Is your dog scared of the noises your granddaughter makes? Or is it her movements? Or the way she smells? Try keeping a piece of your granddaughter’s clothing around after she goes home to help your dog get used to the smell. You could also play recordings of her or other babies crying and screaming so that when your granddaughter does visit, the sounds she makes are not so shocking to your dog.

Does your dog feel safe in her kennel? You could try having her in her kennel but right next to you and the baby. Give her a special treat when she is in there, or give her tiny bits of highly valued treats every few minutes. Use something like chicken or hot dogs, something she can’t resist.

You could also try a product such as the Thundershirt. It will not totally take away your dog’s anxiety, but sometimes this product does help a bit in addition to other training methods. The Thundershirt is basically a jacket that fits snugly around the dog, giving her a “swaddled” feeling.

Thanks!!

If he love walks, then walk them together. There are lots of training collars that will eliminate his pulling if he’s hard to manage while pushing a stroller. If he loves food, then feed him treats when he’s lying calmly next to you and the baby. You may need to use a highly valued treat like chicken or hotdogs. If he loves squeaky toys, then use that.

And understand that not all dogs like kids. So if you can at least get him to be calm and to tolerate the baby, maybe that is all you will be able to do. I don’t like kids myself! But I can tolerate them

If the dog can tolerate being in the same room as the child, praise and treat. Then progress to the child standing or sitting next to the dog. Then holding the leash. Then touching the dog’s back. Then petting the dog’s back. Then touching the dog’s head, and so on.

I am fostering a dog right now who will growl at kids. The key is to slowly stretch his limits without pushing him too far. When he is under stress, he will growl and snap. But he responds well to treats.

If your grandchildren are running around and yelling, that might make your dog nervous, so do your best to keep them still and quiet around her and provide her with a safe, quiet place to retreat to.

I would just slowly keep introducing her to more kids. Have them give her treats and her favorite toys. Encourage the kids not to be too noisy or too excited. Keep taking her out and about to places like PetSmart. And make sure you don’t act any differently around kids. Don’t anticipate anything bad. Picture in your mind that your dog loves kids, and that will help her.

She was fine with kids for the first few weeks at Petsmart, but the last three weeks she has been absolutely terrified of kids when they try to pet her. She can watch them or go up to them but as soon as they notice her and show an interest, no matter how calm or excited, she starts shaking and leans against me, and when I move away she’ll crouch as far as she can and urinate when they try to pet her.

How can I get her to be okay with them petting her again? She can watch them and go up to them. She’s so cute all the kids want to pet her too.