Anonymous
10/03/2015 20:36
Subject: Re:Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, there are some total nutballs here. Ignore them. The dog is not equal to a baby. For pete's sake. At least I understand how there are so many sleazy rescue organizations; if they're populated by people like these nutballs, no wonder.
I think you have a couple of steps you should consider before rehoming or euthanizing the dog. First and most important, keep the dog away from the baby. Second, take the dog to your vet and get a complete physical. If the dog is in pain for some reason, a big unsettling event like a new baby can cause growling. Check for things like tooth infections, etc. Third, I would engage a trainer who is dog-wise. Sometimes growling can be fixed easily and I would not just get rid of him without exploring those options.
Finally, don't take the dog to the shelter. Have the courage to euthanize your dog yourself. Explain to the vet that he's showing aggressive behavior and you don't consider him safe. If you try everything you can to fix the dog's behavior and it doesn't work, that dog isn't suitable for rehoming or adoption and should be put down.
I'm shocked that you would even consider killing the dog because he "growled." My dog growls and grumbles when he doesn't want to take a bath, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to kill him. You are a sick twisted person.
If OP fully exhausts her options with training, vet visits, etc., and the dog is still growling every time the baby gets nearby, she needs to euthanize the dog. It would not be ethical to dump him at a shelter where somebody might unknowingly adopt a dog with significant risk factors or he'll get put down without anybody he loves around him.
Honestly, some of you people are delusional when it comes to dogs.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 16:30
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Professional dog trainer here.
SO much misinformation in this thread. Please please please read this:
Never, EVER punish growling. Growling is a good thing! It is the dog trying to tell you that it is uncomfortable with the situation, and you need to remove the child. It is the only way the dog really has to tell you that it doesn't like what is going on.
If you choose to punish the dog (by yelling at it, grabbing the scruff, etc) when it growls, it will absolutely stop growling--which is when things get really dangerous. You have taken away its ability to communicate. Next time, when the dog is scared/cornered, it will not growl because it knows it will get punished for doing so. It will resort to snapping out of desperation.
I would do the following:
1) Give your dog a safe place to retreat to. A room, a crate, a fenced off portion of the living room. Some place that your children are not allowed to go anywhere near. When dog is feeling overwhelmed, it can go to its safe spot.
2) Teach your children to ignore the dog 100% of the time, unless the dog approaches them for attention. My son has been redirected from the time he began to crawl. Any time he crawled towards the dog, he was turned around and we engaged him with other toys or games.
3) When the dog came over and nuzzled him for pets, we taught him to gently pat her back, never her face. He is now 18 months, and he never approaches the dog or touches her face.
4) Read up on dog body language. People always say, "The dog snapped! I had no idea it was coming! Totally unprovoked!" Any decent trainer will tell you otherwise. Dogs show a wide range of signals when they are stressed. Yawning, panting, "whale eyes", ear set, etc are all cues that the dog is overwhelmed and needs you to help it out of the situation. Learn these signs, for the sake of everyone in your household. I cringe when I watch these youtube videos of children crawling all over the family dog who supposedly "loves" it. The dog is ALWAYS showing signs of stress. The people just don't realize it, because the dog isn't growling or moving away. It's why the advice "Always monitor the dog and child" is worthless--if you don't know what to look for, you can't stop it before it's too late.
A 10 year old dog is not going to find a home from either a shelter or a rescue. Both are inundated with young dogs. Dogs over 6 are generally referred to as seniors, and have reduced adoption fees to try to beg someone to take them home. If you really aren't willing to make simple changes to your life to protect both the dog and the child, then the only appropriate thing to do is try to rehome the dog yourself, or put it down.
I'm not knocking your training skills, but your advice is the opposite of what I've found works with dogs. My parents had a dog that would growl if he disn't want you to come near him and our response was, as you advised, to leave him alone. He never bit anyone but he continued growling for the rest of his life when he wanted to be left alone. Later I got a dog who would occasionally bark and growl at me when he was not happy, wanted my chair, etc, and I would always yell loudly at him, growl right back, and hold him on the ground on his side until he calmed down and stopped resisting. After a month or so of that he stopped growling and has been well behaved for years since. He's also never bitten anyone. If he is pissed odd now he just takes a passive resistance approach by lying on his back so you can't pick him up.
I should have said "may snap", not "will snap".
True, a dog who stops growling may never bite. Why take away an obvious warning sign though? That's like taking away the check engine light from your car. Maybe the engine will never blow, but there's a good chance it could, so why risk it?
You cannot be sure what a dogs next step will be. I want a dog in a house full of children to be comfortable and feel secure enough to make the warning signals he has without fear of repercussions.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 15:23
Subject: Dog growling at baby
The trainer is right, a growl is a warning. Punish him and he might stop or he might snap next.
just keep the dog on the other side of a baby gate from your kid. 100% of the time. BTDT when my older dog got growl-y and cantankerous. He did not like kids, so I kept him away from the kids. You can never, ever trust a dog like that around small kids. I would never give the dog away, it isn't his fault you had children. Just give him the space he is requesting.
just keep the dog on the other side of a baby gate from your kid. 100% of the time. BTDT when my older dog got growl-y and cantankerous. He did not like kids, so I kept him away from the kids. You can never, ever trust a dog like that around small kids. I would never give the dog away, it isn't his fault you had children. Just give him the space he is requesting.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 14:13
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Professional dog trainer here.
SO much misinformation in this thread. Please please please read this:
Never, EVER punish growling. Growling is a good thing! It is the dog trying to tell you that it is uncomfortable with the situation, and you need to remove the child. It is the only way the dog really has to tell you that it doesn't like what is going on.
If you choose to punish the dog (by yelling at it, grabbing the scruff, etc) when it growls, it will absolutely stop growling--which is when things get really dangerous. You have taken away its ability to communicate. Next time, when the dog is scared/cornered, it will not growl because it knows it will get punished for doing so. It will resort to snapping out of desperation.
I would do the following:
1) Give your dog a safe place to retreat to. A room, a crate, a fenced off portion of the living room. Some place that your children are not allowed to go anywhere near. When dog is feeling overwhelmed, it can go to its safe spot.
2) Teach your children to ignore the dog 100% of the time, unless the dog approaches them for attention. My son has been redirected from the time he began to crawl. Any time he crawled towards the dog, he was turned around and we engaged him with other toys or games.
3) When the dog came over and nuzzled him for pets, we taught him to gently pat her back, never her face. He is now 18 months, and he never approaches the dog or touches her face.
4) Read up on dog body language. People always say, "The dog snapped! I had no idea it was coming! Totally unprovoked!" Any decent trainer will tell you otherwise. Dogs show a wide range of signals when they are stressed. Yawning, panting, "whale eyes", ear set, etc are all cues that the dog is overwhelmed and needs you to help it out of the situation. Learn these signs, for the sake of everyone in your household. I cringe when I watch these youtube videos of children crawling all over the family dog who supposedly "loves" it. The dog is ALWAYS showing signs of stress. The people just don't realize it, because the dog isn't growling or moving away. It's why the advice "Always monitor the dog and child" is worthless--if you don't know what to look for, you can't stop it before it's too late.
A 10 year old dog is not going to find a home from either a shelter or a rescue. Both are inundated with young dogs. Dogs over 6 are generally referred to as seniors, and have reduced adoption fees to try to beg someone to take them home. If you really aren't willing to make simple changes to your life to protect both the dog and the child, then the only appropriate thing to do is try to rehome the dog yourself, or put it down.
I'm not knocking your training skills, but your advice is the opposite of what I've found works with dogs. My parents had a dog that would growl if he disn't want you to come near him and our response was, as you advised, to leave him alone. He never bit anyone but he continued growling for the rest of his life when he wanted to be left alone. Later I got a dog who would occasionally bark and growl at me when he was not happy, wanted my chair, etc, and I would always yell loudly at him, growl right back, and hold him on the ground on his side until he calmed down and stopped resisting. After a month or so of that he stopped growling and has been well behaved for years since. He's also never bitten anyone. If he is pissed odd now he just takes a passive resistance approach by lying on his back so you can't pick him up.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 14:06
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I love animals, but I wouldn't take any chances with a child. I would rehome the dog ASAP rather than allowing it to remain in my home with the child, especially if the child is mobile: an accident can happen so quickly. As much as you love your dog, are you will to keep him around for the time it takes to see if a trainer will work, and risk having the dog hurt your baby in that time?
She's doesn't love her dog. A person who loves their dog wouldn't drop him/her at a shelter for a "death sentence" as OP stated.
You can do this the right way OP- the caring and compassionate way- but my gut says you're looking for the quickest/cheapest/easiest way out.
PP, you wrote that "A person who loves their dog wouldn't drop him/her at a shelter for a 'death sentence'", but I think a person who loves their baby wouldn't keep a dog that could be a death sentence for the baby. Not even if the chance is slim. No way. Pets are great, but people are worth more than any pet.
There's is always a slim chance that ANY animal could attack. So are you saying that anyone who has a baby should kick their pets out on the street? Tell me about the other ways you eliminate 100% of all types of risk for your precious spawn.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 14:01
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Professional dog trainer here.
SO much misinformation in this thread. Please please please read this:
Never, EVER punish growling. Growling is a good thing! It is the dog trying to tell you that it is uncomfortable with the situation, and you need to remove the child. It is the only way the dog really has to tell you that it doesn't like what is going on.
If you choose to punish the dog (by yelling at it, grabbing the scruff, etc) when it growls, it will absolutely stop growling--which is when things get really dangerous. You have taken away its ability to communicate. Next time, when the dog is scared/cornered, it will not growl because it knows it will get punished for doing so. It will resort to snapping out of desperation.
I would do the following:
1) Give your dog a safe place to retreat to. A room, a crate, a fenced off portion of the living room. Some place that your children are not allowed to go anywhere near. When dog is feeling overwhelmed, it can go to its safe spot.
2) Teach your children to ignore the dog 100% of the time, unless the dog approaches them for attention. My son has been redirected from the time he began to crawl. Any time he crawled towards the dog, he was turned around and we engaged him with other toys or games.
3) When the dog came over and nuzzled him for pets, we taught him to gently pat her back, never her face. He is now 18 months, and he never approaches the dog or touches her face.
4) Read up on dog body language. People always say, "The dog snapped! I had no idea it was coming! Totally unprovoked!" Any decent trainer will tell you otherwise. Dogs show a wide range of signals when they are stressed. Yawning, panting, "whale eyes", ear set, etc are all cues that the dog is overwhelmed and needs you to help it out of the situation. Learn these signs, for the sake of everyone in your household. I cringe when I watch these youtube videos of children crawling all over the family dog who supposedly "loves" it. The dog is ALWAYS showing signs of stress. The people just don't realize it, because the dog isn't growling or moving away. It's why the advice "Always monitor the dog and child" is worthless--if you don't know what to look for, you can't stop it before it's too late.
A 10 year old dog is not going to find a home from either a shelter or a rescue. Both are inundated with young dogs. Dogs over 6 are generally referred to as seniors, and have reduced adoption fees to try to beg someone to take them home. If you really aren't willing to make simple changes to your life to protect both the dog and the child, then the only appropriate thing to do is try to rehome the dog yourself, or put it down.
SO much misinformation in this thread. Please please please read this:
Never, EVER punish growling. Growling is a good thing! It is the dog trying to tell you that it is uncomfortable with the situation, and you need to remove the child. It is the only way the dog really has to tell you that it doesn't like what is going on.
If you choose to punish the dog (by yelling at it, grabbing the scruff, etc) when it growls, it will absolutely stop growling--which is when things get really dangerous. You have taken away its ability to communicate. Next time, when the dog is scared/cornered, it will not growl because it knows it will get punished for doing so. It will resort to snapping out of desperation.
I would do the following:
1) Give your dog a safe place to retreat to. A room, a crate, a fenced off portion of the living room. Some place that your children are not allowed to go anywhere near. When dog is feeling overwhelmed, it can go to its safe spot.
2) Teach your children to ignore the dog 100% of the time, unless the dog approaches them for attention. My son has been redirected from the time he began to crawl. Any time he crawled towards the dog, he was turned around and we engaged him with other toys or games.
3) When the dog came over and nuzzled him for pets, we taught him to gently pat her back, never her face. He is now 18 months, and he never approaches the dog or touches her face.
4) Read up on dog body language. People always say, "The dog snapped! I had no idea it was coming! Totally unprovoked!" Any decent trainer will tell you otherwise. Dogs show a wide range of signals when they are stressed. Yawning, panting, "whale eyes", ear set, etc are all cues that the dog is overwhelmed and needs you to help it out of the situation. Learn these signs, for the sake of everyone in your household. I cringe when I watch these youtube videos of children crawling all over the family dog who supposedly "loves" it. The dog is ALWAYS showing signs of stress. The people just don't realize it, because the dog isn't growling or moving away. It's why the advice "Always monitor the dog and child" is worthless--if you don't know what to look for, you can't stop it before it's too late.
A 10 year old dog is not going to find a home from either a shelter or a rescue. Both are inundated with young dogs. Dogs over 6 are generally referred to as seniors, and have reduced adoption fees to try to beg someone to take them home. If you really aren't willing to make simple changes to your life to protect both the dog and the child, then the only appropriate thing to do is try to rehome the dog yourself, or put it down.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:23
Subject: Re:Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:This is completely solvable. Our dog growled at our kids and we taught the dog it was unacceptable by grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and laying him down and saying "no" firmly any time he growled and we made it clear to the kids they weren't to bother the dog when he wasn't interacting with them willingly. All get along fine now. You have to let both the kids and the dog know what is acceptable behavior in the new situation.
This is very true, but I'm not sure OP is willing to put the effort in.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:22
Subject: Dog growling at baby
You don't take an elderly dog to a shelter. That's cruel.
Since you aren't willing to try a trainer (I would at least talk with one) then start looking for a rescue agency. When you explain that you are concerned about the baby's safety but don't want the dog to go to a shelter, I would imagine a good rescue will take him.
Since you aren't willing to try a trainer (I would at least talk with one) then start looking for a rescue agency. When you explain that you are concerned about the baby's safety but don't want the dog to go to a shelter, I would imagine a good rescue will take him.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:18
Subject: Re:Dog growling at baby
This is completely solvable. Our dog growled at our kids and we taught the dog it was unacceptable by grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and laying him down and saying "no" firmly any time he growled and we made it clear to the kids they weren't to bother the dog when he wasn't interacting with them willingly. All get along fine now. You have to let both the kids and the dog know what is acceptable behavior in the new situation.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:13
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Keep them separated. Try a trainer. A shelter for a 10 year old dog would be a death sentence. If the trainer fails, find him a new home.
a trainer for a dog that has few years left?
You're nuts.
Find a new home. I would never allow an animal to be a priority over my kids. Some people are wacko in that way- risking the safety of their kids.
There are bound to be childless folks who would take the dog.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:07
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:it's all about positive and negative reinforcement. We had the same issue and this is how we solved it. We have a 14 year old dog and when the dog growled or barked at the baby, we would shake a can of pennies or do a quick squirt of water in the dog's face. The dog learned that growing at the baby was not ok. I would sit the baby in my lap and help the baby feed the dog treats, pet him, and talk in soothing tones. The dog learned that if he's sweet, the baby gives him treats and is nice to him.
If you don't think you can train the dog, hire a trainer. And until this is sorted out, no unsupervised time with dog and baby and keep them separated. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
Forgot to add...now the dog is 17!!! and the now kid and the dog are very best friends.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 13:06
Subject: Dog growling at baby
it's all about positive and negative reinforcement. We had the same issue and this is how we solved it. We have a 14 year old dog and when the dog growled or barked at the baby, we would shake a can of pennies or do a quick squirt of water in the dog's face. The dog learned that growing at the baby was not ok. I would sit the baby in my lap and help the baby feed the dog treats, pet him, and talk in soothing tones. The dog learned that if he's sweet, the baby gives him treats and is nice to him.
If you don't think you can train the dog, hire a trainer. And until this is sorted out, no unsupervised time with dog and baby and keep them separated. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
If you don't think you can train the dog, hire a trainer. And until this is sorted out, no unsupervised time with dog and baby and keep them separated. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 12:57
Subject: Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I love animals, but I wouldn't take any chances with a child. I would rehome the dog ASAP rather than allowing it to remain in my home with the child, especially if the child is mobile: an accident can happen so quickly. As much as you love your dog, are you will to keep him around for the time it takes to see if a trainer will work, and risk having the dog hurt your baby in that time?
She's doesn't love her dog. A person who loves their dog wouldn't drop him/her at a shelter for a "death sentence" as OP stated.
You can do this the right way OP- the caring and compassionate way- but my gut says you're looking for the quickest/cheapest/easiest way out.
PP, you wrote that "A person who loves their dog wouldn't drop him/her at a shelter for a 'death sentence'", but I think a person who loves their baby wouldn't keep a dog that could be a death sentence for the baby. Not even if the chance is slim. No way. Pets are great, but people are worth more than any pet.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 12:40
Subject: Re:Dog growling at baby
Anonymous wrote:OP, there are some total nutballs here. Ignore them. The dog is not equal to a baby. For pete's sake. At least I understand how there are so many sleazy rescue organizations; if they're populated by people like these nutballs, no wonder.
I think you have a couple of steps you should consider before rehoming or euthanizing the dog. First and most important, keep the dog away from the baby. Second, take the dog to your vet and get a complete physical. If the dog is in pain for some reason, a big unsettling event like a new baby can cause growling. Check for things like tooth infections, etc. Third, I would engage a trainer who is dog-wise. Sometimes growling can be fixed easily and I would not just get rid of him without exploring those options.
Finally, don't take the dog to the shelter. Have the courage to euthanize your dog yourself. Explain to the vet that he's showing aggressive behavior and you don't consider him safe. If you try everything you can to fix the dog's behavior and it doesn't work, that dog isn't suitable for rehoming or adoption and should be put down.
I'm shocked that you would even consider killing the dog because he "growled." My dog growls and grumbles when he doesn't want to take a bath, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to kill him. You are a sick twisted person.
Anonymous
10/03/2015 10:04
Subject: Re:Dog growling at baby
OP, there are some total nutballs here. Ignore them. The dog is not equal to a baby. For pete's sake. At least I understand how there are so many sleazy rescue organizations; if they're populated by people like these nutballs, no wonder.
I think you have a couple of steps you should consider before rehoming or euthanizing the dog. First and most important, keep the dog away from the baby. Second, take the dog to your vet and get a complete physical. If the dog is in pain for some reason, a big unsettling event like a new baby can cause growling. Check for things like tooth infections, etc. Third, I would engage a trainer who is dog-wise. Sometimes growling can be fixed easily and I would not just get rid of him without exploring those options.
Finally, don't take the dog to the shelter. Have the courage to euthanize your dog yourself. Explain to the vet that he's showing aggressive behavior and you don't consider him safe. If you try everything you can to fix the dog's behavior and it doesn't work, that dog isn't suitable for rehoming or adoption and should be put down.
I think you have a couple of steps you should consider before rehoming or euthanizing the dog. First and most important, keep the dog away from the baby. Second, take the dog to your vet and get a complete physical. If the dog is in pain for some reason, a big unsettling event like a new baby can cause growling. Check for things like tooth infections, etc. Third, I would engage a trainer who is dog-wise. Sometimes growling can be fixed easily and I would not just get rid of him without exploring those options.
Finally, don't take the dog to the shelter. Have the courage to euthanize your dog yourself. Explain to the vet that he's showing aggressive behavior and you don't consider him safe. If you try everything you can to fix the dog's behavior and it doesn't work, that dog isn't suitable for rehoming or adoption and should be put down.