HELP! dcb terrified of dog :-(

[LorriF]

I run a home daycare, and my dog Jake is very nervous of adults, but happy with children. He loves the kids here, and gets really excited and playful when they are here.

I started a new daycare boy today, and he is TERRIFIED of the dog. Not just nervous, but screaming/climbing me/punching the dog terrified. Jake was trying to say *hello* and sniff this new child, but I ended up having to crate him for a large part of the day I am afraid that if this boy continues to scream and flap his hands and punch the dog, any progress I have made with Jake will regress and this boy will be bitten.

Termination of care isn't an option--this boy is a teacher's son, and he's only temporary. But I can't crate Jake for the next month while this boy is here!

Any advice on getting this boy to relax, or getting Jake to relax and not stick his nose in the boy's face? Or anywhere near him? (he also freaked when the dog tried to sniff his foot).

 

[MyDogsLoveMe]

You may just very well have to crate jake. There may not be any wat of getting the boy to relax-you dont know if he has had a bad experience with an animal, or just does not like dogs. I used to run a day care business and also had dogs but in the ends as much as I loved my dogs my business and the welfare of the kids that these parents had trusted me with came first.

 

[Saje]

Wow. That is one scared boy! Has he seen the dog interact with the other kids? Sometimes that helps. Poor Jake. He must wonder what he did! I don't really have anything else to suggest but I'll keep thinking about it.

 

[yuckaduck]

It is so hard to make a child understand that Jake is just saying hello. Can you maybe try tying Jake to a couch or something, maybe babygating off the area so he can't get near this poor boy. No need to traumatize the boy or the dog, maybe be best to just keep them seperated.

 

[LorriF]

I talked to his dad when he picked him up, and he said dcb was the same with another dog until he got used to him.

The dad doesn't seem concerned, and figures he will get used to the dog. I wonder if dcb will settle down once he sees that even the baby isn't afraid?

 

[LorriF]

Wow. That is one scared boy! Has he seen the dog interact with the other kids? Sometimes that helps. Poor Jake. He must wonder what he did! I don't really have anything else to suggest but I'll keep thinking about it.

He did see the dog with my girls and with the other little boy that was here today. They just ignored Jake and Jake ignored them LOL. The problem with Jake is that when he KNOWS someone doesn't like him, he tries SO HARD to make friends with them.

I have never seen a child so terrified of the dog!

 

[LorriF]

It is so hard to make a child understand that Jake is just saying hello. Can you maybe try tying Jake to a couch or something, maybe babygating off the area so he can't get near this poor boy. No need to traumatize the boy or the dog, maybe be best to just keep them seperated.

It is hard--this boy is only 2.5, so he doesn't totally understand what I am telling him. Also, he is right on eye level with the dog!

I kept Jake gated in the kitchen with me while I made lunch, and then the dcb wouldn't leave him alone--so there is curiousity there KWIM? And he DID throw the ball for Jake outside and enjoyed that

 

[yuckaduck]

No a 2.5 year old will not understand what you say. I notice that with Megan, but maybe he is starting to relax. If he enjoyed throwing the ball for Jake then that is great. Hopefully he will quickly understand that it is ok and Jake is friendly.

I have these problems with full growen adults when I walk Yukon in town and he is just a pup. They are terrified of him, even when he is leashed so I understand where you are coming from and with a child it is so much harder because they do not comprehend our explaination.

 

[MyDogsLoveMe]

Lorri I didnt mean to come across harsh in my post. It is hard with kids especially if they have not grown up around animals to understand. It is good that he is attempting to interact with the dog by throwing the ball.

 

[Whitedobelover]

i agree it is hard but ask the dad or mom to hold him and then introduce the dog to him that way... of course he will still freak out but he trusts his parents and that is the good thing he will trust them and know that they will not let anything happen... it is like bringing a new puppy into the house with cats... you have to introduce them face to face... so try that and see if it helps

 

[IcePrincesss17]

Just an idea, but maybe if you get some age appropriate books about dogs for the dcb to look at he might become interested in dogs and feel more comfortable around Jake.

That's great that the little boy took interest in Jake and was throwing the ball for him! If Jake is comfortable being gated in the kitchen that might be a great idea until the dcb gets used to being around Jake. Maybe take one of Jake's favorite toys and have the dcb give it to Jake, that could help.

Also, if the parents could take a few minutes while dropping off or picking up their child they could spend some time with Jake and the little boy. Having the parents be comfortable around Jake and playing with Jake as well as their child could instill trust for the boy that being around dogs is ok and that he isn't going to get hurt.

It's going to take time and patience but hopefully the little guy can get used to being around Jake and still feeling safe!

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

This is a tough one for sure...poor Jake...he's just trying to greet the new little boy. I would also agree to keep them separated just enough so the boy won't be aggressive toward Jake but close enough that he can see the interaction with the other kids and Jake and then he'll know that he's safe.

 

[Boxer*Mom]

Maybe do tricks at a distance. Kids love to be entertained and laugh, especially if they get to help give the commands. Then let him give the dog a treat if he feels comfortable.

 

[smkie]

I tmay be bad for the dog to be crated for a month but he must NOT be in a position to bite the boy..maybe you can put up a partial screen and corner off a section of the room with baby gates or something so he will have a little more room but the boy would not be able to see him..if you covered the gates with a blanket..if the dog does bite then you would have the possibility of a huge lawsuit on your hands..is there someone that would watch the dog in their home until the child relocates?

 

[Renee750il]

It doesn't seem as though the problem is worrying about Jake biting, it's worrying about having a panicky child. You have to be watchful, to be sure, as children like that can manage to get themselves hurt and in their fear and panic will often say the dog bit them when it's just fearful imagination.

You certainly don't want to make Jake feel like he's being punished because of the child by locking him in the crate for a month though! I think you're probably on the right track, keeping Jake in the kitchen with you when you're fixing lunch, etc. The natural curiosity of a child may overcome irrational fear as long as no one is rewarding this child for being fearful. Think of it in the same terms that you would desensitizing a puppy to something it's afraid of.

 

[LorriF]

Just an idea, but maybe if you get some age appropriate books about dogs for the dcb to look at he might become interested in dogs and feel more comfortable around Jake.

That's great that the little boy took interest in Jake and was throwing the ball for him! If Jake is comfortable being gated in the kitchen that might be a great idea until the dcb gets used to being around Jake. Maybe take one of Jake's favorite toys and have the dcb give it to Jake, that could help.

Also, if the parents could take a few minutes while dropping off or picking up their child they could spend some time with Jake and the little boy. Having the parents be comfortable around Jake and playing with Jake as well as their child could instill trust for the boy that being around dogs is ok and that he isn't going to get hurt.

It's going to take time and patience but hopefully the little guy can get used to being around Jake and still feeling safe!

I did talk to the dad at pickup time, and he said that dcb talks about Jake for days after being here (doesn't help that he's part time!). He is interested in the dog as long as the dog stays away from him--but Jake just keeps trying harder to get friendly with this child! I do know this boy was *rushed* by a pitbull earlier in the spring, and that is probably where a lot of the fear stems from.

Jake has been very hard to socialize, and he is very afraid of strangers and having strangers touch him. I don't dare let someone come to the door and pat him, or let someone pat him while we are out for walks. Very slowly, I am getting Jake more comfortable with people. But he doesn't know the dcdad very well yet, and so I don't know if the dad interacting with the dog would be a good thing! But Jake truly loves kids, and welcomes them all into our home

I think it will just take some time--as far as I know, this boy will only be with me for the month of Sept....they have talked about maybe keeping him with me during her mat leave too, but I might kind of discourage that based on the dog issue. Of course, one of my other dcb was also afraid of the dog when we first got him, and now he just loves him!

 

[LorriF]

Maybe do tricks at a distance. Kids love to be entertained and laugh, especially if they get to help give the commands. Then let him give the dog a treat if he feels comfortable.

He did initially enjoy giving Jake a treat, but then became too afraid to later on in the day. I will keep encouraging it

 

[LorriF]

This is a tough one for sure...poor Jake...he's just trying to greet the new little boy. I would also agree to keep them separated just enough so the boy won't be aggressive toward Jake but close enough that he can see the interaction with the other kids and Jake and then he'll know that he's safe.

Should I leash him in the house, then? Maybe that way Jake can still be out and about, but I can keep him away from the dcb?

 

[Babyblue5290]

I think putting a leash on him would be a great idea!

 

[Zoom]

I wish my babysitters had had a dog, I maybe wouldn't have tried locking myself in car so often...

It sounds like you're on the right track with how to deal with dcb. Just give it time.