Growling at kids

So Samson lives here with me my oh and 4 kids 3-15. He does the school walk with us every morning so is used to the hustle bustle of the kids at the front of school, he is obviously on lead, this morning my daughter was holding his lead and a few girls were stroking Samson, he was being a bit nippy so i pulled him back, one girl started trying to stroke him but was poking her hand back and forth at him instead of just stroking, and Samson growled at her I pulled him back again and firmly said No to him and kept him close, now I am worried what should I do in this situation he is 19 weeks old now and I don't want him to become aggressive especially to children so need to nip this in the bud now. Any suggestions?

I would never put my dogs in this situation. It`s asking too much from an animal. Please don`t do it.
How you you feel if surrounded by strangers 3 times your size, all pushing and poking at you?
I would also never allow my child to hold a dog in a stressful situation.
I think you are asking for trouble, to be blunt.

But I thought that I was getting him used to all kinds of situations so he would grow up well socialised around any stimulus???

No need to nip it in the bud - as Clare says, you are in a way expecting too much and your dog isn't enjoying all that interaction. I see this often when I walk past the local school - because I think people do believe it's a way of socialising their dog.

The fact is that many dogs find school children over whelming if they crowd around,and I also I made the mistake of taking my dog only past a school and she was worried when all the kids charged towards her, and that was behind a fence!

Also no need to say No, as he was only protesting as he know how - if you can, better to realise he was stressed and learn maybe about dog body language so that you can protect him from similar situations.

The thing with socialising is that you can do what I call "over" socialise, although that is not the best term for it - what I mean is that a dog can be pushed beyond its limits and become unhappy about it, and not be able to get away ... it's being in fact put in a situatoin where it is likely to dislike children if it is put in this situation a lot

You must remain in control and be watchful and do not let children swarm around patting and poking Also that some kids are not dog savvy and need to be controllled too!

I'd not take him for a bit, if you can avoid it, and if you do then take him but stuff him with lots of tasty food and make ita really positive experience for him and keep it very brief to start with.

May also be worth checking with a vet in case he'sunder the weather - but ignore any bad training advice, if given, as some vets are very old fashioned in this regard. Not all but some.

Good luck

Wys
x

I would say maybe when you pulled him back before he growled, he thought 'ooh somethings wrong' and directed that at the children.

Also when you told him 'no' you are suggesting growling is bad. Which I have learnt growling is very good, because its a warning, rather than just 'snapping'.

In all honesty, I would keep socialising him. But just make sure he has room. At the moment I'm visioning these little kids smothering him, if he couldn't get away, of course he would growl as he was probably uncomfortable.

I would also maybe suggest to the kids, to begin with a verbal 'Say hi to Samson', if he is enjoying the fuss and tail wagging, say to one to give him a stroke....just watch his reactions and see how he is. Take it at baby steps.

He will most probably be okay, he just wasn't comfortable in this mornings situation.

Hope this helps. x

Yes, the principle of that is good, but you have to make sure that every experience for the pup is pleasant otherwise the experiences will be counter-productive - i.e. you will make him worse.

By all means take him on the school run, but keep him away from all the kids until it is clear that he is relaxed.

Watch for how comfortable he looks - you should be aware of him not being comfortable long before he had to growl to show you that.

If and when he is relaxed, you can allow certain children (one at a time to start with) who know how to pat a dog to come and say hi. Also be careful about telling a dog off for growling. A growl is a warning. If you put him in uncomfortable situations and don't allow him to growl to show he's unhappy, there is a real risk that he will miss out the warning and go straight to the next stage - a snap or bite.

I agree with C&D, I think getting him used to situations would be better done in small doses. Nothing worse than kids milling round, especially if they do things like 'want to touch don't want to touch want to touch' you pulling him back for being nippy may of given him cause to think 'wary' the child then doing what kids do maybe made him think ''more wary'' and so it travels on.
Dogs don't understand what us humans are 'all' about really. especially those that are strangers and therefore they act defensive, the growl was a warning of ''please leave me alone'' and therefore is telling not just the child but you ''I don't like this''
Maybe its wiser not to allow children to over crowd him, it can be a un-nerving situation, if he wants to go and be stroked by one child then he will, but I know I hate a gathering of children around mine, I like them to stand and stroke one as a time

Sorry I was so blunt.
I used to take my dogs to meet the kids at school - but I wouldn`t allow kids to crowd round them. Maybe take the dog to a safe distance and fend off approaching children?
If your children have sensible friends, maybe they could reward your dog for sitting nicely? That works well for both stopping them jumping up and learning that kids can be Good Things.
But a growl from a dog means he`s worried, and a worried dog should be listened to.

Ok thanks I see what's being said and will take it on board, there seems to have been more kids than normal and i wasn't really paying much attention, got a poorly chicken pox covered son who was also in his buggy so hadn't got my wits about me, no sleep and all... but no excuses. I will be on the ball and stay well back from all the commotion, I honestly thought I was bomb proofing him but see how it can so easily turn the other way with negative associations, I will read up about body language too so I can help him if he gets worried instead of punishing him Thanks again all

The problem with your approach is far from DE sensitising your dog to children etc you are SENSITISING him to them.

If you cannot pay FULL attention in situations like this, LEAVE THE DOG AT HOME.