Dog & new baby - behaviour problems - help!
Discussion
Hi all, would appreciate some advice on this.
First baby arrived in the household a couple of months ago. 4.5 year old female crossbreed (neutered) has always been excitable, but has always been friendly towards humans and 99% dogs, on and off the lead.
However, she's started a worrying behaviour since the baby has arrived - when on the lead she's started to bark and lunge towards other dogs when they come closer not biting or causing any injury, but as she's a big girl (30kg or so) it isn't pleasant for other dog owners/dogs and something I want to nip in the bud. It seems worse when we are stationary (say sitting at a park table). Sometimes she will also now bark at random dogs when off the lead as well, with no baby around.
I presume that with big changes, the dog might be stressed and possibly a bit over protective towards us, but its affected my confidence in her when out walking and I need to get it sorted.
Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this?
First baby arrived in the household a couple of months ago. 4.5 year old female crossbreed (neutered) has always been excitable, but has always been friendly towards humans and 99% dogs, on and off the lead.
However, she's started a worrying behaviour since the baby has arrived - when on the lead she's started to bark and lunge towards other dogs when they come closer not biting or causing any injury, but as she's a big girl (30kg or so) it isn't pleasant for other dog owners/dogs and something I want to nip in the bud. It seems worse when we are stationary (say sitting at a park table). Sometimes she will also now bark at random dogs when off the lead as well, with no baby around.
I presume that with big changes, the dog might be stressed and possibly a bit over protective towards us, but its affected my confidence in her when out walking and I need to get it sorted.
Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this?
Jasandjules said:
Is she getting to meet/play with them?
Yes, although I've noticed even when she's not barking at them, she's definitely less interested in them than she was before - she used to love chasing around with them, but now she seems more interested in getting attention from their owners! 
Jasandjules said:
She is being protective of the "puppy".
This, she will calm down, if you remain calm. Don't get 'excited' use a calm measured tone to distract her from the subject of her focus when it happens. Keep excitement/excited play well separated from time of other interactions.
Assume she is ok at home, just when out with baby?
Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
bexVN said:
Assume she is ok at home, just when out with baby?
Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
Yep she's fine at home - seems to love the baby, over lying beside it and doesn't show any form of fear or aggression to it. No issues when in the pram in the house. Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
Went to the dog play park today without baby, unfortunately she was still a bit barky to other dogs so didn't get to socialise too much - seems to be out with or without the baby this has started.
This is pretty much the same behaviour our Frenchie exhibited when happening across other dogs, she has been known to nip them too; when did she start doing this, when Barry; a puppy at the time, arrived on the scene.
Problem is she is deaf so reassuring and talking to her doesn't work, we've cracked it though with a water pistol; any aggression shown and she gets a squirt, she now see's another dog and looks up at me, I show her the water pistol, ears go down and she ignores the other dog.
Problem is she is deaf so reassuring and talking to her doesn't work, we've cracked it though with a water pistol; any aggression shown and she gets a squirt, she now see's another dog and looks up at me, I show her the water pistol, ears go down and she ignores the other dog.
Unlight said:
bexVN said:
Assume she is ok at home, just when out with baby?
Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
Yep she's fine at home - seems to love the baby, over lying beside it and doesn't show any form of fear or aggression to it. No issues when in the pram in the house. Definitely go out without baby to see how she is. Hopefully she'll settle in time (my friends dog was like this!)
You could try an ADAPTIL collar, may take the edge off her when out and about.
How is she when baby is in the pram at the house?
Went to the dog play park today without baby, unfortunately she was still a bit barky to other dogs so didn't get to socialise too much - seems to be out with or without the baby this has started.
bexVN said:
You need to try and befriend some 'stooge' dogs ie dogs that will ignore her behaviour and allow you to gain confidence. Has she actually bitten or is it all show? Is she spayed?
Appears to be all show - she hasn't bitten at all. She's been spayed for around 3 years now. Trouble will be finding a few dogs that the owners don't mind them being barked at! Because her bark is so loud I guess it frightens a lot of owners!Unlight said:
bexVN said:
You need to try and befriend some 'stooge' dogs ie dogs that will ignore her behaviour and allow you to gain confidence. Has she actually bitten or is it all show? Is she spayed?
Appears to be all show - she hasn't bitten at all. She's been spayed for around 3 years now. Trouble will be finding a few dogs that the owners don't mind them being barked at! Because her bark is so loud I guess it frightens a lot of owners!Just checking her hormones weren't causing issue re if she was spayed!
Very helpful suggesting putting the baby up for adoption, thanks.
Easiest thing for me to do would be give the dog away. However, as its part of the family, I'm looking for advice so we can all live happily, and the dog is integrated into new style daily life - get it?
I'll try again tomorrow, hopefully things will get better.
Thanks Bex for your input - hopefully find a big group of tolerant dogs!
Easiest thing for me to do would be give the dog away. However, as its part of the family, I'm looking for advice so we can all live happily, and the dog is integrated into new style daily life - get it?
I'll try again tomorrow, hopefully things will get better.
Thanks Bex for your input - hopefully find a big group of tolerant dogs!
Unlight said:
Appears to be all show - she hasn't bitten at all. She's been spayed for around 3 years now. Trouble will be finding a few dogs that the owners don't mind them being barked at! Because her bark is so loud I guess it frightens a lot of owners!
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