Advice needed, dog randomly growling at baby.

[violet13]

Hi ladies
This advice is fairly urgent our husky mix began randomly growling at our son Tuesday today she escalated between a baby gate I may add to barking/air snapping so we've booked her in for a medical check up but I don't know why she began doing this he has never hurt her we keep them seperate but do allow them to meet and see each other but she's began doing this all of a sudden :/ what else can I do here? Telling her off will make it worse apparently so I'm confused I've had dogs my whole life but this is the first time it's happened xxx

 

[babylove2016]

Oh jesus, I'm sorry lovely. Do you think it could be ajealousy thing? Good shout on the check up, I reckon the vet will be able to shed some light on the situation and offer advice, but it must be very worrying for you.

 

[BunnyN]

It does sound like it could be a jealousy thing. People take different aproaches to that one but personally I would tell her off quickly and firmly for her to know its behaviour you dont aprove of. Is there anything in particular that seems to set her off?

 

[violet13]

Well the vet found no issues and offered to put her down there and then!! I rang a husky rescue the woman specialises in huskies and said to put her outside every time she does it and it'll show her about him being higher than her pack wise and she hasn't done it since we kicked her outside but I'm unwilling to risk it so no contact now until she learns thank you so much xxx

 

[GF91]

It really does sound like jealousy. Your son is above her in the pack, but your the leader so you must tell her off, firmly let her know this behaviour in unacceptable. Shutting her out will help, but don't just shut her out all the time as that might make her worse. My american bulldog gets very excited when people come round & can nip (only me strangely) so I start off by shutting him out, until he's calm & then let him in again, the minute he gets too excitable he goes out again. He's now got to a point that if certain reoccurring guests come round, he comes and says hello, then either takes himself straight off into the garden or into his bed.
I don't have a lot of experience with husky types- but my friends mum breeds husky's & Akitas, has done all her life, with 5 kids and then now her grandchildren. I could always ask her for advice for you if you like? Xxx

 

[violet13]

GF please that would really help, my husband has shut her out 3 times this morning already we've told her no firmly before putting her out xxxx

 

[GF91]

Not a prob, I'll call her now and update you later on? Xxx

 

[violet13]

Thank you very much Hun I really appreciate it xxx

 

[GF91]

I tried to PM you but it would only let me leave you a visitor message so I did that for now Hun xxx

 

[violet13]

Thank you very much Hun, how can I assert my dominance over her? If she any him she growls and rapidly licks him but if i go to move him she then begins to get quiet aggressive over it and I don't risk touching her incase she snaps at him she does obey voice
Commands I say out and make her leave

 

[Kholl]

Oh god, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I would not try even for a second to try to train her, I would get her out of the house ASAP. It's just not worth the risk to your baby. I love dogs so much and only would advise rehoming a dog in an absolute last resort or emergency situation... If my dog growled at my baby he would be gone immediately. I have heard too many horror stories to take a chance whatsoever.

Hugs- again I'm so sorry.

 

[GF91]

Thank you very much Hun, how can I assert my dominance over her? If she any him she growls and rapidly licks him but if i go to move him she then begins to get quiet aggressive over it and I don't risk touching her incase she snaps at him she does obey voice
Commands I say out and make her leave

Is this jealousy or protection? When she starts growling, is it because there is a dog closer to him? Is she growling at the baby, or at you, or another dog do you think? It's good that she obeys voice commands, so asking her to leave and her doing it shows that you are the leader of the pack.
If I was you, have a Google of dog trainers/ animal behaviourists in your area and seek advice from them. They will have a better and clearer understandment & judgement xxxxx

 

[violet13]

I know what's up with her now, she doesn't like the baby gate and wants to play she brought him get Kong twice and he threw it she brought it back. She's also got a upset tummy and is too warm so she's not being nasty she's just hot we set up the paddling pool for her she's been lying in it for half an hour she seems much calmer and happier xxx

 

[kumber]

Putting this on here for other members, as you know we've chatted about this Violet.

The pack theory has been proven to be wrong and dominance over a dog is proven to do nothing beyond instilling fear in the dog and making the dog more likely to snap.

 

[BunnyN]

I know people have different options on this one so I'm not trying to start a debate but my experience with dogs is that they are much calmer and more relaxed if they really feel you are in charge. It takes a weight of responsibility off their shoulders. The way I think of dominance doesnt have to do with fear, just showing you are confident and have authority. My parents have a couple of rescue dogs that came with issues and serious fears and this aproach worked wonders with them.

 

[kumber]

Dominance is different to authority.

 

[GF91]

Dominance is exerting authority.
If you allow any animal to feel like they are above you in authority/dominance then you will cause yourself a big problem. Our main concern is violet & her baby, she knows her dog better than anyone & im sure wouldn't put/keep her child in a dangerous situation. It's best that she seeks advice from someone fully qualified in this field to correct the situation appropriately. At the end of the day you can never fully trust any animal

 

[kumber]

Keeping a dog in a routine with clear boundaries and expectations is responsible dog ownership, there is no need for dominance. Jealousy is not a canine emotion, they don't have the ability to comprehend it. It's a human emotion that you cannot apply to dogs.

And in fact you can fully trust and animal to behave in a way appropriate to the situation they find themselves in. If they feel fearful or at risk then they will react. If they feel happy and settled they will behave accordingly. What you cannot trust is children alone with pets or owners that don't understand how their pets tick.

 

[BunnyN]

I think maybe a lot is just a difference in wording/terms used. I would say that excerting clear boundaries is showing dominance to a dog. Making a dog obey your rules and bounderies shows them you have authority over them. I would also say dogs get jealous but obviously they are different from humans and don't really have human emotions its just that we are trying to use human words to describe their behaviour so things can get a bit lost in specific words. I totally agree about it being important for a dog to feel happy and settled or they will be much more likely to react to situations. I think if a dog feels like it can rely on you to be in control it is much more likely to be happy and settled.

 

[violet13]

My dog knows the boundaries and knows she crossed a line. She's doing much better recently I think she's find it hard as he's crawling but also pulling and standing up on things (not her or the other dogs) so it's odd for her she's not sure what he is just yet. But she is being better behaved she knows he's only small and to be careful and so far she's been much better I've told her no and shown I am the authoritive figure and she is not but I don't do dominance rolls or anything I don't make her submit she does that on her own but she knows she doesn't have too xxx