Aggressive behavior towards children.

[Raggsweezee]

I am having a real problem with my male schnauzer Rambo,
we travel south in the winter in our RV and my two dogs only socialize with older people.
They have really not been around any children,
Now we are back home and every time they see a child or a toddler my male goes crazy
He barks and acts like he wants to attack them, I have held a little child on my lap and let him sniff her hand and he has been ok, but I am so afraid he will bite, he has never bitten anyone and gets along fine with adults. Please help me to know what to do as i have to put him outside when ever my great grand children come to visit.

[Sarah]

If your dog was aggressive towards children he would not only sniff the hand of a child but also attack it. I believe you are being afraid of something that may never happen. Your dog only socializes with older people, it's time he socializes with children. Pick him up the next time you see a child and carry him over to the child asking the parent for permission that your dog sniffs the child. Take the dog to a park where there are children.

Sometimes we can manifest our fears into an action especially in a dog, because the dog feels your energy. So the reason why your dog barks all the time at children is because he is trying to protect you from something you are afraid of. As long as you are afraid, the dog will continue to behave the way you don't want him to.. So relax..but be conscious of his behaviour at all times around children. He needs to know from you that children are ok..

[jude09]

Hello Raggsweezee I agree with Sarah just start slow and let your dog get know
the kids.

We had a baby visitor before and sure Fafner was barking so much at the baby but when
we started to let him sniff the baby slowly and tell him about the baby. He stopped and
just continued to sniff him. I think Fafner might thought that the baby was a hairless puppy.

But that was it, just slowly introduce them and then tell your dog slowly about the kids, I know
it's a bit silly but I believe that our dogs do understand.

[Sarah]

It's not silly Jude, dogs understand more than people give them credit for. They also "feel" emotions and think... just like we do.

[Raggsweezee]

Thanks for your imput, I will try and follow your advice and see what happens,It is hard for me to be real calm as the fear is there that he would harm a child and that would be terrible, I think that he is afraid of children because he was not raised around them and he takes their playfulness as a threat, this is really hard for me as my two little great grand children are very rambunctious at times. and I agree with you Sarah, dogs are so much smarter than people give them credit for, I know my dogs understand just about everything I say to them, but sometimes they just dont want to listen. I'm sure glad to have my friends in the forum to turn to when I have a problem.

[Sarah]

Remember to breathe Raggsweeze. Your dog is feeling your "fear" and is reacting to it. That's the threat he's feeling. There would be no harm in keeping him on a leash when children are around because it gives you more control. Don't hold him back either from sniffing as this is what dogs do to get to know someone, they sniff. You can also get a muzzle and use that when the children are around, just so YOU will feel more comfortable, The quicker YOU feel good about him being around children, the quicker he will stop reacting to YOUR fear..

[jude09]

I agree with Sarah for now keep your dog on a leash when the kids are around until your dog understands the situation 100%
Raggsweeze.

You should also teach your kids how they should treat your dog so they don't do anything that may trigger a dog's fear and aggression.

[Valerie10]

Change his name. Give him a more friendly and happy name. This will calm him down and may be change his character.