My dog, a young black lab mix, was introduced to my two younger cousins today.
The girl is about 16 and her younger brother is 12.
He got along fine with the girl but acted very aggressive towards the boy. He growled, barked, his fur stood on end and he was very agitated. He made no move to actually harm him in the short period that they were together but he got pretty scary.
He has never, not once, acted this way towards anyone. He's a very quiet, affectionate dog who generally just wants to play. He thinks he's a big lap dog. He's very well trained and listens to us with no problems what so ever. He's basically the perfect dog. He's never shown aggression towards any person or another dog before, stranger or otherwise. He's very well socialized.
What could have been the problem?
2006-12-11 09:23:45 · 13 answers · asked by ljn331 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He growled as soon as he entered the door. Ir wasn't something that was lead up to. He just flipped out. The boy wasn't doing anything.
Although, he is a pretty nasty little kid, all and all.
2006-12-11 09:37:02 · update #1
Mabye he was trying to protect you, my dog does that sometimes. Or mabye your cousin didn't introduce himself slowly or the right way. If he did, then mabye the dog felt thretened by him.
2006-12-11 09:30:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it could've just been a fluke, or a 'bad' memory, but I doubt the latter. Dogs live in the here and now, and must know who the Alpha in the pack is, and that should be you, not the dog.
If your cousin comes, and he does the same thing, use your two fingers and poke him in the neck, while making some kind of sound that lets him know you don't approve of this behavior.
Remember to be calm and assertive when you correct him.
2006-12-11 10:01:22 · answer #2 · answered by smartycat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog had taken your Cousin (girl) into his pack and felt the need to protect her from harm. He may have thought that your Cousin (boy) was attacking her even when they would just have been playing. A dogs naturatl instinct is to protect it's pack!
Your Lab would also be assuming the Alpha male role and this is not good. Your dog should always put humans first - (Family anyway) I suggest you take this threat seriously and get your dog to obedience classess. Then get your Cousins (both of them) to train with you and the Lab. Your dog will grow to respect him as a Alpha dog. That said I would not leave your dog alone with anyone, including your girl cousin.
2006-12-11 09:39:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Poor you, you love your dogs. I suspect that the other pet is a cheeky puppy and that your German Shepherd is sick of having its neck chewed. I also suspect that because you are pregnant and tired that you are using your GSD, to baby sit a cheeky puppy. Young dogs should have a quite place to rest, although they have lots of energy they also need LOTS of sleep.If you have a youngter, put it in a seperate room to rest and give your GSD some respite. Older dogs will put a youngster in its place if it is naughty, perhaps this is what your GSD is doing and you should allow your GSD to do this. How would you like a naughty toddler jumping on you constantly. I have had GSD's forever. The only time that I chastised my very young son was when I thought that he was being rough with the dogs. Now I have grandchildren who sleep in my room when they visit me. They sleep on inflatable beds and my GSD who never gets on the furniture or on my bed, sleeps on one of their beds. GSD's love kids. If your dog was not agressive before you moved in with your cousin, your dog may be either confussed with her new home, or having to contend with a young cheeky dog. Look on the Internet as to how to introduce a dog to a new baby. Dogs have feelings and they need to be included. Good luck with your baby and your GSD.
2016-05-23 06:39:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just recently had the same type of problem with my dog. For about two weeks he flipped out and I mean FLIPPED OUT! when my daughter was leaving for school towards her. Turned out it was her new fur gloves she put on as she was leaving. In the morning it was cold so she put them on, by afternoon it was warm so they were in her book bag. Maybe your cousin had something on that frightened your dog?
2006-12-11 10:02:31 · answer #5 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe your cousin is a Zombie, or is lacking a soul.
Have you seen the Omen? The part were the animals at the zoo freak out when the devil kid shows up?
Yeah, that's what going on.
2006-12-11 09:33:29 · answer #6 · answered by Answer Jammie 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Boys are the number one type of people bit by dogs. May be because they tend to be hyper and move much faster and they tend to be louder at that age. Be careful and do supervised visitation. Talk to your cousin and let him know the type of behavior you expect from him too. When he gets to know him hopefully it Will resolve.
2006-12-11 09:33:09 · answer #7 · answered by petprincess@sbcglobal.net 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are a good judge of character. If your little cousin mistreats animals, hates animals, or is just plain evil, your dog would be able to tell. Also, dogs can sense fear. If your little cousin is scared of dogs, he sensed it and reacted to it.
2006-12-11 09:42:20 · answer #8 · answered by amyleeroxs 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your cousin could have been scared, tense or maybe doesn't like dogs. Your dog can sense these feelings, and will react on them.
Also, if he had even one bad encounter with a child that looked like him, or acted like him, or maybe wore something similar like a hat, that could have also caused his reaction.
There are so many reasons this "could" have happened!
http://www.libertydogtraining.com
2006-12-11 09:31:53 · answer #9 · answered by libertydogtraining 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he's growlin, then he isn't "very well socialized." or maybe there was a particular scent or feature about your cousin he disliked. Does he own a dog?
Just continue to introduce him to new environemts and to new people.
2006-12-11 09:33:20 · answer #10 · answered by nick o 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋