Kara is a generally jumpy dog, ready to react to any sudden noise or appearance. While we can work on children specifically and traffic, this will be a lot more successful if we can improve her general nervous state.
Her dislike of being touched or cornered by little children started a year ago when the neighbour’s one-year-old child kept grabbing her ears. Luna had enough and eventually snapped. She had found it the only way to make the child stop.
If Ralph sees a child or any young person that is too close, he barks at them to go away. Especially if they are approaching him.
This person had done something the couple, Alfie’s owners, had fortunately never done. As many other people would have done in the circumstances when a dog won’t give, this person looking after Alfie would have none of it and used force.
The young son and daughter play games that may encourage Frankie to be over-excited, rough and to use her teeth. If we don’t want to be nipped by a puppy, we don’t play hand games. We don’t play contact sports but use an item like a tug toy or a ball. We avoid getting her too excited.
The growling, lunging and snapping had started quite suddenly three months ago when he bit the lady’s arm. He had walked away from his still full food bowl, she had walked towards him and he flew at her, biting her arm and drawing blood. It was a huge shock as he had never shown any aggression previously.