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Q: I have an 8 month old male Aussie that just loves kids. He becomes extremely excited whenever my 6 year old niece and 10 year old nephew come over. He licks them all over their faces, circles around them excitedly, chases them around the house knocking everything over that is not nailed to the floor and jumps on them. I know he's just playing but he's getting a little rougher than normal and I don't want the kids to get hurt et I also do not want to crate him when they come over as I want him to be part of the family. Any ideas?
A: Dogs should never be crated as a form of punishment. You want them to be able to seek out a quiet place during family gatherings or commotion on their own. Dogs view humans as one of the two, either litter mates- someone they can roll around with while learning some social skills- and then there are playmates-this is where they start establishing rank ( dominant vs. submissive) Make sure that you never leave the kids alone with your dog. Especially smaller ones.
Smaller children are physically incapable of controlling even a 10 pound dog that is trying to dominate them. If the dog is successful once, in his mind he will continue to do so seeing himself as a higher ranking pack member because no one told him otherwise. Now this becomes more difficult to turn around as he becomes an adult. It only takes a split second for a bite to happen and human skin is not nearly as tough as that of a canine. Teach the children some proper etiquette around canines.
"It's OK to play with the dog, however you have to follow certain rules when playing ,such as no teasing, no tug of war etc " .Play for dogs is basically a "hunting practice" Typical behavior includes chasing, biting and herding. Dogs have natural instincts and drives.
One of those drives, herding. Your dog is "herding" the kids. Basically, gathering or keeping them where HE can control them. When dogs meet other dogs, they jump all over each other in a boisterous manner. Your dog has no concept that he's a dog, and that a child is a child. He is just doing what comes natural to him. So as a dog, he's acting the way he should...to another dog.
Teach the children not to run from the dog, but rather with the dog. Packs run together. Be careful on your technique for correcting the dog for jumping. Some still use the ":knee raise to the chest" to block , not hit, the dog from jumping. However not all dogs respond to that and see this as fun and will continue to escalate.
Teaching your dogs some basic commands such as Sit,Stay and Off is much more effective. Showing the dog what you expect of him in a positive way first.Then after he learns, and chooses not to respond, now you can give a correction . Practice first without distractions to gain his focus, and then later on add the kids as a distraction. teaching your dog the basics will not only give him a job to do, but will also establish pack hierarchy ( rank) you will begin to notice him calming down once he understands his place.
It is unfair to give a dog a correction, when they have no idea what it is that they have done wrong. Consult with a trainer on proper ways to play with your dog and games you can safely play such as fetch, frisbee or even agility. If your dog is not neutered, please do so. Again, though basic instinct still remains, the urge has now been subsided, thus relieving some of that tension , stress and hyperactivity.
At 8 months old your dog is entering what we call the " teenage years" of the canine world: welcome to your new found love for Tylenol. Be patient,educate the kids, train your pet, be consistent and not only yours but his world will also be a happier place.
This article was published on November 30 2008on Page 6 of the Sunday Sentinel
