hand and let your pup come and take it from her. I would supervise closely and make sure she is staying calm and quiet and not trying to pet him or make sudden movements.
I would do this in a calm and quiet place away from the younger kids and any sort of commotion.

NEVER NEVER NEVER, have a child sit on a floor, too vunerable of a placement. Child should be sitting in a chair, turned away from the dog, IF, you choose, to do this.
When we give advice on this forum........I don't want to offend anyone, but this is really serious stuff..........and when you start involving children and dogs........PLEASE........set up the situation where there are VIRTUALLY NO RISKS TO THE CHILD.....
I'm not trying to be a smart ass or a Know it all, I just can't sit here and not say anything......I promised myself a long time ago to stand up for dogs, so I will put my experience on the line, and do my best to inform and not offend.
I hope this is constructive.
Happy Training,
Roni

OK I just went thru all the posts. There is NOT ENOUGH TIME for your dog to aclimate to having people in your home. THE SAFEST
SITUATION FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR DOG, AND FOR YOU, IS TO CRATE YOUR DOG AND NOT EXPOSE YOUR DOG TO ANYONE.
If you cannot do this,,,,,,,,,or if you can't trust everyone to stay away, and I mean out of the room the dog is in, then take the dog to a kennel.
At this point it doesn't matter why your dog is acting the way it is. You have to address what is BEST for your dog, which is to not have to deal with all the turmoil.
Happy Training,
Roni
PS> Family is harder to manage than dogs, lolololo.

 Quote: Roni Hoff

I hope this is constructive.

Roni

You always are, Roni. No exception here.