OT: New Puppy for kids....

[BTS1022]

So, about 3 months ago hubby had bought me my dream dog...a harlequin great dane. I had to give him up yesturday because he mauled me and my oldest son both had to have stitches.

My trainer who is also my Vet decided she would take him because she too has a very aggressive great dane and knows how to *deal* with them, she also has no children which I guess is okay.

We went to drop off the dane at the clinic and she had brought a little Mutt puppy 8 1/2 week old jack russell/Blue heeler. I hesitantly brought him home, only because I had a heeler growing up and they make wonderful family dogs. This puppy wont get over 20 pounds which is a relief comapired to the over 200 pound great dane.

BUT......although my oldest son had to have stitches due to the dane he instantly fell in love with this puppy which was quite surprising, like I said BUT....my youngest son who is 2 is a bit hesitant, everytime the puppy comes near him he yells OW even when the puppy doesnt do anything. He wasnt present when the dog attack happened, and Im wondering if he somehow heard the conflict or knows about it.

Do you guys think my baby will ever come to trust this puppy? I hate to get rid of him as DH and my oldest son are already severely attached, so attached that he slept with my oldest son latnight instead of a crate.

Uhg....what am I to do, how can I help my baby understand that this puppy wont hurt him?

[babyscience]

I have a friend that jumps behind me everytime we see a dog.  He said it was because his dad got bit by one when he was younger and ever since then his whole family has been afraid of dogs.  It seemed weird to me because he was never bit by one so why the fear, but he must have sensed it from his family.

[Mommy3Girls]

I would give him time to bond with the puppy. I am sure he will come around. All he needs is some more time with the puppy.

I know how the dog bites and and stitches thing goes too. My now 7 year old daughter was bit on the face by an australian shepherd the week before she started Kindergarten. She missed the whole first week because she was so afraid to go to school with her 26 stitches in 5 different places on the left side of her face and under her chin. I still cringe when I think about it. She was so strong and brave and I cried my eyes out through the whole thing. I have never felt that dropping sick feeling in my stomach more in my life as I did and still do when I think about that day.

Anyways, my point was that my oldest since then is skeptical about dogs until she really gets to know that they wont hurt her. She was there when the dog bit her sister, so now she is cautious. But, once she is around them enough she falls in love with them. Now she wants a puppy of her own.

[BTS1022]

Thats what hubby suggested, im just so shocked that he would be terrified of a itty bitty 2 pound puppy. He does okay when im around or when DH is around, but if the puppy follows him into their playroom he has a huge panic attack.

Id hate to get rid of the puppy, but my son came first and if need be the dog will have to go.

I will call my old trainer and see when I can start this lil guy in obediance classes.

[natemomma27]

if you take your introducing the pup to the family and vice-versa u may be able to build that bond between your baby and the puppy. since the dog is so young, maybe look into obedience classes and take your kids with you if you can so that they too can learn and maybe feel better with other people around. just a suggestion!