I was hoping it wouldn't come to this but I'm at the point where I think I need to find a home for one of my dogs. He bit my toddler twice today. He's never been the least bit aggressive, and he's been around her since she was a newborn and was always very tolerant, but lately this has cropped up. What happens is that she'll be running around, and she'll step near him and he'll snap. I don't think he's being aggressive, I think she's either stepping on him, or just startling him. But I have pretty much a zero tolerance policy on biting kids.
He's never drawn blood, but this is like the 6th time this has happened over the past few months. At first I thought she was just stepping on him but tonight I witnessed one where she just got near him, I think she just brushed him. I should add that he is never aggressive towards her, he will tolerate her leading him around, even grabbing his tail (yes, we've taught her this is a no no). But, when he's curled up sleeping and she walks near him he's done this several times.
Is there anything I can do or is this kind of a no go? I mean, I don't want my toddler to be subjected to more bites in the name of 'training'. I have kind of a bad experience with this as we had a havanese years ago who bit several children, ours and their friends. His behavior was completely irrational, he'd trot up wagging his tale, be petted for a minute and then bite (requiring stitches on one occasion). We had to have him euthanized after a rescue operation took him to try and find him a child free home and he bit several adults in a foster home.
I've read the advice of teaching your kids not to mess with the dog, but that seems like a dangerous route to take. Toddler's aren't exactly that full of self control and rational thinking. It's a small house and unless I keep him crated all the time I can't really keep them separate.
At this point all I can think is to try and see if I can find him a home with no small children, which is probably a losing proposition...
He's never drawn blood, but this is like the 6th time this has happened over the past few months. At first I thought she was just stepping on him but tonight I witnessed one where she just got near him, I think she just brushed him. I should add that he is never aggressive towards her, he will tolerate her leading him around, even grabbing his tail (yes, we've taught her this is a no no). But, when he's curled up sleeping and she walks near him he's done this several times.
Is there anything I can do or is this kind of a no go? I mean, I don't want my toddler to be subjected to more bites in the name of 'training'. I have kind of a bad experience with this as we had a havanese years ago who bit several children, ours and their friends. His behavior was completely irrational, he'd trot up wagging his tale, be petted for a minute and then bite (requiring stitches on one occasion). We had to have him euthanized after a rescue operation took him to try and find him a child free home and he bit several adults in a foster home.
I've read the advice of teaching your kids not to mess with the dog, but that seems like a dangerous route to take. Toddler's aren't exactly that full of self control and rational thinking. It's a small house and unless I keep him crated all the time I can't really keep them separate.
At this point all I can think is to try and see if I can find him a home with no small children, which is probably a losing proposition...