Re: toddlers & terriers - can they co-habitate?

In Reply to: toddlers & terriers - can they co-habitate?
Posted by:  Mark
Posted on:  June 29, 2001 at 09:18:12

: My 6 year old JRT has growled at my 8 month old son (who is now mobile) and yesterday 'went for him'.
: Whilst he did not bite my son, both Mother & I are very concerned for the future.
: Would you recommend we re-home our Monty, or try to seek specialist behaviour advice?
: Thanks for your help at this traumatic time.

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Hi Mark.

Jrts and toddlers can co-exist, but it takes an work on the part of the owners.

Your Monty has been living in a home without a your new born. All of a sudden there is something new in the house. This something new is taking your attention away from him and it is in HIS house. So from there you can imagine how he feels.

Then you must realize that dogs sometimes do not see children as their alphas--and more as their equals. When a dog is being pestered by another dog, it gives off a growl. Sort of like what people do--except dogs communicate by barking and growling.

You have seen dogs play before when one gets too much in the face of the other, they "go for the other dog". It may not necessarily be to bite, but to just send off a signal.

This growling and "going for the other" is also a way that dogs establish hierachy amongst themselves. I am sure you have seen it, but the dogs usually communicate to each other that --hey I am in charge here--back off. The dog that backs off to the growl is thus usually the omega of the two.

Your jrt may be doing that with your child. It is saying to it, I am still in charge here and this is my house. Remember, he sees the child as an "intruder" to his little order of things. But, this has to stop and you need to be careful not to leave the child unattended.

You need a trainer or behaviorist to teach you how to get your jrt to learn that this pack is going to get along and you and your wife are the alphas--not he. You also need to learn how to reassure him that he is still very much loved and part of the family.

A child (particularly at that age) should NEVER be left alone with a dog. You also need a trainer to teach you how to get the two of them acquainted. This process usually begins before you even bring the baby home.

Check out these web sites:

http://www.newdads.com/DealingPets.htm
http://www.metrokc.gov/lars/animal/Educate/cassidy/dog/dog31.htm
http://views.vcu.edu/paws/babydog.htm
http://www.petlandinc.com/pet_care_tips/babymakes3.htm

Someone once wrote to us here because she would give her jrt table scraps and rather than eating them, her jrt would go over to the baby and put them on her chest or in the crib--yep--as if to feed the baby!

My best friend recently adopted a baby and whenever the baby is around my jrt does nothing but protect her. If she cries in the other room, my jrt comes barking to let us know! If the baby is playing on the floor, my jrt sits in front guarding her from everyone else. When you go to pick up the baby, she immediately stands up to see what you are doing to the baby.

So yes, they can get along. But like I said it takes time and patience. Your jrt needs to understand what happened and who is this new presence in his house. You also ned to be very careful and not leave them alone.

A trainer may help you in that area.

Good luck and I hope you can work it out. Monty has been with you for a while and I trust a member of your household. You must be vigilant, it is afterall a dog. But, it can be done. It takes some work.

Good luck,