Should I be worried? (dogs and children issues)

Up until now I thought Dingo was good with children but I eat my words. Sophie just brought couple of her friends in and Dingo, who had been asleep on his bed next to me, shot across the room barking and jumped up at one of the kids, still barking in her face. His hackles were up and everything. Now this particular little girl has always been nervous around him, jumping away from him when she's seen him in the street. He didn't bite her, the worst he's done is scratch her with his claws. She screamed and it just through him into an even worse frenzy.

He does bark at new people when they come through the door but never like this and never with children. I don't understand and it's really shaken me up. With me having a child I can't afford for this to become a problem and it's certainly not one I will tollerate.

Heidi

How old is he?, if he was a sleep he might have been startled, it might be age related,

My thoughts exactly, Heidi. I too think he was startled awake and reacted accordingly, if inappropriately.

Hope you can sort it, honey

*hugs* xx

He's just over 1 year old. It's really not like him at all. Not sure what to make of it in the slightest.

Heidi

If it's out of character, it may be that he was just frightened.

How much to you know of his past, Heidi?

Oh you poor thing I'll bet it did worry you and give you all a fright. Hopefully as the others have said it was just a one off and he was just startled but as you have said it is not something that can be tolerated as you have a child yourself. Sometimes Ivan will test the boundaries at the moment, an age thing as he is a year and a half, if he does anything that is a serious no no I remove him immediately from the room. He hates this and it really works well for him to reinforce that this behaviour is not allowed. Just an idea xx

I can see why you are worried and am afraid I can't offer any advice. The one comfort is that he did seem to be more intent on scaring her off than of harming her.

What were the children doing by the way - was the one he barked at close to your child - could he have woken up and mistaken the childrens' play for your child being in danger?

I've heard of many people with dogs taking a dislike to a particular person - sometimes I think they just give off the wrong vibes and if this child was scared of him to start with, that probably isn't going to help.

One to chat through with your behaviourist I think, but do try to recall exactly where everyone was and what they were doing before Dingo kicked off as there may be some trigger that your behaviourist can identify (I know you may not be able to recall exactly as I should imagine it started before you even knew what was happening.)

(((hugs))) to you.

Hi Fliggle I am always worried where dogs and children are together unless they have been brought up together.
Children are so unpredictable, it is usually the children who usually need training how to behave around dogs.

It may help to habituate you little dog to children so that he associates them with pleasant things. I always have treats in my pocket when we are out walking, and if we meet any children who show an interest in my dog I ask if they would like to give her a treat.
If children come to your house it is wise to ask them not to approach your little dog, if they wish to talk to him suggest they call him to them from a distance to he has the chance no to go if he doesn't feel comfortable.


There is an article here by Shadowboxer about dogs and children which may be of help to you..

http://www.dogsey.com/dog-articles.php?t=10261

IMO i think it was a combination of things that triggered Dingo off today, he's 1yr old, needs to test his ability to stand on his own 2 feet, he had been asleep, but was also next to you, protective of you, so startled when woken up, and went to your defence(even though not needed), and the little girl is already giving off vibes being nervouse around him, so the perfect person to have in front of him, for all these reasons to have a dame good go at.When this little girl is around just be a bit firmer with him, put him in a down, i don't think i would try to make him and the little girl friends but i would teach him to respect her space, and stay away from her,
I had a dog that would terrorise my mates daughter if given a chance, she would act silly around the dog,so i trained Jade to leave her alone, and the daughter was taught the same.
The other safe side is to have the dog out of the way when friends are around until her learns to leave little people alone, pratice with the adults first then move on to some kids that have no fear
Hope this makes sence
Nelliex

He's come from the streets after being treated appaulingly. He was under fed, attacked by other dogs etc etc. He was assessed by the rescue centre and he showed no aggression towards children and up until today he's never shown any here.

I did just that, he was given a very firm no and removed immediately from the room. I probably shouldn't have put him in his crate because I don't like to use it for punishment but this time I did because it was a secure, calming place for Dingo to go while I checked the child over.

Sophie, my daughter, was standing next to her friend and she has told me that her friend came into the house and gave a startled jump as soon as she saw Dingo. Then her friend threw her hands up towards her face and made a dive to hide behind Sophie. Then the screaming began. Looking back it's all the settings for Dingo to go on the defensive and see this intruder as a threat.

I totally agree with you on this one, it is most definately the child in this case that needs to be taught to respect Dingo's home. I will definately be trying the treat method as well, I normally take him with me to the bus stop in the morning so we can put Sophie on the school bus. I think I might get the kids to give him a treat each as they get on the bus. That way they won't be smothering him because they will be busy getting on the bus but he's getting to socialise with them in a good way. Thank you for the link by the way.

I think Dingo has really decided that he doesn't like this little girl in the slightest. To be honest she always looks like a frightened rabbit and she even makes my husband and I nervous because she will shriek without warning. Even when she laughs she looks like she's crying.

It is just so good to have people to chat to who don't look at you like they're judging you. It's nice to chat to people who understand the funny moments of dogs. You've made me feel much better about things. Just got to get to the bottom of what caused it all and to stop a repeat of it.

Heidi