Can good adult dogs, become aggressive without provocation?

Question

My friend had a 2yr old female mini austrailian shepherd. she is a very loving dog. I agreed to adopt her because her mama was not able to have pets where she was moving to. After two days, Leila was growling at my 1yr old daughter. My child had been trying to get the dog to play with her, and Leila was just avoiding the baby. running from her. I thought she might warm up to her, but today i caught her growling at my child. Is it normal for a "good loving" dog to become aggressive towards toddlers? She is utd on all her shots, she is spayed. . . I dont know what to think. She is so affectionate with me, and my friends. Just not my 1yr old toddler. What do I do? Find her a new home? HELP!!!

Answer 1

If the dog is not accustomed to kids, then your daughter is a strange thing she is not too comfortable with.

Keep a close eye on your daughter, as often times youngsters will harm a dog unintentionally or otherwise antagonate the dog without knowing it.  Have your daughter sit on the floor, and walk the dog up to her.  If the dog shows any signs of aggression, back off.  

Give them time, and make sure the dog and your daughter are never in the same room together without adult supervision.  You must make sure your daughter is not scaring, chasing, or in any way harming the dog, and at the same time make sure your daughter is safe from any reaction of the dog.

Answer 2

The dog came from a BYB or puppy mill, so there's no telling what kind of bad genetics are in there as far as temperament.  

There's also no telling what happened to the dog in the past as far as kids.  

She sounds like she's scared of your toddler, so you need to be extra adamant about supervising them at all times.

The dog also needs to get into training with you so that you know what to do when she acts like this and so she learns how to behave.  

GL to both of you and thank you for rescuing this poor dog.  : )

Added: lol.

Answer 3

some dogs are very loving and good.. but just don't' handle toddlers/little kids at all.

make sure you get the dog checked out; dogs can become very aggressive if they are hurting at all.

if the behavior continues, i'm sorry but it may be best to find the dog a good home that doesn't have little kids.

i however think it is ok for a dog to SOMETIMES growl at a person, for instance if they are hurting them.  as your toddler grows up make sure you teach her "no pulling dogs hair or ears or tail...." as this could provoke the dog.  but if you're worried or the dog does anything aggressive (or more threatening growl) you'll want to find the dog a more suitable home!!

Answer 4

sounds like a matter of socialization



i dont have any experience in socializing adult dogs b/c i have always owned all my pets from as early as i could obtain them.

i think you should at least try to socialize her though, but under strict supervision with your child.

Answer 5

Not all dogs are naturally good with kids, ESPECIALLY if they haven't grown up around kids.  It takes a lot of patience and tolerance from a dog to put up with a toddler, and this dog might not have it.  It really doesn't matter how loving she is with you or your friends -- she's NOT with children.  Ask yourself which one is more important to you.  Personally, if it were my child I wouldn't risk it.

Answer 6

Well it could be that the dog was not socialized with children there are a lot of dogs out there that love adults but do not really care for children. I would teach your child to leave the dog alone. It can be done. Don't let your daughter jump on her or pull her ears etc.

I would also never leave the dog and child alone together unsupervised or at all. Any dog is capable of biting anytime no matter if they have been sweet there wholes lifes or not.

As far as what you should do I am not sure If you feel like she needs a to go to a new home then maybe it would be best if she did especially so the child doesn't get injured.  

Answer 7

This dog is in completely new surroundings, she has no idea who you, your daughter, or anyone else in that household is. Children are strange to her, there is a very high chance that she's never even seen a child before.

You can't leave the dog and child alone together for any length of time. The dog needs to be left alone to adjust, if you force the child and dog together, you may as well pack your bags for the hospital.

Start with slow socialization. When you pet the dog, have the child with you. When she walks past the baby, give her a treat. She should associate the child with good things (ie: treats, pets, love, etc).

If all else fails, take her to a behaviorist and have them evaluate her and see what the correct course of action is to take to correct this behavior.  

Answer 8

Your child does not know dog language,  The dog is uncomfortable with the child's attentions and is trying to tell her by running away that she does not want to play.  When the child insists by continuing the dog's next step is growling.  This is normal dog language and is not aggressive.  She is telling your daughter to "back off".  The next step your dog will take will be to snap. Then nip.  This is what dogs do to puppies that annoy them.  Your child is unknowingly provoking the dog by insisting to play.  She is one year old and does not know any better.  

You  would have been better off testing the dog with children before you got her.  

What to do now?  Do not let the child and dog be together unattended.  When the dog walks away.  try to teach your child to let it go.  If that is possible with a toddler.  It has only been a couple of days. If the dog is not pushed she may warm up to your daughter.  If not it would be much safer for all concerned to find her a good home with older children.

Good luck  

Answer 9

For now, supervise all their play sessions. Dogs may get agitated with the quick movements and loud noises that children make and sometimes they may get spooked by these things. It is best that you be there with your daughter sitting on your lap and call the dog to you. Treat her well and praise her when she comes. Then just let your dog smell and sit near the both of you. This gets her accustomed to the scent of your daughter, and gets her comfortable with just resting next to your daughter.

If your dog behaves, treat her and praise her. Do not force her to be there, if she wants to leave she is free to do so, but she misses out on the food. After a while you can call her back and treat her. Just keep repeating until she is comfortable with this.

Once this works, you can hold your daughter's hand and show her how to pet the dog. It is best to pet in the chest area because petting from above can sometimes be seen as a threat by dogs. Touch, and treat, and keep repeating.

Keep sessions short and fun and always end on a positive note. Make sure never to leave your daughter alone with the dog and make sure not to let your daughter chase or corner the dog. Always call the dog to come to her, not the other way around.

Also consider getting a positive reinforcement professional trainer to come over and help you.  

Answer 10

no

Answer 11

If I took in a adult or young adult dog, I would definately do some social testing prior to bringing the dog into my home.  I have 3 children, the younges of which is 5.  If I did bring a dog into my home and it was acting aggressively toward my children, I hate to say it, but the dog would have to be rehomed.  I love dogs, but I love my kids more.

This is a main reason that we decided on a puppy instead of a older dog...I wanted a dog that grew up with kids being all touchy-feeling like kids will be.  Hopefully, Soda, our Collie pup, does not ever become growly or aggressive toward children.

Answer 12

What do you mean "with out provocation"?

This dog has been pushed to its limit!

You are acting as clueless as the one year old.

It has given natural and gentle clues that the toddlers behavior is not something that it wants to deal with.

First it tried to move away - but you were dense enough to not help her get some space from the kid.

If the gentle won't work the dog has to up the clues and the growling is the next level of warning.  If you ignore this the and don't get the dog some distance from having the kid always trying to play (which probably means having its fur pulled on etc.) then the next level will be teeth.  

At that point you will blame the dog - when she as acted in the only way she can be trying to avoid a situation and then giving a warning.

Yes either place the dog - away from your child and with some people with some dog sense  

or get smart and keep them separated except when supervising them has 110% of your attention, and teach your kid how to behave around a dog.

Answer 13

The dog is obviously frightened of your child. A very young child does not understand dogs and she may think that he is a toy. The dog is NOT AGGRESSIVE, it has just left its home and has come to live with you. The dog will be depressed and confused and now you are expecting her to play with your baby and enjoy this. A baby will be rough and possibly pull the dogs ears and the dog is protesting my simply growling. I am not surprised that the dog growls.

My grandchildren have always played with my dogs, however I am with them and I am in charge of the games. When the children are young, they are given treats for the dogs to catch. They stand by my side and tell them to "come" and the dog gets a treat. The children mix the dog food, add supplements and they are allowed to put the food down for the dogs, they tell the dogs to sit and then give the dogs permission to eat. I could go on forever as to how I allow my grandchildren to be with my dogs. We go out for walks, the dogs are told to sit and the kids throw a ball and then they tell my dogs to get the ball.However just allowing a baby to play with a child is not on. The play must be constructive and supervised. Let the dog settle in and then allow supervised and cotrolled play.  

Answer 14

She has a reason. She does not like how your child moves,a baby moves different than an adult there movements are kind of choppy it scares some dogs.You need to put a leash on her and correct her every time she does this.If you do not feel safe with the time and effort this will take then re home her.Tilks Mom