We had two dogs when Casey was born, bothe dobermans and both with VERY different temperments.
Bandit was bomb-proof with any kid, no matter what age. I have never encouraged my kids to be rough with my dogs, but the occaisional trip and fall on thing will happen, and I had a very active 7 year old boy in the house too. Bandit took it all with a grain of salt, and when things got too tough, he went into my bedroom, designated as the dog safe zone.
Rambo, on the other hand actively disliked my 7 year old. Although he never hurt my son, he would warn himm off with a growl and occaisional flash of teeth. Then he would head for the safe zone as well. This was his pattern til the day he died, with my son.
I was sure that I would have to give up Rambo when I brought my daughter home...I could not have him be so reactive to a newborn baby.
On the advise of my trainer, we did the blanket thing, rubbed it all over the baby and brought it home for them to smell and check out.(While my hubby was at work they got it out of the bedroom, played tuggies with it and tore it to shreds) On the advise of the same trainer when the baby came home we stripped her naked and laid her on a blanket on the living room floor and waited, ready to grab dogs and or baby. Each dog sniffed her and checked her out, gave her a lick and laid down on her blanket.
She became "Rambo's Kid". If you had that baby, you had that dog sitting beside you.He slept beside her crib at night and woke me BEFORE she cried for her feeding.
No one touched that baby unless we handed her to them, just going and picking her up off of the floor unless you were Dale or I was not a good idea.
He remained DEVOTED to until the day he died, she was about 2.5. She is 12 now, and still asks about him, and loves stories about "her" dog.
Sorry to ramble, thanks for reading.
Stella
