Hello,

I am new to the site and need some help. My Westie is 12 months old, she has always been nervous and this last couple of weeks has started growling and has even bit my niece, who is two. My Daughter who is 3 does bother her quite and bit and I feel like I am constantly telling her to leave the dog alone. I took her to the vet and she said that maybe I have given the dog mixed messages about who's more important. Today a little boy ran over to stroke her and she was so aggresive she sounded like a rottweiler, I am scared that she will bite someone.... Everyone tells me I need to get rid of her, but have become very attached to her and would love to try and make her stop being aggresive, but not sure what to do, any suggestions??

Vicky

PS we went to puppy training and it never really worked.

Hi not really sure what to suggest,young children do get quite heavy handed with animals,had my friends 3 year old round the other day and she started to pick cat up by its head!glad when she went!!you need eyes in the back of your head.lots of doggy peeps here,sure you`ll get advice.

Thanks for quick reply clare7577, my daughter said the other day that the dog needs to go to a dogs home and we should get 2 cats instead... a black on and a white one - Kids arent very loyal eh lol...

Hope I do get some replies soon coz at my wits end....

Sorry but if it were me I'd be telling everyone saying to get rid of the dog to get stuffed. There's enough dogs in rescue shelters.

Sounds like your daughter needs to learn to respect the dog first off. Is your dog only aggressive towards children?

Also it would be a good idea to keep her muzzled in public until the problem is solved to avoid her biting someone!

Hi ajshep1984

Yes seems that her aggression is only towards children, she has growled at me for moving her from the sofa once, but she seems to know I am in charge lol. My daughter loves the dog to bits, but just doesnt seem to understand that enough is enough, although since the dog bit her cousin she has backed off, think she kinda gets it now to leave her alone, also my niece who the dog bit is a lot rougher than my daughter, but the vet reckons that dogs should never be excused biting....

I had a man round today doing the garden and was telling him about the dog he said that she practically licked him to death (I was out), she has a doggy door so can come and go, but strange that a stranger in the garden gets licked to death but children get snarled at.

Am just fed up because everyone (vet included) said that the dog needs rehomed to a house with no children? But surely she can be trained not to be aggresive??? She is worse on a lead, more aggresive.

Also forgot to mention, vet thinks that she has hip or leg problems and is going for an xray to check, but again vet said leg could be dropping off but is no excuse for dog to bite???

Biting should never be excused but dogs don't just bite for no reason.

If she's only aggressive towards children something must have happened at some point that has made her fear children.

You need to slowly work at making her see children are no threat in a controlled enviroment. Have all children give her treats and gently fuss her, don't let children pick her up (for now) and don't let them come at her from behind, small dogs particularly don't like this.

Educate all children that come into contact with her how to treat dogs properly. It can be turned around but it sounds like it might be hard work. There are plenty of people on here who will give you good techniques but it might be an idea to take her to behaviourist as they will be able to assess the situation better than anyone on here who can't actually see the dog.

If you do want to rehome her find a new family for her yourself, please don't send another dog to a rescue centre.

i agree with aj, My parents had a yorkshire terrier when i was 16, he was lovely friendly absolutely beautiful, i moved back home yrs later when i had my daughter and everytime the dog went on his hind legs to sniff the baby my dad had a heart attack lol, but what he did wrong was tell the dog firmly to get away! this resulted in the dog associating the baby with being shouted at...now shes 4yrs old and cant go near him as he just wants rid of her, but lately ive been saying "good boy!!!!" "goood boy" anytime shes near, and for the past month weve even had her brushing him were so pleased that with a bit of patience, we have achieved what we thought was unachievable, But it hasnt been easy, we have had to train my daughter, the dog, and ourselves, if were nervous when theyre together the dog is nervous, and my daughter has had to realise that this doggy has to be approached slowly, and the dog has realised, "hey this kids not bad afterall"

Good luck xx

Thanks

I will try my best to sort it out, because she is really lovely. And if the worst comes to the worst I will def find a good home for her myself, I dont think a rescue center would do her any good.

When she has done her business outside she runs in and expects a treat, I have strated getting my daughter to tell her to sit and give her her treat, also my daughter puts her food bowl down for her, I figure she wont want to bite the hand that feeds lol.

I have left a message with the dog training school, to ring me, where she went for puppy training see if they can help.

It's just nice to hear some positive feedback that maybe she can be helped, instead of that dog needs to go and could I live with myself if she bit someone badly??? Stupid question ofcourse i'd be gutted but really really dont want to just give up, my mum and dad have 4 dogs and they are the worst, but would like to see them part with one of theirs so easily, they insisted I should get a Shitzu like they have, think that they are still anoyed that I have a mind of my own. But the were like well a terrier is a terrier, told you you should've got a Shitzu

Sorry am rambling on can you tell how annoyed I am? LOL

My mum said "were not getting rid of the dog, the dog isnt the problem..We will get rid of your dad!" lol

Still makes me chuckle all this time after. Dont worry he can be treated, your doing the right thing getting your daughter to do the good things for him, but (im sure you are) please be present when she does it just incase Get her doing things simple like, "goood boy!!" and then you follow with "goood boy!" cause he trusts you more, so he will be thinking im responding well to the child, and now mummy is telling me im a good boy.
Its just sticking with it, were still cautious with mums dog, but were not ready to pounce on them anymore like we used to be.

Yeah I can tell

If you weren't impressed with the training school first time round I wouldn't go back again, find a different one.

If it were me I wouldn't make her sit for a treat everytime, going outside to the toilet is good enough reason to get a treat and it builds a healthy relationship to just give treats now and again just because you love them! Try not to make her feel like she always has to earn everything all the time.

Sounds like you are already making some positive steps though!

Amy's very right that it comes from the owner, don't let your dog know you are worrying that she might bite or she will interpret it that there is something wrong and is more likely to bite!