[Tami Jorgensen]

I have a dashound that we rescued 4 years ago, at first he was very attached to my husband but quickly became my protector. He is very loving guy but does have jealous issues at times. He has recently started on occasion nipping at me. He did hurt his back ( which seems to have heeled per Vet )a few months ago and we added a new grandson to the family. It seems that when he is on my lap and is startled buy a quick hand jester he nips at me. I am concerned that at some point he will bit my grandson. He is a very loving little guy 95% of the time. When I notice he is becoming jealous around my grandson or other for that matter I kennel him but I don't feel that is fare to him either.

Thank You

 

[ines999]

Your dog might consider you and especially your lap his territory. If so, the roles have been reversed, your dog think he needs to protect you when he should be relying on you as his protector. A good thing to try is to have your husband approach you. When your dog starts to get protective, stand up and walk toward your dog, stand as tall as you can and exude a calm strength. I always imagine myself to be as big and steady as a mountain when I want to exude a calm strength, even though I'm actually a very small person.
When he takes a step toward your husband, say no and mean it, you can even take a step forward when you do this. This is how you claim your space and your husband's. Hug your husband in front of him too. If you can successfully claim your space and hug him without the dog trying to protect you, you've won! Repeat as many times necessary. You can do the same with your grandson, which will create a space around your grandson that your dog is not allowed to enter unless you permit it and your dog is calm and safe for your son to pet. Good luck!

 

[Rain]

I have a dashound that we rescued 4 years ago, at first he was very attached to my husband but quickly became my protector. He is very loving guy but does have jealous issues at times. He has recently started on occasion nipping at me. He did hurt his back ( which seems to have heeled per Vet )a few months ago and we added a new grandson to the family. It seems that when he is on my lap and is startled buy a quick hand jester he nips at me. I am concerned that at some point he will bit my grandson. He is a very loving little guy 95% of the time. When I notice he is becoming jealous around my grandson or other for that matter I kennel him but I don't feel that is fare to him either.

Thank You

What's his body language like when he nips? Does he give any warning before he does so? Do you know what might have caused the behavior? In order to fix that type of behavior you need to figure out what is causing him behave like that. For example if he got sensitive to quick hand movements when his back was hurt because he was afraid you'd accidentally touch him where it hurt the solution would be making quick hand motions by him = something good happening to him. To do that you could pair moving your hand quickly with something he loves like playing, an ear rub, a nice treat. Move your hand quickly and give him the treat at the same time. Once he's happy with that, move it quickly wait a couple seconds then give him the treat.

That jealousy you mention is likely resource guarding. He's afraid that the person is going to take you away from him so he is guarding you. Like the quick hand motions the solution is to teach him that other people mean that he gets to keep you and even better he gets other nice things. Your husband walks into the room and sits by you, the dog gets fed nice treats, when your husband gets up those nice treats stop. For that (since you don't want a fat dog) break the treats up into little pieces and have practice sessions with your husband. As your dog comes to see your husband as causing good things to happen you can lengthen the time between giving him treats. At first give them fast, then add seconds between, until finally you end up giving him one. You can do the same with the baby. Here's the dog forum sticky thread on the subject http://www.dogforum.com/training-be...guarding-causes-prevention-modification-7511/

As the baby gets older and more mobile, please don't ever leave him alone with your dog even if your dog seems to be doing fine with him. It would only take a second for the dog to nip or bite him if he's for some reason in pain or afraid, and it will only take a second for the baby to hurt the dogs very delicate back.

 

[kricketjolliff]

Sounds like he is resource guarding and protecting you. He might be a little insecure. Do you have access to a trainer? Perhaps with some confidence building and for a professional opinion?

 

[FourFurryPaws]

Paige was like that too around the time we first got her (she is half dachshund). She would snap whenever people would be around me or her toys. She is still protective, but hasn't snapped in months.

We learned a combination of to respect her boundaries, and to teach her we will never take away her toys or her favorite person. Everyone in my family makes her do tricks, gives her treats, pets her, and respects her space when she is laying there with a toy and wants to be left alone. I occasionally have to remind my youngest sibling to leave her alone when she just wants to cuddle with her toy. For guarding me, it took all of the above, plus different rotations of people feeding her plus me encouraging her to be independent. She isn't by nature, but somebody in my family rewards her when she isn't around me. That way, she knows it's okay to be with other people.

I would do a combination of these things too, just alter them for your situation. How old is your grandson? I would never leave them alone together and well...I'm not sure to be entirely honest. I am not going to give specific advice here since I do not want to misguide you. It's just, the last time I had a dog around a young person, I was 4 years old myself, haha!

But, encouraging, treating, petting, having your husband feed your dachshund, having your husband make the dog do tricks, all that should help with that situation. I am just unsure about the grandson part, since he is probably extremely little and I don't want to give wrong advice.