We've had Lucy for a couple of months now and although she's a good gentle dog, she has snapped at my four year-old a few times. I'm not really sure why she snapped. It was never during play (Lucy rarely plays) and my dd doesn't rough house. Lucy snapped at her when dd was petting her, gently. I'm very careful about the two of them since from the start I could sense that Lucy was leary of my daughter.
I don't know her history other than that she was apparently used as a breeder and has been somewhat of a companion dog. I don't think she likes children a whole lot, and honestly, I don't blame her if she was ever around rowdyness or rough handled by kids.
So, from the start I always made sure my dd is gentle with Lucy. DD never jumps on her, or tries to pick her up or anything like that. She's never tried to lay on her or dominate her in any way. Only gentle petting/patting on the head. I haven't had to stop her from doing any of these things, my dd has just never done those things. I would be very surprised if someone told me that she jumped on, pulled on, or did any of the obnoxious things kids can do to dogs. It's just not 'her'.
Anyhow, I'd started letting Lucy sleep on the bed with us. I of course had to lift her up there and lift her down too. It was also an easy an comfortable place to leave Lucy if I had to leave the house for a couple of hours as I knew she couldn't and wouldn't jump down.
One night, we were getting ready for bed and Lucy was 'ready' and excitedly pointing to the top of the bed with her nose so I'd lift her up, and I did. Then dd and I went to another room to finish getting ready. I sent my dd in the bedroom to go ahead and put her blanket (her security blanket) on the bed (I'm a single mom and we co-sleep, always have). I heard Lucy snap loudly at my dd when she went to the bed to put her blanket up there. !!! This wasn't the first time she'd snapped at her but it was worse than any other time. They would have been about eye level with each other at the time. She only snaps when I'm not looking (or she thinks I'm not). She's never broken the skin or left a mark, otherwise she'd be gone. (sorry, just can't take that much of a chance)
My guess is that Lucy thought the bed was 'hers' and my dd wasn't allowed on there unless I was in the bed too. ???
I've since stopped letting Lucy sleep on the bed or get on the bed at all. Same for the furniture. That's best for her anyway bc doxies are prone to back injurries.
Can anyone offer an insight as to why Lucy might be snapping at my daughter? Is this a dominance thing and I need to set the pecking order? Is this a previous trauma? I can't tell if maybe she was someone's 'baby' and nothing came before her, and she thinks that is her lot now as well . . . ?
I don't know her history other than that she was apparently used as a breeder and has been somewhat of a companion dog. I don't think she likes children a whole lot, and honestly, I don't blame her if she was ever around rowdyness or rough handled by kids.
So, from the start I always made sure my dd is gentle with Lucy. DD never jumps on her, or tries to pick her up or anything like that. She's never tried to lay on her or dominate her in any way. Only gentle petting/patting on the head. I haven't had to stop her from doing any of these things, my dd has just never done those things. I would be very surprised if someone told me that she jumped on, pulled on, or did any of the obnoxious things kids can do to dogs. It's just not 'her'.
Anyhow, I'd started letting Lucy sleep on the bed with us. I of course had to lift her up there and lift her down too. It was also an easy an comfortable place to leave Lucy if I had to leave the house for a couple of hours as I knew she couldn't and wouldn't jump down.
One night, we were getting ready for bed and Lucy was 'ready' and excitedly pointing to the top of the bed with her nose so I'd lift her up, and I did. Then dd and I went to another room to finish getting ready. I sent my dd in the bedroom to go ahead and put her blanket (her security blanket) on the bed (I'm a single mom and we co-sleep, always have). I heard Lucy snap loudly at my dd when she went to the bed to put her blanket up there. !!! This wasn't the first time she'd snapped at her but it was worse than any other time. They would have been about eye level with each other at the time. She only snaps when I'm not looking (or she thinks I'm not). She's never broken the skin or left a mark, otherwise she'd be gone. (sorry, just can't take that much of a chance)
My guess is that Lucy thought the bed was 'hers' and my dd wasn't allowed on there unless I was in the bed too. ???
I've since stopped letting Lucy sleep on the bed or get on the bed at all. Same for the furniture. That's best for her anyway bc doxies are prone to back injurries.
Can anyone offer an insight as to why Lucy might be snapping at my daughter? Is this a dominance thing and I need to set the pecking order? Is this a previous trauma? I can't tell if maybe she was someone's 'baby' and nothing came before her, and she thinks that is her lot now as well . . . ?