Expert: Delores Beck - 6/15/2011

Question
QUESTION: We have a 2 year old Cocker Spaniel dog, he has been neutered and is quite a lively fellow. We have three girls ages 4,8 & 10 and Bailey gets on fine with them. He is very playful and loves attention.

However recently he has been growling and snapping at other children, at first we thought they might have startled him but he has started snapping growling and barking sometimes whne they calmly go to pet him or are just walking by.

This is of great concern because the last thing I want is for him to actually bite a child. He has also shown signs of aggression to other bigger dogs which was never in his nature if anything he always played. It has happened a few times now when walking him on the lead he will try to attack bigger dogs.

We are so close to having him rehomed for fear he might attack or bite a child. This would obviousley break all our hearts and I would like to see if there is something we could do before we have to take such drastic action.

Kind Regards - Keith

ANSWER: How recently did this start?  How much exercise does he get daily?

Yes, this can be fixed If you're willing to take the time.

I need you to describe a few incidents in great detail and what you do when he does this.  
For instance, where is he when he's snapped at kids?  Is he on leash?  Are your children with you when this happens?  I need to know what/what/where :).

And know this - if he wanted to bite, he would.  dogs are very measured and don't make mistakes.
A growl and a snap is a warning so he's reacting to something and it may be he feels he's protecting you.

Has this ever happened when another child has been in your house?  Or is it basically on walks?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It started last year, we have a caravan which is on a site very near the beach. When down there he is kept on a long lead as the caravan park will not allow dogs to be off the lead and roaming free. Some kids came into to the garden area and he growled, barked and snapped. However this doesnt happen all the time.

He is walked every day approximately 5-6 miles and sometimes I leave him off the lead in beg enough areas especially on the beach.the most recent incident happened when I was out walking with him off the lead and he ran up to a crowd of kids which one of my daughters was part of, he snapped & growled on 3 occasions one of which he bite and pulled a scarf off one. I then put him on the lead and one kid tried to pet him and he snapped.
When he does it I generally shout NO at him and sometimes put him to bed. Yes it has also happened at home when my kids are around.

Hopefully this is enough information as requested.

King regards - Keith

Answer
Has it ever happened when he's on leash?

When you say it's happened at home - what was happening and who was there other than your own kids?

The first incident you describe (kids came onto your property) he was being a guard dog.

The second incident on the beach, your daughter was in the crowd of kids.

So think hard - has there ever been an incident with kids without the presence of your own children?

At this point I'm definitely feeling he's being protective.  I'd like to know also how well trained he is - what commands does he know?