https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:42:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300456 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:23:41 +0000 littlebug 300456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that's surprising for a sheltie! Good luck, I hope it all works out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300452 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:19:57 +0000 pinkcupcake 300452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: agree wholeheartedly with everything you said :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300442 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:02:12 +0000 Mrs. Pen 300442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no advice but that is so scary!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300422 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:30:03 +0000 oliviaoblivia 300422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: I'm glad everything is working out ok with your LO and doggies. That's my one big fear when ours gets here. We're trying to prepare the dog and get her used to children ahead of time, but it'll be a big change for her once the baby gets here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300420 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:27:51 +0000 dc yoga bee 300420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your plan sounds good. If anyone told me to get rid of my pet, I'd tell them to get rid of their child. Sounds outrageous? So does people telling you to get rid of your dog.One of our Yorkies doesn't care whatsoever about babies, the other one doesn't like babies. We keep that one leashed while in the house (when we have kids over visiting), AND having the child be "in charge" is super smart. That teaches the animal to look at the child as their master, and become more submissive. Also, my vet told us to have the dog lay on it's back and the child rub its belly (supervised of course). This also teaches the dog to submit.<br /> Good luck. It takes a lot of patience to work with the dog instead of just "getting rid of it." Kudos to you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300212 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:13:12 +0000 JessicaMcB 300212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please don't take this as a judgement, this is just my personal experience growing up in my mom's dayhome with three dogs. IMO little dogs and babies generally do not mix and any dog that bites a child unprovoked needs to go. </p> <p>Our little dog (bichon x shitzu) HATED babies/toddlers for whatever reason, I always felt like she hated anything at eye level with her. My stepdad's dog bit one of the daycare kids unprovoked in a similar situation to your sheltie and they disciplined it like there was no tomorrow. The dog moved on to attacking small animals and small children anyway. The dog was put down. I'd try an animal behaviorist if you absolutely cannot get rid of the dog, but keep in mind that dogs are animals and are unpredictable- it could be much worse if it happens again.</p> <p>I find larger dogs to be better with kids on the whole, but if our golden retriever ever bit our daughter for no reason she'd be gone so fast the door wouldn't have time to hit her on the way out. I definitely am not flippant about pet ownership (and clearly you aren't either), but when weighing my child against my pets, my kid is always going to come out on top. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300196 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:02:23 +0000 regberadaisy 300196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: aw I'm so glad everything is working out! Our pup can get a little growly around his food too so good tip about having the baby around her food bowl. I think I might try that supervised before M gets to the crawling stage.<br /> Yea, I mentioned it to my husband and we agreed we'll just monitor closely. And if anything happened that concerns us with the IL's dogs and baby we'll re-evaluate then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300190 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:59:48 +0000 brownie 300190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did get a behaviorist's opinion. She said to leash the dog in the house and get him used to the movement. So he would learn to deal with stress (he gets ups every time we move). So we did that as well.</p> <p>Our baby feeds him every morning and night and I've seen him reach in to the little dogs food bowl while he's eating. There is no longer any aggressive or protective behavior around food. This was due to my husband working with that space.</p> <p>Just the other day, the little dog and my baby both took a nap on the bed together. Little dog will come to the baby very occasionally. And he will even tolerate a little petting. So it seems to be better.</p> <p>Baby is finally bigger than the little dog and more stable on his feet so I suspect that may be the thing. So, with some work I feel very comfortable with the situation. </p> <p>Big dog of course suffers all sorts of injustice to the baby. He has been sat on, stepped on, and slept on. He gives kisses to the baby like the baby is a salt lick. So, he isn't a concern at all.</p> <p>We had our IL itty bitty dogs here and they were very unfriendly. Luckily they moved very quickly and typically stayed up high so we didn't have to worry about them. But I would not be surprised if they bit (grrr). We just watched them and the baby very carefully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-300168 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:47:49 +0000 regberadaisy 300168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: hey just wondering if there were any updates?</p> <p>We have a mutt that is a big softie but a bull in a china shop! But my ILs are moving back soon with their 2 collies. And they are very lax in training their dogs so I'm a bit worried about them around the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163860 Sun, 20 May 2012 12:43:56 +0000 brownie 163860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: Both dogs are definitely more bonded with my husband. The dog felt that he couldn't get out and was cornered (not actually cornered but felt that way). Which is one of the things we have worried about with the Sheltie. It wasn't a bit for sure it was much more a nip or a warning. But it is still a warning and NOT okay.</p> <p>Our plan at this point.<br /> 1) I have contacts into behaviorists but most are hours away. So I don't know if that will pan. My husband is good with animals so hopefully he can work through it.<br /> 2) baby and dog are not to be in the same room together. This will be an additional punishment for the little dog because he won't be around us.<br /> 3) Baby is no in charge of all interaction with the little dog. Baby will feed him, discipline him, play with him, etc. We will ignore the dog and hopefully he will learn the baby is in charge and not to be feared.</p> <p>It is just the craziest thing. First thing this morning (when dad and I were there) the dog came to the baby for pets and loves. So, we need to figure out how to make that personal space bubble smaller. </p> <p>Our baby is 1 year old and this is the first major issue we have had with them. Our big dog is sooooo gentle with the baby and typically the little one just ignores him. Hopefully, we can fix this so it doesn't happen again ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163845 Sun, 20 May 2012 11:33:12 +0000 lemondrop 163845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, it isn't grounds for getting rid of the dog, but it is a warning that you need to look into how to prevent future issues. It is going to be a time and financial investment though, there isn't an instant and magical fix for this, you need a professional's help. </p> <p>I was bitten by one of our dogs as a small child (I instigated it) and I work with dogs in my profession. Other than a small scar on my hand, no permanent damage was done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163798 Sun, 20 May 2012 09:09:15 +0000 mediagirl 163798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: sounds like behavior modification is in order. Getting rid of the dog for something like that doesn't make sense but it is a warning. I think keeping the dog and baby separated for a while and making sure the dog never feels trapped by the baby is a good start. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163758 Sun, 20 May 2012 08:01:01 +0000 heffalump 163758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww, that's so scary! Personally if this happened to us, we'd get a trainer. But if it happened again we'd find a new home for our dog. We love our dog so much, but we talked about it before our LO came and decided that LO come first and we're not ok with her being in any danger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163757 Sun, 20 May 2012 07:52:30 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 163757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Scary!! </p> <p>I definitely agree with what the others have said about hiring a dog behaviorist. And also keep the two separated until you do so, because the next time may not be a warning nip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163744 Sun, 20 May 2012 07:32:34 +0000 pelikila 163744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try contacting a dog behaviorist via email or something and see if they can recommend someone that is close-ish to you that might be an option you otherwise wouldn't have known about. We have actually used Michael Baugh (<a href="http://www.michaelsdogs.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.michaelsdogs.com/</a>) and it is worth it. In the meantime, keep the dog and baby separated. This means more work because you can't just ignore the dog and only give attention to the baby but it isn't something you can take a chance on occurring again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163680 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:41:39 +0000 StrawberryBee 163680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was there something the Sheltie had that they were resource guarding? Toy, treat, food? I don't like that it was unprovoked. If he didn't break the skin then it sounds like it was a warning nip. 'you're in my personal space and I don't like it'. Since he usually runs away (nervous behavior?) maybe he felt that he couldn't this time and was trapped. </p> <p>I would also try to find an animal behaviorist, but if that's not possible you could try treating the dog for good, calm behavior while someone else has the baby nearby. Slowly bring the baby closer (maybe over several sessions) until the dog starts noticing him but isn't antsy enough to look threatened or get up and run away...that's his threshold. You want to work on diminishing that threshold and associating the baby with good things (treats, positive attention). For safety's sake a gate between them wouldn't be a bad thing. Is the Sheltie more bonded to you or your husband? </p> <p>I'm not a behaviorist, so please take these suggestions with a grain of salt! They might work or they might make things worse. One if the most important things will be being able to read his body language and reactions quickly.</p> <p>Good luck from a fellow Sheltie owner! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163641 Sat, 19 May 2012 22:20:12 +0000 brownie 163641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyneswith: Getting rid of the dog at this point is not an option (it would be an option if nothing else worked). The baby is fine with both dogs still and not scared of them. He infact stopped crying and started petting the big dog. My little brother got bit on the cheek when he was 3 for bugging the dog (my brother deserved it, baby boy didn't). And my brother still loves dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163623 Sat, 19 May 2012 21:55:59 +0000 Sweet T 163623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyneswith: Ditto. Unprovoked biting is a complete deal breaker in my book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163619 Sat, 19 May 2012 21:52:23 +0000 mrbee 163619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you watch the Dog Whisperer? That show is so helpful in dealing with difficult dogs! Plus I use Cesar's tips with my kids ALL the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163616 Sat, 19 May 2012 21:48:35 +0000 cyneswith 163616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd get rid of the dog. I got bit in the face at the age of 5 (lots of blood, no stitches.) If the baby didn't even touch the sheltie, I don't want to know what'd happen if the sheltie actually felt threatened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163605 Sat, 19 May 2012 21:26:01 +0000 brownie 163605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I haven't been able to find one in our area. We live in a fairly remote area. </p> <p>Little man is just fine and isn't scared of the dogs so that is good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163585 Sat, 19 May 2012 20:55:23 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 163585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dog behaviorist, stat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163581 Sat, 19 May 2012 20:53:43 +0000 mrbee 163581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Woah, so scary!</p> <p>I would get a dog trainer that specializes in dog biters... I hear they can work wonders! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-just-bit-baby#post-163577 Sat, 19 May 2012 20:50:30 +0000 brownie 163577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, our little man LOVES animals. He is very gentle to them, doesn't pull hair or anything like that. Occasionally he does step on the big dog but the big dog doesn't care. Our little dog is a Sheltie and for some reason hates the baby. He runs away from him. Typically this isn't an issue. Today the baby was just walking by the little dog and he snapped, snarled and lunged at the baby. The dog got the baby on the cheek. He didn't break the skin or draw blood but it still wasn't all right. We don't want to get rid of the dog (though if this can't be resolved it may have to be an option). </p> <p>Any suggestions for how to help resolve this issue? </p>