urgent help needed!!

First topic message reminder :

Right this is roxy's second night with us full time and I am really really worried

She isnt a very socialble pup seems to like her crate and coming to sulk on your knee on the floor but she only wants to do a little bit of play then loses intrest, she doesnt respond well when you call on her either just looks at you asif your daft


We have 3 girls 2 of which are five and our baby ava is 8 months and in a walky. Roxy seems to be terrified of me but likes amanda lol shes not so sure of the older 2 but has snuggled into them a few times

Problem lies with the baby shes very unsure of her in her walkie and has run and hid under her a few times when i have told her off for being naughty, shes been nipping at the baby and tonight when i had the baby down on the floor on my knee she pounced and snapped at her!! i told her no loudly and she sat back a little. then i patted her head with the babys hand about 30 mins later and she was very nippy with her!

I;ve spoken to the other half and shes in agreement that if things dont improve by friday then we may have no option but to get someone else to care for her as obviously the babys safety is first and foremost

Shes doing ok with the toilet training shes only had 2 accidents in her crate and 2 on the carpet we have been takeing her into the kitchen and staying with her until shes did her business she crys and moans for a while but eventually does the deed and its straight back in the living room again

PLEASE HELP will she get better? is she jealous of the baby or something else?

Really want to keep her but if she doesnt take to the baby then no alternative

Derek, Amanda - yes I did wonder if you were hoping that two puppies would play with each other and leave your baby alone, which was why I asked.

I can understand your thinking behind that, but quite honestly I don't think it would work. Yes they'd play with each other, but also squabble! Cos that's what puppies do ("I'm boss" - "No - I am") It would just be SO much extra work for you, and even then - they won't ignore your baby I'm afraid. They would neither of them want to harm your baby, but puppies play roughly (they won't know any better until they are taught - consistently and over time - bite inhibition).

Please believe me when I tell you that everyone has your best interests at heart - yes, for Roxy as we are a Staffy forum after all, but also for you both and your child. Which is why I'm asking you NOT to add to your stress by bringing in another puppy.

I know it will be difficult, but the puppy and the baby MUST NOT be left alone together for even a microsecond - this would apply to ANY dog and baby. And when they are in the same space strict supervision will need to be maintained, all the while whilst training the puppy in ways outlined above.

Don't give up! It will be hard work, puppies always are hard work, but don't give up and just remember - it could have been much harder with two puppies

We are all still here to help as much as we can.

Puppies nip and they dont stop for months unfortunately. They take alot of training to stop them nipping and i struggled with my 2 children who are 6 and 4 so can imagine what hard work it is with your lot especially the baby. Maybe you shouldnt have the pup in the same room as the baby when the baby is on the floor and just have special time when you can supervise both.

It is frustrating to hear that you may be getting rid of the puppy cause she has really not done anything wrong and she is just a puppy. I hope you can get it sorted and persevere because our Tash is now best friends with my 2 kids (she is 7 months old) but at the start it was very hard. I had never had a puppy before, did my homework but didnt know how much work it was going to be. Good luck

derekamanda wrote:

Lynda wrote:Ah Derek/Amanda - we're not what you said, truly. A lot of people have given you very good advice on how to deal with Roxy, and appreciate your concern for your baby (the human one )

You have both got your hands full with a baby and one puppy so would hate to see you add to your load by taking on another puppy.

Were you perhaps thinking that another puppy would be a playmate for Roxy and distract her from the baby?

someone finally gets me... that was my thinking

I don't have any kids, but I imagine they take a lot of work. I have a dog, and I KNOW puppies take a lot of work. I also know that everyone advises you only add a second puppy when the first is around two years old, because two puppies will be terribly difficult to train. You're finding it hard with one puppy because of your baby, two is really not going to work out. Seriously, can you imagine how stressful that'd be? They'd play with each other AND your baby, they wouldn't be distracted. Besides, you don't need another puppy for her. She's puppy-biting, it's not going to disfigure your baby's face, and certainly not if you supervise them. Never leave them alone together, and whenever Roxy is getting too hyperactive or playful, separate her from the baby to be on the safe side. That's all you need to do (along with teaching her not to bite). No added stress of another puppy, just keep an eye on them. If you haven't already, get a cage for Roxy so that when they can't be supervised, she can go in her cage with a StagBar or something to chew on so they're both safe while you're unable to keep an eye on them.

thanks for the feedback tara

So, how are things today?

Much better, I do apologise if i offended anyone with my cheeky bugger comment but i felt very alienated & backed into a corner!

derekamanda wrote:Much better, I do apologise if i offended anyone with my cheeky bugger comment but i felt very alienated & backed into a corner!

Don't worry about it! At the end of the day we all want to help you sort things out for both your pup's and your family's sakes!

If you get any problems, please do ask for help - there's loads of experience here, even if we're not experts!

Caryll wrote:
My two (Eleanor's one of them) learned to stand by grabbing Bandit's scruff & pulling themselves up! They are great with kids, but they obviously need to be gently taught what is and isn't acceptable!

thats how i learnt to walk, but holding onto our familys Amstaff Reble, big white bitch, lovely temperment.

derekamanda wrote:Much better, I do apologise if i offended anyone with my cheeky bugger comment but i felt very alienated & backed into a corner!

Glad to hear. Training pays off in the end, but it takes time and patience, and if you do have any problems, people will offer you advice, but don't let Roxy's puppy behaviour get to you. Staffs are a very loving breed and all their hyperactivity is worth it when you get through the difficult stage.

Taryn wrote:

Caryll wrote:
My two (Eleanor's one of them) learned to stand by grabbing Bandit's scruff & pulling themselves up! They are great with kids, but they obviously need to be gently taught what is and isn't acceptable!

thats how i learnt to walk, but holding onto our familys Amstaff Reble, big white bitch, lovely temperment.

Same here. When I was a baby we had a GSD named Cougar. He had a lot of problems because of his previous owners; hated men, hated drunk people, tried to attack the postman multiple times, almost blew up the house...but he loved kids and he'd be very patient, gentle and tolerant with them. Brilliant

derekamanda wrote:

Hayley wrote:no it isn't okay but i'm leaving this thread cause i will say things i won't be proud of.

Whats no ok about it ? who are you to judge ?

She a dog lover and a stafford owner, I think a good judge of this situation. I'm sorry but Hayley is right if you didn't expect nipping and biting then why get a puppy a goldfish would have been more appropriate?! I am going to try and be civil but I can't believe you took on a puppy at such an emotional time as pregnancy, didn't put in time to train it and then got rid of it! A puppy is like a child, a completely clean slate. They know nothing how can they know right from wrong if you don't teach them it.

I find it very upsetting that the pup you had before had to be put to sleep due to it biting a child, how old was it when this happened? I am going to stay off this thread as Hayley has but was quite shocked when I saw this! Sorry guys had to throw in my 2 pence.

derekamanda wrote:Much better, I do apologise if i offended anyone with my cheeky bugger comment but i felt very alienated & backed into a corner!

Glad things are going better!

And it's okay. I daresay you were probably stressed, so it's understandable.

I'm so pleased to hear things are better today, please do keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. We do understand that you will be very busy with puppy and a baby!

We're always here ....

I was wondering if it mig be helpful to have a sticky thread in the puppy section about this? I know when I brought Oswald home I had very very little puppy experience and to be honest I was scared because I really didn't know that what he was doing was normal. I knew pups nipped but I was surprised by just how much. Reading here and seeing a lot of posts about biting helped me to realise that it is completely normal and I didn't bring home a dog who was going to eat my children whole in a few month lol.
I was thinking a "Does my puppy bite too much?" sort of title with links to the puppy and biting page and others can add how their experiences were with their dog as a pup and their methods that worked to help and most importantly to show that is does get better.
It would be great to see everyone's experience in the one thread

I have 4 kids , ages 5,8,11,12

2 beautiful staffies. bUt it isn't easy.

Those first few weeks with a pup is like taking care of an unpredictable newborn baby !
It's not easy, but the poor lil pup needs time to settle, he's just been taken from his mom n litter mates and prolly wonders wtf is going on.
Give him/her a few weeks to settle, learn trust and know what family love is.

Every pup wether staffy or not will nip, if this turns u off - a dog isn't for u.

When he nips - a sharp 'ouch' or 'agh!' and ignore will do the trick so long as all of u do the same.

Pup will pickup on negativity which will make him feel insecure/uneasy n anxious.

U can't expect an 8mth human baby to appreciate a puppy....too young !!

Keep at it, give it ur all, persevere and stay consistent xx

Puppies nip. And it sounds like you chose the wrong time to get a puppy. But please do not give away another puppy. Enough staffies have bad starts and end up on the streets, abused or in rescue homes not even getting looked at.

I have a 5 month old baby girl and got a puppy a month ago. Yes as ive explained on one of my own posts she has been the perfect puppy, 4 months old she is, but its took a month to get her properly obedient and she still has stubborn moments. It takes time and effort. My daughter has been on the floor from day 1 her toys all over and sash ( puppy ) jas had to learn that they are not her toys and she cant go and play with the baby like shed play with us. A firm no and moved away has taught her. Shes as gentle as ever and only licks now and im fully comfortable in leaving them alone together as my little one has pulled her ears, mouth, belly and sash has not made a move!

We have now rescued a 3 year old very large male, and this is a challenge.
Hes stubborn, doesnt know his own strength or size. Has had no training other than to sit and give paw. Sash chases him round and annoys him which means stuffs going everywhere getting trodden on, not broken yet thank god though but its like a herd of elephants running around. so He has to learn when my little girls on the floor he has to be careful.

Its day 3 and in no way am i expecting him to be even a little bit obedient until at least over a month.

Two dogs is nuts, yeah they play which means sash has fun and sodoes he and im left in peace fora bit. but then instead of one dog behind me in the kitchen its two, instea of one dog wanting to sit on my lap for a fuss its two. Instea of sash wanting my attention when im playing with my lottle one on the floor its both of them in my face. And its a lot.

But hey i love my staffs and i love a challenge and i have the time and effort to put into it all.

Thats just a little piece from me to say please do not get another puppy. It will not work in distracting roxy. I know my post is a bit jumbled but its just my experience. Its all about how you train them and put the time into them. Please do not give up on roxy as she will be your childs best friend for a long time when trained correctly.

Ellie (Sashdog), your post is lovely.

But , and please don't be offended, I couldn't sleep tonight if I didn't just mention one thing that worried me "...im fully comfortable in leaving them alone together as my little one has pulled her ears, mouth, belly and sash has not made a move!"

It's great that your pup interacts well with your baby and it may very well continue that Sash remains gentle and tolerant, but Sash is still a little puppy and will grow up faster than your baby, and you've only had the pup a month. PLEASE don't leave baby and puppy in the same room together when you are not there, Sash won't mean to harm the baby but as Sash grows her playing may well become more boisterous and I'd hate an accident to happen.

Lynda wrote:Ellie (Sashdog), your post is lovely.

But , and please don't be offended, I couldn't sleep tonight if I didn't just mention one thing that worried me "...im fully comfortable in leaving them alone together as my little one has pulled her ears, mouth, belly and sash has not made a move!"

It's great that your pup interacts well with your baby and it may very well continue that Sash remains gentle and tolerant, but Sash is still a little puppy and will grow up faster than your baby, and you've only had the pup a month. PLEASE don't leave baby and puppy in the same room together when you are not there, Sash won't mean to harm the baby but as Sash grows her playing may well become more boisterous and I'd hate an accident to happen.

Ditto!

Totally understand your concerns. But i guess i should have explained it a little more.

I said im comfortable leaveing them together, but its very rare they are, if ingo the toilet sash follows.

And i tend to call her when i go out the room if i know im going for long, or take skye with me.

I hope you sleep better now :p