My new dog snapped at baby. Is it safe to keep him or should I return?

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

I do not blame you for being very concerned, and I'm sorry for your daughter's injury. Because you cannot teach an eighteen-month-old how to respond to the puppy in such a way as to minimize the possibility of another incident, there is a reason to believe it could happen again. I would return the puppy to the breeder if you can, explaining the reason why. Perhaps Buzz is just not suitable for a home with small children. There is such a thing as temperament testing, which can be done through your local kennel club. Though not foolproof, this can give you some idea how a puppy will react in a variety of circumstances. This may not be the breed mix for you, or it may be that you simply need to go to another source for your puppy. There are many factors involved here, and I would be happy to discuss the situation at length with you. If you are interested, just click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

I would get Bentley in with a professional behavioral expert immediately, and do not introduce her to your newborn baby at all. I'm very concerned that she has already lunged at your 4 month old niece, and that is an aggressive behavior that could have extremely serious and even fatal consequences. The safety of your baby is paramount, and I would not allow Bentley anywhere near your newborn because she already has a history of lunging at babies. You need professional help managing this behavior, and it may be honestly that rehoming her is best. I know that this would be extremely hard, but you can't have an aggressive dog around a baby. Have her seen by a professional behavioral expert first to discuss training if you want to keep Bentley, but until they feel it's safe, keep her completely separate from the baby. It may seem like I'm overreacting, but I know of cases where this has gone fatally wrong. The last thing I would ever want is for that to happen to someone else, so I will always advice extreme caution. Speak to your vet first thing Monday about a referral to a professional behavioral expert. I hope this helps!

With proper supervision and enough energy, a new dog can certainly be a welcome addition to a family with a baby. However, this decision varies widely from family to family since a new dog will require a lot of training, attention, exercise, and supervision. There is never a guarantee that it is safe having a dog around a baby. Dogs and babies or children should never be left alone together without direct adult supervision. That said, many dogs and babies live together safely and successfully. Babies and young children must be taught not to pull on dogs’ fur or tails, take toys or bones from them, or interfere with their food or treats. This could result in pain or resource guarding, which can lead to aggression in even the most tolerant of dogs. If you are rescuing an adult dog, be sure that the dog’s temperament has been evaluated around babies and children. Should you choose to adopt a puppy, be aware that the puppy will have more energy and a bit less awareness than an adult dog and could accidentally jump on a baby or cause accidental injuries. Essentially, this is not a straightforward decision and you must consider your entire family dynamic and ability to factor in this additional responsibility.

I agree with the decision to take him back to the SPCA. There are two things you can do with a situation like this. 1. Hire a trainer. Have them work with you, your kids and Bear to try to fix the situation. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not. My concern with this is now your daughter will be cautious around him. She may never develop the relationship you would want with him because of this episode. 2. Take him back to the SPCA. There is nothing wrong with this. Know that not all dogs are good for all families. They have plenty of dogs and there are plenty of other rescues in your area that have amazing dogs. I do not like the fact that Bear growled or that he is nippy. As a Shepherd/Lab mix they get to be big and he will be a lot stronger later in life. I also do not want your daughter to now have a fear of dogs. This Rescue is called Poor Paws. I have a lot of experience with them and they do an amazing job. http://www.poorpawsrescue.com I hope your daughter feels better soon and thank you for using PetCoach.

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

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.