Help!!! My Yorkie & My Toddler.....Ugghhh

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

I should have said that toddlers are capable of being careful with a dog if they are supervised and told what to do and not to do. But you never want to leave a child and dog alone together...too many things can happen.

Everyone has their opinions on yorkies and children. I personally don't think it's normally a good match (although in some cases it's fine when the parent is responsible).

I completely agree with you...toddlers should not be left alone with such tiny dogs. However, like I said, Livi has not ever been hurt by my children. She has been hurt by my hubby, though. He has accidently stepped on her foot (twice)...so what should I do about him? Maybe he is the one that needs supervision.

Tammy

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I completely agree with you...toddlers should not be left alone with such tiny dogs. However, like I said, Livi has not ever been hurt by my children. She has been hurt by my hubby, though. He has accidently stepped on her foot (twice)...so what should I do about him? Maybe he is the one that needs supervision.

Tammy

LOL I stepped on Lacy's foot tonight taking her outside...

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

LOL I stepped on Lacy's foot tonight taking her outside...

I know, has to make you feel bad. My husband did it just recently to Livi...both times within 5 minutes of the other. She adores him so she was following him around the kitchen, he then forgot something (VERY typical of him ) and he turned around really fast and stepped on her foot. She yelped, which I had never heard her do. Poor thing looked up at him like, He loved on her and told her he was sorry and then left...once again, forgot something and came zooming back inside and she was still at the door (She sits and sulks whenever he leaves)....he stepped on her foot AGAIN! She yelped, but this time, she looked at him like, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" and took off under the ottoman.

Tammy

[CaLi19GyRL]

Men!!! Ha Ha Well yea I understand and Damian will NEVER be left alone with Maxx, even when is he bigger, well when both of them are bigger for that matter....ha ha

[altigger74]

Originally Posted by CaLi19GyRL

Okay sooooooo I get Maxx so my son can have a "best friend" but it's not working out, and I need help!! We've only had him for a week, so it might get better, I hope!! My son is very good with small dogs, my mom has chihuahuas and actually she just got a puppy, same age as Maxx. Damian fell in love with her and she licks his face and lets him hold her etc... so then we got Maxx so he can have a dog at our house that daddy & I like and aren't going to be allergic to dog hair all over the place.....yorkie it is!!! :0) My fav! Anyway sooooo Maxx seems to be terrified of Damian. My son hasn't don anything to the dog but try to pet him, and he always wants to hold him, but the dog won't cuddle with him at all, it's the weirdest thing. Maxx with be sitting with me, then Damian will come up & pet him while saying "nice touches", which is that I taught him, and Maxx he freak out and get up & run. So I need help, it's breaking my heart that my son wants to love Maxx so bad, any ideas on how to establish this "friendship"

Your puppy just needs time to get used to someone little. It will happen. Let the pup come to him. If your pup likes toys have your son play fetch with him or just to sit on the floor and let the pup get used to him. It will work out especially if your son is calm and patient around the pup (as much as a three year old can be). Just give it time.

[kawi2007]

Hi, I have 4 boys (8,6,3,9 months). We have had Kawi for almost a month now. At first Kawi was very skittish around the boys and didn't want to be by them. But now they are all the best of friends. The boys know that they need to be extremely gentle and they are not aloud to pick him up unless I ask them too. I let them feed him, give him treats, take him outside and play fetch with him. That seemed to help alot, he knows that he can trust them. I don't feel that I need to supervise them all the time, my boys know the rules and the consequences if they do not follow the rules. I feel (just my opinion) that if you never let them learn how to play with the puppy they will never know and that's how the accidents will happen. Again just my opinion, hope all works out!!

Heather & Kawi

[autumn star]

Being the mother of two (8 1/2 and 5 1/2) and a fulltime at home babysitter I think the dogs become afraid because of they way children come at them. We as adults seem to approach dogs differently then children, kids just come right at them and I think it can be very intimidating for them, they are so little.
Give it some time I bet Maxx will come around!!

[scoobiedooiscoo]

my kids and kids i have babysat for over the years have always been great with all our dogs. like someone said its how you teach the kids they need to know to be calm and respectful weather its a small dog or large. as far as the puppy goes, give it time its still a baby and everything is new and scarry. every dog has a different personality and its up to you to learn what the puppy likes.

[AngelWorks]

Originally Posted by autumn star

Being the mother of two (8 1/2 and 5 1/2) and a fulltime at home babysitter I think the dogs become afraid because of they way children come at them. We as adults seem to approach dogs differently then children, kids just come right at them and I think it can be very intimidating for them, they are so little.
Give it some time I bet Maxx will come around!!

I have to agree here. Milo loves every skin or fur covered being, but when a child makes it their job to HAVE to pick him up, he's over it. Runs for the hills.

Happened recently when the neighbors were dropping off the GS cookies. Her 7 year old just HAD to hold Milo. I have never seen him run so fast and hide under every thing he could to try and avoid it.

If she had just sat down and gave him 2 seconds, he would've been right in her lap and licking her face.

[hha]

Originally Posted by CaLi19GyRL

Okay sooooooo I get Maxx so my son can have a "best friend" but it's not working out, and I need help!! We've only had him for a week, so it might get better, I hope!! My son is very good with small dogs, my mom has chihuahuas and actually she just got a puppy, same age as Maxx. Damian fell in love with her and she licks his face and lets him hold her etc... so then we got Maxx so he can have a dog at our house that daddy & I like and aren't going to be allergic to dog hair all over the place.....yorkie it is!!! :0) My fav! Anyway sooooo Maxx seems to be terrified of Damian. My son hasn't don anything to the dog but try to pet him, and he always wants to hold him, but the dog won't cuddle with him at all, it's the weirdest thing. Maxx with be sitting with me, then Damian will come up & pet him while saying "nice touches", which is that I taught him, and Maxx he freak out and get up & run. So I need help, it's breaking my heart that my son wants to love Maxx so bad, any ideas on how to establish this "friendship"

It'll work out, my little puppy is 7 1/2 mos and small, and when my g-kids come over, she's all over them..it will just take awhile, give it time..sounds like you're doing the right thing by teaching your toddler how to be gentle with the puppy..as long as he doesn't hurt the pup, the pup will come around..he was probably never around small children before...they will become best of friends...

[hha]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I do not agree that toddlers are not capable of being careful with Yorkies. We have had Livi for a year and she came to us as a young puppy and she has a great relationship with both of my toddlers. My daughter is 4 and a half and my son just turned 3 this month....so obvioulsy, they were both little when she came into our lives. I can honestly say that Livi has not once been hurt by my children. Yes, I do agree with Michele that they do need supervision...just because these guys are so tiny. I know that my kiddos would not purposely hurt Livi, but accidents can happen. Maybe it is just too soon for Maxx to feel completely comfortable around your son. Each dog has its own personality and maybe he is just more shy and likes things quiet...or maybe that is the enviroment he came from and he needs time to adapt. Maxx may just be scared because he is not used to hearing a toddler playing and running...we, as parents, get pretty immune to how loud they can be. Just give him some time and I would make sure that he feels safe. Quiet calm sitting on the floor, while I held him and I would make my son get on the floor and quietly love on him. He will get used to your son, it may just take him some extra time.

Tammy

[hha]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I completely agree with you...toddlers should not be left alone with such tiny dogs. However, like I said, Livi has not ever been hurt by my children. She has been hurt by my hubby, though. He has accidently stepped on her foot (twice)...so what should I do about him? Maybe he is the one that needs supervision.

Tammy

This is very true, I have seen more little dogs get hurt by adults(accidentally) than I have children..heck, my grandpup(little yorkie) about jumped out of my arms just a little bit ago..and it's a lot further from him to hit the ground from my arms than a childs.

[chloeandj]

I have kids and very supportive of having yorkies with children. What came to mind immediately for me is, maybe the puppy is hesitant as it is so young and toddlers are louder, bouncier, they have big noisy toys...that's scary to a 2 pound little one who is very new to the world and probably has never seen a child before...do you know what i mean? I think their interaction should be only when your child is sitting on the floor and letting the puppy come to him when the puppy is ready. There should be absolutly no grabbing, no holding. Let your child have some treats in his hand and feed him gently. Real positive, calm interaction on the puppy's terms until he is comfortable with him.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by CaLi19GyRL

Maxx is 9 weeks today and we've had him for exactly 1 week. Damian is almost 3.....he knows to be gentle with small dogs and is never unsupervised near Maxx. I just don't know what to do, or how to make Maxx mre trusting of my son....when he gets older(Maxx) will he be more loving towards him?? Or is this kinda a lost cause?? anyone w/experie nce???

If Damian is like most 3 year olds I know they can get pretty loud when running and playing so even if he is gentle with the puppy, it is possible that the puppy has just not had time to adjust to the new environment with so much commotion. Where are you keeping the puppy when you are busy doing other things?

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by autumn star

Being the mother of two (8 1/2 and 5 1/2) and a fulltime at home babysitter I think the dogs become afraid because of they way children come at them. We as adults seem to approach dogs differently then children, kids just come right at them and I think it can be very intimidating for them, they are so little.
Give it some time I bet Maxx will come around!!

I agree. One think I notice with Lucy is she is much more relaxed if someone comes down to her level. My husband said that looking up at us is about the equal to us looking up at a 3 floor building. Lucy adores children and I more have to keep her from running up to them but when they do want to "touch" I have them lean down to her level or I lift her up to theirs. My heart melts when I see Lucy's interaction with little ones...Give it time, be mindful of your pups age and go slow - I think it will work out...