Anxious dog nips baby. How to prevent future aggression with kids?

It sounds like your dog is anxious and uncomfortable around the baby - this is a common problem for many dogs at first. Babies can be very scary to them! By snapping, she is doing her best to defend herself and let you know she is scared. Please do not correct this behavior, as this will only make her more anxious and upset. Instead, listen to what she is telling you and don't allow the baby to approach or bother her. For many dogs, it's best to keep them separated from babies and toddlers using baby gates or other physical barriers until the children are old enough to be gentle and respectful with animals. You can praise her and feed her treats when the baby is nearby to help her associate good things with being around her, but don't allow any direct interaction if your dog is uncomfortable. If you feel that you need more help with this, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate your dog in person. He/she can help you put together a detailed plan to help your dog become more comfortable around the baby and make sure that everyone stays safe. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Oh goodness. This is a big question. You may want to consider a visit with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist. As a veterinarian and a mom I can tell you that is pretty easy to keep them separated the first year of baby’s life, but as they become more mobile the next several years are hard. If you have a dog who as a low bite inhibition, meaning he has already proven he will bite, then the likelihood that he will bite a child is high. Other options are to keep them separated 100% of the time (near impossible in my experience), or to keep a basket muzzle on him any time he has access to the children. I also encourage you to consider the size of the dog - and how powerful and destructive a bite will be to a small child. I have been in your shoes and it is a very hard decision to make. I have also been the mom of the child who was bitten. I encourage you to always put your child’s safety above all else. If you want to discuss this further I would be happy to consult with you. Take care.

He may be good with the baby, but it does not sound like he is happy about it! I would get him started on supplements for anxiety like Zylkene and Comfort Zone Adaptil Collar or Diffuser. He may need prescription anti-anxiety medications also during this period of transition. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise - try taking him and the baby on walks or spend extra time playing fetch outside. Try your hardest to keep his routines on a normal schedule - easier said than done with a newborn! It may also help to start some basic obedience commands to help him calm down. Here is an article on things that can be done before baby is born, but you may get a few more tips from it: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1409

You have to do what is best for your family. All dogs, whether trusted or not, should always be under direct supervision around babies. I would recommend that you have Jack evaluated by a veterinary behaviorist. The vet will be able to help you work on behavior modification and give you guidance on what changes need to be made before the baby comes. Use this link to find a veterinary behaviorist near you: https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709

I would strongly recommend to get her on an anti-anxiety medicine. If she is this aggressive when she normally wasn't before babies, she could also have something else going on. I would have your vet take a look at her to ensure she is otherwise healthy. Your vet will be able to put her on some anti-anxiety medicine to help calm her nerves. She likely being very protective over her babies or she could be in pain somewhere. I am sorry that I do not have a great over the counter or quick remedy. These things take time. You could give her a calming chew or calming collar but I am afraid these wouldn't be strong enough. Plus, I cannot say whether or not they are safe for a nursing mother. Finally, I would try to arrange a place for her to be when you have your company arrive. If you have to board her or take her to someone else's house, you may need to do this. Having a lot of strangers in her house especially if they are wanting to see her puppies will only stress her out more. I would keep her and the puppis separated from the guests unless you are confident that she is better.

I’m sorry to hear about Kyro. This type of behavior is often due to anxiety. I would strongly recommend talking to your vet about anti-anxiety/ behavior modification medication which can make a huge difference! Often times, training is also needed in conjunction to medication. For safety, a basket muzzle while out and about is a great idea. Best of luck to you and Kyro.

I hate to hear this is happening. If you do not want to rehome her, I recommend to work with a professional trainer because this will give you the best results the fastest. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. A professional trainer is fully capable of reading the body language and then teaching you how to modify this behavior. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.