Beagle snapping at toddler - your suggestions

[stnvcfo]

Hi, our normally very tolerant and sweet natured beagle has started growling and snapping at our very active 2 year old. This morning we think she might have given her a nip after DD disturbed her when sleeping.
Some context:
The dog only snaps at her (not me or DH) and is generally very mild mannered; the dog is 3.5 yo; DD is obsessed with the dog and they will often chase each other in the garden; we also have a 3 mo baby so difficult sometimes to separate them as I am busy with the baby.
I'm concerned and want to take measures before we go down the route of rehoming the dog (really don't want to do this as she's a beloved family pet), but of course worried about welfare of toddler (and dog!!).
Your suggestions and advice (or any links / organisations that could provide advice) would be very warmly welcomed.
Thanks all very much.

For now at least it sounds like it might be better to keep them apart completely. Some ideas here (slightly cheesy language but sensible advice!): www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/2011/01/24/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-get-magnetized-to-dogs/

Our dog loves his crate. It is tucked in between the wall and the settee with a cover on top. His bed and food / water is inside so it is like a little cave / safe space for him. He also has an outside bed in the front room so he can choose which bed to be in according to his mood and how busy the house is. I really recommend crates. Get a big size for your dog and keep the door open so they can come and go. You will have to monitor your dog child interactions and see how it goes. My dog is super patient with my children. I would feel very worried if I suspected he had nipped one. Good luck.

Our beagle is two and very, very tolerant but even he wouldn't like to be disturbed while he was sleeping. The phrase "let sleeping dogs lie" exists for a reason - you need to make sure your dog can take himself off for a nap and know he won't be disturbed. This is a toddler problem, not a dog problem - if your dog meant to hurt your DD then he would have done. A growl and a snap is a warning - ignore it at your peril.

Use baby gates to keep them separate and never, ever leave them unattended. Make sure the dog has a room to himself where he can go and he won't be disturbed. Ideally that place will have some toys, his bed, food and water. Your toddler should not be allowed there.

Your DD should never have been allowed to approach a sleeping dog. If the dog is asleep, you need to make sure your DD leaves him well alone. There is no need to disturb a dog while it sleeps. I'd snap if someone poked me while I was asleep and I don't expect a dog to be any different.

I work in rescue and it’s beyond frustrating that the go to is rehome/ it’s the dog.
In this situation it is lack of awareness of your dogs needs so difficult sometimes to separate them as I am busy with the baby
that’s a poor excuse, it’s very simple to separate dogs/kids or dogs/dogs.
Your DD is obsessed with the dog, it’s your job to teach her appropriate interactions, if she was pestering or hurting your baby would you rehome a child?No you’d be teaching her boundaries and soft hands.
Don’t make the dog the bad guy here, it’s your inaction that’s the issue.

Also, for those saying get rid of dog, OP doesn’t even know if there was a nip.
A nip comes after the dog has probably tried to get away from her/avoid, gave a growl, a nip is a warning, a dog can’t say get lost/leave me alone & is not a guarantee to lead to a bite. These comments highlight the lack of knowledge about dogs behaviour/body language.
A toddler should not have free access to a dog and never unsupervised.

When she was small one of our DDs surprised our young terrier while she was sleeping. DD needed stitches but it wasn’t the terriers fault. Terrier is now 12 and sleeps on DDs bed.