Our dog is nipping and curling his lips at the kids - our youngest boy especially. Although I can understand the sentiments, it's a behavior we need to stop - now. The boy has already been bit twice (once to the neck, once to the face) with enough force to just break the skin. Not to be tolerated. So we need some good advice on how to handle the situation.
Our dog is just over 40 pounds and about a year old; he's a shepherd mix. He was evidently well trained, as he heels, sits, and submits like a champ. He has no trouble with giving us space as we prep his meals and remains passive and submissive as he eats. Beyond twice daily walks, we flirt him in the yard and set (and hold) to clear rules for everything: sit and be calm to leave the house or enter, wait until permitted to grab treat dropped on floor, wait until he is permitted to attack 'squirrel' on flirt pole and to surrender said squirrel when ordered.
We've applied the whole 'Cesar Millan' thing from day one, with the introduction to the home and with being consistent in his rules & training. He has shown much improvement, and we really haven't had much to complain about except for the occasional thing with the kids and a tendency to react to other dogs.
We called in a well-regarded local trainer who applies much the same approach to dog psychology and obedience to evaluate the dog and provide guidance on his dog reactivity and this uppity business with our kids. In his eyes, the dog tested very well and we were doing much as we needed to. For the reactivity, he suggested that we be more forceful and change our timing (I was acting much to early, the wife with insufficient determination). For the kids, he suggested keeping an eye on the dog when the kids were around and immediately reprimanding him whenever he got 'fixated' or curled his lips at them.
The advice on the dog reactivity was spot-on, and we've seen a huge improvement in his behavior during canine encounters. Still far from 100%, but piles away from $)*&#$)* dog!
The advice with the kids has been more mixed as yet. The interaction between our eldest (a girl) and poochie is much better than it was, though this has much to do with her approach and demeanor. But the interaction between dog and boy is still problematic.
Our boy (the human one) is 3.5 years old, has 'STUBBORN' stamped across his forehead, and often smells worse than the dog. He's big for his age, but the dog is nearly at eye level.
The boy clearly instigates much of the trouble - running madly about, screaming and babbling excitedly in biblical tongues, 360-degree head rotations, etc. etc. He knows how to command the attention of a room (and hotel security). Obviously, this doesn't always sit well with the dog. But most of the incidents - lip curl or nip - aren't as obvious and occur when the boy is being mostly calm and relaxed, if pushy.
In most cases, the dog finds a place to sit, either a favored spot or one by the wife or I. Maybe he's alone, watching us, or maybe we're petting him. In either case, when the kids near, he might fix his eyes on them. They get closer, and out comes the lip curling. In some cases, the 'zone of no entry' can be upwards of 10 feet. Other times he seems perfectly relaxed and content at zero feet, then changes his mind.
We reprimand the dog ("Shhht! No! Zap! / space invasion) the moment we think he's reacting (lip curl, fixation ...). The kids will usually yell "NO!" and wave their hands "no" at the dog, which might not be as helpful.
What else could we / should we be trying?
The boy is with me during the morning feed. He handles the food, stands by the food, and gives the dog the order to 'come' when I feel he's calmed enough to warrant his reward. (He keeps his eyes on us, not the food.) Dog listens, obeys, and won't react negatively to his presence. He even leads the dog on occasional walks and has walked him on a leash (I hold one leash, boy holds another but takes the lead).
From my inexperience, it appears to be a ‘space’ or ‘respect’ thing: the dog is sitting down, claiming some space or receiving affection, and a pack member he sees (?) as lower ranking is not properly minding his manners and must be 'set straight.'
So how do we turn this around?
Do we continue to wait and zap as intervention?
Do we force the dog out of his claimed space?
Do we force the kids off and out of the area (which I'd be afraid might just reinforce his behavior - "Hey! I won!)
Do we stand beside the child and psychologically compel the dog to move off, demonstrating solidarity with the child?
Do we send him back to the shelter, and there to wait for an uncertain fate?
Before we got the dog, this kind of a decision would have been very easy to make. Now it would seem like a divorce, and perhaps twice as traumatic. It is not something we wish to contemplate, but something must be done. The boy comes first, and the dog, however wonderful he may be, comes last among men.
Our dog is just over 40 pounds and about a year old; he's a shepherd mix. He was evidently well trained, as he heels, sits, and submits like a champ. He has no trouble with giving us space as we prep his meals and remains passive and submissive as he eats. Beyond twice daily walks, we flirt him in the yard and set (and hold) to clear rules for everything: sit and be calm to leave the house or enter, wait until permitted to grab treat dropped on floor, wait until he is permitted to attack 'squirrel' on flirt pole and to surrender said squirrel when ordered.
We've applied the whole 'Cesar Millan' thing from day one, with the introduction to the home and with being consistent in his rules & training. He has shown much improvement, and we really haven't had much to complain about except for the occasional thing with the kids and a tendency to react to other dogs.
We called in a well-regarded local trainer who applies much the same approach to dog psychology and obedience to evaluate the dog and provide guidance on his dog reactivity and this uppity business with our kids. In his eyes, the dog tested very well and we were doing much as we needed to. For the reactivity, he suggested that we be more forceful and change our timing (I was acting much to early, the wife with insufficient determination). For the kids, he suggested keeping an eye on the dog when the kids were around and immediately reprimanding him whenever he got 'fixated' or curled his lips at them.
The advice on the dog reactivity was spot-on, and we've seen a huge improvement in his behavior during canine encounters. Still far from 100%, but piles away from $)*&#$)* dog!
The advice with the kids has been more mixed as yet. The interaction between our eldest (a girl) and poochie is much better than it was, though this has much to do with her approach and demeanor. But the interaction between dog and boy is still problematic.
Our boy (the human one) is 3.5 years old, has 'STUBBORN' stamped across his forehead, and often smells worse than the dog. He's big for his age, but the dog is nearly at eye level.
The boy clearly instigates much of the trouble - running madly about, screaming and babbling excitedly in biblical tongues, 360-degree head rotations, etc. etc. He knows how to command the attention of a room (and hotel security). Obviously, this doesn't always sit well with the dog. But most of the incidents - lip curl or nip - aren't as obvious and occur when the boy is being mostly calm and relaxed, if pushy.
In most cases, the dog finds a place to sit, either a favored spot or one by the wife or I. Maybe he's alone, watching us, or maybe we're petting him. In either case, when the kids near, he might fix his eyes on them. They get closer, and out comes the lip curling. In some cases, the 'zone of no entry' can be upwards of 10 feet. Other times he seems perfectly relaxed and content at zero feet, then changes his mind.
We reprimand the dog ("Shhht! No! Zap! / space invasion) the moment we think he's reacting (lip curl, fixation ...). The kids will usually yell "NO!" and wave their hands "no" at the dog, which might not be as helpful.
What else could we / should we be trying?
The boy is with me during the morning feed. He handles the food, stands by the food, and gives the dog the order to 'come' when I feel he's calmed enough to warrant his reward. (He keeps his eyes on us, not the food.) Dog listens, obeys, and won't react negatively to his presence. He even leads the dog on occasional walks and has walked him on a leash (I hold one leash, boy holds another but takes the lead).
From my inexperience, it appears to be a ‘space’ or ‘respect’ thing: the dog is sitting down, claiming some space or receiving affection, and a pack member he sees (?) as lower ranking is not properly minding his manners and must be 'set straight.'
So how do we turn this around?
Do we continue to wait and zap as intervention?
Do we force the dog out of his claimed space?
Do we force the kids off and out of the area (which I'd be afraid might just reinforce his behavior - "Hey! I won!)
Do we stand beside the child and psychologically compel the dog to move off, demonstrating solidarity with the child?
Do we send him back to the shelter, and there to wait for an uncertain fate?
Before we got the dog, this kind of a decision would have been very easy to make. Now it would seem like a divorce, and perhaps twice as traumatic. It is not something we wish to contemplate, but something must be done. The boy comes first, and the dog, however wonderful he may be, comes last among men.
