Help! My kids a e sabbotaging Brunos Training!

[mazzei]

I am the mom of a 4 month old male Fawn boxer, and the mom of 4 kids 12,10,10,6. Bruno likes to play bite. The kids play rough with him and he loves it but then when they have had enough he still trys to bite them (playing). I keep telling them that they can't do that. Is there a way i can train my puppy to not bite them.? I think its easier to train the dog then it is my kids .

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Kids can make trainning tough. We have 3 (9,9,6). Even with the older dogs we do not allow the kids to play rough, wrestle with the dogs EVER. Hard for the dogs to know when enough is enough. The hardest two issues I have always had is teaching the dogs not to jump or chase the kids and teaching the kids not to feed the dogs from the table or leave food out. I also do not let the dogs sleep on the kids bed. I try to not blurr the line of who out ranks who. I also have the kids help feed the dogs on the week-end and the twins do 4-H dog obedience with Hope and Holly. It helps if the kids are involved with the training.

 

[Louise501]

I have 3 boys it's only the youngest at 9 who I need to watch as the other two are nearly adults. I won't let him wrestle or play fight with my boxers, neither will I let the dogs sit or stand over him if he is laying on the floor. You need to make it perfectly clear as to what is allowed, boxer play can easily get out of hand

 

[lucas_ruane]

Hi We have a 14 week old boxer puppy named Lucas, We also have 5 kids ages 1,3,5,13, and 15 years. I know what you mean by sabotaging their training. The younger kids are never allowed to engage in proper games with Lucas, it is hard with the older ones as well as they don't know how to stop, or control the play when it gets out of hand.
Yesterday I devised a great game that the older ones can play without things getting serious. We use Lucas's tennis ball, and the game starts with the child giving the dog the ball, then the child and the dog push and gently nudge for the ball, they play in a small area only, the child knows that he can take the ball from Lucas when he wishes but pretends he can't, then when he is ready the child gently works the ball out of the dogs mouth. Then the child crouches on the floor and leaves the ball in his hand but keeps a firm grip on it. Lucas never seems to use his teeth, the child only gives the ball up when Lucas is being his most gentle.
Then the game starts again. If Lucas uses his teeth during play the game ends for a short period of time. The game always ends with the child in control.
The good thing about this game is that Lucas and the child can play and the emphasis is on the toy rather than on the childs hands or legs or face. Lucas loves this game and it is the first time the kids and the dog have played together for an extended periond of time without correction.
Ruth Lucas's MOM
Is this appropriate play does anybody know?

 

[joannbeil]

I have the same problem. Laila is 8 months and my 2 skin kids are 4 1/2 and 7. I am so glad I am not the only one. I was wondering if I just had not done something correctly. I definately think the kids need training also. I tell mine when she is rough and they cry I have told you not to play that way. SHe does not understand it hurts. I never let them think the dog will get the blame.

Jo Ann & Laila

 

[jerseyjef]

i have the same problem. my girlfriends kids are 13 and 6 and they constantly have to be touching or bothering the dog. its frustrating because i try to explain to them that the dog is a dog and will always play if you give him the attention. they want to play with the dog for as long as they want to but when they have had enough they expect the 9 month old puppy to stop cold turkey. this never happens. the younger one especially is at a stage in her life where she loves to get her brother or the dog in trouble so she will instigate the puppy to jump up on her or walk around with his front paws on her shoulders until my girlfriend or myself sees it and we have to discipline the dog. i discipline the child as well letting her know that she has to behave and not allow the puppy to climb on her.

 

[ScamperButt]

So maybe this is just a lesson to us all to just forget about having those monster skin kids and focus all of our parent love on our boxers!!!

(This is coming from someone who is 24 and has no skin kids yet. I'm just joking, Don't be offended!)

 

[jazzysmommy]

I have three kids, ages 13, 11, and 8. We have been very fortunate that our kids and boxers play extremely well together. Since they are with us at all times (pretty much), the kids not only play with them but sleep with them too. They also lay and watch TV with the kids, it is actually very cute. I think this has helped. We taught our kids to firmly say "no" or "sit" if things are getting too ruff. The dogs repsond very well their commands.
We too, tell the kids not to play to rough with them. They have learned that through experience though (the skin kids).
This happens to be the quality I truly love about boxers. Jazzy seems to sense that smaller kids can't play the same with her. She tones herself to age and size of the child. A friends tiny 2 year old was playing with her by running back and forth through the house, Jazzy would just trot behind him gently and wait for him to go the other way. It was SO cute. In the end we found the 2 year old laying on her on the floor and she was licking his head (cleaning him).
We have kids in and out of our house constantly, so they used to kids of sizes and temperments. I even have a friend with triplet boys (age 6), and they LOVE to play with our boxer babies.
I think it will all work out................
Adriane