Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:42 pm Post subject: Introducing child to Majic and Dexter. ITS TODAY!!!
Can anybody throw some ideas my way please, Jack has a school friend coming over on Thursday evening for tea (if we get that far ) but the poor child is petrified of dogs, his mother knows we have dogs and thinks it is a good idea to try and introduce him to some as his fear is getting a little out of hand (he also wants to come tentatively), even if there is a dog on the path coming towards him ina a very calm manner, he is crossing the road as he is comvinced it is going to bite him.
Brief lay out of my house-lounge with stairgate across which leads into a very small hallway then across to the kitchen with no stairgate, outdoors -patio area leading onto grass with fence and gate.
The dogs are always shut in the lunge when I go out and the stair gate closed, I was going to come in, leave the boys in the car till I have leads on M&D and move away from the stair gate, boys enter and if he wants to come to the dogs he canb as I will have them tethered or he can go upstrairs to Jacks bedroom to play.
I have agreed with his mum to return him home if he gets hysterical as that isn't going to be very pleasant for anyone.
Is there anything else that I could give a go?
M&D don't jump up they do bark but shut up when I say 'enough' but other than that they are excited to see new people and just want to make friends have a good sniff and a fuss then leave to do their own thing
Last edited by Animal-Outings on Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
What about Jack and his friend approaching them (from behind the gate) with treats and asking them both to sit? Would they do this? Jack could do it and his friend might feel able to - if not, at least they would be at a lower level and he might not feel so scared. I do this with my daughter's little friends that are not sure about Maggs.
If you put their leads on would they not think they were going for a walk and get all hyper? (or maybe it's just my mad lab!)
I would explain to the young lad exactly what M&D are like..ie barking etc so theres no suprises and he knows whats going to happen.
You could put them on a lead, I think thats a good idea until they settle down.
They can always go to Jack's bedroom out of the way if the kid gets nervous and close the stair gate.
Best of luck
____________ Kimberley,Sheppy and Amber
Amber/Shep
Di -bu**er never thought yeah lead will be in the brain walkiesss, right I will hold their collars then as this is what I do fi there is a child on the rec
I am a childminder and have up to 6 kids some days. Luckily they all adore Jess and she loves them and plays with them but I always have her in the kitchen with the stairgate closed if any of them are frightened. As Di said let his friend see them behind the gate so he doesn't feel threatened. Even watching Jack giving them treats and asking them to sit/paw etc etc. Hopefully within time Jacks friend will be bouncing to come to your house again and again. xxx
Alfie barges through them like they don't exist but can get them onto their beds when we go out and Jack plays with them and loves it, so never entered my head that he wouldn't like dogs-that'll teach me
You can tell I don't have kids LOL
When OH's grand kids came around for the first time after we got Amber. I sat Amber on the sofa with me and the kids came into the lounge, I just waited for her to approach them. One of the kids isn't keen on dogs but she's got used to them now, she throws the ball for Amber and I think this helped with her confidence a bit.
Feeding the dogs through the gate sounds like a good idea!
____________ Kimberley,Sheppy and Amber
Amber/Shep
Yeah I think the introductions with the gate in between is the way forward and see how it goes.
M&D are so friendly, if I didn't have the gate I think the poor lad would be beating a hasty retreat back home as they are all waggy and raring to meet new peeps.
With the gate is the best way, Carroll. I sometimes have to do this if my youngest child has a friend back, as hers are all pre-schoolers and easily knocked flying by a lively lab. That way the child can approach with confidence and at his own pace, if at all.
When you do possibly have to bring the children through (perhaps for their tea) then maybe put the dogs out in the garden for a while before calling them. Then he can't be mobbed.
Hi Carroll,
When my boys were younger and had friends round, some of their friends weren't comfortable around dogs and I particularly remember one small girl with a most ear-piercing scream who made her views on dogs very clear!
I kept mine in the kitchen with me behind the stair gate. If the child wanted to meet the dogs I would bring them out one at a time, starting with the quietest , calmest dog. The children seemed happier if the dog was lying down when they met and I sometimes gave the child a brush to groom the dog as it seemed to keep their minds occupied on that rather than being anxious. Also the children seemed to like it when the dogs rolled onto their backs to have their tummies rubbed!
I had one friend who's daughter had a genuine phobia of dogs. She had had hypnotherapy and then used my dogs to 'test out' if it worked...It had, and she was able to stroke and groom Ted and Zorro although was not really that comfortable around Flo's bouncing!!
If children want to feed my dogs I always tell them to put the treat on the flat of the hand as if they were feeding a horse, as it saves little fingers from being nipped.
Good Luck...if the child is a real screamer just don't invite them back!!! Some kids never got a second invitation from me!!!!
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) but the poor child is petrified of dogs, his mother knows we have dogs and thinks it is a good idea to try and introduce him to some as his fear is getting a little out of hand (he also wants to come tentatively), even if there is a dog on the path coming towards him ina a very calm manner, he is crossing the road as he is comvinced it is going to bite him. 
