[cdonahue89]

beamer (9 months) has always been AMAZING with our daughter (13 months). we have had beamer since she was 12 weeks & they have been best friends since.

our daughter is walking, climbing, running, getting into things like crazy now & beamer seems to be less careful with her lately. she will knock her over (obviously on accident i know, but before it seemed like she would watch where the baby was more carefully) & when our daughter is on the bed beamer has gotten in the habit of LEAPING onto it & trying to "shake hands" with our daughter. it's not so rough that she is hurting her yet but i'm worried about that one slip up where she scratches her face or something.

anybody else have this problem? & how do we fix it.

 

[cdonahue89]

anyone?

 

[tracyc]

Quote: anybody else have this problem? & how do we fix it.

I don't have any children. But I think you have to fix it with supervision.

A full-sized (even though not fully mature) GSD shouldn't be left alone with a toddler, especially if you aren't 100% confident that the dog knows how to behave with the child. It's not worth the risk.

But you can train the pup to learn how to interact appropriately. Have her sit or lie quietly next to the child. Carefully supervise some staged play between the two of them and immediately correct (a sharp UH-uh!) whenever the dog even gets close to being too energetic near her. Praise her when she self-corrects and is calm.

Like anything else, it's about showing the dog clear boundaries in ways the dog will understand. Reward the good, correct anything that approaches inappropriate behavior from the dog around the baby.

And, as much as you can with a toddler, begin teaching her appropriate ways to interact with a dog--no hitting, pulling, poking, etc.

By the time they are both a bit older, they'll be best buds for life.

A puppy AND a toddler! You should get a medal for courage!