suddenly doesn't like kids!

jengelz · #1 7th April 2011, 01:45 PM

Okay a little history: I have two boxers, Bernie (4) and Grady, who is now 1 1/2.

This issue is about Grady. He's every now and then been directly around kids (always indirectly around kids while we are on a walk though, so its not like he's never seen one before and can explain this behavior!) and never once had an issue. He is very patient with them and loves to play - without jumping on them. Every holiday gathering there are at least 10 different kids (youngest being 7!) running around and have NEVER had any issue!

So rewind a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if this has anything to do with the situation, but it is another change. I took in a foster, Rosie, who is a sweet, very quiet gentle girl that is afraid of EVERYTHING. Three days after I brought Rosie in, my housekeeper came to clean with her two children in tow (UGH ANNOYING and another story!!), both of who are over the age of 10. Knowing that they are fine with kids, I went to use the restroom and came out to them barking and jumping on my housekeepers younger son. Now they didn't bite him, or even try to bite him, but I just couldn't believe what I saw! I corrected Grady, leashed him and made him relax and stay by my side for the rest of the while they were there. I still don't really know what happened, or if the kid provoked my dogs in any way, and I take responsibility for leaving my dogs unattended even if it was for three minutes, with people that I wasn't familiar with, let alone my dogs. Oh and my housekeeper was actually laughing during this whole event. Go figure...

THEN about a week after that, we had friends stop by with their two sons- aged 13 and 15. Grady was ALL OVER the 13 year old. He just wouldn't stop jumping on him until I again leashed him and put him in a sit by my side. He kept breaking his sit and lunging for the kid. I don't believe in an aggressive way, but this REALLY upset me, by the way, only because usually he is awesome with kids and I can only think that the housekeepers kid MUST have done something to him to cause this reaction. But moving forward instead of looking backward...

NOW on to yesterday. My family is in town, along with my two nephews who are young - 8 and 4. Of course I was already nervous about the whole situation based on how reactive Grady (and even Bernie a little bit) has been acting. And lo and behold, when we met them outside with Grady on his leash, he just wouldn't relax and wanted to jump all over them! I of course didn't let him, but he just wouldn't "snap" out of it. Granted, it didn't help they that were both holding frisbees that the dogs automatically thought were toys for them, but thats besides the point.

I guess what I am trying to figure out is, what ELSE can I be doing to ease his fear of kids all of a sudden? Is he in his second fear-imprint stage? They're pretty decently trained and we try practicing NILIF most of the time. I'm just not sure what else I can be doing differently. Oh, and I will be bringing them to see our trainer once she is back from CA, later this week but just wanted to get some other thoughts as to why this is all happening!

jengelz · #2 7th April 2011, 02:12 PM

Thank you for the response!

Grady is a year and a half. Maybe his reaction is stemming from Rosie (the foster) and her fearful attitude. I have actually been pretty "firm and unemotional" with her and she is only now starting to really listen. On top of being afraid of everything, I believe she was never taught anything by whoever her "owners" were before she was abandoned on the streets. So it could be all from that, but who knows. I also do a lot of training separately with my dogs so they don't feed off of each others energy, because I too believe in that as well.

I just want to nip all of this before it gets any worse, you know?

BostonGeorge · #3 8th April 2011, 11:35 AM

a little confued....is his jumping around the kids because he is excited and what to get to them?

jengelz · #4 8th April 2011, 01:35 PM

I believe so. But when I put him in a sit so he can't jump on them, he just starts barking and thats what scares my nephews and dogs do feed off of energy. He's a big boy (70lb) and can really hurt them, especially the 5 year old. I just don't know how to get him to relax without getting so excitable. The only reason why I said in my title that he "suddenly doesn't like kids" is because this is all happening so suddenly and I really don't want it to get out of hand, because with my boys, they can get wound up REALLY fast and I would hate to see that energy go in the wrong direction.

Sansal · #5 9th April 2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuinessBoxer

....working with him and the kids.

In the spirit of my personal doggy hero...Caesar ( of course ), get everyone together in the room and like you said, make him sit. Allow the kids to get crazy, loud, buzzing around and at the very first sign of him joining in on the frenzied state of mind, correct him. Distract him from the excitement. Correct him before he even gets up from the sitting position. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The exercises teaches his brain that excitement among children does not call for action. He will relate the wild movements of children with his own relaxation after working with him for a while and he will be able to control his own excitement.

Just a suggestion. I wish your family peace and harmonious play.

Cheers,
Daphine and GuinessBoxer

PLEASE do not follow this advice. Personally I don't believe in Cesar Milans training methods. I used to watch it on TV and think "wow this is really working" but after owning dogs myself and reading and learning about dog behavior and psychology I completely changed my mind about his training methods. I believe in a 100% positive training approach. And besides the fact that I do not think his style should be used ever I do think it is dangerous if unexperienced people try to copy his style. You could easily end up in a overwhelming situation for you and your dog with the potential to turn really ugly.
I think your dog sounds overly excited and possibly fearful. If you put him in a room full of screaming kids and force him to stay in a sit and correct him when he doesn't behave, what do you think it will teach him? It definitely won't teach him that being around kids is a good thing, and if he is already fearful it will increase his fear.
I do not have any training advice for you, I think it is a good idea to work with a trainer or even animal behaviorist. It might cost some money but it will be worth it to work with him now before his behavior is getting worse. In the meantime, if you are worried how he might react with kids around I would remove him from the situation until you have gotten professional advice on how to handle those situations.
Good luck!

LILYLARUE · #6 11th April 2011, 07:54 AM

Do yourself a favor and try other POSITIVE methods of training before you revert to DOMINANCE methods. Cesar's ways are very old school and comes from the basis of dominating your dog and forcing him to do what you want. Positive methods are on the basis that you give your dog the opportunity, with guidance, to allow him to make the best decision that will please you. The dog is taught to WANT to do thing for you instead of being bullied into doing them.

If you use positive methods, you will have an indescribable bond with your dog. Using dominance methods like Cesar's, will most likely cause your dog to react in situations in fear, rather than confidence and respect for you.