(This
was originally written for
Rottweiler owners. However, it is
good common sense information for
any household with kids and large
breed dogs, such as the Cane
Corso.)
1.
Do not allow a child, however
small to, tease the dog either
physically or verbally. The child
who shrieks and leaps incessantly
beside a nervous puppy may drive
him to snap out in fear as
quickly as the child who grabs
it's tail or sits on it. If a
child is persistent, remove him.
Do not even once allow him to
continue.
2.
Do not let a small child to pick
up or carry a puppy. Puppies,
like babies are afraid of
falling. They will often squirm
and fight to free themselves. If
successful, they may break a leg.
(Vet bills are not cheap.) If
panicked they may even bite.
Remember, in this case, it is not
the puppies fault, but yours for
allowing the situation to
progress to the point where the
puppy can no longer cope with it.
Encourage the child to get down
on the puppies level, ie.,the
floor for fun and games. They can
play all they like without either
one getting hurt and the puppy is
free to move away when he has had
enough. A child may not realize
the fact that he has
inadvertently cornered the pup
and set in motion a series of
instinctive behavior mechanisms.
3.
Do not expect the pup to absorb
endless punishment in the form of
constant noise or teasing. He
will learn to defend himself
unless he has some place to go
such as a crate, bed, corner, or
run where he can go when he does
not want to be disturbed. Make
certain that everyone understands
that he is not to be disturbed
there, and then make sure that he
is not. He will come back out
when he is ready to.
4.
Do not leave your dog unattended
in the yard with small children
no matter how trustworthy you may
think your dog is. Although
Rottweilers enjoy children more
so than many other breeds, they
are not a miracle dog and must be
treated the same as any other
large dog when around children. A
dog may not mean to hurt a child,
yet it usually seems to turn out
the other way.
5.
Do not buy a dog until you have a
fence for him outside where he
can be safe from :
*
Teasing by small children
*
Dognappers
*
Stray dogs
*
Mishaps on the road
Dogs
which are tied become defensive,
bored and irritably
aggressive.
A fence is convenient, durable
and safe.
6.
Enlist the help of your child in
the training of the dog. It will
increase his sense of self
importance, his concern and
knowledge of animal behavior. "If
Max wakes up, take him outside
right away so he won't make a
mistake in the house. You watch,
Billy, in case I don't notice,
okay?"
7.
Do insist that neighborhood
children who come to play abide
by the same rules that you expect
of your own. "Stuart, we don't
hit Max with sticks. Here, throw
it for him instead. Look how
happy he is now! I think he likes
you." If Stuart delivers a sly
kick instead, stop him. (A little
knowledge of gentle collar
control is useful with children,
as well as dogs). Put the dog in
his run or crate and see to it
that Stuart leaves him alone. If
Stuart is uncooperative, send him
home, nicely but firmly. If you
get angry, he will be angry and
defiant too. When he learns that
he simply cannot play at your
house if he continues, he will
probably stop if he feels that
you basically like him and that
it is only his specific action
that you dislike. Here again,
take two minutes to give the
child and the dog something
constructive to do. Let the child
have the opportunity to receive a
warm response from the dog and he
may become your staunchest ally.
"Hey Mrs Jones!, I just saw Max
down the street. Someone must
have left the gate open."
8.
Do teach the dog to sit before he
is given food or a treat, and to
wait for an okay to take it. The
Rottweiler pup will grow quicker
than your toddler. If the sit
stay becomes automatic, you will
find him sitting before a baby
with food, hoping but never
touching. Parents of visiting
children are less than
understanding when your 75 lbs
pup grabs for a cookie and their
child goes tumbling. Many fears
of dogs are traced back to just
such an incident. They will not
only remember that it was a large
dog but also that it was a
Rottweiler. Never allow a small
child to take the pup's food or
bone as this could create a
problem later when the pup has
grown into adulthood.
9.
Do give your Rottweiler simple
obedience training so that he
will be spared random scoldings
and confusion. "DOWN" and "SIT"
are pleasant commands to a pup if
they are rewarded with a brushing
or a tummy rub by their young
master.
10.
Don't expect the dog to be
patient with your child unless
you have taught him to be. He
will learn not to defend himself,
if he realizes that you
consistently rescue him before he
gets hurt. Conversely you must
teach the small child to be
patient with the dog. Don't
reinforce his fears if he
inadvertently takes a tumble by
telling him what a big, mean,
naughty dog that is. Be matter of
fact, pick him up, staunch the
blood, and say, "Here, help me
teach Max to be more gentle."
Help the child learn to cope with
the situation, reinforce his
confidence with small things that
he can handle, and be there to
handle a situation that proves to
be more that he can control.
11.
Do not expose an innocent
passerby to your dogs protective
tendencies. Do not leave your
Rottweiler and your small child
outside a store and expect them
to take care of each other. Some
well intentioned stranger may be
bitten. Even though your dog may
do exactly what you wish him to
do under different circumstances,
he will be the one put down while
you face an expensive lawsuit.
Never assume that the public
understands dog behavior. The
fool who puts his hands inside
your car or the boy who pokes at
the dog through a fence,
obviously do not, but you may end
up paying the doctors bills.
12.
Do increase your childs sense of
responsibility and pride of
achievement by letting him help
as much as he can. Do not expect
him to know what to do. Guide
him. "Here is Max's dish, Billy,
tell him to come. That's it, now
tell him to sit." (You help max
sit. He is just learning that he
must also obey Billy too.) "Good,
now put the dish down. Tell him
okay. There, see how nicely he
obeyed you!" Billy will leave
with the distinct impression that
he is the worlds smartest dog
trainer and that his dog is the
smartest dog on the block.
