Our 3 year old dog growled at my son when he tried to pick him up

[Anonymous]

This isn't usual behavior for our dog, although he's become especially attached to me due to some (ongoing) health issues that have had me sitting on the couch more than usual this summer. I reprimanded the dog, who stopped, but my son also backed off. How are you supposed to deal with this?

[Anonymous]

The dog is probably in pain. Do you let your kids pick up your dog. Never leave the kids alone with the dog. Any vet will tell you this.

[Anonymous]

Do not let

[Anonymous]

Keep very close watch. Do not risk your child’s safety.

[Anonymous]

A growl is a warning. What do you expect your dog to do when someone is doing something to him he doesn't like? Also he may be more protective of you if you're sick. Give the dog a break. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Keep them apart. Your child is not mature enough to interact with the dog properly.

[Anonymous]

How is the age of the dog important and not the child's? If the child is 8 and up, I'd tell him to stop touching the dog. If younger, separate the 2 or get rid of the dog. The kid will have some stitches soon.

[Anonymous]

Tell your son not to pick him up. You didn't say how old your son is, but my dog did not like being picked up by children - she did not feel secure when being held by them.

[Anonymous]

Agree with consider getting rid of the dog if it’s too much too manage.

[Anonymous]

Teach your son how to interact properly with the dog. Pets are not toys. If you cannot do this then it might be best to rehire the dog.

[Anonymous]

Rehome, sheesh autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

You have to socialize pets and children to each other proactively, and make sure they both understand what is okay behavior and what is not. Your dog doesn't normally growl because he probably never gets picked up by anyone other than you and your spouse, and he trusts you. He is probably still suspicious of your kid because kids don't always understand boundaries with animals and you need to be very intentional about teaching them.

As soon as our daughter was mobile and could understand directions, we started socializing her with the cat. We chose moments when the cat was relaxed and happy and would say "See how he is calm and his tail isn't twitching? See how he is lying down and not eating? That means it's a good time to visit him." Then we would let her give him a few gentle pets. The minute the cat seemed annoyed, we taught our daughter to back off. Likewise, if our cat is ever bothering out daughter, getting in her personal space or trying to sleep in her bed, we gently remove him and say "Nope, that's not a good spot for you" (we say this is for our kid's benefit, not our cat, obviously).

Our kid would never just walk up and pick up the cat, and if she did, the cat would raise holy hell. I get that you have more leeway with dogs because they are usually a little more tolerant of kid behavior. But that means you need to be more vigilant of training everyone on boundaries, not less. The dog obviously doesn't like being picked up like that, and you need to explain to your kid why it's not okay and not to do it in the future (without punishing him for doing something he couldn't be expected to know not to do).

Pets are actually a great way to teach kids how to read body language and to respect other people's boundaries. We have an only child but she socialized really well when she started school, I think in part because she already understands how to read people and not to push people's buttons.

[Anonymous]

The dog is not a stuffed animal. He is allowed to want to be left alone.

[Anonymous]

Was it an aggressive growl with teeth bared or more just a rumble?
Our very sweet and gentle dog makes a rumble sort of noise when our youngest hugs him too tight. He can’t say “hey, thatt’s too tight!” So he uses that as a way to communicate to her. It’s better than snapping which is what dogs do with each other and often with children.
I would worry more about a growl with teeth bared to an approaching child—that’s dog for “come any closer and I will bite.”

[Anonymous]

How is the dog supposed to let your son know that he doesn't want to be picked up? As much as we try to "humanize" them, dogs are animals that don't always want to play just because we want them to.