General Chat

I have a pup who will be a year old on 2nd December. She is great through the day when she is alone with me, very quiet, peaceful, loving and affectionate. However during the evening she has started to get a bit nasty with my little boy. He doesn't do anything to antagonise her, she will just go for him and snaffle his feet just because he is walking past her. Last night she marked his toe.

Obviously if push came to shove I would do the obvious as my child comes first, but would spaying calm her down at all before such drastic action becomes necessary. We don't intend to have pups from her but we were hoping to put it off until after Christmas due to the cost. She has had one season in July.

On the other hand could it just be a thing she will grow out of. I don't want to take any risks with my child but also I don't want to have to do the worst thing for the dog if it is avoidable.

Dianne xx

I believe it does calm animals down once they have been seen to Dianne.

Tina x

Sounds a bit like jealousy to me especially if she has you to herself through the day! Maybe a chat with your vet would be useful and take her to puppy classes with your son! As she is only a pup you should be able to get her out of this behaviour

Bev

Diane I am no dog expert but from my very basic understanding dogs are pack animals and they have a hierachy.
Your dog has been given the impression that she is second in line in the house hold,if I were you I would approach my local vet and ask about puppy training,they do really good obediance courses most paramount though is teaching the dog to be bottom of the pack,and they will help you with that no problem at all

IS SHE ONLY DOING THIS TO YOUR SON OR OTHERS IN THE HOUSE

Puppy classes are usually for pups under a year - or so I have found - try a dog behaviourist - money well spent!

LOL Bev we cross posted

Thanks for all your replies.

A bit of jealousy had crossed my mind. She is fine with me, my husband and other adults. She is also ok (so far) with my little boy's friends.

I have wondered, because she is a peaceful and calm dog normally, if she associates my son with noise and holy hoo ha because obviously when he has his friends in it is like caseys court in here, thumping on the ceiling when they jump off the beds, running up and down stairs etc.

Dianne xx

I agree with tanianz.
We got a rescue dog last year, she was about 3 when we got her. She was Ok with my husband, and 2 younger children (7 and 10) but would sometimes have a growl at my older girl (16) and once or twice at me. We felt like she was trying to be top female and that she saw the younger children as no threat. I was particularly annoyed as I was 'food lady' and weekday 'walk lady' so thought she was taking the mick a bit.
We scolded her and wouldn't pet her when she had a growl. She even once looked at my OH as if to say 'Is she allowed to tell me off?' lol
The behaviour settled down and she seems to have found her place. although I suspect she still thinks she's above the little 2.
Good luck with it. How old is your lad. Is he old enough to be able to tell her off and assert his authority over her as a higher up in the pack?

A westie Sue

You do not say how old your son is but is he old enough to take care of your dog, with a little help from you. Dogs do have a hierachy and this may help to put her in her place. I have found that speying does not make that much difference .

Little fella is 8, but I doubt he'd be able to assert his authority as she is making him nervous. He daren't walk around the house and sits on my knee with his feet tucked under him as she will even go for his feet if they are dangling down.

Oh dear, Westie's do have a bit of a superiority complex sometimes don't they? lol
My SIL has one. He's a nice dog but thinks a bit of himself. Is yours like that Dianne?

Ah, a bit young. When I was 10 we got a yorkie and he was lovely but used to think I was bottom of the pile below him. My dad made me stand my ground as he said the dog needed to know I wasn't scared, it wasn't easy though and I was 2 years older than your son.
I think it may be more with small dogs. My last dog was large and soft as anything with the children and extremely protective of my elder daughter who he seemed to consider was 'his'

Ever since she arrived here at a few weeks old, everyone has been sort of Oh isn't she sweet, isn't she cute. Maybe she has been a bit spoilt, I don't know. Maybe she does have a superiority complex. That is certainly something to think about.

She is protective. If we are out walking during the day she is fine when other people are in the street, but if it is dark and she sees the shadow of someone else - they may be quite a way away and over the other side of the road - she will give a quiet little growl as though to say don't you dare come near my mam.

Dianne xx

Thank you all very much for your thoughts and suggestions.

I'm just off to bed now, but will check back in the morning in case there are any more replies.

Wishing you all a good and peaceful night.

Dianne xx

Oh thats sweet. My dog walks behind me if there's anyone she's unsure of, so not very protective. In her defence she did have a rough start and was abandoned.
I really hope your little dog gets her jealousy sorted out. I'm no dog expert, there are probably many on here who know more, it's just I had heard Westies like to make up for their lack of height. Yorkies do also. They're like large dogs in a small dogs body aren't they. But they have great personalities.
Lovely to chat to you Dianne.
Nite
xx

A lot of good ideas above, and may I add a couple more when you take her for training take son and let him do most of it, humans eat first (dog is not fed from table) then dog is fed. Good luck

ps get son slippers to wear until problem is solved.

An old mte had a staffie and had it sprayed

He is still as frisky after 3yrs, so don't think so

Hope you get the help you eed

xx

grab her by the scruff..........hold her head down to the floor and repeat " I am TOP DOG, not YOU(dogs name) you do as I say!!!!

and let the lad do it as well......

Bob