[Judi W]

Child and dog.

I think that the 3 or so minutes it takes a dog to eat its dinner are not too much for a child to simply politely leave the dog alone and I don't know of anything so urgent that would cause that to change. Yes, it is old fashioned to say, leave the dog alone when it is eating, but even some old-fashioned ideas have merit.

I have raised children with Rottweilers and vice versa. I do not believe that any child has the presence to be dominant to a dog like the Rottweiler and having the child issue commands does not change that. The dog may or may not respond, but believe me, if it responds it is not out of a sense that the child has the lead. It is out of courtesy only. However, my dogs were always raised that the children are mine and are to be treated with respect and ditto the child to the dog. The dogs were mine and were to be treated by the children with kindness and respect. The dogs were actually expected to treat all people with respect and kindness. So, rather than the frustration to the child if the dog does not obey, or the confusion of receiving words from someone who could not possible enforce them, my children were tasked with teaching the dogs tricks using treats. It builds a relationship without pressure. There are several decent books to give you ideas. Look at books by Carol Lea Benjamin.

I am not one who thinks that all training is lured with food however, I do not like to see a dog live a life of misery by being bullied. That is the balance I was speaking of. There should be a difference between formal commands and relaxed every day living.

As time passes and the pressure of insecurity (yours and the dog's) you will all learn more about one another, how to read what is happening and how to understand what is a big deal and what is not a big deal. When the dog learns to trust you will find less and less of the guarding stuff. I would not ask a child however to be the teacher on this. Children do not read sublties and it is unfair to ask them to. Dogs actually do a remarkable job of learning to live with another species and fit in. Think about it. This is a baby, only on this earth 5 months! And how much he understands already! Amazing. Keeping that in mind, sensible handling and understanding and you will be fine.