10 Month Old Bullmastiff

Question
Hello,  I was wondering if you might be able to give some advice on 2 things that my husband and I have experienced with our 10 month old Bullmastiff puppy.  On several occassions since she is 10 weeks old we have found that our dog is what almost seems obsessed with eating socks, under garments, shoes, paper, and pretty much anything she can get her little mouth on.  We are concerened because we have had to take her to the emergency vet and have a shot given to help her vomit the items so that they would not get stuck in her intestines.  We were hoping that this was just a phase that she was going through but it seems that the older she gets, the worse the habit has become.  My second issue is the behavior of the dog when small children are in my home.  My dog has never shown any sign of agression my means of growling or biting but she does bark persistantly at young children and runs towards them in a playful yet forceful manner without any regards to the size difference between herself and the child. We are expecting our first baby in a few months so this has become a raised concern.  We love our dog with all of our hearts but we fear that she may unintentionally hurt the baby which would result in possibly having to give her up for adoption.  Any advice you could give would be so very much appreciated.     Thank you for your time.

Answer
The best solution is to crate it when you can't watch it.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.    Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.


A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

Many dogs love children, seeing them as playmates.  That last link has a page on dogs and children.  Follow it carefully.