Today my dog Chaos snapped at my 4 year old daughter. I know dogs don't just snap for no reason but can't think what may of caused him to do so.

Chaos is super friendly to everyone and not ever shown any type of aggression to anyone or anything before and my daughter is always very gentle with all our animals.

Anyway Anya was just sat on the edge of the sofa watching T.V with Chaos led down on the floor infront when he suddenly leapt up and snapped at her face he then looked at me and walked out the room and led down by the front door. I do believe it was a delibrate miss but don't know why he did it. Its really puzzling as its so not him and he was back to being very affectionate towards her only very shorty after but I feel I can't take my eyes of him for a second now incase he does it again. Anyone have any ideas why he might of did this?

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I'm just guessing here, but could something have spooked him - a noise outside or something, that woke him suddenly and he jumped in alarm and your daughter was the nearest person there so maybe he associated her with whatever it was that had frightened him?

I don't blame you for feeling upset, I'd be the same... hopefully it was a one off but maybe exercise caution in future when he's asleep on the floor and get everyone to give him plenty of space?

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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion....

Sounds worrying.

He may be in some kind of pain so maybe take him to the vet?

I would definatly contact a dog behaviourist aswell.

This incident could easily have been very different, dont leave them alone together for the shortest amount of time.

Good luck.

Could your daughter have woken him up? She could have accidentally touched him with her foot if she was on the edge of the sofa. Dogs can snap if woken suddenly.

Obviously don't let them be in circumstances where it could happen again.

please take him to the vets my 1st thought was he may be in pain you must be so upset i would be devestated i have a 3 year old and dogs hope you get on ok and your little one is ok xxx

One of my relatives once spooked my dog by staring him out..they'd met before and were friends before and after, but he was really spooked by it snapped- and as my relative is an adult who did it on purpose he felt my wrath!! Maybe your daughter did it by mistake?

Naomi x

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It may just be that he was woken suddenly and snapped at the nearest person , but making sure there isnt an underlying health problem would be my first option

Give your vets a ring and explain your concern and that you want him fully checked out

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Thanks, yeah I'll give the vets a call tomorrow and see if they will see him. I'm too thinking prehaps something spooked him now. He didn't actually bite my daughter just snapped close to her face and jumped straight upwards from a sleeping position. It looked as though he delibratly missed biting her but I can't be certain. Its just really odd because after a few minute of being by the front door he walks into the sitting room all waggy tails and nudging my daughter to be stroked. He often nudges people to get them to stroke him so thats quite normal. hopefully he was just having a bad dream or something and that he isn't unwell.

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Absolutely yes to the vet check.
Also, what breed? How old? What are the usual interactions between Chaos and your daughter? Has he ever had iffy behavior in other situations? If so, what were they?

His mum was a rottweiler and his dad was a german shepherd cross dalmation. He is about 13 or 14 months old. He loves my daughter and follows her about everywhere. Basically whereever she is he will get up and follow. He will often sit by the sofa with his head resting on her lap while she strokes his head which he loves. Hes never had any iffy behaviours accept hes a little aloof with men he doesn't know. Not aggressive just a bit stand offish and will pull away from them and don't like them stroking him untill he knows them but after a few seconds he will happily let them stroke him.

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