Expert: Georgia - 4/6/2001

Question
Dear Georgia,
I have a male Bichon who is nearly three years old. He is very laid back and happy.
We also have a three month old baby son. Our Bichon is good. If the baby cries the bichon will come and find us and take us to the baby. He gets a bit jealous in that sometimes if we are holding the baby the dog will want to sit close to us or on the lap as well !
There is  one bit of behaviour that is puzzling us. When the baby is bathed, the dog puts his paws up on the edge of the bath and whines constantly until the baby is taken out. He then comes with us while we get the baby dressed.
If one of us is in the bath he takes no notice at all !! The dog does not himself like being bathed.
Could you solve the puzzle for us as to why he does this.
Many thanks
Alison McLean  

Answer
Well this is indeed a puzzling quirk your dog has. I would say it is a behaviour that has started and which you have unknowingly encouraged by giving him positive attention when he does it. Do you look at him and talk to him when he does this or ignore him? If you ignore him all the time then I can't help you. If you have at any time encouraged this behaviour, it is up to you if you want to stop him doing it or not. I would say that you giving your entire attention to the baby in the bath would make him a bit jealous and that is why he is trying to get your attention. If you wanted to stop this behaviour, I would totally ignore him when he does this and as soon as he hops down from the bath, give him a treat and praise him.
Let me know how this goes.