Not Heating Dog question

Dave DeFord_2

I once got a dog for this very reason - it snapped at its former owner's 1 year old daughter. She was a good dog if you knew her but could be a problem aroung strangers. The only person she ever bit was my stepfather who did not listen to me when I told him how to approach the dog. I also never had a problem with her around my toddler grandchildren - in fact she liked them and they liked her. I also knew a german shepard once that would be edgy and growl around young children (toddlers) and would then leave the immediate area and not bother the kids. I'm tell these two stories to let you know that just because a dog is edgy or growling around children does not make a nip or bite emminent.

Has your dog just been edgy and growling around your daughter or has it been agressive. If I saw aggressiveness I would get rid of the dog. If the dog is simply growling and then leaving I might give the dog the benefit of the doubt. Growling is a dogs way of communicating and it may be trying to tell you or your daughter something. I would also look at the dogs body language around the your daughter. If the growling occurs when your daughter pulls the dogs hair or tail I would say that is normal. If it comes around growling, bearing its teeth and trying to intimidate your daughter that is a whole different issue. If the dogs tail is up when this occurs that is a sign of dominance and is likely a sign of trouble. If the tail is down that is a sign of submissiveness and good. As you well know the decision is yours alone and you must err on the side of caution. You know your dog better than anyone else - if there has been a problem in the past I think the decision is made - the dog must go. If the dog has not been a problem in the past you've got a tough decision to make. Whatever you do you must protect your daughter from serious harm at all costs.

My heart goes out to you on this one. Maybe you could find a family friend or neighbor without young children that could take the dog so the older kids could still see it. I can tell by your post that this is hard for you. Best of luck and whatever you do don't beat yourself up if you give the dog away.

Rookie

Have a dog

I know this not heating related, but I'm positive I will get some constructive feedback on this situation.Border Collie mix breed about 2 1/2 years, since that time we brought baby Caroline into the world. Now on occasion, the dog has growled, but never snapped, but has been edgy on occasion around the baby, now 18 months. Caroline is never left alone with the dog, never, she does like to give the dog kisses, and sometimes may pull her hair, nothing bad,but this growling stuff has me concerned. I'm ready to give the dog away, but the other girls 13, and 11 will be bummed, but what else could I do? I know a lot of you are dog people that's why I'm asking.Thoughts.Thanks for listening.

Plumdog_2

bad dog

get rid of it or keep it away from the baby. Like totally away at all times.

Brad White_32

Humane Society

The dog is an animal, runs on instinct simple as that.

This includes competing for position in the pack, food, attention, you name it. You cannot reason with it.

Your precious daughter is no different than another dog to your Border Collie but your daughter cannot defend herself and has no clue of the potential.

I suggest giving the dog up for adoption. Ticking time bomb and if anything happened to Caroline, I know you could not live with that. Keep the dog away as Plumdog says. Now.

Tony_23

Border Collies

Are known for not being good with real small children, so are Shelties and Aussies.

Too wound and in control of everything around them.

We have Great Pyrenees (2) that let our 3 yr old grandson lay on them w/o objection and let NO ONE unknown near him

BigRed

dog

get rid of the dog. I had a dog for three years and then one day it bit my wife in the face then tried to kill me. I fought it off with a chair that I broke over his back. This was my dog everyday next to me and my wife. He bit me five times and I ended up in the hosp. I still dont under stand what happened. But i will never trust a dog again. I had dogs growing up with never a problem. Now I have two daughters and this seems like it should be an easy decsicion it would be for me. Good Luck. If you think about it pets are always a sad story, when do you outlive you pet?

DanHolohan

Jim,

get rid of the dog. Kids come first.

thfurnitureguy_4

Most of the female dogs I have had are great around small children. If you have one that nips and growls around a baby rather than a lick in the face you may have a problem. We had a male that was showing agression to me and would not let me near my wife. With adults you can try dominance training to establish the pecking order in the pack, so to speek, With children this could be a bad idea. Young kids do dumb stuff and are right at bite leavel. Find an adult home for the dog. My neighbor who has no kids just adopted his brothers dog for the same reason. A great dog just not good around small children. Best luck

eric_2

No brainer

Grew up on a farm with dogs, love um to death. Unfortunately they are just animals with all their instincts. Get rid of the dog now to a good home. The alternative is living with the decision if something does happen and ending up putting the dog down. Just the fact that you are posing the question here tells me you wouldn't forgive yourself if anything did happen. Try to find it a good home. Instinct doesn't = bad dog. Good luck, it's a tough call to make.

Wayne M. Lawrence

CUJO

GET RID OF THE DOG!!! If anything happens to your children or wife you will never forgive yourself. My wife at the time, (now my ex) talked me into adopting a dog like you have now. After trying for a few months to figure out this very unpredictable canine, that went after my daughter, my wife, my mother in law-(that was ok though!) and myself we came to desision to bring it to a no kill shelter. Do it before someone gets injured.

Rookie

Dog

Hey guys thanks for all the replies, even though it wasn't heating related, I knew I would get some great advice.Thanks again.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

mark smith

i have 3 dogs ..

but ...

i reccommend ..

the .357 Vet ...

Dave_4

find the dog a good home and keep it far from your little one don't take a chance

good luck

adayton_2

Run, Don't walk

> Hey guys thanks for all the replies, even though

> it wasn't heating related, I knew I would get

> some great advice.Thanks again.

>

> _A

> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

> 374&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

> "Find A Professional"_/A_

adayton_2

Run, Don't walk

> Hey guys thanks for all the replies, even though

> it wasn't heating related, I knew I would get

> some great advice.Thanks again.

>

> _A

> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

> 374&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

> "Find A Professional"_/A_

adayton_2

NOW

is the time to REMOVE the threat potential from your daughters existence. IMMEDIATELY place the dog at someone elses house in another Town, FAR, FAR AWAY...... Some other (adult) household may love and cherish this pet for many many wonderfull years. YOU, your Wife and ALL your children will be much happier with their faces and other body parts INTACT from fido's erratic behavior (and sharp canine inscisors). Share with them all the acquisition of a more demurely docile more evenly demeanored pet (Mountain Lion comes to mind :-) ).

PS: How come I do not hear you scurrying out the door with fido in tow???????

All the best to you and yours,

Alfred