He has always been quite fond of the 3 year old. Kissing him and such whenever my son gets up from naps, enters the room ect. I have always supervised interaction with my kids and the dog. There has never been any abuse by the children. He usually seeks out their company. Lays down near them where ever they are playing, or watching TV.

I have been a bit lax with training lately. He's been ignoring me on occasion with recalls, slow to respond, or ignores me. I realize I need to start up again with daily OB.

My thoughts are that possibily Truman is reaching maturity mentally, and trying to establish rank over the kids?

Without seeing what happened I cannot tell you, Tracy. But from your explanation of how this situation occured it does not sound like a rank issue to me. The dog moved away. He did not stare, he did not lunge, he did not bark. Sometimes a grumble/growl is more of a frustrated sound than a warning. Did he snort or exhale with the growl or was it a meaningful, grouchy growl?

Start up again on the recall work and OB. It is very likely he is reaching maturity mentally and with that comes some behavior changes but I would suspect the reduction in training

Thanks Jennifer,

The growl did seem a bit frustrated. As good with dogs as 3 and 4 year olds can be, they are still loud rambunctious children. Truman and I were enjoying quiet "office time", when my 3 year old interupted. It may have just been "talk".

I will up the OB and keep more supervision and seperation.

Do you have any suggestions about how I can have Truman see that the kids are ranked higher in the pack than he is?

Thanks so much for your help. I really enjoy reading your posts, and LOVE your website. My 4 year old is facinated with wolves, and just loves the pictures on your site.

Tracy

Thanks, Tracy!

I am one of those that doesn't believe in trying to make the children or small animals (etc) being higher ranked/dominant over the dog. I am a supporter of the pack leader letting a dog know certain things and people etc are off limits and not acceptable behaviors in the pack.

Children cannot be expected to uphold a higher rank than a dog, especially not a large dog even if the dog is gentle and low drive. They(children) don't have the total self awareness that is required to be of higher rank and being physically small/short they are at a disadvantage.

Keeping Truman on a lead and doing some more groundwork to get things started, Obedience and all that grand fun stuff With Truman under control you can incoorporate your children into sessions by having them around. Simply giving the dog a boundary that he must observe around the children is helpful. Not allowing him in their rooms unless you take him/invite him into the room, he must always be calm around them etc.

The full scope of control required depends on the dog, really. A pet dog with higher drive and obvious aggression issues I may recommend a more stringent/strict handling and training program. But I think a brush up in OB with Truman and bringing back some more elements of foundation and pack structure groundwork will help all around as a good start.

As a note...

I'm not a fan of having kids give dogs treats or being the source of excitement such as playing fetch. Ah to clarify I mean small children as in under 7-8 years old, or perhaps even older. I don't want a dog to associate prey items or food items with a child, in case there is a time when the child has an item not intended for the dog and either the dog gets it from the child in a non aggressive way that reinforces taking or possessing items the child has, or the dog may accidentaly cause harm in getting what it thinks is a prey item or treat etc. I see a lot of problems arise from dogs and children being left together, also, but that isn't an issue here so I will skip that part

I have heard others recommend the pack leader/adult/parent enforce commands given by a child but unless the child understands that it is not to give the dog commands or correct the dog outside of those specific times it can be setting the dog and child up to fail.

Can I just put in a word, though it may seem unrelated?

No matter what the behaviour I KNOW that the pack leader can succesfully communicate that certain (and any) things are totally off limits. Our dogs would love to kill chickens, chase cats and kill sheep, and some have done it in the past but we taught them that our chickens, sheep and cats are off limits and they wouldnt even touch them if left alone for days together...
so I believe a dog can understand (via pack leader) that kids are to be respected and tolerated no matter what.

thats just a seconding-the-motion of what Jennifer said

to echo what was wonderfully stated by Jennifer, I also do not advocate children trying to outrank a dog. Especially a dog that is reaching maturity and starting to test boundaries. A child cannot handle an aggressive response correctly, and I think it is unfair to child AND dog to expect them to.
I prefer to establish "ownership" over the child and any other items off limits. By saying "this is mine" to a dog, it makes it off limits. If you do not take ownership, it is fair game. I wouldn't allow a dog to enter a child's room, be near them while they eat, or get in their face while they are playing on the floor. I don't expect the child to not act like a child, either. I jsut establish to the dog that the child is off limits. I also take steps to protect the dog from the child - stay away while eating (as in, not even allowed in the room) do not take thigs from the dog at all stay away from the crate, do not open the crate, etc.

Thanks all for the advice! I guess I get that kids can't outrank the dog. I guess I just need to make the dog understand that the kids are "mine". I'll keep you up to date with our progress.

I have one more thought Tracy. After all the training and irregardless of the progress he's going to make I would still live with Truman in a very structured, not just supervised way that would always be mindful that his tolerence with kids may not be as high as some dogs are. For me that one growl is enough. Follow the advice, but always treat him with your kids like there is still a problem.

Tracy, I don't have much to add, but I wanted to say good luck! I think everyone has given excellent opinions. I too would've thought to try to elevate a child's rank, but it makes sense not to do so. I am soaking this up like a sponge!

I agree Steve,

One growl is MORE than enough. It may have been just an irritated frustrated type of growl, but in no way is that OK. I have gone back to basics with him. Looking back, I realize I have gotten quite relaxed with structure.

He had been sleeping in our bedroom, allowed full run of the house, laying on the floor while the kids ate at the table cleaning up scraps ect...

Now I realize all those little things I had been allowing may have helped lead up that growl.

Yesterday, he was tethered to me when not crated. When we ate, he was locked in his crate in the other room. After dinner, I took him out and did some OB. He is back on very strict NILF, No going through doors before any person, sitting and waiting for my cue to eat, no demanding petting. He is now banned from our bedroom at night and will sleep in his crate.

Thank you all again for the great advice. I am taking this very seriously. I have spoken to the kids about not touching the dog without mom or dad standing right there. (not that they would have the opportunity to since they will NEVER be unsuperviesd)