baby problem

[bunnyloveruk]

hi guys, im in desperate need of help! i have a 3 year old jack russel who i've had since a pup. problem is i now have a 20 month old son and she just wont accept him now he's more mobile and walking. everytime he goes near her she just growls and bears her teeth at him. it's got to the point where he can't even walk past her without her growling. im all out of ideas on how to get her to accept him, i feel i've tried everything. i really don't want to give her up but it's looking as though thats my only option left. can anybody give me any advice on how to stop this? any info would be appreciated.
thanks
bunnylover x x

[happylabs]

I think you are going to have to either get rid of the dog or find someone else to take him. You really do not want to jeopardize your baby. As difficult as it may be you have to do the right thing. I am sorry you are faced with this dilemma. :(

[Karen]

We would need more info on what you have tried. Have you tried the NILF method - Nothing In Life is Free? It will focus the dog more on you. Is your dog crate-trained? How does your son react when the dog growls? How do you react?

[bunnyloveruk]

no i've not tried that method not too sure what i need to do. i've tried telling her gently then try to show her that he wasnt going to hurt her but because that didnt work i tried to be more harsh with her by shouting but now all i can do is make her go outside everytime she does it. my son doesnt do anything when she growls, just walks away and she's not crate trained, we've never had the need to do it

[Karen]

When she gets near him and growls, instead of shouting at her, try keeping her on the leash, and tug a bit to get her attention back to you. Call her name, tug, make her focus on you and ignore him. Try a treat, if she's treat focussed. But keep her on a leash whenever he's out and down on the floor, so you can easily redirect her focus to you.

[Cataholic]

Please keep in mind that your 20 month old will, eventually, turn into a 3, 4 and 5 year old! I think 18-24 months was the hardest time with my son and my cats. Ultimately, he developed some restraint, and in the meantime, I watched him and them like a hawk. While he is now 4.5 years old, I can tell you it has been a long time since he and they interacted poorly.

Good luck, and please don't give up on your pet. Having pets does so very much for a child's learning/responsibility/humane understanding.

[carrie]

You have two choices - get the dog with someone else - get real with the situation you have got.

The dog has no right to make any sound when the baby is around. I would keep a lead on the dog at all times, keep a water pistol on me in the house and have several cans with coins or beans in them around me.

No sound made by the dog around the baby should be tolerated or acknowledged by use of your voice. This is vital. You do not look at or talk to the dog. As soon as a noise, no matter what it is, is heard from the dog when you or anyone else is dealing with the baby, you must spray or throw your noisy tin in the general direction of dog.
Do this every time and dog will accept, be inconsistent and dog will get worse.
If you are unable to be consistent, and I understand that it is difficult, then the dog has to go.

This is a disaster waiting to happen, really.