[p3lothar]

Hello,
We've had our GSD Lucy for 6 months, she is a rescue about 18-24 months. She fit right into the family and is very loving. My 3 year old grandson and Lucy are great friends, they play well and cuddle a lot. Yesterday Lucy was on the couch and my grandson was crawling by her, he popped up and said boo. She growled and snapped at him leaving a mark on his face (no blood). We dont know where to go from here, as you can imagine my thoughts range from this was a one time thing to I need to put her down. I know this is a greater discussion to have than posting on a thread. If someone with experience can give contact information I would love an opportunity to pick your brain on a path forward. It would break my heart to put her down, or keep her seperated from the kids. Right now we dont trust her.

Thanks in advance
Lothar Eckardt

 

[ctu24]

Family Paws might have some free resources that can help you. They also have a hotline you can call. They specialize in dog-baby/toddler/kid dynamics. They’re a great organization but unfortunately a lot of their services are paid.

About Family Paws - Family Paws Parent Education

www.familypaws.com

What is Dog Aware? - Family Paws Parent Education

What does it mean to be Dog Aware? Great question! Dog Aware Skills are a combination of your experience and knowledge about dogs – they allow you to observe and be curious about how your dog is feeling and responding in a variety of situations. Understanding your dog enables you to intervene...

www.familypaws.com

To me the dog’s behavior is more of a warning to you to be more cautious with its interactions with children, to learn how to read canine body language and figure out some strategies so the dog has its space and isn’t put in situations where it feels pressured or uncomfortable with children.

 

[drparker151]

More info needed but it was a warning and typical dog to dog type behavior. Did your dog have a bone or toy at the time? Is that spot on the couch Their spot? More supervision and no more sneak attacks.

 

[Sunsilver]

Eye to eye contact can be seen as a threat to a dog: dogs staring at each other, and holding a rigid posture is a prelude to a fight. I think this is the best explanation of what happened. But what happened was just a warning, and not an all out attack, or there would have been blood and maybe stitches.

It could also be that the toddler startled the dog, and it lashed out in fear.

Are you familiar with dog body language? This is a very good video and website: Stop the 77 - The Family Dog

 

[wolfy dog]

Supervise toddlers. Forego the cuddling from now on. Everyone was lucky here. Give the dog a crate to be off limits to kids any time. The couch is her spot to guard.

 

[Pawsed]

My first thought is to get her off the couch. She has now lost the privilege to be on the furniture and should not be allowed back on. Give her a nice comfy bed on the floor and let that be her place where she can relax and not be bothered.

 

[LuvShepherds]

My dogs are never loose around babies or toddlers, and even some preschoolers, even my own dogs who were not aggressive at the time I had my own young children. Eventually your grandson will be older and it will be less likely to happen

 

[wolfy dog]

We have four grandkids under 4 years old. They visit a few times a year. We have plenty of x-pen gates up in the living room at these times to keep them separated but still being able to see everyone, incl. the kids. Also plenty of time in the outdoor kennel and exercise without the little ones around. Even at night I crate them locked up and shielded with an x pen as well in case one of the kids gets up without me being able to supervise. They can easily stick their hands in the crate and who knows what the dogs will do. All of this while Deja has always been calm and neutral. Bo, is touch sensitive and avoids the kids. I know their jaws can crush a turkey neck.....

 

[ksotto333]

It would be a definite off the furniture for me. Very limited and controlled contact with little ones.

 

[WNGD]

No to furniture always from me.
But up the training for the 3 year old, they (you) are as responsible for this unfortunately.

I have two granddaughters, almost 3 and 1 month. I trust both my dogs unreservedly with them, zero questions in my mind, yes even around food, toys, beds etc. But we train the kids as much or more than the dogs on correct behavior and never is there unsupervised interaction. If there was an issue, I'd be at fault.

Because this is a rescue, it complicates the issue and I would limit interaction at all without strict supervision, limit it to pet and leave the dog alone and learn/watch dog language.

What a few are mssing here in your story is the child popped up "boo!" and startled the dog, a relative newcomer to the house and may not have been raised with children at all.

Dogs and kids absolutely go together, it's one of the fundamental joys of kid-dom.

 

[Mattie's Mom]

Don't allow her on the furniture. I adopted a sweet girl two weeks ago that was allowed on the furniture and the bed and I'm working to retrain her. She is too big and bossy to be on the furniture or the bed! When my children were young (all are adults now) I always had a crate and the rule was you don't bother the dog in the crate! You could substitute a for a bed for a crate if you need to. Dogs need a safe space away from little people. Also, train children to not bother a sleeping dog. My children knew not to go near a sleeping dog. If I asked them to let the dogs outside they would call the dog if they were asleep. Never touch a sleeping dog! That is the rule.

 

[Bentwings1]

Don't allow her on the furniture. I adopted a sweet girl two weeks ago that was allowed on the furniture and the bed and I'm working to retrain her. She is too big and bossy to be on the furniture or the bed! When my children were young (all are adults now) I always had a crate and the rule was you don't bother the dog in the crate! You could substitute a for a bed for a crate if you need to. Dogs need a safe space away from little people. Also, train children to not bother a sleeping dog. My children knew not to go near a sleeping dog. If I asked them to let the dogs outside they would call the dog if they were asleep. Never touch a sleeping dog! That is the rule.

I think good advice all around . I like have a safe place forvthe dog that is his nobody ever bothers him there ever . Ironically my two boy were quite young but went with my when training . I even practiced Schutzhund with them walking beside me they learned commands right with me however they were under my control at all times we had our own rules at the dog field never ever bother other dogs no running around screaming as kids can do. They met members of the club and learned to address them as Mr. Or mis. Always asked for help petting dogs never alone I taught them to look at dogs and notice what they were showing just as I was being taught I was taught more military style but taught kids much more gently kids were not allowed to play tug with dogs never played with protection equipment and dogs You probably think I was ridged parent but there were some really tough dogs and we were working on K 9 training So there was no fooling around at the dog field . Since gun fire was common all kids got gun saftey training there was no playing with training guns no touching them we had a gun range in the back of the field so we took kids back there and did gun saftey training and they got to shoot .22 cal at targets so it took the curiosity out of it .