My dog is getting aggressive

[Louisa111]

I just need some advice.. I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and our dog is nearly 11.
He's been brilliant up until now with both kids but our little boy is going through a very tricky phase of hitting: biting and generally being a bit unruly.

He has started to hit and generally not leave our dog alone which is resulted in our dog growling and generally getting very aggressive.. I've started to separate the pair of them but my dog is slowly starting to get aggressive with me.. when all is well they play together (under my supervision) and our dog showers him with affection but when things go sour and I go to separate that's when our dog is started to growl and snarl at me.

I can see from his point of view I'm shutting him away when he's not the one in the wrong and he was here before the children but this sort of behaviour is very worrying.. I'm starting to stress that our family dog who we all love may not be able to stay with us for much longer if this behaviour continues. He's perfectly fine with our 5 year old who was always very good around him it's just now this situation has arisen.. help!!!

[ADastardlyThing]

Not helpful but sort your kid out before your dog pays the price.

[Louisa111]

I'm not daft.. he gets in trouble every time he hits the dog but u til he learns....??? Im worried..

[adaline]

Don't let them play together at all if your child hits the dog - not even under close supervision. Your dog is clearly telling you he's unhappy and yet you keep putting him in situations where he's being pulled about.

Baby gates and don't let them be in the same room until you can teach your youngest how to be behave himself.

[Whoseranium]

Obviously right now you need to keep them separated. It’s no good letting them play and only stopping it once “things go sour”. It may all look fine before that point but there could be subtle signs your dog isn’t comfortable that you’re missing.

Your dog needs to be seen by the vet to rule out any physical reasons behind this. Pain, a decline in sight/hearing or other age related issues can often result in out of character behaviour.

If he gets the all clear from the vet the it would be a very good idea to get a decent behaviourist in who can properly assess the situation and help you deal with it.

[Whoseranium]

I’m not sure what their “opening times” are like over Christmas but there’s an excellent FB group called ‘Dog Training Advice and Support’ that I’d highly recommend joining. It’s run by an excellent team of professionals and they can both advise you how to manage the situation right now and point you towards and appropriately qualified/experienced behaviourist who covers your area.

[ADastardlyThing]

Didn't say you were.....just find it odd that you're considering getting rid in this situation.

Baby gates, keep them separate until the child bloody learns that you don't mistreat animals.

The dog is telling you all he doesn't like being hit, bitten, etc. Listen and sort it. Or just get rid, probably easier

[Branleuse]

If you cant keep them seperate, youll need to rehome

[BiteyShark]

I am afraid you need to keep them seperate rather than wait for the poor dog to be hit. Get a vet check as well incase your dog is in pain which is making him grumpier but even then you still need to make sure the younger child isn't annoying him.

[ADastardlyThing]

It's really easy to keep dog/child separate.

[BayandBlonde]

Sorry but this infuriates me.
Your older dog, who was there before any children, may now have to be rehomed (unlikely at 11 years old) because your child can't keep his hands down! Poor dog.

You don't plan on getting a puppy any time soon by any chance

[ADastardlyThing]

"You don't plan on getting a puppy any time soon by any chance "

That was my first thought. Funny that!

[thewinehasgonetomyhead]

The title of this thread is the wrong way round. It should read “my child is being horrible to our dog”.

You need to keep your dog away from your child and seek advice on how to help your child understand more fully what they are doing is wrong.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

Are you sure he really is ‘showering with affection’?

Because sometimes dogs actually lick to create space and try and get someone to move away.

[Louisa111]

Thanks to all the kind people that have responded.. to those that are being unhelpful and rude my last comment about our dog having to go would be the very very last resort.. he is a much lived family pet and I cry just thinking about it but if he bit our child ( even though our child is very much in the wrong) what choice would I have.

I've come in here for advice not to be flamed! I am separating them but even this isn't working as our dog is getting distressed, yelling constantly , growling and snapping at me when he is in another room and sneaks out when I open The door to which I try to get him back and all hell breaks loose , I know it should be my child being shut away but obviously I can't do that... I know this phase will pass with my son but I need help before then

[Louisa111]

Thankyou about the Facebook group will try on there for some advice too xx

[Snog]

Does your dog have a crate he can retire to for some peace where your son knows to leave him alone?

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

I would expect this to happen at the age of 2 or 3, TBH.

A bit surprised a child of 5 has started hitting the dog. Has something changed in the child's life? Routine? Health?

[Louisa111]

I do but my son lets him
Out so I either shut our dog in the kitchen or I shut our dog in our bed room where he can chill in comfort but then he taps and scratches at the door or gets aggressive with me .. I'm totally on my dogs side but at the end of my tether with it all
My son is very hard work at the best of times and unfortunately our dog is getting the brunt of it

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

Oh sorry, you have a 2 year old. Ignore my post, I saw the 5 yo only at first.

[Louisa111]

It's my 2 year old that's doing it.. out dog had always been fantastic with our 5 year old but at 2 she was very well behaved

[adaline]

Have you got baby gates or a playpen so you can separate them but they can still see each other?

[Veterinari]

Your dog will only bite your child if YOU allow it to happen. And if it does it will be entirely your responsibility.

Your dog is communicating VERY clearly that he does not want to be near your child. Licking is a sign of anxiety and distress - if this is what you mean by being ‘all over’ your child you are seriously misreading the situation - please please educate yourself about safe dog child interactions.
dogstrust, blue dog and doggone safe all have great resources on their websites.

Until then keep your dog and children separate - ensure dog has a comfortable bed and a nice treat or kong to occupy him when separate and for goodness sake educate your child - i’d Expect this behaviour at 2 or 3 but a five year old should absolutely not be hitting and chasing a dog

[HisBetterHalf]

He has started to hit and generally not leave our dog alone which is resulted in our dog growling and generally getting very aggressive
He's warning that he isn't happy with the childs behavior. If an old person was being abused by a child they would also not be happy. How do you react to the child when it does this? All I can say is poor poor old dog, he doesnt deserve this

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

You may have to be prepared to rehome the dog

Seperating them is good, but it can make the dog feel bitter towards the child which means the spereation would have to be permanent and that's unfair to both.

[Veterinari]

Sorry just seen you’ve said it’s the 2 year old - unfortunately your dog has learned once already what a nuisance toddlers can be and is communicating clearly that he won’t Tolerate being pulled/hit again - listen to him

Also please don’t punish growling - it’s an important communication strategy and you need to know if your dog is feeling so distressed that he needs to growl to express it. However most dogs will exhibit warning signs before this that many owners overlook Google ‘ladder to aggression’ and also look up active supervision on the doggine safe website