Not even sure...

Nikon's the same way.  He loves kids and is very social with all people, but the little ones running and screaming gets him aroused in prey drive.  If this is going to happen, I crate him or put him outside.  If the kids want to spend time with him, I help them play with him (like I restrain the dog while they get to throw the Kong or ball, or I command him to do tricks and they give him the treat, or I suggest we go for a walk to the park and let them help me hold the leash).  Like I've said in the other prey drive threads, it is what it is.  You can train and proof other incompatible behaviors like a long down stay, go to your mat, etc but some dogs will just always go into prey drive in certain situations.  Your best bet with kids not your own is to manage the environment - crate or confine the dog or have very controlled interactions with the kids (you are controlling the dog, the kids are not running and screaming).  It doesn't make the dog bad or you a bad trainer/owner, just makes you safe.

Bottom line -- and I'm going to say what Lies said a bit more plainly.

NEVER EVER leave a dog alone with a child.  Just plain DON'T.  He can't be "loose" just to follow her around or play unless someone is WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE SECOND.

Kids are unpredictable -- especially someone else's kids.  But honestly even if it were your OWN -- unless a child is of a certain age, AND **that child is trained**  then you have to be completely responsible. 

Yes,you train the child not to EVER run from a dog (and if you can teach this child that it literally could save her life some day).  But every single solitary moment that dog is with ANY child (any child at all, any where, any place, ANY TIME) you need to be there to supervise.  Frankly if your sister is entertaining kids when YOU aren't around then your sister either needs to be **capable** (absolutely and without fail) of supervising the child AND dog **OR** they need to put Simba in a crate in your room or something until supervision can be accomplished.

"Oh this is no fun"  (Too bad, so sad it's non-negotiable)

"But she likes the dog!"  (Too bad, so sad it's non-negotiable)

"But I'm too busy -- you don't REALLY expect me to watch every single second??" (Actually yes I do and I don't want you getting MY dog in trouble because YOU are too irresponsible to take 2 seconds to put Simba in MY room where he won't get in trouble.

This is where you have to be older than your years.     Training is fine, well and good.  And it's critical.

BUT protecting your dog from someone else's kid getting YOUR DOG IN TROUBLE -- that's huge.  Yeah -- you can train when you are there -- but if YOU can't be there to supervise 100% then just make sure no one can get Simba in trouble in your absence.

In honesty -- this is how terrible, horrible, tragic things happen. 

I'm not going "off" on you -- but you can train, Simba YES-- but the biggest thing that you have to do is PREVENT an ugly situation from happening.  An ugly situation where Simba gets pushed beyond reason, where a child gets bitten (and your dog gets a bite record and maybe your parents get sued for everything they own), or where something awful happens that can scar both Simba and the child forever.

Now -- just use all that as your own artilery to ensure that Simba isn't pushed too far when you aren't there.  Because accidents with a child take only a split second.

What if -- what if when he pulled her hair she stumbled, fell and got badly hurt -- cracked her head against something, fell off a porch, etc. -- the ugly horrid stuff can happen SO fast and her parents probably would sue. 

I know you're cautious -- YOU would watch.  It's that moment you go to the store, or you go in the bathroom or whatever .... so all I'm really telling you is to "protect" Simba.  Not that the kid will hurt him -- but if something BAD happens (even in that moment) Simba gets blamed.

Does that make any sense?

Supervise always, and separate them when the kid starts bouncing off the walls and working the dog up. I wouldn't consider it a behavioral problem, exactly, because the dog's really just a puppy still. It's probably a "play drive" issue moreso that a real "prey drive" one (although the two are sort of two sides of the same coin).

I have a puppy here about the same age, and sometimes I keep him on leash inside right beside me when my toddler is running around, screaming, and acting like prey. You mostly want to either get the dog away or get him in a (backed up with the leash) down-stay BEFORE their arousal level gets even remotely high.

Liesje

Nikon's the same way.  He loves kids and is very social with all people, but the little ones running and screaming gets him aroused in prey drive.  If this is going to happen, I crate him or put him outside.  If the kids want to spend time with him, I help them play with him (like I restrain the dog while they get to throw the Kong or ball, or I command him to do tricks and they give him the treat, or I suggest we go for a walk to the park and let them help me hold the leash).  Like I've said in the other prey drive threads, it is what it is.  You can train and proof other incompatible behaviors like a long down stay, go to your mat, etc but some dogs will just always go into prey drive in certain situations.  Your best bet with kids not your own is to manage the environment - crate or confine the dog or have very controlled interactions with the kids (you are controlling the dog, the kids are not running and screaming).  It doesn't make the dog bad or you a bad trainer/owner, just makes you safe.

 Yeah keeping him confined is probably the safest thing to do for him. He just gets too worked up and even if I am out with him watching him with her, he gets so worked up it's not fair to him or the girl. :-/

calliecritturs

Bottom line -- and I'm going to say what Lies said a bit more plainly.

NEVER EVER leave a dog alone with a child.  Just plain DON'T.  He can't be "loose" just to follow her around or play unless someone is WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE SECOND.

Kids are unpredictable -- especially someone else's kids.  But honestly even if it were your OWN -- unless a child is of a certain age, AND **that child is trained**  then you have to be completely responsible. 

Yes,you train the child not to EVER run from a dog (and if you can teach this child that it literally could save her life some day).  But every single solitary moment that dog is with ANY child (any child at all, any where, any place, ANY TIME) you need to be there to supervise.  Frankly if your sister is entertaining kids when YOU aren't around then your sister either needs to be **capable** (absolutely and without fail) of supervising the child AND dog **OR** they need to put Simba in a crate in your room or something until supervision can be accomplished.

"Oh this is no fun"  (Too bad, so sad it's non-negotiable)

"But she likes the dog!"  (Too bad, so sad it's non-negotiable)

"But I'm too busy -- you don't REALLY expect me to watch every single second??" (Actually yes I do and I don't want you getting MY dog in trouble because YOU are too irresponsible to take 2 seconds to put Simba in MY room where he won't get in trouble.

This is where you have to be older than your years.     Training is fine, well and good.  And it's critical.

BUT protecting your dog from someone else's kid getting YOUR DOG IN TROUBLE -- that's huge.  Yeah -- you can train when you are there -- but if YOU can't be there to supervise 100% then just make sure no one can get Simba in trouble in your absence.

In honesty -- this is how terrible, horrible, tragic things happen. 

I'm not going "off" on you -- but you can train, Simba YES-- but the biggest thing that you have to do is PREVENT an ugly situation from happening.  An ugly situation where Simba gets pushed beyond reason, where a child gets bitten (and your dog gets a bite record and maybe your parents get sued for everything they own), or where something awful happens that can scar both Simba and the child forever.

Now -- just use all that as your own artilery to ensure that Simba isn't pushed too far when you aren't there.  Because accidents with a child take only a split second.

What if -- what if when he pulled her hair she stumbled, fell and got badly hurt -- cracked her head against something, fell off a porch, etc. -- the ugly horrid stuff can happen SO fast and her parents probably would sue. 

I know you're cautious -- YOU would watch.  It's that moment you go to the store, or you go in the bathroom or whatever .... so all I'm really telling you is to "protect" Simba.  Not that the kid will hurt him -- but if something BAD happens (even in that moment) Simba gets blamed.

Does that make any sense?

 

It does, there are so many things that could go wrong in nano seconds. I wasn't down there at the time when this happened, if I was it wouldn't have happened to begin with. I'm just glad nothing happened to her because I know how worked up Simba can get. I get what you're saying. :)

Jupiter

Supervise always, and separate them when the kid starts bouncing off the walls and working the dog up. I wouldn't consider it a behavioral problem, exactly, because the dog's really just a puppy still. It's probably a "play drive" issue moreso that a real "prey drive" one (although the two are sort of two sides of the same coin).

I have a puppy here about the same age, and sometimes I keep him on leash inside right beside me when my toddler is running around, screaming, and acting like prey. You mostly want to either get the dog away or get him in a (backed up with the leash) down-stay BEFORE their arousal level gets even remotely high.

It could be a mix of both with Simba, but I'm getting to know my pup and I know when it's I WANNA PLAY and when it's not. I can't be sure because I wasn't down there but I know he's got a super high prey drive. I had him down stay today when I went downstairs with him and he's always good at that. If I saw him get remotely interested in the way the girl was acting I gave him a stern leave it and when he looked away gave him a treat. I also kept him occupied with a frozen kong toy. Thanks for the advice!