We recently adopted a 7 week old beagle pup from a shelter. We also have an 18 month old daughter. Our puppy seems to growl and bite at us and the baby. It seems worse than regular puppy mouthing. She even jumps up at our face to snap. I am not sure what to do, we always supervise the baby with the puppy and she is not being rough with the puppy. We are worried that we won't be able to keep the puppy. The only thing that I can think of is daisy may not be getting enough sleep. The baby won't leave her alone, we try to keep her away from the pups crate, but she often bangs on the door or is dropping things on the floor. Is this normal for a beagle puppy to be seemingly cross or could it be the lack of sleep? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Questionably normal behaviour
Replies (3)
Umm, why isn't the puppies area in a completely NON child accesibe area? I.e. the crate, in the kitchen or den, the kitchen or den GATED off?Surely you have places in your home where your child is not allowed...put the puppy's crate there.
Puppies are babies, they sleep many hours a day, 15-20 minute playtimes can be followed by 2-3 hour long naps. Your puppy may be highly stressed at this point.
You sound like you have a dominant puppy...biting or mouthing of the face is a dominant behaviour. You should correct this behaviour and make sure YOU are the dominant one to the puppy. Keep the puppy on a leash in the house...and there should be times for the puppy to play and bond with YOU without your youngster around. Correct the puppy with the leash, saying "no bite" when it mouths or bites you or any other person. Teach the puppy something, "sit" for example...and have it sit before any petting, feeding, or attention.
I have a 4y/o and an 18 month old and my dogs were NOT allowed any more than 10 mins interaction time with my kids, they get each other too wound up. More important was that the child learn NOT to pull on the puppy, make loud noises that startle the puppy, or pester the puppy too much. Also important was that the puppy respect ME, and my wishes, and realize I won't allow anything bad to happen to it (like a child falling on it or sitting on it or hitting it)...I am always right there, supervising.
Good luck to you!
RyngWrayth Beagles Home Page!
It's not necessarily that you have a dominant puppy, it's that you have a young puppy. Perhaps you even have an overwhelmed puppy because of the type of attention he is getting. At this stage of your puppy's life, he should be with the litter -- this is the age where they learn bite inhibition, etc. Your puppy's behaviour could have been predicted by someone familiar with canine development. This can be worked with, but it will take some work. I would recommend finding a trained that uses positive reinforcement (there maybe a list at www.apdt.com) -- you have to teach your pup the rules, just as you must teach your daughter the rules. If you find a trainer that is harsher than you would be on your daughter, then I would move on to the next trainer.
7 weeks, is one short week of the preferred placement time of most Beagle breeders...anything under 6 weeks, is questionable.
I don't think the age is that much of a difference, as the dog is from a shelter and was likely sitting in a run without it's littermates and mother, anyways. What would factor in more, was how long was it at the shelter, did it come in alone or with littermates and Mom? was it taken and fostered in a home in a litter situation, or one on one with a person? These are more indicative as to it's level of socialization and bite inhibition.
I haven't ever been around a Beagle puppy that was mouthy...most of mine lick, and paw with their feet. Same with other litters I've been around. Mine are from show stock, and most handled daily from birth. Not always the case with dogs from other sources. Beagles shouldn't be as mouthy as Retrievers are, and IMO this puppy is trying to get some space, and is being perhaps a bit pushy as well.
The trainer is a good idea, BUT only if the trainer can address the issues in the home, as that seems to be where the problems are. The owner has to be willing to apply things at home, as well as class...and to teach the puppy that humans don't have fur and our skin is easily damaged by mouthing...especially baby skin.
Here is a link for the owners, on bite inhibition:
http://www.doglogic.com/apdtfaqs.htm
Good luck to you!
