11-week old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy and 5.5 yr old human boy!
September 17, 2018 9:56 AM Subscribe
I've read tons of the puppy biting questions and they are so helpful. However, we have the added twist of a 5.5 yr old super active and physical young boy. I'd love some advice or even a pep talk that this will work out.
2 weeks ago we picked up a Ridgeback puppy. He is super sweet and sleepy. However, of course, he has moments of playful times with lots of biting. We're trying to have toys in our hands at all times, yelping when necessary, saying no, etc. Going on lots of walks too.
We have a cat, dog is fine with the cat so far. We're crate training and he's doing pretty well. We have one in the kitchen area and he sleeps in another in our bedroom.
This weekend was insanely stressful. It felt like all we did was yell at our kid or correct him - "don't let the dog chase you" - "the dog is biting you, stand up stand up..." "have a toy in your hand" etc. It put us in a bad mood and our kid, too. He became more defiant and wouldn't listen. He just started a new school/kindergarten also 2 weeks ago so is already going through a tough transition... yes, I know this wasn't the best timing.
We're looking to bring a trainer into the house. One of us has trained 2 pugs before who were lovely dogs (the second just passed away about a month and a half ago) and wants to eventually run with the Ridgeback once he's old enough. She's wanted a Ridgeback for 20 years... so this is a big deal.
My parents were around puppy and kid this weekend and thought - he's a good puppy AND my kid is just being a kid (and believe me, they're the first ones to say when my kid isn't being "obedient"). I'm just feeling overwhelmed and like we barely have time with 2 FT jobs (we do have a dog walker 2x a day right now), and kid... and now when we're home it's constant correction between kid and puppy.
This puppy will be pretty huge soon. I'm worried when we can't stem the running/chasing/biting with our kid that we're training him to ... bite and chase. We're getting gates to be able to keep the dog in one room when needed, in addition to crate and as I said, bringing in a trainer.
Has anyone successfully lived through puppy and a young kid who can't seem to stay on board with the training rules. I mean, he's 5.5... I know, but I wish it were a tiny bit easier. He's an only child who I think eventually will be best friends with this dog. And like I said, this dog seems like SUCH a good guy with a good temperament.
Puppy pictures here and here!
2 weeks ago we picked up a Ridgeback puppy. He is super sweet and sleepy. However, of course, he has moments of playful times with lots of biting. We're trying to have toys in our hands at all times, yelping when necessary, saying no, etc. Going on lots of walks too.
We have a cat, dog is fine with the cat so far. We're crate training and he's doing pretty well. We have one in the kitchen area and he sleeps in another in our bedroom.
This weekend was insanely stressful. It felt like all we did was yell at our kid or correct him - "don't let the dog chase you" - "the dog is biting you, stand up stand up..." "have a toy in your hand" etc. It put us in a bad mood and our kid, too. He became more defiant and wouldn't listen. He just started a new school/kindergarten also 2 weeks ago so is already going through a tough transition... yes, I know this wasn't the best timing.
We're looking to bring a trainer into the house. One of us has trained 2 pugs before who were lovely dogs (the second just passed away about a month and a half ago) and wants to eventually run with the Ridgeback once he's old enough. She's wanted a Ridgeback for 20 years... so this is a big deal.
My parents were around puppy and kid this weekend and thought - he's a good puppy AND my kid is just being a kid (and believe me, they're the first ones to say when my kid isn't being "obedient"). I'm just feeling overwhelmed and like we barely have time with 2 FT jobs (we do have a dog walker 2x a day right now), and kid... and now when we're home it's constant correction between kid and puppy.
This puppy will be pretty huge soon. I'm worried when we can't stem the running/chasing/biting with our kid that we're training him to ... bite and chase. We're getting gates to be able to keep the dog in one room when needed, in addition to crate and as I said, bringing in a trainer.
Has anyone successfully lived through puppy and a young kid who can't seem to stay on board with the training rules. I mean, he's 5.5... I know, but I wish it were a tiny bit easier. He's an only child who I think eventually will be best friends with this dog. And like I said, this dog seems like SUCH a good guy with a good temperament.
Puppy pictures here and here!
Best answer: (I had a Rhodie.)
Both the puppy and your kid are acting perfectly normally within their developmental levels, but you are also facing a lot of hurt feelings and potentially a lot more hurt than that if you don't stop this.
Until you can ensure the dog will behave around your kid and vice versa, I would keep them separated except for supervised playtime. You're asking the puppy and the kid, both creatures lacking self-control, to do things they can't. You want your kid to love and enjoy and feel safe around the dog; that's going to involve you supervising their together time until everyone is a bit older and more mature.
In general, Rhodies are really smart and as puppies, they love to nip. but they're superloyal to their people and very cuddly.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 10:28 AM on September 17, 2018 [10 favorites]
Both the puppy and your kid are acting perfectly normally within their developmental levels, but you are also facing a lot of hurt feelings and potentially a lot more hurt than that if you don't stop this.
Until you can ensure the dog will behave around your kid and vice versa, I would keep them separated except for supervised playtime. You're asking the puppy and the kid, both creatures lacking self-control, to do things they can't. You want your kid to love and enjoy and feel safe around the dog; that's going to involve you supervising their together time until everyone is a bit older and more mature.
In general, Rhodies are really smart and as puppies, they love to nip. but they're superloyal to their people and very cuddly.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 10:28 AM on September 17, 2018 [10 favorites]
Best answer: I’m a dog walker/trainer, and currently have 3 Ridgies in my pack. One of whom is 4.5 months old.
You’re doing all the right things, and I promise it gets easier. I tend towards a more “bite me and I bite back” approach, and both kids and dogs learn fast.
A place to retreat for each is needed, but in 6 months they will have grown a lot together.
I’ll second the “they grow up to be super chill”, and that can happen much faster than in most breeds. Personal experience also says the ridgeless ridgebacks- especially the females- are more alert and focused at an earlier age. (Don’t be me and teach one how to open the fridge.)
Yours looks like a sweetie, and I hope you get to enjoy a bit of puppyhood in between the stress.
Feel free to memail me if you need a cheering section.
posted by whowearsthepants at 12:13 PM on September 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
You’re doing all the right things, and I promise it gets easier. I tend towards a more “bite me and I bite back” approach, and both kids and dogs learn fast.
A place to retreat for each is needed, but in 6 months they will have grown a lot together.
I’ll second the “they grow up to be super chill”, and that can happen much faster than in most breeds. Personal experience also says the ridgeless ridgebacks- especially the females- are more alert and focused at an earlier age. (Don’t be me and teach one how to open the fridge.)
Yours looks like a sweetie, and I hope you get to enjoy a bit of puppyhood in between the stress.
Feel free to memail me if you need a cheering section.
posted by whowearsthepants at 12:13 PM on September 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've had two Rhodies. Both seemed to have an EXTENDED puppy phase, and there was a LOT of mouthiness, but with both of them that's all it was. They were very, very sweet, tolerant, wouldn't hurt a flea types. But their terrible twos lasted literally up to age three. After that, they were both couch potatoes and small children could put their entire hands in their mouths. Neither of mine were smart, but both were sweet as hell post-puppy phase.
Gahhh I miss those dogs. I'd be lying if I said your pix didn't make me tear up.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:23 AM on September 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Gahhh I miss those dogs. I'd be lying if I said your pix didn't make me tear up.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:23 AM on September 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I probably say this after each question I ask, but you are all SO AWESOME. Thank you so much for your advice/experience.
Also yes I said yes I will Yes, having a Ulysses handle just made your response even better.
We bought gates last night and this morning our kid promptly closed himself into the livingroom to play with his indoraptor toy so the dog wouldn't chew it. Progress! He's also seeming to learn "off" and "no" when he bites our legs, I'm sure the trainer will help with that too.
Thanks again!
posted by jdl at 8:57 AM on September 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also yes I said yes I will Yes, having a Ulysses handle just made your response even better.
We bought gates last night and this morning our kid promptly closed himself into the livingroom to play with his indoraptor toy so the dog wouldn't chew it. Progress! He's also seeming to learn "off" and "no" when he bites our legs, I'm sure the trainer will help with that too.
Thanks again!
posted by jdl at 8:57 AM on September 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
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Other people will chime in with more specific advice but I wanted to say - you are on the right track to DEFINITELY get a trainer. These are not easy dogs to train. Extremely stubborn and independent.
Also these dogs are lazy butts. We’ve had for rhodesians and once they are out of the puppy phase they seriously chill out. They also tend to be pretty aloof around kids. Our puppy was all up in my newborns business but now that she is just a few months older (and so is he) she basically ignores him.
Have fun! They are awesome dogs. I gotta say I’ve never had luck with mine running with me- they are incredibly strong and fast but when they are done they are done and whine to go back home to the couch!
posted by pintapicasso at 10:06 AM on September 17, 2018 [6 favorites]