What do these behaviors mean in my dog?

Question

My old man Max, a shetland sheepdog, goes nuts when ever I wrestle w/ my child, my child swings on a swingset, or if he runs around he will grab him by his pant leg to stop him. He barks an unhappy athoritative bark, not a playfull one. Normally my dog is calm and is almost mothering/protective of my six yr old. I sometimes wonder if he thinks I am hurting him or that he is in some danger. I also wonder if it is jealousy. What do you think it is?

Answer 1

i think hes just being protective ... overly actually... i dont think its jealousy .....sounds like hes just worrying about your son.

Answer 2

If it get really out of hand, It can be dangerous. I'm not sure what happening to the mentality of the dog. If a bite will get involved, then it is serious. Try giving some sort of punishment to the dog everytime he barks in a bad way, like a squirt of water. Also, give him treats when he acts more normal.

Answer 3

I think it could be either or both those things. He might be jealous at some point of you with your son, and he could also think you're hurting your son or that your son is hurting you. He's a dog. He doesn't get that a 6 year old can't really do that, you know? But do you think he simply just doesn't like fast action? Maybe it's making him nervous. Either way sounds like a great doggy! :)

Answer 4

Exactly what you said- Max thinks he his the leader of his pack(family) and he may have seen your child fall from running or swinging and heard him cry so now he trys to slow him down or to stop him! Same with the wrestling, we had a german shep. named angel that whenever our 13 year old would ride his bike she would hold on to his pants to keep him from going to fast! ( he fell onto a barb wire and she was there with him while he was riding!) As long as max shows no aggression then he is just doing what he thinks is keeping his babes unhurt!

Answer 5

I dont think its jealousy. Its protective. If you think its jealousy then you must correct it otherwise something may happen.

He is a working dog by label and therefore is doing his job. It explains much of his behaviour. Look more into shetlands and what they were breed for.

Answer 6

well since i dont knw your dog personally i cant be 100 percent sure but i have a pretty good idea. i think your dog is just being protective. I think he thinks he's supposed to take care of your child, and if he thinks you are hurting him or if he is in an kind of danger, like you said he might, he will protect your child.

Answer 7

Dogs are pack animals. You are the pack leader and your dog needs to be reminded of that. Try being stern and authoritative with your dog when they are acting up. The dog needs to understand that although they want to be protective of your child they need to understand that you are the higher Alpha in the pack and you are not hurting the child.
Also shelties are herding dogs so some of that behavior may also just be out of it's instinct to keep you in line and not to get out of place.

Answer 8

My mom's friend once had a dog that just couldn't be contained when kids jumped into the swimming pool because he had to jump in and save them. Well, that's what she told me. He sounds just like he's trying to keep your son from being hurt or hurting himself.

Answer 9

it sounds like it's being protective.. if it was jealous, or meant to harm him, it would have.. in my opinion. Our dog does the same thing if we get wrestling, he absolutely "freaks" out, barking, and running in circles until we stop... but he loves to be wrestled with, so youd think he understood it was a game.. be thankful he loves your son just like one of his own ! =)

Answer 10

sounds like being protective and the dogs herding instincts are kicking in on the swing.

Answer 11

I would say she is acting on her herding instincts while your child is on the swing, as far a when you wrestle with them the dog may be in fear for you. My dog will actually bite my husbands ankles if she sees us wrestling together.