[latheseea]

I am having a problem with buddy my pup....here within the last few weeks he has started growling at certain times towards my children...usually it is when he is in my chair...not with me though...this is a problem i need to nip in the bottom very quick...I have searched the diffrent temperment of breeds cause im sure he has gsd in him...at this time when he does this i tell him no and put him in the crate...but im not sure this is the best thing to be doin...

[reeskujo]

Can you give us a little more information? Such as how old is the puppy? How old are your children? Does he growl at them any other time? How do the children interact with the puppy?

Also is the puppy a rescue and if so do you know his history?

[latheseea]

He is a bit over 4 months and wieghs 30 lbs...I brung buddy home when he was six weeks...he was listed on craigs list...someone had dumped the mother and pups off...he has a very layedback attitude most of the time...my kids are 17, 16, 14, and 7...I have taught my children respect and love of animals since they were babies...and he plays fetch...runs around the yard...and snuggles with them...i do not tolerate biting so i always teach my dogs no bite right off...and will offer a toy or something in replace...and this has always worked...he usually does this if he is moved and sometimes if he is walked up on...i have noticed times when my seven year old just goes to pet him he will growl...i dont know if its a dominating factor or what..I hope this is enough info...thanks

[Deafdogsrule]

Do you know that most "unprovoked attacks" are caused by people training the growl out of their dogs?

Seriously, DO NOT TRAIN THE GROWL OUT OF YOUR DOG! do not correct him for growling. If the dog growls, it is a warning he's not comfortable with something. If you correct him for growling, he'll soon stop growling, and what's the next warning? a snap, or even an all out bite. Think of a growl as an early warning system. Figure out WHY he's growling, then solve the issue.

He may be resource guarding, so prevent the problem. If he seems to do it when he's in the chair, keep him off the chair. Make sure your kids know that if he growls, they need to step away. Teach them to go get a treat, call him to them then treat him (always get him to do something for a treat, like come, sit or down)

Have the kids hand feed him all or part of his food, by getting him to work for it. Ask for a sit, then give some food, ask for a down, then give some food, ask for a stand, then give food, shake a paw, target nose to palm, that sort of thing.

Handfeeding works by teaching the dog that all good things come from humans, and he'll learn to respect the ones who give him resources, and it'll also make him more comfortable around your children.

I use handfeeding ALOT with my rescues that have issues. It works very well.

[DougGeneration]

I definitely agree with deafdogsrule, the moment I read your problem, I immediately thought of the chair. But his other points are pretty good too, I learned something new of my own.

[lange]

You need to show your dog your kids are way above him on the totem pole; and not when he's growling, but every single minute. If you reinforce this into the dog every day, then you won't run into situations like these.

My son (& dogs) place in our home was my top, reinforced priority since the moment any of our dogs stepped into our home. My son eats first. My son goes through doors first. He asks for sits before putting dogs bowls down. My son is not allowed to play with the dogs if they are overly excited. The dogs must be in control of themselves (not so frisky) anytime they interact with my son or I will correct the excitement & leash them. I also correct my son if he is causing over excitement. If my son gives a command & I see that the dogs don't obey, I will step in & reinforce the command he gave. I put weighty rules around my son & the dogs because most kids just don't have natural authority in them. Depending on the dogs temperament, a given dog can & will take advantage of that. I take no chances & am pretty iron fisted when it comes to dogs & kids. My sincerest opinion is that everyone should be the same in this area.
If I see a dog throwing their weight around, bossing around a child, commanding things of a child, anything that is even slightly going that route; I will step in, correct the dog then tell the kid what went wrong & how to better the situation for next time. Like Sara also wrote, make sure kids part take in things like feedings, training & petting, anything structured & positive (supervised by you).

[cigwyllt]

Lange - I think your post should be compulsory reading for anyone with kids who owns dogs!

[latheseea]

I just wanted to say thankyou....I have always included the kids in training and feeding...but now I have made it a manditory action...in doing this and taking in the other advice..things are going much more smoothly....thanks once again...

[lange]

Thanks Cig, that's a great compliment! It's the one area I take the most serious.

Originally Posted by latheseea

I just wanted to say thankyou....I have always included the kids in training and feeding...but now I have made it a manditory action...in doing this and taking in the other advice..things are going much more smoothly....thanks once again...

I'm glad you caught the behavior early. It's heartbreaking when people brush away the signs our dogs show, especially when kids are involved. Your younger &/or lesser confident kids should be the one's with the most 'dog work' to do. The dog usually picks up on who that is first. Good luck!

[Deafdogsrule]

I have a twin sister, and while we were growing up, we had 2 dogs. Patches was a Springer x Cocker, and Benji was a little terrier mix. I did everything with the dogs, I walked them, trained them, played with them, fed them, slept with them, and gave all meds (Patches had Hypothyroidism) My sis, otoh, would periodically rile them up, and once in a blue moon, would walk Benji (who was supposedly her dog) but never anything else....

Well, it so happened that one day, my Sis was pestering Patchie, and she snapped at her, didn't make contact, or anything (Patchie was the best dog ever and had a very high tolerance to being bugged, but she'd had enough), but it scared my sis nonetheless. My Mom told my sis it was her fault,... but from then on, she had some resentment towards me and my relationship with the dogs. She began doing more with the dogs, and she was never snapped at again.

Dogs need to learn to listen to children, they need to respect them, and need to be respected by them in return.

I am a positive trainer, i do not believe in the pack theory, and I do not correct my dogs, but I do believe in respect. Dogs NEED to respect the humans (no matter how small they are) and they need to be respected in return.

[Rottie]

The trouble with media and public emphasis on dogs growling, particularly at children is that animals, not only dogs, are pestered, teased and sometimes downright provoked by children maltreating them - smacking them, hitting them with sticks etc. etc.

Kids have this wrongful impression that animals are toys. They are not, they are living creatures like us and have the same characteristics.

OK, dogs can get possessive about people or homely comforts, that is another problem and somehow the dog has to be trained out of it and made to understand who is the pack leader.

But time and again I see a media item where some kiddy has been bitten by a dog and the coverage NEVER gives the whole story. It is always in favour of the kiddy. The poor dog always gets the blame, when it is the children's fault for maltreating it in the first place. What is a dog supposed to do ? Endure being hit, poked, kicked, threatened or beaten with sticks ? NEVER !

I have seen kids trying to ride dogs like a pony. A beastly practice that causes pain to the dog and can easily damage the spinal structure, hips or leg joints..

It is up to parents to ensure that their children treat animals with respect and kindness. Often it is the parents lack of common sense and over-riding infatuation with their kids being allowed to do what the hell they want to that causes trouble. Little Johnny can do what the hell he likes eh ? Not in my team chum.

Quite frankly, I myself would not let some child kick or hit me and get away with it, parents present or not. Never have, never will.

But having said and upset all those nice parents, if it is just a simple case of bad behaviour - call Cesar Millan. You may even get on Telly.

[lange]

Originally Posted by Deafdogsrule

I have a twin sister, and while we were growing up, we had 2 dogs. Patches was a Springer x Cocker, and Benji was a little terrier mix. I did everything with the dogs, I walked them, trained them, played with them, fed them, slept with them, and gave all meds (Patches had Hypothyroidism) My sis, otoh, would periodically rile them up, and once in a blue moon, would walk Benji (who was supposedly her dog) but never anything else....

Well, it so happened that one day, my Sis was pestering Patchie, and she snapped at her, didn't make contact, or anything (Patchie was the best dog ever and had a very high tolerance to being bugged, but she'd had enough), but it scared my sis nonetheless. My Mom told my sis it was her fault,... but from then on, she had some resentment towards me and my relationship with the dogs. She began doing more with the dogs, and she was never snapped at again.

Dogs need to learn to listen to children, they need to respect them, and need to be respected by them in return.

I am a positive trainer, i do not believe in the pack theory, and I do not correct my dogs, but I do believe in respect. Dogs NEED to respect the humans (no matter how small they are) and they need to be respected in return.

I don't understand why people are so afraid of correcting. I correct kids just the same as I correct dogs. I tell them not to do what they're doing, sometimes I yell or raise my voice (not detrimental in my eyes) & I tell them what I want them to do instead. That is correcting behavior. I personally don't like solely relying on giving a trade off in order to get an expected result, again with kids or dogs. Sometimes I need to take control of situations in an instant so trade off's aren't always handy or even enough incentive. I prefer the fluidity of all the options.

I'll also add, I'm not sure why 'respect' is being brought up since I hadn't read anyone write anything about kids disrespecting dogs in this thread. I don't condone that so if there's some sort of insinuation of that being my beliefs, I will say that that is far from what I would ever teach a child. Maybe this isn't what was meant here but I just want to add that in in case my advice is not coming through in the way that I intend. I don't even let my son over excite the dogs. Even as a little toddler I corrected him. If anything I believe children should have a greater restrain w/dogs and dogs w/kids verse either w/any adult. Anyone I feel is weaker should be placed in the best cocoon so to speak.

A child & a dog don't belong on the same ladder of leadership IMO. Otherwise you have dogs who feel they can rough play & test children like they would with other dogs. Just the same as I don't expect children to speak to adults as if they were other children. This is why I believe in the pack mentality in any home, canine or human. I don't see why leadership or authority is seen as a negative.

Originally Posted by Rottie

Kids have this wrongful impression that animals are toys.

It's funny, I agree but I don't think that is the whole story either. Dogs also easily fall into seeing kids as toys or can be easily aroused into kicking in their prey drive. You're right in that most stories are never so black & white. I tend to think all parties are to blame, but most especially the adults since dogs & kids are not at the top of the totem pole. I'd place responsibility on the adults more often than not.

[latheseea]

Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and
understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.
— Dr. Louis J. Camuti

[DougGeneration]

Some very direct and good points from the posts above actually, learned something new yet again from you guys!

[reeskujo]

I to am a professional dog trainer and I use positive reinforcement as well...I do differ in the pack theory though. Dogs are pack animals,like it or not it's instinct to them..Therefore they need to be taught early on where their position is in the pack!..I also correct my dogs for bad behavior. After all who will they know their behavior isn't exceptable if you're not letting them know. Correction doe not need to be dome in a physical way...Sometimes it can be as simple as tellimg them to"Leave it" when they're messing with something they shouldn't and then rewarding them for leaving it alone....JMO!