Very simple actually. Do not let people just lean over (threatening) and pet her. Ever.
This is usually an issue of the dog not having an advocate or support system. When you socialized this dog, did you let strangers pet her? Don't do that.. anymore if you did or ever if you did not. Socializing is NOT your dog coming into physical contact with people or dogs. Socializing is showing your dog the world we live in and teaching the dog the safest thing in that world is YOU and paying attention to you. .
To make friends with this dog I suggest the unknown person or child crouch down away from the dog and let the dog approach. The person is not to reach for the dog. The greeting is to be entirely the dog's decision. With small children it may be difficult to control the situation. In that case I suggest the dog be in one room and the child in another room and the separation be a baby gate. If the child comes to the gate and the dog wants no part of the child, that is fine. Keep a gate or a crate between the child and the dog or simply crate the dog in another room away from the dog altogether. Kid wants to pet the dog? Tell the parents to get their own dog to pet. MUCH SAFER.
I also highly recommend when you have guests you put the dog up. I use a crate (or a dog kennel outside). There is absolutely NO NEED for your dog to interact with guests in your house. Ever.
In my case I have a breed that would be blamed if ever tooth touched skin. I would lose the dog and I would lose my homeowner's insurance and it would be unlikely that I could get insurance again. To that end, I put my dogs up away from visitors. Everyone is better off.
This is usually an issue of the dog not having an advocate or support system. When you socialized this dog, did you let strangers pet her? Don't do that.. anymore if you did or ever if you did not. Socializing is NOT your dog coming into physical contact with people or dogs. Socializing is showing your dog the world we live in and teaching the dog the safest thing in that world is YOU and paying attention to you. .
To make friends with this dog I suggest the unknown person or child crouch down away from the dog and let the dog approach. The person is not to reach for the dog. The greeting is to be entirely the dog's decision. With small children it may be difficult to control the situation. In that case I suggest the dog be in one room and the child in another room and the separation be a baby gate. If the child comes to the gate and the dog wants no part of the child, that is fine. Keep a gate or a crate between the child and the dog or simply crate the dog in another room away from the dog altogether. Kid wants to pet the dog? Tell the parents to get their own dog to pet. MUCH SAFER.
I also highly recommend when you have guests you put the dog up. I use a crate (or a dog kennel outside). There is absolutely NO NEED for your dog to interact with guests in your house. Ever.
In my case I have a breed that would be blamed if ever tooth touched skin. I would lose the dog and I would lose my homeowner's insurance and it would be unlikely that I could get insurance again. To that end, I put my dogs up away from visitors. Everyone is better off.
