For All Large Dog Owners: Child Tipping! (Need Help)

[NewYorkDogue]

Mateo (9 month old Mastiff) has always showed a special fondness for children-- he gets all wiggly and tends to cover them with big, wet kisses.

However. This attraction to small people has developed into a problem: he tips them over. I believe this was, when he was smaller, sort of an accidental thing (still might be), as when he wriggles his head when approaching them, and all it takes is lifting his head under the child's chin and- wham. Kid down.

Here's the thing. I have been having to keep an eye on him when we are in a large public off-leash park, because there are also little kids around. I don't always get there in time, or catch his attention in time to head it off, and a toddler hits the grass. Thankfully, almost all the parents there with small children also have dogs and are super understanding-- despite the fact that I'm apologizing like crazy...(yikes.)

This morning, however, there were tons of dogs in one particular area (because it's the weekend), and also some kids around because of the nearby ice-skating rink. I had taken my eyes off of my dog for a few minutes (I know- my bad!) and sure enough, there was a child, all padded up in a hockey uniform (thank goodness) flat on his back, crying. The culprit: my dog. And the kid's father was livid, saying that my dog was dangerous, that he should be kept on a leash... even threatening to "take the (hockey) stick to him."

Well, my reaction was not stellar-- I began yelling back (after that last comment!), and didn't even get to apologizing...

But this is a problem, and I need some specific advice to nip it in the bud. He's 102 pounds now, and not getting any smaller!

I am aware that maybe the actual tipping over of the child has become a "reward" in itself-- (trying to view it through his eyes.) This may make it even more of a difficult behavior to change...?

The good news is that there is absolutely no aggression involved. He does still try to kiss them when they fall. And I don't want to create a negative association with children, either. But I need to work with him on this issue.

Any and all training advice is welcome!

[xellil]

Rebel does that to kids too - not under their chin, but he will lean on them and knock them down.

Not so much a problem until I moved down here, but here I have four cousins age 1 to 7. not only the leaning, but with the baby when he reaches out to sniff or lick the baby often falls on his butt just from Rebel's big head coming at him.

I have taught him "back" and he understands it really well. The problem is I have to watch him - he never liked kids all that much, but when there is one in our living room his curiosity seems alot higher.

Maybe you SHOULD have a leash on to avoid problems until you can control him verbally and/or make sure you are watching him all the time. Frankly, if I were that dad I wouldn't be too happy about a strange dog knocking my kid over, no matter how nice the dog is. A big dog is scary.

[BoxerParty]

Malcolm LOVES kids too, but his wiggle-butt excitement over them caused the same knocking-over problem. So, with the help of my cousin's super dog-loving 4-year-old human, I taught him to sit for pats from kids. I still allow the "boxer lean" with grown-ups.

I taught the sit by having Malcolm on his leash and Riley (human kid) approach him. I asked for a sit. If he wiggled, Riley stopped moving toward us. I would ask for the sit again, and Riley would approach until/unless he got up and wiggled. I didn't use any other reinforcements, since (as you said) the kid IS the reward. Malcolm learned pretty quickly that child = sit, and that he would ONLY get to kiss the child if he remained in a sit. It's definitely harder in an off-leash situation, but strongly establishing the kid = sit principle means that when we encounter kids in our off-leash park, Malcolm will approach them but won't bowl them over.

[wolfsnaps88]

Dozer is so gentle with kids and babies. A couple Christmases ago, Gary thought it would be fun to bring our mastiff to a party which was in a tiny house with lots of people. I found it to be chaotic. Then my sister in law put her infant son on the ground. My heart stopped as I envisioned Dozer stepping on him unintentionally.

Instead, he got down on all fours, head down, and crawled to the baby and licked him. My heart melted.

I think it best to teach Mateo a quick down position no matter where he is. That way, if he gets too close to a baby you can tell him down and he will lay down. Its the only thing i can think of myself. Or constant leashing (which I also do in any other situation Dozer and I are in because he is unpredictable and large).

[brandypup]

Well IDK... if my kid got knocked down I would pick her back up and tell her to be careful. But then I am a dog mom and a kid mom and plan on getting an English Mastiff in a 2-5 yr period. We all went to go visit one. He was 220lbs and my daughter didn't even get int he door way before she was knocked down. The dog turned and his but swiped her and boom into the wall. She was laughing actually and ended up falling in love with the dog. He was a steller dog also, wonderful personality and just loved my daghter (6yrs old) SO I taughter her to watch his tail, head and but. She did fine the rest of the evening.

Now if I had that dog I would have to watch out for the other kids and try to teach them as well. I guess that is my answer. that doesn't excuse the dad for being an idiot.

My last dog bradny love love loved kids. She had a luck of a tall bully dog (no clue what she was really) so I had to keep a handle on her from jumping and kissing. One day walking on a side walk a strolle wne t by the other direction and brandy stuck her head right in there and got her a kiss on the fly. I was so embarresed.

My beagle can knockpeople down becuase he is a love and my chihuahua gets the excited nibbles so I want the kids and help them only pet when sitting.

It's not easy.

[magicre]

these are big dogs, your mastiff.....i think i'd be shouting a warning to any child.....that they are either a. about to go down or b. get outta the way or

c. enjoy the ride.

or shout to the mom that this might look like a big dog but actually is a puppy and is like a bull in a china shop and will stop when he's about two or three, maybe.

better than him rushing kids to eat them...not that that is such a bad idea J/K maybe. :)

i really have nothing to offer but it was funny and reminded me of my days in georgia with the kids tipping cows....so maybe payback's a bitch, ya know?

[Sprocket]

Maybe have him wear a vest that says "Caution, may tip over small humans while trying to kiss them" :)

[magicre]

Malcolm LOVES kids too, but his wiggle-butt excitement over them caused the same knocking-over problem. So, with the help of my cousin's super dog-loving 4-year-old human, I taught him to sit for pats from kids. I still allow the "boxer lean" with grown-ups.

I taught the sit by having Malcolm on his leash and Riley (human kid) approach him. I asked for a sit. If he wiggled, Riley stopped moving toward us. I would ask for the sit again, and Riley would approach until/unless he got up and wiggled. I didn't use any other reinforcements, since (as you said) the kid IS the reward. Malcolm learned pretty quickly that child = sit, and that he would ONLY get to kiss the child if he remained in a sit. It's definitely harder in an off-leash situation, but strongly establishing the kid = sit principle means that when we encounter kids in our off-leash park, Malcolm will approach them but won't bowl them over.

can you come over and teach this to my pug? all 22 lbs go into leaning, as you so gently call it.

i call it an overwhelming rush of neediness :)

[twoisplenty]

I am surprised that a leash free dog park would even allow small children. Its asking for trouble IMO. Not only are they going to get knocked over by bigger dogs but it puts them at risk for being bitten. Any dog park I have gone to always has a sign on the front of it saying no children under the age of 8 allowed.

And for the guy yelling at you about his child I would of been like "what parent endangers their child by allowing them to roam a leash free dog park?"

Our leash free areas are always away from the childrens play areas and are seperately fenced. Are yours different?

Though I do agree that all dogs need to be taught to respect a persons place no matter what size the dog or person is. My guys are horrible for jumping!!!

[NewYorkDogue]

I am surprised that a leash free dog park would even allow small children. Its asking for trouble IMO. Not only are they going to get knocked over by bigger dogs but it puts them at risk for being bitten. Any dog park I have gone to always has a sign on the front of it saying no children under the age of 8 allowed.

And for the guy yelling at you about his child I would of been like "what parent endangers their child by allowing them to roam a leash free dog park?"

Our leash free areas are always away from the childrens play areas and are seperately fenced. Are yours different?

Though I do agree that all dogs need to be taught to respect a persons place no matter what size the dog or person is. My guys are horrible for jumping!!!

Well, this sort of a unique situation-- Central Park has off-leash hours for dogs every morning before 9 AM. Absolutely wonderful for dogs, because, well, the park is over 600 acres of beautiful landscape (including woods, lakes, etc.). However, there is (and always has been) some tension between the joggers/bicyclists/bird watchers... and the free-roaming dogs. Stuff always happens, as you can imagine.

The weekends are the worst, because if the weather is nice, everybody and their brother is in the park. Since the dogs are not confined to a separate area, you just have to be more vigilant about distractions, and possible "triggers."

So....... toddling children appears to be one of my dog's pleasure buttons. Can't help himself. And, yes, he has even been known to swipe a walk-by kiss to babies in strollers. Thing is, he never jumps up on full-size people (yea), it's just the small ones.

I like the idea of borrowing a kid for some one-on-one training. Actually, a friend's son (who is 8) will be coming to visit from Italy at the end of Feb. and he has offered him up for use in working with Mateo. I would like to work with him then.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of using a separate/new command for him to slow him down when he sees a kid come into view. Or even "stop" (this would be during off-leash times, when I need an immediate response from him.)

Otherwise, vigilance is key, I suppose. It's not easy, that's for sure...