Need some objective Opinion (Sorry kind of long)

[Edith & "Lucy"]

Lucy (10 month old) is a recourse guarding dog. That's what I was told by a behaviorist. The resources she is guarding are my husband and especially myself. Well with a lot of training and consistency we'll be able to conquer it. I have 2 girls age 5 and 9. The little one is consistently being nipped because Lucy thinks she is above her and the 9 year old sometimes but always when I am involved or my husband. She is guarding us and not our two girls. Just a little love from us makes her want to snap at our girls. Jealousy? She has never drawn blood so far. But my little one is constantly with her little face in the dogs face and wants to kiss her and love the dog up. I am telling her over and over again to not go so closely to the dog but …

Well, today I got to the end of my rope and called the behaviorist again. Lucy just snapped at my older daughter because the dog stood next to me and I was petting her and my older daughter wanted to chime in and pet her too. Well she snapped viciously. I told her NO and gave her a time out. We are starting to have more and more incidences and it scares me. It has been going on since we got Lucy at 8 weeks.

Well, Patti the behaviorist told me that in her objective opinion it would probably be a better choice to rehome Lucy. She wouldn't want to see our girls being harmed and scared the rest of their lives. My husband is kind of in denial until a while ago when I told him that we really have to do something with the dog. We have the dog's leash on at all times, she gets walked, played with, trained, sleeps in the crate at night, chases the cat around a lot still (we are working on that too).

I am really torn. I do love Lucy a lot and we are not the kind of people to give animals away. But I do have to protect my children.

BTW, Lucy is an F1b doodle. Could it be that they are more aggressive?

Thanks in advance for your input. Edith

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have a resource guarding dog in my behavior class right now and I have watched the two owners go through all the exercises each week for 11 weeks now--the dog has learned a lot, but is still guarding the two owners. The trainer has to be really careful around him or he will bite her. I have seen her use different techniques, but it seems to be a really hard behavior to change.
One of the things she would suggest is to have the children stand "like trees", that is, stand still, look straight ahead and not at the dog. The you bring the dog over to them and say "say hi" but the kids still DO NOT MOVE OR LOOK AT THE DOG. You are just adjusting the dog to the child's presence while you are petting the dog and paying attention to the dog. You can give Lucy treats if she remains neutral towards the kids while near them and getting affection from you. After this goes on for a while and the dog is consistently ignoring or being neutral when you are near the kids, then you could try bringing the dog up to them for quiet petting. This all takes time and patience and money if you decide to bring in a trainer to help you, but it might work and it's better than giving up the dog-- you certainly can't have a dog in the house who might bite your kids, so you have to do something! Good luck--I hope it all works out.

[Edith & "Lucy"]

Our doodle isn't quite that extreme. We have good days where she is totally good with the kids and than several days in a row where she dishes it out. I mean when she nips and snaps at the kids.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

If an injury, disease or genetic congenital defect, is deemed the cause of the dog's mood swings or aggression, then no training will be effective until the problem has been resolved or controlled. I would have your dog first tested for hypothyroidism

There are many conditions that can cause unusual or aggressive behavior in dogs. Anything from problems with teeth and eyesight to joint pain.

If the temperament problem is genetic in nature, then the likelihood that the animal can be completely cured of the aggression is minimal. The treatment would then concentrate on the "management" of the behavior rather than an absolute cure.

Other conditions (like Hypothyroidism) can be effectively treated with medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Any condition which causes inflammation of the brain, can also cause neurological problems, including aggression. A chemical imbalance can make their behavior unstable and medication may be required to rectify the problem. A dog in pain can react in a defensive or aggressive manner.

Some of the conditions that have been linked to aggression in dogs are: Brain chemistry, Hypothyroidism, Encephalitis (bacterial or viral) Distemper, Hypoglycemia, Hydrocephalus in brachycephalics, Epilepsy, Brain tumors, Behavioral Seizures

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Denise...you copied this directly word for word from this website...

http://www.k9aggression.com/Aggression-Treatment/medical_issues.html

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

And if it helps her whats your point?

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

The point is that without attribution it is plagiarism. Also if you show the reference someone can go back to the original article and see all of the related information.

The way you post things you make it appear that this is your original work.

[Edith & "Lucy"]

Thank you so much.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hi - stress times two, huh? After a complete veterinary check up with blood work - try this. This exercise will not solve a thyroid or neurological problem. It will however help everone get straightened out who is in charge. Have each child feed Lucy everyday or every other day if she is only eating once a day. They are the only ones who feed her. You will, of course, have to monitor this with Lucy on her lead. First work with each child to speak to Lucy in calm low voice, their Lucy voice. Then practice the whole sequence a couple of times without Lucy. They can take turns pretending to be Lucy and figuring out what to do if she does not sit or does not wait. Almost all dogs will have some reaction from excitement to aggression to a very high pitched voice. Then follow this sequence with the child doing everything and Lucy watching - you are just tagging along on the other end of a the leash. "Lucy -food?" use dinner or whatever word she is already used to. Lucy watches your child put her food in the bowl and walk to where Lucy eats. "Lucy sit" ( you reenforce with leash only if necessary). Child puts bowl down about 2-3 feet away from where Lucy is sitting. Child says "Lucy wait" with your child's hand flat facing Lucy's face - the hand does not need to be right in Lucy's face but between her face and her food bowl. Child removes her hand and says "Lucy okay". Both of you back up a bit but stay near while Lucy eats. The child picks up bowl and puts in sink or wherever is appropriate. This will quickly make both children valuable to Lucy and help her understand her place in the family. It will also help each child to feel more comfortable and bonded to Lucy.

[Edith & "Lucy"]

Thank you.

[Edith & "Lucy"]

I forgot about the food. That is such a great idea. We'll be on it. Thanks.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

You are welcome. Unless Lucy has something really awful, I am sure you can work this out. The tone and words of your messages are positive and patient. Because it is an on again off again thing with your children it should be a pretty quick fix with the food routine. If she gets at all sassy with one of the children during the food routine. Child ( or you if necessary) pick up food immediately and put where Lucy cannot see or smell it. Try again in a half hour. If she misses a meal or two it won't hurt her. Take care.

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

I feel your pain. We had two springers, our 13 yr old had to be put down due to kidney failure right after the Hurricane last October. We had a younger springer 7 years old...she was somewhat shy when we got her. I always worried about her somewhat because she was not that passive of a dog....very unlike my older girl. She blew out her knee and we also discovered she had severe hip problems. As she got older I firmly believe the pain and arthritis coupled with her personality caused her to become aggressive. She bite my husband on the mouth, but we continued to work with her. Than my grandson was born, and I feared for his well being. She would growl and had this look in her eyes that was not to be trusted. I could no longer take a chance that my grandson would be the recepient of her temper.
Since your puppy is young deteremine if their is something that is causing your puppy distress, illness, pain from ?, and after having her physically checked by a vet. Then you have to determine if additional training will help change her. I know some may not agree with me....but I think you will instinctively as a mother always worry even after training. I also feel that some dogs have stronger personalities that are better suited for people with no children. I love my dogs completely and they are like my family, but the welfare and well being of my grandson was first and foremost. I think my biggest issue would be there would be constant doubt in your mind that your pet was totally rehabilitated and would not resort to the same behavior as he got older. That was my hang up and after witnessing what she did to my husband...there was no doubt in my mind that we could not risk another attack on someone else...especially my only grandson. Ultimately, the decision is your family's to make and it is by no means an easy one. Good luck!