Golden growled at baby tonight... :(

[saylorbee]

My sweet lovable wouldn't hurt a fly golden Bentley.. actually growled at Ella tonight for the first time ever. He was chewing on a bone and Ella crawled over to him and was grabbing at the bone. Mind you this a dog that allows me to take away food, bones, toys at all times and always drops on command. If he breaks off a chunk of bone, I often have to stick my hand in his mouth and fish it out.. I was shocked that he let out a little warning growl at her.. Of course I took his bone away and will no longer give it to him during the day when Ella is awake.

Now I'm worried though.. This really came out of left field.. I would expect this from my labby if Ella really tested her patience but not from Bentley! He allows Ella to grab his fur and pull herself up to a standing position..He follows her all over the house licking her to death and LOVES her.. I just don't get it..

Did anyone else have this issue with your dog & baby? How worried should I be that he growled at her??

[Lovemylabby]

I would not take any chances when it comes to babies and dogs...no matter how wonderful your dog is, you just never know.

If he growled at her once, he could very well do it again...and you never want to test the dog to see what could happen after a growl.

I am not saying that he is a bad dog...but sometimes dogs look at babies differently.

I would be very, very careful...and not let the baby get too close to the dog...and always supervise.

BTW, your baby is just darling.

[Random Gemini]

Don't push the limits of the patience of your boy.

I don't think you should be freaking out, but you should be doing the following:

1. As you said, don't give him bones when the baby is crawling around.
2. Do not leave them in a room alone, ever (You probably do this already, but if not, it needs to be said).
3. Teach the baby to give him some space. This growl is just that.. a warning. He has limits. She is pushing them.

I doubt that he would hurt her over a bone, I suspect that what you have going here is that he's getting tired of her. It happens. Don't let her climb all over him anymore. Let him choose when he wants to interact with Ella, not the other way around.

Also... "Childproofing Your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons will save you a few bald patches.

[LauraNJ]

When my kids were babies, I'd watch the dogs. Before they growl, you may notice the dog starting to stare, and it isn't a friendly, come play with me look, next comes a warning growl.

When the dog stared at the baby- I'd give a verbal correction (Ah, ah or a No), then give a "Go" command to the dog, pointing out of the room. If the dog is uncomfortable or needs space that is fine, but they need to remove themselves from the room, not growl at a baby. THe baby is above them in the pecking order.

When my kids were babies, I'd place dogfood on their hand so the dog could lick it off. I think it helped cement the idea that the kids were wonderful creatures.

Perhaps Bentley just wanted some space tonight, which is fine, he just needs to learn that he needs to leave the room, not growl. I would be giving treats/praise to Bentley when he is being good around Ella so that he clearly understands what pleases you and what the boundaries are.

[Shotzi21]

I would be concerned for the simple fact that your baby is crawling which puts her face level with your dog's face. If you free feed, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up the food bowls. Also....it is just about impossible for you to supervise at all times. I would be really careful and pay really close attention and if there are any other instances...well you cross that path if you ever get there.

[LazyLab]

I think Bentley was treating Ella as if she was his own pup, growling at her to warn her she was crossing the line. I think that you need to teach Ella how to respect Bentley by not tugging on him and crawling all over him, just because he allows it doesnt mean he likes it. I realize Ella is a little young still so you need to physically remove her from him when she is doing those things. Also she isnt too young to learn how to be soft and gentle when she pets. Also you need to teach Bentley to leave the area if he doesnt want Ella around him instead of growling. As mentioned above a firm "go" and a point to a different area of the house usually gets the point across. Also be sure that when Ella goes to bed he can have his bone and also that you give both dogs some serious lovin'... even if they arent showing it they may still be feeling a little jealous, so a good 10 minute massage and some serious lovin' focused solely on them will help. But I dont think you need to get worked up over it yet.

[Mom2Hershey]

Originally Posted by LazyLab

I think Bentley was treating Ella as if she was his own pup, growling at her to warn her she was crossing the line. I think that you need to teach Ella how to respect Bentley by not tugging on him and crawling all over him, just because he allows it doesnt mean he likes it. I realize Ella is a little young still so you need to physically remove her from him when she is doing those things. Also she isnt too young to learn how to be soft and gentle when she pets. Also you need to teach Bentley to leave the area if he doesnt want Ella around him instead of growling. As mentioned above a firm "go" and a point to a different area of the house usually gets the point across. Also be sure that when Ella goes to bed he can have his bone and also that you give both dogs some serious lovin'... even if they arent showing it they may still be feeling a little jealous, so a good 10 minute massage and some serious lovin' focused solely on them will help. But I dont think you need to get worked up over it yet.

I agree here too. Hershey has often growled at dh when he has a marrow bone, but no other type of bone or toy. I was concerned how he would react with Michael. Michael has been in Hershey's face when he's had a marrow or rawhie, with me there, and not once ever did anything....but....after the one time of getting too close I removed Michael telling him those are Hershey's (even though he can't really get it) and I had Hershey go on "his" towel with a marrow bone and let him have it in peace. I'd never trust the two of them together only because I don't Michael to get away with hurting Hershey. Michael did once get Hershey's tail and he yelped, it was my fault for not watching..now I really do and make sure Hershey is treated well.Overall, Hershey is very very good wtih Michael.

[bett]

i'd watch and not allow the baby in his face.

[Paws n Jaws]

Maggie growled at Jacob once. Only once though.

It's not about the bone. It's about establishing dominance.

[ttitus1957]

Like others have said I am sure Bentley is fine but he is still a dog afterall and sometimes as much as we think of them as our other children we tend to forget that. Titus has never showed any aggression but he is also 9 years old and doesn't need a baby climbing on him all the time so I tend to keep them separate for the larger amount of time as I don't think it is fair to him. They love each other through our baby gate and then he can go and have his own space and I do let them interact but only with supervision. My husband had labs growing up too and his dog never showed any aggression but one day my husband went to hug him, he was a toddler, when the dog was sleeping and the dog bit him, my inlaws clearly understood was not the dogs fault but my inlaws...the dog never had issues again but my inlaws were more cautious. My only advice, just remember that babies tend to make dogs a bit more nervous with their yelling, etc, etc, and babies, toddlers, etc, tend to also not know boundaries yet so just watch them and I am sure everything will be fine.

[happyhomer]

Originally Posted by bett

i'd watch and not allow the baby in his face.

yes yes. the dog should never growl at the baby, but the dog should also never be put into that position. when our kids were born we took away the dog toys to avoid this kind of thing, and we keep bones to the crate or backyard.

[GussyandHudson]

I think your dog was kind of set up for failure (not saying this to be mean at all...) because he respects you and your DH but he has not been taught with the baby and it sounds like he sees the baby like a puppy. I would give him bones in a gated off area where he can be in peace and you don't have to worry about your baby getting hurt. I also would not let your baby crawl all over the dog and pull herself up on him because you just never know and I think you need to be very cautious about dogs & babies.

[saylorbee]

Thanks everyone..

You all are right.. I really shouldn't have allowed Ella to play and climb all over them. I've been trying to teach her to be gentle with them but at 7 months..she hasn't quite grasped that concept yet. The dogs have both been so well behaved in the past with her that I let my guard down. I usually do separate them most of the time as our upstairs playroom is a "no dogs allowed" area.

I can see how Bentley would look at her more as a pup then a little human.. He never licks me or my hubbie..just Ella. I never really looked at it that way. Just thought he loved her so much! He doesn't listen very well when I tell him to "go" so I usually have to baby gate him out of the living room or else he will bathe Ella in kisses.

I do take the dogs and baby together on daily walks and I make sure the dogs follow behind the stroller..but I'm not sure that really counts for much. What else could I be doing to make sure they learn to respect Ella? I can't really have her feed them yet..as she would try to eat the kibble..lol

[Random Gemini]

Originally Posted by saylorbee

Thanks everyone..

You all are right.. I really shouldn't have allowed Ella to play and climb all over them. I've been trying to teach her to be gentle with them but at 7 months..she hasn't quite grasped that concept yet. The dogs have both been so well behaved in the past with her that I let my guard down. I usually do separate them most of the time as our upstairs playroom is a "no dogs allowed" area.

I can see how Bentley would look at her more as a pup then a little human.. He never licks me or my hubbie..just Ella. I never really looked at it that way. Just thought he loved her so much! He doesn't listen very well when I tell him to "go" so I usually have to baby gate him out of the living room or else he will bathe Ella in kisses.

I do take the dogs and baby together on daily walks and I make sure the dogs follow behind the stroller..but I'm not sure that really counts for much. What else could I be doing to make sure they learn to respect Ella? I can't really have her feed them yet..as she would try to eat the kibble..lol

One of the things that really made our lives easier with Reilly when my kids were toddlers... was a no kids allowed area for him. I made my bedroom off limits to the kids. Reilly was allowed to go in and out, but I redirected the kids to other things and played with them in their rooms and if I had things that needed to be done in my bedroom, it waited until hubby got home.

Have you tried having her give them treats like milk bones?

Gah... she's only 7 months, that stuff may have to wait until she's older. As long as there are places for both the dogs and for her to go where each can play safely without interference from the other in your house, I think you'll be fine.