10 Year Old Dog and 8 Month Old Baby

We had a dog who didn't like crawling babies, but was fine once they were walking around "shrug" we just thought perhaps she couldn't understand the difference between a crawling baby and another dog.

I had to do the same thing with my 14 yr old dog and my 11 month old daughter (at the time) I have used baby gates to seperate the house so the dog can roam and the baby can too in seperate areas. Whenever we need to go to opposite sides, I simply move the dog. It is an adjustment, but so worth it! Good luck!

So your 10 year old dog that has been the center of your attention is now upset because he/she has to share your attention and this little interloper is invading even more and probably crawling and starting to require she give up even more of what she thinks she is hers and potentially hurt her with pulling. So you are going to punish her even more by throwing her out of the house! Talk about feeling neglected and displaced. That would be why she is growling.

You need to show her she is not being ignored, How would you feel if your husband came home and moved in say a new girlfriend? Yes this is harsh, but this is the same level the dog sees it. You need to spend time and attention on your dog as well as your son. Seperate them, but make sure the dog is not neglected. Hold your son and pet the dog, if you hve your son on the floor, then by all means seperate the dog and put her behind a babygate. So she can see what is going on. When my kids were brought home we introduced them individually to each of the dogs. Made sure if I was sitting there nursing if one of them was near I would pet them, or let them snuggle up next to me.

Also make sure the dog is not suffering from anythhing including loss of sight and hearing. She is the equivalent of about 65-70years old and you have changed her world and because she doesn't understand what is going on is reacting the only way she knows how.

Please don't be like so many other's out there that say the dog was my baby until the little one came along then the dog means nothing and outside no contact, no love just being ignored more and having everything taken away from them.

What to do? There seems to be a lot of people who says the only solution is to get rid of the dog, a dog I might add that had for 10 years been loyal to you. I think tossing her outdoors would be a little harsh.
Many of us treat our animals as family and as our other "children". What we seem to forget is that dogs and cats are still animals, and still have animal instincts that are centries old. Dogs are pack animals, you are in a way, part of their pack or family, they are also territorial. Any addition to their area or pack is a threat. As an example is when you introduced your husband to the family. At first she wasn't too happy about it, but she got used to him being there. Your son is another addition she has to get used to. I wouldn't by any means leave the two alone together. I would find a way to put her in a room or area with a gate, ie; the kitchen or dinning
room.
The pounds and animal shelters are full of animal that were given up because the family had started having children. Once your son starts getting older your dog may or may not accept him into the pack/family. Until then I'd wait and watch. Just keep the two seperated in the mean time.

So the dog, who's been the center of attention for 10 years, is supposed to be punished and tossed outside? I would seriously talk to an animal behavior professional first. I fully understand the seriousness of growling and there have been far too many incidences of this nature to put any parent in panic mode. The breed of dog should be considered as a 10 year old Yorkie is not the same as a 10 year old Great Dane. Some dogs feel threatened by a new presence. Or that little 'creatures' tend to crawl all over them when maybe their (dogs') bodies are feeling the ravages of age.
Throw the dog outside? Seems harsh for a 10 year old dog. I'd really really consult a dog trainer

Hi M.,

I agree with the others that the indoor dog should stay indoors. By kicking her outside, that could make her even more angry/sad/agressive...and then what would happen if she accidentally got back in the house one day before you could stop her? I've been in the situation before where we had to make the extremely difficult decision to surrender our dog out of safety concerns. It was a horrible day for us-we still M. her-but in the end we know we made the right decision. At the same time, I was very proud of my husband (it was more "his" dog), as it demonstrated how this was the mature thing to do-even as we cried as we made the decision and that whole day we gave her up. Your the mommy-you know whats best for the safety of your baby. If the vet is recommending to separate them, I would probably start looking for a new home for the dog. I know this is tough... (((hugs)))

If it was an indoor dog and it is no longer safe to have it around the baby...find a new home for it. Don't just put it outside.

I agree that the dog should be able to remain indoors for at least part time in some capacity. You still have a responsibility for her quality of life. If the dog is banished, she will probably just become more hostile. Children and pets should NEVER be left alone together. We used to gate out pets separate from our little children. Child safety first, but the pet has to be treated lovingly too.

I hate to sound so curt, but I would get rid of the dog!! Any aggressive behavior by an animal is indication of something deeper. I have read too many stories about the baby getting mauled or killed by a dog, and it breaks my heart. Please do not make yourself a news story.

Here is my story, our 10 year old beagle & a 2 year old child. Same story as yours, did what your vet said. I would keep them seperated - on good days dog outside , on other days would keep them seperate by a gate, unless I was RIGHT there. One of the days I was RIGHT there, child & myself playing with puzzles on the floor the beagle came out of no where & went for the child. They had been together since the birth. What went wrong I don't know. But, my baby was & is more important than a dog. When I picked the dog up & threw him accross the room (natural reaction, to get him off the child) her (child's) hair came out of his mouth. A split second later of a reaction on my part would have had a total different outcome.
Child was fine, dog went to the humane society with the story, I would never want that to happej to any other child.
Good luck.
The writing is on the board, can you read it?
Cyndi

What breed is it? I know you put it outside but really don't you think if you went up to it and knocked it in the nose and told it to stop and be nice the dog would eventually cut it out. Maybe the dog doesn't like the attention you give the 8 month old. Or the dog is getting into the crabby old age so just keep telling the little one leave doggy alone or he may bite you. But think about it because you have had the dog for a while is he one to bite?? Before moving him outside completely. Besides don't you have a basement or something the dog could go to be away from the baby. Maybe put it in a cage or seperate the baby from the do by gatting him in. But don't through the dog to the curb. Just think of creative effective ways. Good luck!

I'm a little torn on this topic. We have a chow/lab mix (male) who's about ten right now. My son is four, but his entire existance has been about making sure he knows when he can play with the dog and when to leave him alone. I know its definately about making sure your son's safety comes first, but kids also need to know that they have to respect a dogs space. And if they aren't old enough to do so, its up to the parents. Let's face it, in his life, he will surely encounter dogs somewhere along the line, and the last thing you want to do is instill a fear in him. I also agree that banishing the dog outdoors seems a little extreme for the dog. If keeping him indoors but separated from your child when the dog needs a break isn't an option, then the only kind thing to do would be to find the dog another home. You have to keep in mind that dogs are just like people, with their own type of personality (which, BTW, has nothing to do with the breed). I'm sure you know your dogs personality by now and what he can and can't tolerate. Base your decision off THAT!

Oh my.. Well the safety our your child is #1 no matter what. Putting that dog outside is not going to accomplish anything other than making the dog more angry(especially since he is an "indoor dog"). Then what happens when your son plays outside? He's at even greater risk. Do you want to take that chance? Sounds like you need to give up the dog to a family without kids. Better safe than sorry!
I would never have a dog for that reason. You just never know when even the nicest of dogs could turn. A chance I'm not willing to take :)
Good luck :)

I would just get rid of the dog. We had an Akita who was very good with our daughter until she starting walking. Once our daughter starting walking our dog started to growl at her. One day I was sitting in the family room, my husband was outside, our daughter was on the landing by the back door. Our dog went down on the landing as well. The next thing I hear was a noise the dog had never made before then I hear our daughter scream a blood curdly scream. I ran to see what was wrong. I could not even see our daughter, our dog was on top of her. I picked up the dog and threw the dog down the basement stairs. I picked up my duaghter and saw that the dog had taken a bite out of my daughters scalp. I thought everything would be ok with our dog and daughter until this happened. We took our daughter to the hospial and she received eight stitches in her head. the wound was so deep that you could see her skull. So with that being said if you have a dog that starts to growl towards your children I would definitely get rid of the dog. Our daguther was only 15 months old when this happened.

Hello,
I have a 2 year old dog and 9.5 mo old baby. I always keep a close watch when they are together, and they love to play, so far so good, thank goodness! However my boyfriend and I have talked about what we would do if your situation happend to us. We came to the conclusion that we would try to work with our dog first with pet training or a behaviorist and see what happend then. If not then we would try and give her to someone we knew or trusted (in my case my parents would take her) if you dont have anyone maybe start networking, just don't trust Craigslist to adopt out your dog, there are so many dog flippers and just mean people, espically at 10 years old, im sure he/she just feels like there not the baby anymore, which is hard im sure. I don't agree with putting your dog outside, at 10, it may be the end of her/him :(, I agree that safety for your baby is #1, but I would also try everything I could before making a decision.

Good luck!

My english bulldog, who was nothing but nice, did the same thing when my first child came along. After I thought I saw him growl at my son I started watching very closely and limiting there closeness. Then one day I was decorating the christmas tree with my dad and he snapped at my son who was about 6 months old at the time. That was it. I never thought that would ever happen in a million years. I could never trust him again and I had to find a new home for our dog. It was a horrible experience for me but getting rid of him was the only choice and truly it is the only choice for you too. No matter what the child comes first. You will never be able to trust that dog around your kid(s). My son is 3 years old now and we found a wonderful home for our dog and I still keep in touch with the owners who say he is doing wonderful and they send me pics and she is a single woman with no chance of having children though she says he is great around her grandchildren. Go figure!! But they aren't a threat because they eventually go home.

Wow, I can't get over how some of these women are so heartless and obviously clueless about how animals touch our lives. Yes, my 4 yr. old son comes first, and so does one of my dogs that has been by my side for 9 years. I never had to worry about either one of them acting out against each other and am sorry that this has happened to you. I have a 15 yr. old senile dog that I don't worry about either. (she LOVES being outside, because we rescued her from someone that kept her in a basement) Talk about heartless. Shelters can't keep taking people's pets because they've given up on them. You don't seem like the kind of person that is going to throw in the towel. Good luck with gates and behavior training...you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

I'm so sorry to hear this sweetie! The same thing happened to me with my two adult dogs. Same thing: it took a while for them to warm up to my husband but they eventually did and loved him. They loved everyone else's kids....and then we had one. I spent a ton of money, consulted with 3 or 4 trainers, 2 behaviorists, the breeders, the rescue group and two vets. Bottom line, I could not control them and could not trust them. They growled, barked at and one one occasion, bit my infant. We worked with them for a year until I came to the conclusion that I'm not the Dog Whisperer. Our climate did not allow for them to be outside dogs and keeping them penned up and separated from the baby caused them to cry horribly. It was the most awful thing to go through on the planet. After tons of crying, I found wonderful new homes for them. I still cry to this day about them and hate that I didn't know what to do to make it work. Whatever choice you make, know you are not a bad person - that you tried but that you're first responsibility as a mommy is your baby. See if someone you know can take her - or try a rescue group. My current dog is a rescue and is wonderful around our now 3 year old daughter.

Best of luck to you!

A.

The fact that your vet recommends separating them worries me a little as your vet presumably knows your dog's temperament but I'm not sure that putting her outside is the answer (especially with the cold winters). Is it possible that the dog is in pain and concerned that your newly mobile child is going to fall on her? Does your dog need pain meds to make her more comfortable/tolerant? Can you keep them separated with a baby gate or a closed door? Is she maybe having some cognitive issues? (Doggies and kitties get senile too!) She may feel like her space is being invaded and need a safe place of her own to retreat to when she gets stressed.