[Maryn]

Reich and my youngest boy, Domenico-4, spend the most time together. He's here with me all day while his older brothers are at school.

These two have become inseparable. If we have to go shopping, to pick up the others, to my mom's- 'is Reich coming? We can bring her...right?'

Inside, outside, naps, lunchtime, they're side by side.

I've noticed that with the closeness, he's losing his doggy-manners.

It's no longer off-limits to come up behind a dog. To the contrary, it's FUN to sneak up on her from behind and 'scare' her.

It's no longer off-limits to run in front of, or near, a dog. No no no. They play TAG. He pokes her, takes off, she chases, sticks her nose on him and darts the other way for him to chase.

It's no longer off limits to bother a sleeping dog. It's now status-quo to decorate her with toys, stickers, and himself when she's napping.

The crate isn't currently her 'safe alone time' place. They curled up together for a nap in there on wednesday.

I dared interrupt a rousing game of tag this morning. Reich is still a pup, all 55 lbs of her 6 month old goofy self. And I'm noticing that her kiddie-manners are slipping now too. Bumping him with her nose isn't enough....she grabs his elbow with her mouth.
Mouthing has never been allowed, and wasn't ever a big problem.

So here I go 'Now that's enough. Do you want her to bite and hurt you?'

'Mommy, it's ok if Reich bites me....she's just playing. She's a kid too!'

Now they're both in trouble...sitting on the floor watching Scooby doo, shooting me the 'you're so mean!' glares.

I've been slipping....time to lay down the law with both of them...but it isn't easy, because you can even see the bond they have written all over the dog's face when they're together.

Kids and dogs....they can make you laugh and drive you nuts all at the same time.

 

[Helly]

Aw Mom....

 

[JenniferH]

I find myself in the same boat with my 4 year old daughter! Bella is now 11 months old and the two of them are together all the time. Sometimes so much so that I cant get anything done. Bath time is a big pain with Bella crowding the already small bathroom and the kid playing with the dog and it goes on and on. The dog rules are getting lax and I tell my daughter the same thing you tell your son. I get the same answers...go figure. Its hard to break them up though because, as you said, the bond is strong and clearly visible.

 

[bethd]

Uh oh!

That sounds like me and Max and I'm way over 4 years old!!

We just have a lot of fun together and I do enforce the rules to an extent. So even if you enforce the rules, the bond will still be there. Thank goodness DH is there to be THE enforcer!

Sometimes I'll tell Max to go lay down and he'll look at my DH, if DH also tells him, then he'll go do it. But it's funny because everything I tell him, first he looks at DH, thinking "what? does she mean it?" LOL So sometimes I have to really let him know I'm in charge with nlif.

 

[Maryn]

LOL

The youngest went to grandpap's for the weekend. She doesn't know what to do with herself now.

She keeps trying to get the middle boy to play tag...but he doesn't get it.

 

[cdonahue89]

uh oh i see that in the future.. my daughters 16mos old & beamers a year in june, & theyre inseperable. =x

 

[SunCzarina]

My kids are the same way. Once in a while I give them a dose of doggie manners by visiting my neighbor who has an enormous Rottie that loves kids but doesn't have any. It's amazing how good manners return when there's drool and snot flying around.

It'll all work out when the big brothers are home from school for the summer. Does the littlest boy goes to preschool in the fall before doggie teenagerhood kicks in?

 

[Maryn]

He starts kindergarten in the fall...thankfully LOL

This summer should be a riot. She goes nuts when they're all together playing outside.... has to constantly try to herd them into a group.