[alayahsmom]

I recently purchased a GSD puppy and he is 8 1/2 weeks old... He growls sometimes at my 3 year old daughter and I was wandering how I teach him that it is unacceptable... I know he is just a puppy and isn't doing it to be mean but I want to teach him while he is little that this behavior is wrong... Any advice on how to raise them around small children would be helpful... I do teach her as well to respect him and not be mean or scream at him... She has actually beeen doing great with him but he seems to be a little intolerant... thanks guys!!!

 

[Samba]

What is it that he seems intolerant of?

 

[ZAYDA]

I never heard of an 8 week old puppy growling at someone before for no reason .

 

[Deuce]

I never heard of an 8 week old puppy growling at someone before for no reason .

Agreed. My 18 week old growls at my 4 year old son from time to time but only when my son won't leave him alone while he's chewing on a bone or he grabs the puppy around the neck and squeezes LOL.

 

[Stosh]

The only growling I've heard from an 8 wk old pup is a play growl- but then I don't have a 3 yr old

 

[KZoppa]

i have a 3 year old and an 18 month old. Shasta is recently our 6 month old pup and the only growling she's ever done was at our other dogs while playing. Best i can suggest is tether the pup to you and correct when she growls at your child. I havent had this problem with our pup. Our adult male was unsure of kids and would growl but nothing more and now he plays with them so i really have nothing else for you. It could just be a play growl but you're right it should be corrected.

 

[Samba]

Any interaction between a three yo and my baby puppy would be highly controlled and ver hands on managed by me. This is to be sure the pup never has a reason be upset or anything to be intolerant of.

 

[alayahsmom]

He only growls at her when he is laying down resting... She doesn't bother him just pets and hugs him gently... And of course I watch over their interactions... I would never leave my child alone with a dog even if it is just a puppy... I work with them everyday trying to get them used to each others behaviors... I make sure that she knows how to treat him and act around him... he plays with her really good but when he is laying down he doesn't like her around... thanks for the advice!!!

 

[Zoeys mom]

Maybe he's a sleepy puppy and wants a quiet nap? Honestly though if your daughter isn't being overly obnoxious and bothersome it would worry me that a pup that young is growling. Most dogs retreat away when they've had enough and do not not growl unless cornered. I would crate him when he wants a puppy nap so he knows he can rest, and watch them close- he shouldn't be growling in a real sense this young.

 

[Samba]

Perhaps he could be in his crate when he wants to rest. It important that a young pup have a safe haven to be in away from children.

 

[KZoppa]

Maybe he's a sleepy puppy and wants a quiet nap? Honestly though if your daughter isn't being overly obnoxious and bothersome it would worry me that a pup that young is growling. Most dogs retreat away when they've had enough and do not not growl unless cornered. I would crate him when he wants a puppy nap so he knows he can rest, and watch them close- he shouldn't be growling in a real sense this young.

agreed. should be crated when he wants a nap but also the growling shouldnt be acceptable anyway.

 

[alayahsmom]

tHANKS

 

[alayahsmom]

Thanks guys... I am going to try the crate today and see how he does... he didn't growl at her at all yesterday so maybe he was just playing... Either way I want to try the crate because I want him to be peaceful when he wants left alone...

 

[ZAYDA]

He only growls at her when he is laying down resting... She doesn't bother him just pets and hugs him gently... And of course I watch over their interactions... I would never leave my child alone with a dog even if it is just a puppy... I work with them everyday trying to get them used to each others behaviors... I make sure that she knows how to treat him and act around him... he plays with her really good but when he is laying down he doesn't like her around... thanks for the advice!!!

OK, Now your talking.... I had a puppy for a short time until I could find her a good home and she use to growl when someone would mess with her when she was tired. I was a bit concerned as to where this might lead but she is 5 years old and my brother ended up taking her and she doesn't have a bad bone in her body. It just may of been her way of talking to us but it never turned into anything more. Of course it's up to us to keep an eye on all situations but I really wouldn't worry about it.

 

[BlackPuppy]

There's a drawback to correcting a dog for growling. The growl is the warning before the bite. If you eliminate the growl, you get the bites that seem to come out of nowhere.

The only suggestion I have is to lead the puppy to his crate if he's getting grumpy and teach him if he wants to be alone and sleep, that his crate is the place to be.

 

[ZAYDA]

There's a drawback to correcting a dog for growling. The growl is the warning before the bite. If you eliminate the growl, you get the bites that seem to come out of nowhere.

The only suggestion I have is to lead the puppy to his crate if he's getting grumpy and teach him if he wants to be alone and sleep, that his crate is the place to be.

For the most part you always leave a sleeping puppy alone , heck we need a break in the action to right. We use to pick up our puppy and she would growl and it was kinda funny cuz we never saw this before but I WOULD NOT back off from the puppy and let her think her little growl was going to scare me. I am sure there is no nipping or bearing of the teeth. This puppy is not showing any signs of aggression IMO. I don't feel you have a future problem on your hand and I would treat her as you would any puppy. Granted I wouldn't be saying this if I hadn't lived through the same thing.

 

[alayahsmom]

Thank you... We took him to Petsmart today and he growled and run after another little boy that was running around at him... He did it in front of the dog trainer there and she said it was his way of showing interest in playing and it wasn't to be aggressive... It scared me and I made him stop but she said it was just a play growl not to worry... We are gonna enroll him into classes to help him with social skills with people and other puppies... But he plays great with her so as of right now I don't see any reason to worry... Although I am going to introduce him to a crate and see if that helps... Thanks everyone!!!!

 

[ahazra]

Thank you... We took him to Petsmart today and he growled and run after another little boy that was running around at him... He did it in front of the dog trainer there and she said it was his way of showing interest in playing and it wasn't to be aggressive... It scared me and I made him stop but she said it was just a play growl not to worry... We are gonna enroll him into classes to help him with social skills with people and other puppies... But he plays great with her so as of right now I don't see any reason to worry... Although I am going to introduce him to a crate and see if that helps... Thanks everyone!!!!

Let us know if the situation is improving. I've a 10 week old puppy and 2 yr old kid as well. Bottom line we never ever leave the two together without adult supervision within 10 feet of them.