Not friendly to children
 

Zoey is 9 months old, and is very friendly to adults, but not towards children. A week ago when I was walking her a family with 2 children walked by (about 3 or 4 years). The family seemed interested in zoey and the kids asked to pet her. I warned that zoey might jump up on them, but I didn't expect any rude behavior from her. When the girl when to pet zoey, she jumped up on her in a friendly (but obnoxious) way. The girl kind of screamed (not in a scared way) and I pulled zoey off and told her no. When I did that zoey made a low growling noise and pulled to the girl in a non friendly way. I was freaked out. The dad pulled the girl away and told her not to scream like that. He wasn't mad about zoeys behavior at all, but i was completely shocked. How do I teach her to respect kids? It's hard to socialize her because I don't want to ask people if I can use their kids to socialize my unfriendly dog...


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you know your dog jumps on people. why do you let it
happen? find a trainer. a trainer can help you with the jumping
and the aggression?

No offence intended, but others that read this Post need to know: That this socialization problem is best tackled at three months old not nine.. Now it is going to be a little harder.

First of all, I would put some kind of muzzle on your dog and get them used to it, so your pup does not associate it with children, and then work on the not jumping up on people and children... That is a week or two at most, maybe only a few days, like a few outings. Then once the pup is used to a muzzle and will not jump up, I would take your dog to socialization locations LOADED with children. I mean like playgrounds, even a school, and teach your pup that children are FUN and a source of affection and petting.

You are going to have to do that a dozen times, and then maybe once a month for a while.. There is NEVER a reason or excuse for a dog as large as these to show any kind of aggression towards children or jump up on them. It will take a little work, but you can teach your dog that children are just fun and tail wagging stuff. After you are confident your dog looks forward to these visits, in a few months of only positive feedback the muzzle can be reduced to a muzzle strap.. In a year when you are confident, the dog can go natural, but the muzzle protection is for the security of the children...

I have only raised three GSDs, going on four, and three children myself and their friends with my dogs... But the children thing is pretty easy if you work at it.. And this training will give you peace of mind..... I have scars on both legs from a Shepherd, when as a kid I took a short cut and strayed between the trailer and car where I did not see him chained up... Defensive protection should not be a reaction with children, but now that you puppy is this old you are going to have to work on it carefully..

I hope this is a help, and welcome any Trainers to jump in here and tread all over me with their professional opinion...

Kind regards, lone Ranger

The psychology of the event was that when you pulled your dog away you made it seem that kids are a threat, via your upset "energy". she tried telling the kid to get out or else. Bring her around lots of kids and dont handle her, use trust or a muzzle.

I would say first deal with the jumping up on adults.

IMO There is no rush in socialising a dog with children unless the dog grew up with children or you have children in the house.

The problem with children is they are unpredictable and not generally good with dogs. They scream and run around and ack like the dog is a teddy bear.

Better to ask children not to rub the dog in the street unless you have a really good dog used to children. Any negative meetings will make it harder.

When introducing a child to a dog make sure it is calm and you have some treats so you can ask the dog to sit and relax and you and the child can give some treats to the dog. It is better with older children and in a relaxed enviroment not on the street with so many distractions.

A dog should be able to differ between that. Even a younger dog.

Has your dog ever been around children when she was younger? I agree that it might be harder now to socialize her, but it can be done. Do you have a park near by that you can sit on a bench away from the kids, but close enough for her to observe? I did this with mine when she was smaller to get her used to kids, bikes, skateboards, baseball games, ducks, etc. You can move closer once you feel that she is stable and its very important that you are able to read your dog. Kids will be kids and run right up to your dog and you have to be ready to protect your dog and the kid. Always put your dog in a sit, she should be in a sit before anyone is allowed to pet her, if she doesn't sit then she doesn't get pet. You can do this by treating her as she sits and someone comes up to pet her...the best way is to hold the treat in your hand and make her work for the treat, she will be so focused on the treat and you praising her that being pet and sitting will become a good thing and hopefully a routine. Good Luck.

I have come to love muzzles and you should too. Gives you a lot of peace of mind and it doesn't have to be a bad thing for a dog.

Here, check this out. Why I love muzzles

If you have an unstable dog, a muzzle is your best friend, no matter how much people will frown upon it.