Hi, I'm really desperate for advice regarding my 2 year old Labrador. In the past 3 months she's took a real disliking to my partners kids or any kids that come round, she starts growling, barking and showing her teeth at them. When it first happened we were all really shocked because it's so out of character for her, so I took the child out the room and her out side thinking maybe the child had hit her when I had my back turned or done something to upset her. However since this she's done it on several more occasions to 3 different children. I've tried to rack my brains and think why but I really can't put my finger on it. No children are left unattended with the dogs, there was no food out at any of these times, no toys, no treats, neither one of the children were giving her any attention on 2 occasions the children were bring me there beakers and she just snapped at them. She actually really scares me as I've never seen her look so nasty. We do have another dog (11 yr old staff) they have there own pen in the garden, and sleep in the kitchen af night. They are fed every evening at 6pm and walked. I have had a baby 3 days ago if this could of made her feel unsettled at all?? So I'm now even more concerned there's a child living in the same house. I don't even want to consider rehoming her, she was here first and I believe a dog is for life. I just want to no if anyone has any ideas of why this could be happening and what I could do to prevent it from happening again or even something worse. Thanks.

Has she been well socialised around children?

Assuming this is a recent change in behaviour and she had been find previously, I would get her to the vet for a check up to ensure there is nothing health related that is causing her behaviour. If all is well healthwise, I would ask for a referral to see a behaviourist. This sort of problem should not really be dealt with over the internet. You need someone on the ground to see the behaviour and also on hand to give you advice on how to address it.

She had a vet check 4 weeks ago and she was fine, so I don't think that's the issue. Yes she's always been around children since I first brought her home as a pup which is why i dont understand the change in her. I've been looking around for dog trainers and behaviourists because of the situation with the kids and also finding it difficult for her to walk on her lead nicely, or listen to any commands, she did all this before and it's like she's just took 10 steps back. Vet said it's terrible 2's bit like in children. They gave me a couple of numbers to ring so I'll give them a try in a week or so. I posted to see if anyone new what it could be in the mean time.

Dogs can suddenly appear aggressive due to illness and pain, so first port of call maybe to get her a check up especially if she hasnt had one in awhile.

If that proves all ok, you really do need hands on assesment of the situation and hands on help with dealing with it. Second port of call would be to have a chat to a behaviourist explain the situation and maybe organise a one to one assesment in situ. CAPBT - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers will find you the nearest CAPBT COAPE Association of pet behaviourists and trainers nearest to you.

Advice over the internet is fine for things like puppies nipping and jumping up and the odd training problem like recall etc. but in all honesty in this case I personally dont think it is anywhere near enough.

Hope this might help.

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Until you can get professional help you will have to isolate the dog whenever there are children around.

Have been there and got the t shirt myself.

Many moons ago my then bitch (not an Irish Setter btw) decided to 'put my 8mth old son in his place', as he was trying to stand up using me as his climbing frame - she did it a second time a few weeks later and was rehomed immediately (within four days) through her breed rescue.
She had been snarly with some friends kids, before our sons arrival, and we'd been through having her vet checked (potential hip arthritis but not cause for concern), had her spayed, gone through drug therapy and then taken behaviour advice from the vet before that last event when she drew blood on my sons cheek.
I now know how I would do things different and she probably wouldn't be re-homed in the first place, the first thing I'd do would be get professional home advice with a reputable behaviourist (insurance can cover the costs) and leave it to them to assess the whole scenario.
When children and potentially aggressive dogs are involved you cannot take any risks - children come first, end of, so isolate until professional advice obtained in situ.

I know of an owner, around the same time as my problem arose, with the most beautifully behaved and trained lab who for no apparent reason launched an attack on his wife infront of their children (2yrs & 6mth old) and had drawn blood - he didn't want to risk a second involving the kids or anyone else and had the dog pts without seeking professional help. I couldn't do that to mine but I was able to insist she be rehomed with a child free house.

Needless to say it broke everybodys hearts involved and I swore it would never happen again and, touchwood it hasn't and won't. We have approached training with my current dogs in a different style - time has passed and so have training methods and thankfully there is a greater understanding of dog behaviour since days of old.

You are always helpful so a rep for you for all the help you give just not on this post but on others too.

Just because she wasn't aggressive to children doesn't mean she was happy around them, she was coping and not showing aggression, then for whatever reason she started to use aggression to move the children away.
It is urgent that you contact someone, you have a young baby in the house and visiting children, please be very careful.