making out with the dog

[wombato]

How do you deal with your child enjoying something obviously pleasurable that offends you and others? My nearly 11 month old is making out with the dog! The dog (a big one) licks my son's face, then my son opens his mouth and they lick each other. When I catch this happening, I calmly put my hand between their mouths and tell him no, that's gross. I also try to distract him. It's not the grossest thing (hygiene wise) that happens in this house, but that's not going to fly with me or other people, ew!

Any ideas? Do I just keep doing this and hope that it eventually stops, just like any other issue? He's young to understand much, and it's not obviously dangerous, but I could make a bigger deal out of it ("NO! yuck! germs!"), hopefully without making him feel bad about his body. I mean, mom and dad don't kiss him on the mouth (though sometimes when he opens his mouth at us after doing that with the dog, I think he wants us to do it).

[ians_mommy]

Have you considered focusing on the dog? I would think it would be quicker to train the dog to stop something you dont like than to get a baby to stop interacting with the dog in a way that offends you.

[hakeber]

I agree. It would be easier to keep the dog from licking the baby than getting a baby to stop opening their mouth.

Or keep the baby away from the dog until he is old enough to not make out with the dog...I know adults that do this, so I don't when that would be, but it might be easier to just not leave these two love struck souls alone together.

[Kristine233]

I'd focus on the dog too and I also wouldn't consider that making out. It probably tickles your son and the dog probably likes the taste of whatever your son was eating or drinking last. He's also at an age where he is going to mimic a lot fo stuff, if the dog can do it surely he can try too. (At least thats the kiddo's logic).

It would be far easier to just train the dog not to lick faces. My over zealous black lab loves to lick faces, but I think spit (dog or human) is gross and don't like doggy kisses. I told the dog no and would turn my face from him. He caught on very quickly that I don't like that and stopped. Of course I show him doggy affection in other ways, belly rubs are his favorite. Redirecting the behavior is a good way to also involved your son. Show him how to pet him or snuggle with him instead.

[nextcommercial]

OMG!! OK, It's just me, but, that's the grossest thing EVER. I'd just pick him up every time.

I can't even let a dog lick my hand or my leg. It drives me insane to see or hear a dog licking anybody in my presence. I even turn the channel if I see it on America's funniest home videos.

So, I'd just put a physical stop to it every time. I'd tell the dog "NO!" <--insert slightly freaked out voice) until that behavior stopped.

[coffeegirl]

Remove the dog for a period of time. Train the dog not to lick baby's face. I agree it'll be easier to train the dog at thsi point than to train the baby not to do this.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

It's not really "making out" especially as far as your lo is concerned i agree with the others about needing to train the dog not to lick your baby's face.
fwiw a dogs mouth is meant to be cleaner than a humans mouth so don't worry too much although i do agree it's pretty icky, cos dog breathe stinks.
Tell me mind my own business if you want but could i ask, why you don't kiss your baby on the mouth? i only ask cos all my lo's have liked making kiss noises and asking for mouth kisses i though it was something all lo's did.

[-Grace-]

Your son is mimicking your dog, and dogs lick to clean. Your dog is trying to take care of your son. Your son, like any baby learns partly by tasting, and he probably is playing with the dog in return. It'll be easier to teach the dog not to lick the baby than the other way around.

[claddaghmom]

Is it just me or does this have sexual overtones???? Babe is 11 months, interacting with a dog!

[Drummer's Wife]

No advice - but this might just be one of the oddest (and funniest) titles I've read on MDC in a long time.

[lifeguard]

Guess my sensibilites are not as easily bothered as others 'cause when this happens at our house we just laugh & groan.

They do outgrow all on their own though. Ds almost never does it now & at one point he first reaction when the dog approached was to open his mouth.

[wombato]

Sorry, I was being funny calling it "making out" (at least in my head, it was funny). I agree with you, Kristine233, ians_mommy, hakeber, others - for some reason, it hadn't occurred to me to get the dog to stop licking (and yet, I'm going to dog training class every week). Yeah, there's no way they'll be separated. They are best buddies already. We don't have fence around our place yet - coming soon - so the dog can't be outside much yet. He's still a bit adolescent, a 1.5 year old German Shepherd.

[wombato]

Sorry for the confusion, I thought it was funny to call it "making out." Clearly they are not "making out." They are innocently doing their thing. My dog has a nice soft tongue, and my son enjoys that in his innocent sweet way. My dog is just licking the nice flavors off of my son. But smooching is what it looks like.

[Tjej]

My one dog was like that with DS. And DS was a very willing recipient of the licks! I would just remove the dog when it happened (and I think I said "don't touch" - a command our dog knows). DS got a little older and it stopped altogether. Now it's "Doggie's buggin' me" if his former beloved comes near with any idea of any kiss.

Tjej

[ErynneM]

As a dog trainer and a mother of a 12-month-old (and also the person of four dogs), I have to say that if it's something you don't like, you'll be much more successful training your dog than your child.

Start training your dog that licking faces is bad but licking hands is good. You can put a tiny bit of butter on the back of your hand (and your 11mo's hand) and train the dog using the phrase "Kisses!" when he's licking.

If he goes to lick a face, correct with, "Eh eh!" and then redirect to a hand with "Kisses!"

If you have any questions, or want me to break it down in more details, just PM me.

- E

[HappyMommy2]

Best title I have seen in a long time.

I'm not that grossed out by this, honestly! It sounds like you aren't too worried either, except for what others might think about it. I think a lot of kids do it, and quickly grow out of it!