All behaviour happens for a reason and growling is no different. A growl is an early warning system that a dog is uncomfortable or anxious about the presence or behaviour of the child. We should be glad that he has given us a chance to intervene and defuse the situation before things escalate.
Growling at the Kids -Never punish your dog for growling. This may seem counter-intuitive and may even go against the advice of your dog trainer or dog trainers you have seen on TV. If your dog growls at your child he is sending a clear warning that he is very uncomfortable with the actions or proximity of the child.
Growling is natural. Growling is your dog giving you a warning that he is uncomfortable and needs his space. The Most Important Rule About Growling is: NEVER PUNISH A GROWL! Punishing or scolding the dog will not change the dog's emotional state or feelings towards your child, in fact, it may even make it worse.
If your dog is reacting aggressively to babies, children or other dogs, you should never use verbal or physically harsh punishment. If she is doing things like growling, snarling or even snapping, she's giving signals. She's telling you that she isn't comfortable.
First Steps If Your Dog Doesn't Like Kids
You can begin to change your dog's perception of kids with basic training that makes a connection between them and something your dog loves, like dog treats. Any time your dog spots a child in the distance, give him high-value dog treats for as long as the child is visible.
Dogs who show aggression toward a new baby in the home often do so because they have not been well socialized to children and find them foreign and frightening. Some dogs don't fear babies, but they become aggressive when guarding their food, toys or chew bones.
They Show Disdain Via Hissing Or Barking
It's a warning, essentially, reminding you that they were here first so you should take that tiny human elsewhere... and ASAP. According to Petful, a dog is feeling threatened and might bite if they show their teeth and expel a low, rumbling growl.
Dogs are pack animals and may see themselves as superior to the baby. Nipping the baby may be your pooch's way of telling the baby who is boss. The dog may also feel protective of an area of the home, certain objects, or even some of the adults.
Nipping the kids can mean a few different things. Some dogs might nip at kids who are running by because they're overly excited in the situation. There's also fear-based nipping. And dogs might also nip or bite when they're guarding resources or territory.
Training Your Puppy to Stop Growling
You and your puppy will be better off if you help them to value good behavior. Here are some training tips to stop your puppy from growling: Distract them from their bad behavior. Yelp or call out if they're growling at you and step away from the situation.
In some cases, you may have to rehome your dog to keep your kids safe. However, growling is not necessarily a sign that your dog will become a danger to your family. You and your kids can learn about how dogs communicate to prevent tense situations from happening.
Growling is an emotional response. It is not a "disobedient" behavior. You cannot punish an emotion out of a dog (or a human). Growling is just your dog's way of trying to tell you something important, and you should listen and genuinely thank your dog for the honest feedback.
While you're working to determine the cause of the growling, don't ignore it or it's likely to get worse. Be careful around your dog until you figure out why it's growling. Additionally, you may want to help your dog modify its behavior until the situation is under control.
They Play Together. Over time, and as your pet realizes the baby isn't going anywhere, you might notice them sharing toys or playing together. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.
Many breeds are very protective, and many dogs have “their person” – so they will have a tendency to growl when someone else is approaching as a way to ensure that their special person stays safe. You may also see the behavior if they are friendly with other dogs and a new, unknown pet comes around.
The vast majority of dogs readily accept infants after an initial period of adjustment and curiosity. However, there are rare but highly publicized incidents involving serious injury of an infant by the family dog.
Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that regardless of breed or the size of your dog he can get jealous if you bring a new baby into the family. Your furry family member is even more likely to get jealous if he is male, and the chances also increase even more if your dog has not been neutered or spayed.
If the bite was not severe, and/or if you can clearly see that your child provoked the dog, and/or you find out your dog was ill and that's why they bit your child, you may choose to keep your dog and stick to some new strategies to ensure your child stays safe in the future.
Pet owners have also said that their dogs tend to have more patience with babies and that dogs are usually gentler with babies than they are with adults. Some owners have even reported that their dog has become highly protective of their babies.
Dogs often interpret a child's behavior as a reason to attack. They hear crying, screaming, and laughter. They feel a child's playful touch and notice their sudden movements. Any one of these innocent acts can become a reason for a dog to protect themselves or their puppies.
Dogs Attacking Babies
Tragically, these stories are not that uncommon. Children are more likely to die from dog attacks than adults, and 10% of fatal attacks involve infants. Experts speculate that dogs tend to attack children than adults because of their small stature, and babies are often at the right height.
Four months before the baby arrives: Gradually introduce your dog to the new experiences, sights, sounds and smells she'll encounter when you bring your baby home, and associate these new things with rewards. This will help your dog learn to love life with the baby.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Encourage good behavior from your pet with attention, praise, and treats. Your dog will start associating your kid(s) with good things if you do this often enough. Once this happens, they will naturally start behaving well around children.