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Canine Behavior/Dog afraid of certain children/young adults

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Expert: - 1/11/2008


Question
My german shephard/border collie mix was a rescue dog from Louisiana. She is an absolute loveable cuddly dog and very protective. There are "certain" children and young adults that she will not let go near her. She snaps at them. A complete adult stranger can go up to her male or female and she will not snap at them, yet she snaps at my 18 yr old nephew and wont go near him, and my 3 kids have lots of friends that come over and she jumps all over some of them licking playing with them yet there is a "certain" few that she snaps at. Is it their smell? Just seems really strange that she picks out a certain few that she just does not like. There is not one adult that she is done this with either. We have had her for 2 yrs.
Any info would be helpful...
Thanks!

Answer
Without any opportunity to observe this dog personally, and without any reliable true history regarding her past experiences, there is only one answer I can give you.

Your dog should NOT, under any circumstances, be allowed to mingle with your visitors, especially children and young adults.  You must protect her, and yourself, from the possibility (and likelihood) that her "snaps" will become actual bites.  Having a dog in one's household does not mean that the dog is automatically available to visitors, especially children.  I never allowed any children visiting my daughter to interact with any of my dogs at any time, and that was for their protection (because you can't 100% predict what any child will do and the dog, if it bites, almost always pays with its life.)  Contain your dog in a separate room with a special treat when children other than your own are in your home.  Admonish your children STRONGLY that your dog is NOT to interact with their friends.  We have no way of knowing what's setting this dog off but I do know this: aggression never self extinguishes, especially fear driven aggression, and that is what your dog is demonstrating.  It ALWAYS progresses.  Not only will you find yourself at the end of a lawsuit, but an innocent person will be harmed and your dog will be seized and euthanized.  Protect yourself and your dog.

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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