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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here, thanks all.  That article is really helpful, thanks for posting.  It highlights where I'm confused - if the dog growls or barks at him when he's doing something obnoxious, should I say "no" to the dog?  The article says not to or it could stifle their warning responses, but it's my gut instinct that they should know how I expect them to behave.  If I don't say no, what do I do instead?  Remove the baby and let the dog keep playing with the toy/eating the bread crust?  Remove the bread crust, but don't say no to the dog?

One dog is a very sensitive spaniel mix, so we've always been very light handed in her training (positive treats based rewards) to keep her from becoming skiddish.  Just don't want to make a mistake, because she has a looong memory.

I appreciate the insight all! [/quote]

Trainer here.  Never tell a dog "no" for growling--especially not a sensitive one!  They will stop growling and skip that step next time they feel intimidated.  That's how you end up with a dog who snaps--the warning signs are ignored.

In the case you describe, I would remove the object that the dog is guarding.  Trade the dog a piece of hot dog for the bread crust or toy, and put it out of reach.  You are not rewarding the growling--you are removing the object that is causing tension.

I get it, OP.  I have dogs, and a 2.5 year old.  Honestly, your dogs are behaving beautifully from what you describe.  You are going to have to manage the snot out of this relationship for a while.  No food present when dogs and baby are both around.  Utilize baby gates/ex pens/the yard to keep the dogs away when kiddo is eating, and kiddo away when dogs are eating.  No toys, no treats, nothing to guard when the kid is around.  That can all come out after the child goes to bed.  Child needs to be taught to NEVER approach the dog.  If he wants to pet the dog, he needs to call the dog to him (obviously impossible now, but will be reality soon).  It is the dog's choice to come for attention, not the child's choice to give the dog attention.  Choice is a powerful tool that goes miles in making the dogs more comfortable.

To reassure you, my beloved dog (who I had for 8 years before kiddo) had trouble when my son first started being mobile.  It was a challenging 2-3 months, and then she settled in again.[/quote]

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