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. Be grateful that your dog chose to warn with a growl rather than going straight to a bite.
Teach her do things like leave it, go out of a room, settle, etc. Set up your home with gates and a safe place (such as a crate, bed, or room) for the dog to retreat to. Use praise and treats to help the dog associate the baby with good things. Don't reward attention-seeking behaviour like barking, jumping and begging.
There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.
Your dog needs to back away, not you. Stay calm and firm and hold your ground. Communicate that this is not acceptable behaviour, it won't intimidate you and that they need to solve their problem in a different way. As long as you are assertive, not aggressive, your dog will never be offended.
Either anxious or potential predatory behavior may be exhibited in the form of intense watching of the baby, startling or quick movements in response to the baby's cries or movements, barking at the baby, or engaging in more nipping or herding behavior toward other targets while the baby is around.
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. Be grateful that your dog chose to warn with a growl rather than going straight to a bite.
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.
"Start exposing your dog to the new sights, sounds, and smells of a baby before the baby arrives," Salant says. You can do this by having them smell baby lotions and creams, building the bassinet or gear that might hang out in spaces the dog is usually in, and generally getting set up ahead of time.
Don't push your dog over his tolerance threshold. Whatever you're doing, just stop. If your dog's growl threshold is near his bite threshold – that is, if there's not much time between his growl and his bite, get safe. If his growl doesn't mean a bite is imminent, stop what you're doing but stay where you are.
Reasons Why Your Dog Might Not Like Kids
There's a chance it's because of: A lack of socialization: If your dog didn't experience enjoyable interactions with children during the puppy socialization period, they might seem scary or overwhelming to him.
A dog might growl to threaten another dog, or it might be a response to feeling cornered. Growling is also a common symptom of resource guarding. An injured dog will often growl to keep others at bay. In these cases, and more, growling indicates something is bothering your dog.
Recent studies by animal psychologists have confirmed that dogs do in fact experience jealousy when their owners display affection toward other animals, new partners, kids, or even inanimate objects.
The baby should be introduced in a quiet room where the dog has few associations - not in a place where they usually sleep or eat. Hold the baby and allow the dog to sniff it. The dog will appear interested for a few seconds and will then lose interest. When they back away, praise them and give them a treat.
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.
Never ever ever punish a dog for growling. The end result will be that the dog goes right from the ignored visual cues to biting without that important vocal warning. Dogs have a right to communicate they are uncomfortable with certain things they are exposed to.
Growling is part of normal canine communication. People usually think of a dog's growl as a warning or as a sign of defense. Often, growling means that the dog needs space or is uncomfortable. However, growling is a complex vocalization that also occurs in other situations.
Settling into Life with Baby
Your time is without a doubt now divided between your fur-baby and its new “sibling.” Some dogs will naturally adapt to this change, but some may become destructive as a way to get attention, while others may become overly protective of their new human.
Walking away or crawling with the ears back and the tail tucked under are more serious signals that the dog wants to be left alone. If these signs are seen the child and dog should be separated, and the dog encouraged to relax in a safe and quiet place.
Some dogs choose to run and hide when they're frightened. Others learn they can lunge, growl, snap or bark to make children go away.