4 yr old American Eskimo growls at 3 yr old neice

Frustratedperson1982 · 10-09-2006, 09:05 PM

I have a 4 yr old Female American Eskimo and a 3 yr old neice. My Dog seems to growl at my neice everytime she comes in, she hasnt bitten her yet, but i want the growling to stop. My neices sister played with my dog when she was my neices age and they did fine together. I do not understand it and i dont want my dog or my neice getting hurt. My neice comes over to my house just about every weekend, so they r not around eachother day in and day out...could that be the problem?....What could we do to correct this growling issue?...Any help would be appreciated.

blackgavotte · 10-11-2006, 11:34 AM

The first priority is to make sure the child does not get bitten. You must be sure to keep the two separated because that can happen so quickly, the reprecussions can be fatal for the dog or scarring for the child. Have you observed the two together? It is entirely possible the child has been somehow antagonizing the dog, perhaps teasing, perhaps just dominating or irritating the dog. This is most likely not intentional, just in ignorance of how to interact with the dog. However it is happening, the child could get a bad bite. The dog could be jealous, or he may just not like that child. I would be crating the dog while the child is there, and then perhaps working with the child and dog together, going for walks, getting the child to give treats, whatever you can come up with to see if they will bond and if the dog can learn to like or trust the child, and if the child can develop some skills and awareness with the dog. Meanwhile, separate them if you are not right on top of the situation, its not worth the risk. And you may always have to keep the dog confined while that child is in the home, or until the child grows up some more and learns how to interact properly or avoid the dog.

Frustratedperson1982 · 10-11-2006, 04:49 PM

We have tried a couple of times to bring my neice up slowly to the dog and let her pet her, and while she is petting her (ofcourse with us near her) the dog seems to be fine. I have thought about having my neice give my dog a treat or two when she is here, i know dogs r less likely to "bite the hand that feeds them"...My neice also has a tendency to stomp her feet at my dog and grab my dogs tail at times. We have tried to get her stop doing it, but she does does it at times. I dont know whether she does it cause she knows the dog will growl and she is afraid of it or what, but i know it isnt solving anything.

blackgavotte · 10-13-2006, 11:49 AM

If your neice grabs the dog's tail and stomps at it " sometimes " naturally the dog sees her as a threat, he does not like nor trust her. He may never. I would keep them separated. Your neice may never have good instincts with dogs, or it could be she is just too young and inexperienced. Either way she is likely to get a bad bite. Be careful. Don't try to force this issue. I would make sure there is no contact.

Vicki · 10-13-2006, 08:28 PM

At this time, a treat given by your niece would get teeth and fingers too close to each other so why risk it? Watch your dog carefully because they always give off a signal that the situation is making them uncomfortable and and you might be able to redirect him (or your niece) when you see things escalate. The stomping and tail pulling really needs to end because the dog may see it as baiting. And, I agree that keeping them apart is a good idea.

Frustratedperson1982 · 10-13-2006, 09:54 PM

She has been around other dogs and from what i know they have been fine together, and that was full grown dogs (like mine) but another breed. She now lives in a house where 2 dogs stay and they get along great from what i understand. I dont understand the issue with My neice and Snowey, i can understand the stomping and grabbing her tail.