Growling and lunging at my daughter

[kacy]

Thank you for all your responses. I am new on the pc and have only just found you all. Anyway, my 15 year old daughter is not frightened and up to now whilst I am there watching the situation she has coped with making the dog realise she is not happy. Our dog still uses this behaviour and like one of you said it is as though she singles her out as a playmate, but doesn't seem to give up. Anyway, what I have now been doing is putting her in the kitchen until she has calmed down. When she is really bad we put her in the crate and dn't fuss her and i think she knows she has done wrong. But the problem we are getting is that now my daughter is getting upset that with every one else she is different. We really are trying and you are right it sounds like we are back off to training class. Thank you for all your help. Can I just add that I would never put my daughter in a situation where the dog could harm her.

[MaddoxsMom]

Originally Posted by TrishB

As for your daughter, it sounds as if your puppy views her more as a playmate / littermate than as a more alpha pack member.

I was about to say the same thing, until i scrolled down and saw that Trish already did...i couldnt agree more...and i bet Trish's suggestion to have your daughter take her to classes will work wonders.

Good luck, and welcome to the forum. Im new too, and have found a wealth of information, and knowledgable people here more than willing to help, so take their advice!

Logan & Maddox

p.s. im editing at 12:02, you just posted your last response Kaci, and you mentioned that your daughter feels badly because the dog treats her differantly, well, it is almost a compliment. Your dog and daughter are at similar ages in their mentality, and point out to your daughter that the dog senses this. It is not the dogs way of trying to hurt her feelings, but the dogs way of finding a desirable play-mate. Im sure that if they go to classes together, the dog will bond with her stronger than anyother member of the family.

good luck

[Judi W]

Dogs do not sit in their crate or the kitchen reflecting on what they might have done wrong like a child sent to its room. Why wouldn't you "fuss" at her when she has gone after your daughter or anyone else for that matter? I'd do a whole lot more than fuss and she would know instantly that I was enraged at such behavior. As it is, she believes you approve and then she goes off to rest a bit. If you approve, you need to reflect upon how important this dog is. If you do not, then get honest with the dog and let her know in a manner that leaves no doubt.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by kacy

When she is really bad we put her in the crate and dn't fuss her and i think she knows she has done wrong.

In this you are completely wrong, kacy, because it's as Judi W said--"Dogs do not sit in their crate or the kitchen reflecting on what they might have done wrong like a child sent to its room."

This is because dogs' brains aren't like ours, dogs aren't remotely like ours in how they think. They don't think like us because they CAN'T think like we can because their brains aren't wired like ours.

Dogs DO NOT think about what happened yesterday, they don't think about what they'll do today, they don't contemplate what tomorrow will bring. They simply can't do this and to expect them to do so shows an uninformed opinion.

Your dog makes no connection between getting crated and her bad behavior--to her they're as simlair as French and German. Absolutely no connection.

Yesterday, you needed to have signed yourself and your dog up for obedience class. Your dog is the one in charge and this situation can't continue. To important things you will learn is how to correct a dog for wrong behavior and how to reward good behavior.

[kacy]

I rang the puppy class trainer and explained my plight. He only lives around the corner and he came straight round and witnessed the "strange behaviour " around my daughter. He says that the dog sees her as a playmate. There is no aggression in her, he says she is teasing to play. He has assured my daughter that the dog does not dislike her in any way. He has given us some tips and things to work on and we are so pleased that this situation can be corrected. Thank you to all who listenend and took the time to help us. We are now trying our hardest to make sure daughter is safe and puppy is happy.

[SABELLESMOM]

That's good to hear! Lucky you to find someone so close to help.

[Squeaky2004]

Great to hear, hopefully everything will go fine for you, your daughter and the dog! Good luck!

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by sherri

... Maybe the child shows intense fear. If so the dog is going to sense that and react.

A dog with the correct temperament, disposition, good nerves and proper conditioning, should not attack children, period. Not even if a child shows fear.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by kacy

I rang the puppy class trainer and explained my plight. He only lives around the corner and he came straight round and witnessed the "strange behaviour " around my daughter. He says that the dog sees her as a playmate. There is no aggression in her, he says she is teasing to play...
...We are now trying our hardest to make sure daughter is safe and puppy is happy.

I truly hope the dog trainer interpreted your dog's behavior correctly. Be fully aware, such aggressive lunging and growling to your daughter must not be allowed... not even if is "playing" around.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by kacy

He has given us some tips and things to work on and we are so pleased that this situation can be corrected. .

I hope you also made arrangements for this dog to get into obedience class. A nine month old dog should be in class - she has a LOT to learn

[sherri]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

A dog with the correct temperament, disposition, good nerves and proper conditioning, should not attack children, period. Not even if a child shows fear.

You are exactly right, but I didn't buy the dog. I can't atest to it's temperment, disposition, good neves or proper conditioning. All we know is what we have been told here, and that this family obviously loves their dog.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

I truly hope the dog trainer interpreted your dog's behavior correctly. Be fully aware, such aggressive lunging and growling to your daughter must not be allowed... not even if is "playing" around.

I'd like to accept that the OP has ensured that their trainer is more than qualified to evaluate the sitaution. I for one am thrilled that she's getting help and that her dogs behaviour is being addressed with professional supervision. I wish everyone were so eager to enlist the help of those qualified to do so!

Kacy - please let us know how the training is going. We'd love to hear about your pups progress!

[Burnsway]

kacy

We don't need names or anything but could you tell us a little about your trainers background. How many year he has done this and maybe some of what kind of training techniques he uses. What breeds he has worked with. Is he an individual trainer that works for himself or someplace like Petsmart?

I agree with German, even if the dog is playing this shouldn't be allowed.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by TrishB

I'd like to accept that the OP has ensured that their trainer is more than qualified to evaluate the sitaution. I for one am thrilled that she's getting help and that her dogs behaviour is being addressed with professional supervision. I wish everyone were so eager to enlist the help of those qualified to do so!

I really don't how qualified that dog trainer is, as well as you neither. However, allow me to point out that dog trainers are not different than other professions or trades or skills, such as lawyers, medical doctors, nurses, engineers, police officers, teachers, car mechanics, bankers, and so forth and so on, in the sense that you find good ones and you also find bad ones. Bear in mind that having a title or a license is not guarantee a person will not be wrong in his or her judgment, opinion, assessment, suggestion, recommendation, or guidance (you have heard of medical malpractice, excessive use of force, negligence, wrongful legal advise, etc. right?). That is why I stated and I quote myself: "I truly hope the dog trainer interpreted your dog's behavior correctly.", because IF the dog trainer is wrong in his/er overall assessment of this seemingly aggressive behavior, and I honestly hope he/she is not, then something very bad could happen in the interaction of that dog and the dog’s owner daughter. I for one do not take aggressive canine reactions lightly

[lblax]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

I really don't how qualified that dog trainer :

unfortunatly you find many poor under qualified trainers many more than good ones