Hello,
I'm a new dog owner (Guinness, 10 weeks old, show cocker) and a worrier - but finding this site so helpful for good advice and reassurance. So here goes my second post in three days :-)
As Guinness can't go 'out' yet, I have been trying to socialise him by taking him to friends and families houses, or carrying him around outside. My next door neighbour has been really great, allowing me to visit regularly and particularly inviting me around when she is babysitting her grand-daughter, who is 15 months old. As we don't have children, I am taking every opportunity I can to spend time with children, as many of my friends have young families, and I want Guinness to be calm and well-behaved around children.
I have a 2 year old niece and we have also spent time with her... but here's my question, is it OK to make the puppy really excitable around children this young?
I am pretty cautious by nature, and with my niece, we have spent time doing gentle stroking, teaching my niece not to touch him when he's asleep or eating, and feeding little treat's when Guinness is sitting quietly, in the hope he will find the experience enjoyable. None of my family has previously owned a dog, and as we are all cautious by nature, this feels right to us.
However, it is a very different story when I visit my neighbours - who have previously owned dogs and had puppies recently. My neighbours daughter (and mum to the little girl) really plays vigorously with Guinness (not pulling or tugging him) but getting him very excited and chasing around a lot. To be fair to Guinness, he has been really quite good, but as he's at the stage of 'play biting' I get worried he will nip the little girl. They have told me not to worry, but my concern is that this maybe teaching him bad habits. I don't want to paint the picture that they are completely dismissive of what could happen - as I know them to be very caring, responsible people - and the little girl is very calm and relaxed around the puppy.
I just wondered what people's thought were? Is this normal puppy play and I should relax a bit... or should I say that I'm not comfortable with it, and ask them to stop. They are great people - who are offering to 'doggy sit' and would be really upset if they thought they had done something I really didn't like - but I just haven't a clue if this is what we should all be doing!
All advice really gratefully received! I'm starting puppy classes tomorrow so had planned to ask the trainer, but then thought all the helpful (experienced!) people on here might be able to help!