Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: Terrified of children again
Today I have my niece and nephew round for a few hours. They haven't got any pets of their own so are pretty clueless about dogs. They are only 5yrs and 7 yrs old.
Now these two were the cause of Mojo's fear of children, when they frightened the life out of her when she was only 5 months old. They were scared of dogs then and screamed and screamed everytime she moved (enough to frighten any pup).
Anyway just lately Mojo had been getting a little braver around children, as long as they were nice and calm. Today after the first Hellos when everyone arrived, I let the eldest little girl give her (and the others) some treats (positive association). Unfortunately just as Mojo was getting braver I stepped into the kitchen (still in view) to put the kettle on (everyone was wanting a cuppa) and the little girl lunged at Mojo to hug her. Mojo spun round and run and before I could say knife the little girl was chasing her (only to hug her I'm sure). I immediaetly intervened, but the damage was already done, Mojo ran into the garden and wouldn't come back in. I ignored her but I could see she wanted to get in to go and hide in my bedroom, so after about 10 mins, I went out to get her. As I walked her through the house she saw the kids again and backed out of her collar and made a dash for the stairs.
She is now hiding upstairs and has been for hours (kids are still here) and I don't know whether to try to encourage her back down (to face her fear) or to leave her hiding until they are gone (although I don't know how long that will be as their parents have gone shopping and left me with them).
I can see I'm never going to cure her of this fear...I'll just have to hide her away in future.....It's just such a shame as she really is terrified and they aren't bad kids...just clueless ones.
Awww, Jules, poor little Mojo! I can't offer anything but support I'm afraid, I know you'll be doing your absolute best to sort it out.
Sending (((((hugs)))) to you and slobbery kisses to Mojo (from Asha, not me
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Cally
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that is such a shame, do you know of any children which are used to dogs, that can come around, so she can get used to them ? Slowly building her confidence up before your neice and nephew come round again ?
Sorry, I know that this does not help for the time being. can you put her in the kitchen with a child gate up so she is safe from them but can still see them so she gets used to it. I would personnally not leave her upstairs hiding, as I think that this will reinforce her thinking that there is something to be afraid off. How are your others reacting to the children ? If they are ok, and ignoring the children, it might help her to see that there is nothing to be scared of.
That must be so difficult. I have the opposite problem here, many of my children's friends are terrified of dogs and it is difficult when they come round as the dog is so pleased to see the children and they are terrified!!!
I agree that it would probably help if some children who have dogs could help ( if I lived nearer my two would love to help out!!) You really want kids that could sit and play and let pup come to them gradually.
I had been slowly reintroducing her to dog friendly children and to some degree we were getting there. She wasn't overly friendly towards them but she didn't run and hide.
I did think about putting her in Oysters crate (Mojo hasn't been crated for some time now) but then that is what I did when she had the initial encounter with these children and that seemed to just make matters worse.
As a pup I had had other children round and she had played with them and been relaxed around them, it just all went to pot the moment these two came in screaming.....I'm sure in some way she feels it was her fault they were so upset.
She is more or less OK with dog aware children as long as they don't chase her, or grab her, or stare at her, which of course Non- Doggy children do all of these and this is what sets her off.
I did try to tell them not take any notice of her and to ignore her, but as soon as they got a bit excited (as kids do) she fell apart.
The trouble is the parents are clueless too and just stand there laughing as my poor dog is wetting herself with fear....but what can you do...they are relatives and I didn't get more than 30 mins warning this morning that they were arriving (I'd have dosed her up with Rescue Remedy if I had known).
I honestly don't think she will ever be really relaxed around children...I may get her just about comfortable to be in the same room as long as the kids sit still....but then sitting still isn't what kids do best.
My other dogs couldn't care less. Tara greeted them like they were long lost friends and Oyster was just Oyster, all wiggly and smiling. One of the reasons I let Mojo upstairs to hide was I don't want this fear behaviour rubbing off on Oyster.
Oh well they have gone now, Mojo is still looking really worried and I'm still ignoring her even though I really want to go and give her a big hug.
Sorry for the rant folks....a girl's gotta get things off her chest sometimes.
If you come to the Brean GT, my kids will be there. They are doggie savvy so may be able to help?? We could come up with a plan of action to help poor Mojo.
Thanks for the offer Sonia....but we have family duties next weekend (I will NOT be taking Mojo though), so I'm going to have to give the Brean GT a miss.
I just can't see a way round this...She is confident in so many other areas, but this is just a real sticking point......Dog aware children she is fine with, she will play with and take treats off of, although even then she won't allow them to touch her (mind you she can be a bit like that with adults too, but I put that down to all the pulling around and ops she had to have earlier this year, as she was ok with adults until then ).
She just has such a hard time trusting anyone, except those people she knows really well.
Of course my biggest fear is that she will bite if cornered, out of pure terror.
If only there was a way of training other peoples children....I'd be home and dry.
Oh Jules - poor Mojo. You really feel for them as they're such trusting souls and it's horrible to see them scared. Hope she starts to cheer up a bit soon.
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