NEITHER of us is qualified! But I'm not pretending to be.


My point exactly!!

OP, the best advice is to get your vet to give the dog a thorough check over to rule out any medical condition that may cause your dog to growl. If your vet rules out any medical cause, ask him to refer you to an APBC qualified behaviourist. If your dog is insured, you may be able to claim back for this, if your vet refers you.

There are some simple things you can do in the meantime safely. Your dog must always associate your daughter with positive things, ie when your daughter comes in from school, she could immediately give your dog a treat. Your daughter could feed your dog and maybe try some basic clicker training with him. This should create a respectful bond between your dog and your daughter that can hopefully grow. All of this should be supervised of course, and you should only go at the dog's pace, if he shows any signs of being uncomfortable, then stop.

Growling isn't a bad thing, quite the opposite. He is warning your daughter to stop doing something because it makes him feel uncomfortable. Growling doesn't need to turn into a bite, if you heed the warning.

Good luck, and I hope everything turns out well for your family and the dog, who must be a little stressed and confused at all the changes that have gone on in his life.

stud u like - I'm afraid I don't agree with your posts either for the reasons stressmonkey outlined. The study of animal behaviour cannot be likened to human psychology no more than it can be likened to carpentry!

True when a child is involved there is no such thing as a quick fix.
If the dog did not live with children prior the OP taking him on, he should never have been rehomed with an 8 year old. Just being 'fine' with children is not used to being good and living with children on a daily basis.
The old owner may threat, that if she takes the dog back it will be destroyed is emotional blackmail. She has basically dumped the dog on the OP and wants nothing to do with it any further, so forget her. OP try to retrain if you can with the guidance of a profesional trainer but it may have to lead to you finding him a more suitable home I'm afraid.

I agree with Stressmonkey's & ejm's sensible advice. You can't take chances with your child but please don't do anything to punish the dog if it growls. Growling is a warning that whatever your daughter is doing is worrying your dog.

I suspect that the growling when the dog is on the sofa is because being on the sofa is particularly important to the dog ~ it is a highly-prized comfortable bed & the dog is worried that he will be turfed off. I also suspect that this poor dog has been put through variations of the old dominance-reduction programmes, e.g. you must be the leader of the pack, don't let the dog on the furniture or go through doors before you, eat before you feed your dog etc etc. These are outdated, unscientific & completely wrong interpretations of dog behaviour & putting dogs through these sort of training programmes very often leads to exactly the sort of problems that you are describing.

As the others have said, ask your vet to refer you to a properly qualified canine behaviourist. If the behaviourist mentions anything about being the "alpha", leader of the pack or even suggests that the dog is being dominant, turf them out & go to another behaviourist.

It does make you wonder why such a young dog is now on its third home!! I wish you all the best with sorting this out.

A few years ago, we had a lovely Cocker spaniel. He loved everyone. Then one day, at a family gathering, my partners young nephew, who was about 3 years old I think, decided he didn't like dogs. He kicked our pup very hard in the ribs, and made him scream. After that, for his entire nearly 15 years, he hated kids. Never bit one, but would give them a very wide berth, and if one tried to molest him, he would also growl.

I would guess that some child has done something similar to your poor dog. Hope you can get to the route of the problem and hopefully sort it.

An excellent post as usual.

My Lucy growled at my grand daughter a few weeks ago when she went to cuddle her, I was quite taken aback as she has never growled before. I spoke to my vet friend who said it was probably because she had just come out of season and was going through a phantom pregnancy.

I took her to the VETS just to check her out, and surprisingly she had a wobbly baby tooth that for some reason hadnt come out properly, so its been sorted and that is probably why she growled as my grand daughter had her head in her lap and the pressure was on her mussel.

YES you have to careful with children BUT it can be contained.

Ben was a problem with children. When I got him he had growled quite a few times at his owners little boy who was 2 at the time and was constantly pulling bens tail which was very short and painful.

I took him on at the time as I didnt have younger children, but when the grandchildren came along I made sure that ben was never left alone with them. We only ever had 2 times he growled and once the children got off the floor he was fine and we had him for 16.6 years.

IF your dog is allowed on the top of the settee its a dangerous position ACCORDING TO A BEHAVIORIST I spoke to many years ago, as it gives the dog height and dominance. I never allow my dogs to sit on the top of the settee whether or not that was the case LOL, it did sound to me good and sound advice.

Anyway I agree with ejm and wilhamina.

I would get your daughter to take the dog for a walk make it her job obviously going with you, but her in charge. Ben loved that with the grandkids.

Growling can be scary but its no different to us shouting and feeling irritable if we have a toothache or a bad day.

It needn't be the end of your relationship with your dog.

Heres a wee update, after many tears mainly mine and my daughters we are going to give jock another chance. I will be taking him to the vets next week to get him checked over and will be asking the vet of a dog behavourist in our area. We have also stopped him lying on the sofa. My daughter has been given the job of feeding him in the morning. She is also taking him on walks with me. We are also clearing out the understairs to make a wee den for him so if he is fed up and wants to be left alone he can go there. For the past two days he hasnt growled at her once, by no means am I saying the problem is sorted just that we are taking a step in the right direction. Thankyou for all the advice

Nothing that arming your daughter to the teeth with dog biscuits to win him over wont cure. Our sheepy didnt take to kindly to my wife at first until wife started to feed her. But then our sheepys of working stcok & they are the next step down from a wild animal! Must admit our sheepy does very well in coping with my 20 month old daughter who is obsessed with dogs.

Dogs are pack animals & its about him knowing his place in the pecking order/family hierarchy. Getting your girl to take him out & feed him is the way , dogs like being part of the team. Does your girl give him tit bits from the dinner table? Dogs always think with their stomachs & usualy twig that a feeding hand is a freindly hand.

I'm glad things are heading in the right direction cardbus, I have my fingers crossed for you that they continue that way

Best of luck to you

no she doesnt give him tit bits as he has a sensitive stomach which we found out just after getting him, however have told her when she comes in from school she is to give him one of his treats.
We are also trying a let him approach you and not you approach him and that helps, he also loves coming up with me to wake her up in the morning (dont think the neighbours appreciate it though)

thankyou, just want to give this wee bugger a chance as it seems everyone else gives up on him. Apart from the growling hes a brilliant dog, he doesnt chew up stuff, he is excellent on walks and hes just a cutie

That is great news . You will get there in the end. good luck.

http://tinypic.com/r/3038umc/5

Awww, he's looks a sweetie
Well done for not giving up on him and trying your best to improve the situation. I think you have been given some great ideas and hopefully all your efforts will pay off and Jock will reward you with a lifetimes loyal love.

he is believe me we aint being unrealistic there is still a chance we will have to rehome him, but if that occurs we know we tried our hardest

Trying our hardest is the best we can ask of ourselves. I'm so pleased that you have taken this route. It isn't the easiest but by far the most rewarding. Owning dogs like Jock is never easy, it can be very challenging, but he can teach you lots. You might never 'cure' him, but you should be able to manage him, with some professional help and advice. You will most probably have setbacks, if you expect them, they won't be so much of a shock, but be patient and consistent and I'm sure, you, your daughter, Jock and the rest of the family will all be able to cohabit happily.

I wish you the very best of luck and Jock.............keep behaving yourself!

I cant behave meself its just not in me genes

I just want to give him the best chance, the wee bugger

Well done cardbus, I hope it all works out I am sure it will as long as you stick to your new routine. All the best.