Boxer and a new baby (different scenario)

[SSpiro]

I have a 2.5 year old boxer mix, and a 3-4 year old Vizsla mix.

The Vizsla is amazing around kids and babies. Extremely protective and very adaptive.. I love it. She actually helped teach a friends child how to walk!

The boxer is extremely playful. Always has been, and is a total nut. I have a 7 year old son that lives with his mom, but comes over to the house every weekend or so. The boxer is a nut with him, running and jumping all over him. It's only playful and tons of kisses and wiggles. Nothing negative. He's the same way with other kids that age. He thinks they are so much fun to play with.. eventually he tones it down and leaves them alone.

However - my wife and I are talking about having a baby together.. I am a little nervous how the boxer will behave. I can't have him jumping all over the newborn, of course.

I'm trying to research how I should proceed. I can't give up my boxer, its not an option.

 

[gmacleod]

You need to train him not to jump on kids. That may take a little time, since he's currently effectively trained TO jump on them - courtesy of being allowed to do so with your 7 year old.

But it's not impossible to re-train him And it's very likely that he won't be so excitable with a baby/toddler anyway, since they really don't move a lot or very fast. So you've a fair amount of time available to you to re-educate the dog. It is basically a case of training him to sit before he is o receive any attention from anyone, and to *never* give him any attention or reaction at all when he jumps (not every dog will ever think of this for himself ).

If you browse this forum, and also do a search for threads on jumping up, you should find plenty of information on how to train the dog to sit instead. It will take quite a bit of time and patience (and absolute consistency), but it can certainly be done.

 

[SSpiro]

Great advice.. I will start reading! Thank you!

 

[blurble33]

i was worried about my two girls jumping on our friends baby when he came over for the first time - and it was/is still not a problem. they don't try to jump on him, step on him when he is in the floor or anything - actually, our only problem is getting them to NOT kiss him all the time!! oh and buttercup really like his hard plastic singing light up ball she wants him to roll it to her so she can attack it but alas the baby is only 6 mons old and hasn't started doing that yet - they are great with him even when he is pulling on their ears and lips!!