We just got a new cockapoo 4 days ago,and he won't eat his dog food,only some table scraps and I know you shouldn't but I was worried and thought I should give him something to eat.What should I do? Also he seems very protective of me(a woman)He won't go to the bathroom if I don't take him,He lays on my feet non stop.I move,he moves.I have a 17 month old daughter and the dog growls sometimes when she comes near me on the bed or accidentally steps on him.He has never bit and dosen't show his teeth or anything other than that,but worries me because we haven't had him long enough to know his true nature.I really want to give him a chance because he seems wonderful.I also have a 6 yr old that the dog loves and has no problem with.The dog is wonderful in every other way,he is very gentle and loves playing with the kids and my 17 month old has even feed the dog treats and the dog uses it's lip to grab it,he doesn't even open his mouth.He has never knocked her over either and watches out for her.He loves attention and other kids to.His previous owner was a elderly man and the dog was very spoiled,which could be part of the problem.What can I do to make the dog less protective of me?

I have a 17 month old cockapoo that I've had for 5 days now,he is great but if he get's out of the fenced yard he runs and loves to chase the scent of other animals especially if he hears another dog.Also when in the fenced yard he does nothing but run in circles with his nose on the ground barking.What can I do to learn him not to run? And is there a way to keep him from chasing and barking?

Have you thought about asking the local RSPCA or whatever the equivalent in your country? Check the yellow pages for dog trainers maybe? Maybe a local animal welfare group. Is there a web site for the particular breed? Maybe other owners have had similar problems?

Find him a new home before the baby accidentally crosses his boundaries. The dog is clearly displaying his dominance in the house and slowly training his new owners how HIS house should be. If left untreated this behavior will only increase in manners very unsafe for children. I will even take a guess he is an adult dog that needed a new home for a reason, this may be some of the effects of why.

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 Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete (http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/) For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm) Follow the link on that page to their page on dogs and children.

Depending on how old the dog is, its genetic makeup, and early socialization, you may or may not be able to solve the problem. It needs to immediately learn you are in charge, and all the children outrank it. I am going to backslide from my following the current trend to more positive methods. Growling at a child is a serious problem, and needs an immediate, stern correction. Take a squirt bottle and fill it with water and a little vinegar or lemon juice. Give it a squirt in the face as soon as it growls at the child.

It also needs to learn that it will eat what you give it. Finicky dogs that hold out for tastier chow are a common enough problem I have all the information you need in the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/information-articles-our-dogs-expert-labman-53153.html#post254171

It really sounds like this is a dog that has been allowed to do as it pleases. Quite often all it takes is a strong hand. You do need to act quickly and it will be a long time, if ever, before you can leave it alone with the chiildren. This may be a case where I have to side with those saying never.

Many dogs are dumped because their owners don't know how to train them.
With the quality of much of the advice I see, I am not surprised. With the right training, many can be saved.

Is he neutered? I forgot to mention that in my other answer. Neutering along with taking over as top dog should settle him down. The only answer to getting loose is to be very careful about keeping the gate closed. With 2 children, that can be difficult, but remember, I said not to leave the dog and children alone. You can likely give him an outlet for his energy and eliminate the barking by playing fetch. The discipline of giving you the ball or stick will help with the top dog thing. Having a dog is a time consuming business. You can't just put some of them outside and let them take care of themselves. Think of him as a third child. When you have had all of fetch you can, if he still wants to run and bark, take him inside. If you have to, crate him. 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.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start 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. It will also protect your children if he wants to protect his food dish from them. There are ways of dealing with that too, but it can go until you solve some other problems.

Use the crate only when you must I have a short length of chain fastened to
My computer desk. With more mats around the chair mat, this gives a place
Where the puppy is with me, but about as controlled as in the crate, while
Still allowing me to get some work done, or at least answer AskMe questions.

Note, I decided to combine the 2 questions on the same dog. It will make all the information easier to read.

My apologies to all for my previous answer. It was just a few helpful (or so I thought) hints about how to resolve the problems.