Help! Dog "nipping".

[PeppaPigStinks]

Can you wise dog people help me work through this dilemma.

Dog is just over two. She is a lab. We have had her since a puppy and are just coming out of the puppy stage. She is calming down and is turning into a good and mostly well behaved dog. BUT.....

There have been at least four occasions where she has "nipped" or tried to bite.

1. four kids playing in the garden. She went for the oldest boy. I wasn't there but the adult said it was unprovoked. Dog was removed and put out of the way.
2. at a caravan site, dog was tethered to her post and a girl was playing with her. She said dog bit her. I didn't see but was right there!
3. my two children (5 and 3) were playing in front room. Not with dog but dog was there. Dog apparently tried to nip my 5 year old.
4. 3 year old playing with dog and she tried to nip.

I have only seen occasion 4.

Having seen this written down. I think I know she needs to be re homed to somewhere without young children.

But.

A dog isn't for Christmas. We have had her since a puppy and we all love having a dog in our lives.

What would you do?

2) at a caravan site, dog was tethered to her post

Or

dog has to be kept on the lead at all times on the caravan site

Which is it op? The second suggests a degree of interaction and attention. The first doesn't.

It sounds like the dog is getting nowhere near the exercise or mental stimulation she needs and is probably being fed rubbish food as well , if she really wanted to bite these children she could have so I don't see this as a major problem , you just need to supervise more effectively . Off topic and in response to hoppinggreen , my dog also likes you to hold his chews / bones for him and I'm sure I read somewhere that you shouldn't do it because it enables them to bite down harder than if they are holding the bone themselves and they can crack their teeth . ( that may of course be bollocks )

flora you could be right but there's no flippin way I'm holding it for him again after that - it still hurts 3 weeks later. I actually cried !

Stone circle- the second description. She is kept on a long lead and this is put on one of the screw things that go into the ground.
We sit next to her in camping chairs.

I have come on for some advice - can anyone suggest affordable decent food as an alternative please.

Spare change - what would you suggest to do as training after the event please?

We would be willing to work with a behaviourist but unfortunately the one i called was £200 for the first hour consultation and we just don't have that (I am on maternity leave)

I have not written the dog off - far from it. But lots of people in real life have told me not to risk keeping her.
I am asking for advice and help in how I can make it possible to not have to go to another home.

Our behaviourist works closely with Dogs Trust and charges £25 per hour.
Where are you? Somebody might have a recommendation

We are in Devon

Often feeding cheap food is a false economy as you tend to need to feed much more if it , our dog has Millies Wolfheart ( ranger mix) and I feed the very lowest recommended amount for his weight and he's fine on that . Certain types of Skinners often seem to get recommended on here as a more budget option .

Think about rehoming. Someone without small children around. Don't feel bad about it. Both the dog and you will be happier.

That seems very expensive. A five hour appointment by one top behaviourist in London starts from £150 (she has been on television and has been used by celebrities). Where I live I had someone come to my house for £75 for over an hour. I spoke to someone very good who happens to work for the Dogs Trust nearby for free for about half an hour.

I would try Dogs Trust as Hoppinggreen says.

I meant see if they DT has a behaviourist who charges less.

I am asking for advice and help in how I can make it possible to not have to go to another home.

Feed her decent food
Make sure she gets plenty of exercise
Make sure she gets plenty mental stimulation
(toys, games - with adults)
Teach your children to be respectful towards her; not tease her/try and play with her/try to take toys off her/invade her space etc
Make sure she has somewhere quiet she can retreat to
Take time to teach her simple commands, rewarding her when she's good
Educate yourself and children on dog psychology/body language

When you're doing all of that, if you are still having problems then perhaps consider a behaviourist.

We use skinners for working dogs for our lab, I think it is the salmon one, it is grain free, it is also vat free. She looks very good on it.
Can I just reiterate my advice on more exercise and although I said stop the children playing with the dog, they can interact but with adult supervision, not pulling the dog around. I'd get the children throwing a ball, dog fetching then sitting and dropping, with your help. I'd also get the children training the dog also with your help. The children stroking the dog should be with your supervision, so if the dog looks fed up they stop immediately. If the dog goes to her bed then the children must must leave her alone.
I'm not an expert but I was brought up with labs and have always had them whilst bringing up my children.

I'm nowhere near you but I have started with a behaviourist at a local rescue centre and its £15 for half an hour and they recommend at least one session a week. I struggling with payments with a new baby and a very unfinished house but it's a small price to pay to make sure you do absolutely everything you can before rehoming, then you can say you tried. Some dogs don't come around, I'm worried my pooch doesn't but I will make sure I do everything I can because I love him. I've come to the conclusion that going on holiday is too stressful for him because it's so busy and I have a very dear friend who would stay with him at my house (he trusts this friend very much). I say this because you will miss your dog very much and don't want you to have the guilt of rehoming when it may not be necessary