| Hi and welcome to Terrier Talk! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features. |
| Baby Blues; Jealousy? | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Jan 27 2009, 06:20 AM (106 Views) | |
| Fish | Jan 27 2009, 06:20 AM Post #1 |
Newbie
  ![]](http://209.85.122.87/static/1/pip_r.png)
|
We have a one and a half year old Manchester Terrier, and a three month old baby. We anticipated the jealousy from the terrier, and have dealt with some tantrums such as: tearing up the babies burp rags, tearing up toilet paper rolls, socks, gloves, etc., and pooping in the baby's room. She is not dangerous to the baby, and seems very interested in the baby most of the time. Recently though, our terrier has begun removing articles of clothing from the baby's laundry basket, and dragging it into the middle of the floor. She doesn't tear it up, just moves it. It seems that she does it because she knows it's an inconvenience for me. She knows she's not supposed to do it, and I've caught her in the act of doing it, and reprimanded her for it. What else is there to do? If I move the basket to where she can't reach it, I'm sure she'd do something else similar. I can't close the door to the nursery, because the heat won't get in otherwise. I make a valiant effort to pay enough attention to her, but it doesn't seem that it's to her standards. Any advice? |
 |
 
|
| piwoodhouse | Jan 27 2009, 10:06 AM Post #2 |
Total Gas Bag!
|
Is your terrier spayed? I only ask as her behaviour is typical of a bitch having a phantom pregnancy, the orthodox treatment for which would be being very brusque and matter of fact with her, removing her little collection of rags/toys the second you spot them. It's being cruel to be kind really! If you think this might be it and the fake pregnancies persist you have other options such as hormone injections from your vet. If she isn't spayed, it may be simply that the baby's arrival (congratulations by the way!) has upset the dynamic of the house and she feels displaced. This is the only way she knows of getting your attention....and it's working! Generally, these things tend to right themselves in time - it's just a matter of your terrier accepting her lower rank in the household. It sounds right now as if she's attempting to resist change, which if you think about it is what we all tend to do subconsciously. Assuming there is nothing phyiscally wrong with her, I'd say it was a matter of weathering the storm and by being consistent and giving her very strong boundaries she should come round reasonably soon. And on the plus side of course, this is excellent training for dealing with children later on!! |
|
|
|
| zandd | Jan 27 2009, 12:38 PM Post #3 |
Moderator
|
Welcome first of all to Terrier Talk - do please post an introduction as well.Congratulations also on the arrival of your baby,children and dogs are in my eyes the ideal companions so get it right and they'll both have the most wonderful companionship over the years.OK would also like to know if she's spayed.She's not doing this to annoy you,she's trying to gain your attention - which she's getting via the reprimands ;) How much time do you spend with both baby and pup? EG does the pup stay with you whilst you are feeding the baby,if she's boisterous pop her in a play pen - ideal for pups and babies :D with a favourite toy or something lovely and chewy that she she doesn't get at any other time,talk to both of them and she should settle down whilst being safe.Also I know how tough it is with a new babe but spend some time playing with her on her own as well - can you give her one of the baby's old burp rag,give it a name and get her to fetch it for you or play hide and seek with it,dogs love this. |
|
|
|
| piwoodhouse | Feb 5 2009, 11:53 PM Post #4 |
|
Total Gas Bag!
|
Just following up really - have there been any changes at all or are things pretty much the same? |
|
|
|
| zandd | Feb 6 2009, 06:29 PM Post #5 |
|
Moderator
|
Sadly Fish hasn't been back on the forum,do hope things are working out for them :crossedfingers: |
|
|
|
| PARSNIP | Apr 25 2009, 03:35 PM Post #6 |
Chatterbox
|
A stair gate would solve the problem of the terror being in the nursery? May I just add we have a happy house hold of 3 terrors a cat and 2 babies (both under 2). When I had the boys I asked Adam each time; to bring items of clothing that smelled of the new baby to the house so the dogs were reassured by the smell and praised when they were introduced to the babies. My Jill even used to alert me when Rohan used to cry... She is bit special since her accident :) |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Training & Behaviour · Next Topic » |
5:15 AM Nov 26
