@anadascal I have 2 reactive Shiba Inu’s. They are dog and leash reactive but are sweet with humans. Kiba (7M) absolutely loves everyone. Revi (7F) is a little stand offish at first but she warms up. They both loathe other animals. Kiba will try to attack dogs with no warning. Revi is a little slower to react. Neither of them had ever met a child until my sons GF brought her 2 year old over.
I was hyper vigilant during their meeting. Everyone in the house thought I was over reacting by being so on guard. But you do not throw a couple of dogs in a room with a 2 year old. Especially when they have never met a child before. Kiba was a dream. He was gentle and calm. Revi did not want anything to do with the toddler so I made sure to keep them separated.
GF ended up moving in with the 2 yr old. 2 year olds are busy little bees. Always running around , getting into shit, throwing shit, and making loud noises. My Shibas were not used to that. He started chasing them around the living room so they would come hide behind me. I made it a point to tell my husband, son, and GF that the dogs needed to be monitored around the toddler.
“Oh there fine” was what I was told. Thankfully I’m not a fucking idiot. I know my dogs and can tell when they are calm, stressed, or beginning to get agitated. So when things got to be too much for them I’d put them upstairs. One night I was cooking and we were all hanging out. I specifically told the 3 of them not to let the toddler get in Revis face. Kiba is docile, Revi is chill as long as you don’t pull her tail, touch her feet, or get in her face.
Well Revi was laying under the coffee table. The toddler decided to crawl under there and get in her face. My people were not paying attention. I, on the other hand, kept my head on a swivel no matter what I was doing. I turned towards them right as it was going down and I yelled “Revi No!” She let out a high pitched warning bark but did not bite him. Scared everyone. I immediately removed her from the situation.
This situation could have ended very badly. Revi is only 22lbs but she could definitely fucked up a child. So now Revi is only allowed in the living area when the 2 yr old is running around if I am there to closely monitor. I do not trust anyone else.
Recently, my first grandson was born. The first day he came home I introduced him to the Shibas. They sit next right next to me while I hold him. I allow them to smell him everytime they see him and we all hang out in my bed together. My goal is to have them involved in my grandsons life. They will be best friends one day! But I would never leave them all alone together while the kids are so young.
some people are just clueless but I guess ignorance is bliss until you lose your dog and child