hi all, My 2 year old lab has just started growling at my baby and I have no idea how to handle this. Incidentally, we’ve also just moved house and we’ve stopped using the walker she has spent every other day with in last 18 months. So A LOT of change from where she sleeps to how we act as a family to how and when she is walked, and baby (8 months) just started crawling (often toward the dog) which I think was the final straw. Nb she has never growled before and is usually the biggest softie in the world. We’ve always let her sniff baby but not lick him and until recently they’ve pretty much kept themselves apart. How should I react when it happens? What can I do to improve their relationship (I never force an interaction, if Tatti approaches I let it happen but would never shove the baby in her face )? Has this ever happened to you? I love my fur baby so much but I can’t have my little boy at risk, any advice would be helpful, thank you.
First thing is , many people ignore the growl, this is the dogs only way to let you know that she is unhappy and uncomfortable . I am so sorry that this has happened, your dog is clearly not happy , lots of changes in her life recently . Baby crawling towards her might be seen as a threat , which to us seems ridiculous but to the dog it isn't ! To be honest , the only advice I can offer is to not leave them unsupervised for a second , which I`m sure you are doing anyway . Some dogs just don't like pups or babes , its just how they are I`m afraid . My Sam who died recently, adored little ones but my previous girl wasn't so keen but not by growling, just avoiding contact , they all react differently . I can 100% understand your fears , your little ones safety must come first , so sorry I cant be any further help to you in this worrying situation . Just a thought , as your baby has just started to crawl, is there any possibility that he has managed to reach the dog and maybe pulled at her fur ? If so, this could have put her on her guard x
Thanks Kate, there’s no way he’d have crawled to her without me knowing, I watch him all the time. He has pulled her fur once or twice in the past when Tatti has come over for a snif and me or my husband have been holding him up so couldn’t control his arms. The times she has growled were: When baby was standing, babbling and shouting (as he does a lot) and looking at the dog (about 3 feet away- she had come over to lie near us). When baby was standing at baby gate and she was on the other side (we were locked in the room, dog was free to move away), Tatti was sniffing at baby and baby was reaching for her through bars. So she may feel threatened ??
I think you are right , she is worried and threatened . Little ones can and do make a lot of noise, which of course is absolutely normal and you shouldn't try to quieten him but it clearly upsets your dog, plus the arm waving , she will maybe see this as confrontational ? So, yes, its likely a fear reaction and all you can do is to carry on being very vigilant and trying to reassure the dog, by giving her extra fuss and soothing her when your little one is around . I do feel for you, it must be a worry for you x
I read an interesting article about dog attacks on babies a while back when my wife and I brought our newborn home. As a hunter I can understand the findings, although not proven, that the high pitch of baby could trigger a predatory response in dogs. It simulates weak, injured or young animals in the wild (distress) which coyotes and wolves dial in on as prey.
When my neighbour had their first baby, their dog was fine until he started crawling. He also growled so they managed their interactions and gave the dog the option to leave the room which he did often. Now the baby is 3 years old and they are best friends, often snuggling up together. If your dog isn't used to babies it can be a shock to their system and they need time, space and guidance/management of interactions. Good luck
Yes, I've known of this happening too. Very worrying for you, but it seems like with careful management the situation can be resolved. I don't have any experience, but I'm sure others have good advice.
Yep, I'd say it's the crawling. We noticed that we suddenly had to micromanage every interaction between Ella and our son when he started crawling (he would have been about 8months and Ella nearly 18months). Before this, Ella would choose to lie next to him on the floor but once he started crawling she started to keep her distance a little more. I think it was the quick, jerky movements that were too unpredictable for her. We have to micromanage every interaction between them. The hardest part is finding the balance between making sure Ella feels that she has enough space from Nathan without making her feel like she's being excluded. Those first few months were really tricky so we spent most of our time sitting on the floor in between the two of them, playing with both separately. We'd also call Ella up onto the couch to rest as Nathan couldn't reach her. Now that he's a bit older (nearly two) they have started playing together and she'll actually grab a toy and take it to him to initiate the play. He also gives her dinner at night and sometimes he's allowed to feed her a couple of bits off his dinner plate once he's finished. He really enjoys getting to feed her at night and I do think it has helped her to warm to him. Our two main rules are that he must always walk away as soon as Ella starts her dinner and as soon as Ella turns her head or moves away (when they're playing) we tell him the game is over and he absolutely must leave her alone immediately. I don't think that the 24/7 supervision has an end in sight but I do definitely think that Ella is 100 times happier and more comfortable around Nathan than when he first started crawling.
Thanks Emily, this has actually made me feel so much better. You hear horror stories and I was so worried we’d have to give her up (or worse that something would happen!). It’s great to know you’ve managed this and there is potential friendship down the line. This pretty much the default we have taken, I sit between them and the dog always has the option to leave. It is really difficult though to make sure she (the dog) doesn’t feel excluded. I probably need to think of a more positive way to react to the growling (or occasionally she barks- I think it’s play or maybe her saying ‘get him away from me’), just in case it happens again. I had quickly picked up baby and shouted at the dog to get out of the room we were in (which she did)- that’s probably not helpful. It was just instinct though, I was so shocked. Hopefully, once we’re back from our Xmas travels she will start to settle in the new house and new routine and things will calm down a bit. Thanks again
This was (and still is sometimes) the part we found the hardest. Nathan would get too close, Ella would want a bit of distance and we'd put her in her crate or behind the baby gate in the kitchen but it always felt like we were punishing her by removing her. It's not easy and it doesn't always work but the OH and I started trying to have one of us give Ella lots of praise and attention on one side of the room while the other played with Nathan. It definitely has become easier (and harder sometimes as they have a habit of running in opposite directions ) so hang in there!
It’s natural to do that kind of thing out of shock. Now that you have a few ideas from others you can work out a better plan and some rules/guidelines for yourself It might help to think about it from your pup’s point of view. When your baby arrived home it was like the way you’d feel if an alien had landed. Experience showed that the alien seemed to just sit there, making a bit of noise and occasionally smelling funny, but not moving. No real threat. All good. Suddenly the alien has developed the capability to relocate itself at will. That is seriously alarming. Who knows what other powers it may have! Where will it be next? Will it hurt me? That’s kind of how your dog is seeing it at the moment. Your job is to help your pup to feel safe from the alien invasion. (Not seriously likening your gorgeous baby to an alien of course!! )
This is (in my experience) the hardest time for dog and parents. Baby is no longer predictable, can crawl and reach out and grab, but is not yet old enough to learn dogs are not toys. He can do what he likes to a teddy bear and it wont mind, but the dog is different. It helps to say what you want to the baby, ie "no, don't squeeze Ella, you might hurt her. Stroke her gently like this,she likes that!", or similar. Dog wont understand but will be reassured youre responsible for baby and his behaviour, baby probably wont understand either, but will soon become verbal- ish and will try to understand. Also it's most important Ella always has an exit available. Sounds like you are doing well, once this bit is behind you they have every chance of a long and happy relationship. (PS like the analogy with an alien!)
