Livvie, 5 years, alpha female of our home (tries) is starting to growl at my infant daughter upwards of 5x a day. Thank God the baby is learning to listen to her, but I have to supervise them every minute. Otto, our 4 year male Springer is WONDERFUl with her- lets her climb on him, she feeds him cheerios, and they even fall asleep on each other. Help! If Livvie were to hurt my baby, Id never forgive myself.
2007-02-10 13:46:26 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
You might consider an Animal Behavoiral Specialist. The last thing you want is your baby getting hurt.
2007-02-10 13:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by Pom♥Mom Spay and Neuter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all congratulations on having a wonderful new baby!! I have never had the pleasure, but have my babies in my Shih Tzu's. And they are my babies. I was very surprised at all the people who said to get rid of your dog or keep him outside. It's obvious after 5 years of having a dog and not getting rid of it, that you want this dog, and I am happy to hear that. I grew up in a home with 7 kids and many dogs large and small. No one in my house ever got bit.
The growling does bother me, and I would hope until these two are more comfortable with each other that you are there to supervise. Kids can hurt animals, and what better why to teach them to both respect the other. But supervised.
People ask me how can I have so many dogs I have 5 males and they all get along. Well there are rules. And I never let a growl get out of hand.
I put it like this.!! You know when a small child first swears and everyone laughs. Well it's not funny when this child turns around and swears at you or anyone else he or she should respect. It is no more funny hearing a child swear than it is when a dog bites a child in the face. The same goes for my dogs. Puppy play and growling is one thing, but how do you know with a child so small. You don't. That's a chance I would not dare take. Like you said you couldn't live with yourself.
Teach your dog that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Plain and simple. And teach your child. Hitting a dog is wrong, pulling his tail is wrong etc. And when a dog takes off alone somewhere it usually means he or she has had enough. They are signalling you. So listen to that as well.
Have a wonderful life with your family.
Blackie
2007-02-10 22:32:07 · answer #2 · answered by Blackie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to teach her that she is not the alpha of the house. Here are some ways:
1. - Have all of your family sit down at the dinner table.
- Have her dinner made and sitting on the counter.
- Tie her to a place where she can see all of you eat before she does.
- Once everyone is done eating, untie her and feed her
A dogs family is their pack. The top dog eats first and the other dogs eat after. You are trying to teach her she isn't top dog.
2. If she is lying down and you are walking through and she is in your way, instead of moving around her, make HER get up and move out of your way.
3. Don't let them generate play. If they want to play, DON"T wait for five minutes, then start to play with them.
4. Don't let any of your dogs on the furniture.
Good Luck! I hope she adapts.
2007-02-10 22:47:53 · answer #3 · answered by Dani 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should not get rid of your dog, watch cesar milan, mondays at 8:00pm on the national geographic channel. You need to establish YOURSELF as the alpha female, and tell ehr that behavior is un acceotable. When she growls, I would stand up, walk over to her quickly and with a asserttive enegry, say nothing and point until she retreats and backs aways and lays down somewhere. Take her on walks where you lead and she follows, don't abandon her, or keep your baby at risk.
2007-02-10 22:42:24 · answer #4 · answered by somewhatdisenchanted 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would make sure that the baby and the dog are never along at any time. if you are going to let the baby crawl on the floor. i would make sure that the dog is either on leash or in another room or in her crate at the time. i hope you do not have to get rid of her. i had a male sheltie that i did have to place in another home because he could not cope with the kids. it was not in till the kids were walking and running around. you may just have to work with her alot also see if you can find a dog trainer in your area that can help you good luck.
2007-02-10 22:06:09 · answer #5 · answered by Skyhoss 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should always supervise small children with dogs anyway, to Livvie your little girl is a threat as she appears like another dog once she gets bigger and no longer crawling things should change as your little girl will be taller and so higher in the pack,
also don't treat your dogs as equalls then they think they are boss
when it should be you/dh-daughter-dog never the other way around
2007-02-10 21:57:06 · answer #6 · answered by beebeejaybee 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we had this problem but it was very soon fixed. my oldest kid is now 4 but when she was baby our one dog would growl at her if she came near. it was because he was scared, (because pups abused by kids hubbies nieces and nephew who i thought i could trust, because they were around dogs all the time...i learned that the hard way....) besides the point...anyways he does not like to be hugged on, hair pulled, laid on ect... his brother is the exact opposite he could care less if she poked him in the eye..(which I wouldn't allow) the growler would be made to lay belly up and the baby would be set with the growler. and me of course. i would take her hand and have her pet him his belly until he gave in and relaxed. it did take sometime, and if he would growl i would touch his throat(this does not have to be mean just a touch). after he submitted to her touch i would tell him to move. now when he has had enough he will just walk away. and at 9 mos babys can hold treat, i would help her give treats to the doggies... they would have to sit and be calm the growler would have to lay down. now with the second he is much more tolerable. and if he doesn't want bothered he just get up and walks away...
oh and yes walks to drain energy is helpful with her at ur side..if u are not doing this already.
2007-02-10 23:06:41 · answer #7 · answered by dragonwolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I might think of Livvie going to an outside dog until your baby is in school.Like in Kindergarten.My mom did that because She did not want Samuel,our lab,hurting me.Or you can feed her outside.
2007-02-10 21:53:15 · answer #8 · answered by Whispering.Cranes 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You may have to get rid of the dog. I don't know much about dogs (I do love animals), but the baby is way more important. Good luck.
2007-02-10 21:54:48 · answer #9 · answered by HeartOfGlass 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
either get rid of her or make sure she is an outside dog and is never around the baby unsupervised
2007-02-10 21:54:10 · answer #10 · answered by undercovernudist 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋