Dog snapping :(

[whyffs]

So my 1 year old cockerpoo is snapping when my kids are carrying on with each other.

I'm very worried about this behaviour.

He's fine with strangers, doesn't bark unless he's playing (even then just the odd bark). Kids can play outside and he's fine but when it's indoors he tries to nip them 😩

Has anyone had any experience of this?

Thanks

I personally agree with whatyoudoing.

I don't think it is acceptable to tell your kids that they can't play in their own home because the dog will bite them!

So many comments saying the dog is only wanting to 'play', but you don't know that for sure.
It's quite a dangerous assumption to make.

When I read the thread my first thought was not 'the dog wants to join in', my first thought was I bet the dog is stressed and worried by their behaviour and nipping in an attempt to try and stop them and calm them down and snapping at OP when moved on because it is stressed and anxious.

@Fucksandflowers I completely appreciate your comment. I definitely think he is stressed indoors to behave like this. You're right, it isn't fair to tell the children to chill out but they understand why. I just wanted to know if this was normal for a 1 year old dog. He plays outside with the children, joins in without any bad behaviour. I don't leave him alone with them. I am not ignoring it and desperate to 'nip' it in the bud.

@whatareyoudoing comments were not helpful, lacked in basic manners and frankly plain rude.

Ime dog trainers often gives bad advice when it comes to behavioural issues as they're completely different professions. If they're not registered on apbc.co.uk then they're not qualified behaviourists. A decent behaviourist will insist on a referral from your vet to ensure there are no underlying medical issues. In fact you're vet should be able to recommend one. You could end up with worse problems with the wrong advice.

Actually, I do think it is perfectly fair to get children involved. Both pup and children need an element training to live happily with each other and there’s no doubt that wild excitement all round tends to result in very ‘toothy’ play. Nobody has suggested that the children be restricted in a way that’ll leave life-long psychological trauma. Merely that they consider the giddiest play is probably best done somewhere away from the dog.

Its hard to advise without seeing the behaviour first hand. Some of the advice on here is very questionable too. There are many good fb groups. Do no harm dog training for example that. Or get a behaviourist or trainer in to help you. Look for positive reinforcement based trainers. Positive reinforcement is used to train dangerous wild animals so definitely works. Watch out for balanced trainers or those that go on about being the pack leader as a lot of it is dangerous nonsense.

I just wanted to know if this was normal for a 1 year old dog. He plays outside with the children, joins in without any bad behaviour

I think it is 'normal' as in a lot of dogs find the rambunctious, noisy behaviour of children stressful and/or scary and I think it is 'normal' for him to try and stop the behaviour but obviously completely unacceptable and potentially dangerous.

That is assuming he is doing this because he is stressed and upset of course, only a proper (accredited) behaviourist assessing the dog could tell you for sure but trying to stop/calm them because he is upset would be my personal assumption.