April 26, 2011
My dog is aggressive around toddlers, what should we do?
Full Question:
Hi Cindy,We have a two year old German Shepherd/Australian Cattle dog that we got from a shelter at three months old. We used both your Puppy and Basic training videos and our dog generally behaves well and we are happy with her. She is a soft dog and shows signs of being submissive as I understand it (presents her back side, licks me, etc.) She has never been aggressive towards anyone save for when we used to get near her and her food although that behavior has almost disappeared. We have a three month old girl and the dogs have been fantastic around her as well.
The problem is when toddlers are introduced to the mix. My 1 1/2 year old niece and a three year old friend of ours seem to make our dog uncomfortable. She gets snappy and barks around them, especially when they make sudden moves even if the actions are not directed at the dog. While we are confident that she will deal well with our daughter as she gets older, what can we do to help her deal with toddlers now? For now, we simply keep the dog and toddlers separated when they visit. We try to introduce the toddlers to the dog gently by having the kids pet her with me holding the dog or with the toddlers giving her treats so that she can experience toddlers in a pleasant setting. What would your best solution? I have looked over your boards and couldn't find a question that dealt specifically with this. Thanks.
Luke
Cindy's Answer:
The recipe for a successful relationship between kids (of any age) and dogs is supervision at ALL times. I’d first suggest you start with our Groundwork program and the video that picks up where the article leaves off - Pack Structure for the Family Pet DVD.
I would NOT ever think I was going to change a dog’s view of kids (no matter the age) by letting kids give the dog treats or petting. BAD IDEA. You are putting the dog and the child in precarious situation when you do this. It’s much better to teach the dog that they are not allowed to interact with the kids, and they must be indifferent and non aggressive. You must control the kids so they are not allowed to get in the dog’s space. It only takes a split second for an incident to happen.
If you find you need to put the dog in a crate in order to preserve the dog’s and child’s safety and your piece of mind then that’s what I would recommend. Be aware that as your baby’s mobility changes, your dog’s attitude towards her may also change. Don’t take anything for granted here.
You should read this section of the web site.
Cindy
I would NOT ever think I was going to change a dog’s view of kids (no matter the age) by letting kids give the dog treats or petting. BAD IDEA. You are putting the dog and the child in precarious situation when you do this. It’s much better to teach the dog that they are not allowed to interact with the kids, and they must be indifferent and non aggressive. You must control the kids so they are not allowed to get in the dog’s space. It only takes a split second for an incident to happen.
If you find you need to put the dog in a crate in order to preserve the dog’s and child’s safety and your piece of mind then that’s what I would recommend. Be aware that as your baby’s mobility changes, your dog’s attitude towards her may also change. Don’t take anything for granted here.
You should read this section of the web site.
Cindy
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