Hi!  I just saw that I could register.  I hope it is ok to repost what I wrote as a guest.  I just found this board and didn't know I could register.  Thanks!

My dog is going to a one on one (well, I will be there too) with a behaviorist next week.  I went to a seminar this week that she does before all classes/consults.  Several things she said at the seminar were true about my dog.  I was hoping to get some more insight into these things so that I can know what to ask her/mention to her when we see her one on one.  I don't want to miss anything, I am really hopefull that she can help us, but I want to give her the info that she needs.

Ok, first thing - I have had my dog since he was a baby (10 weeks).  He was so good, so very easy to train.  He was my first dog, and I stupidly missed a big sign.  When he was about 3 months old, he growled at a baby.  I thought he just didn't know what a human baby was yet.  The behaviorist said that if a dog displays a bad behavior before the age of 1, they are a time bomb.  Well ... my dog is sort of a time bomb, only I know what to look for (his body movement changes) before he goes off, so I have been able to avoid anything really bad (biting, etc) happening.

Second thing - She said that dogs who were very good since puppyhood, and very easy to train, don't get many commands (true w/my dog).  Since they are allowed to pretty much do what they want, they get confused and start to think that *maybe* they are pretty high up on the hierarchy.  Again, this is my dog ...

His behavior now is that he growls at kids.  Sometimes it can come out of nowhere.  It is only slightly dependant on age.  For example, if a 3 year old just walks by, he will growl, but for an 8 year old he only growls if they try petting him.  There are some adults he growls at too (mostly men), but he has growled at women too.

One question I have is this - Does this sound like an environment problem (ex: never been accustomed to kids) or a bad gene that he got?  Also, what do people think of medicating him to keep him more relaxed in these situations?  I am reluctant to medicate him because he is so mellow already!  If it is a bad gene though, is medication going to be something brought up by the behaviorist?

Also, I know that he can never ever be trusted with kids.  Really, I would prefer he just ignore them to what goes on now (growling).  I do not have unrealistic expectations (ex: that he will LOVE kids).  I wonder though what is the most I can expect from him in regards to children?  Has anyone been through a similar situation and been able to correct it?

Thanks for any advice or insight 

Hello and welcome; unfortunately no one can successfully diagnose a dog via remote; that is why good behaviourists refuse to enter into advice over the net.

Behaviourists can be great IF:

they are properly trained, experienced, and belong to a recognised professional body such as the APBC in the UK etc.

Unfortunately many so called "behaviourists" have all the knowledge, experience and qualifications as I do in Astro physics!

A behaviourist will have a long session with you to determine your dog's diet, sleeping arrangements, play habits etc etc in order to plan a course of action appropriate to you and your dog.

Labels are not usually very helpful, each dog and its environment, owner is an individual case. 

The fact that your dog is growls during some human interaction indicates that he is uncomfortable for some reason, however no one can diagnose why or prescribe a course of action in this media. 

You are paying a qualified behaviourist for their opinion on you and your dog, whatever anyone here says can only be guesswork and conjecture and will not be of any constructive help.

Good for you for recognising you have a problem and trying to fix it.

Let us know the outcome.

tohme's comments are sound, and I wouldnt advise, but I can tell you of my experience.

My parents have a working type cocker spaniel, who was extremely distrustful of my young daughter when we started visiting with her. No growling, but I could tell by his body language that he was very uncomfortable in her presence. Almost certainly my step-dads fault for introducing him to a playground full of children at a very young age!

Now my daughter is extremely blase around dogs. She sees enough at home to generally ignore anyone elses completely. Over time the spaniel has got used to her presence when we visit, to the extent that he pretty much ignores her. I'm not going to say that I completely trust him with her, but the issue is very much contained. This was fear induced rather than aggression. Your dog MAY get to accept children, particularly if they ignore him & dont threaten, but they do need to be the 'right' children. ;-) I am convinced that the 'wrong' child would set him back in a heart-beat!

Very best of luck anyway. At least it sounds as if you have realistic expectations!

Hi, Thanks!  I will post again after wednesday about the outcome ... I believe the behaviorist we are going to is good.  She has had 20 years of experience working w/animals.  Also, she gave me a lot of info just at the seminar.  So, I am really hopeful.

I also wish I had taken him to a playground when he was a baby!  It's too bad that I had no experience w/dogs before I got him.  Besides this problem, he is the sweetest dog ever at home and to people that he knows.

Thanks :)!

Hey,

Been waiting all week, ............ what happened???????

Em