My pit barks and growls at children! What should I do?

[Guest Anonymous]

I have a pit a little over a year old. I socialized him pretty well with adults and other animals. I have no kids, so i didnt have much of a chance to socialize him there.

But once in a blue moon someone comes over with a small child 1 - 4 years old, and he just go into terror dog mode! He is a house dog, and i keep him gated up in one section of house most of the time. I hate to think he might do if he werent gated. But when kids come over, I still have to put him in his crate just to be safe.

How can I socialize this dog without endangering a kid? Or is this a dangerous dog?


Hes usually fairly friendly with adults, he has always had a shyness problem, but once he gets to know an adult, he goes for the petting.
Usually he always barks when a stranger (adult) first walks in, but after he sees theres no threat, he quits barking, and starts wanting petting.
But with kids, he just seems to go on and on. and growls.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scotty

[GizmoRedNosePit]

:o

Ok first of all, GO TO OBEDIENCE CLASSES.
While your doing that train everywhere you can during the week -
Parks, Stores, Anywhere with kids, Make him sit and be good. I have a 2 year old female and she doesnt bark unless the kids are on a bike, skooter or skates. She doesnt know those type of things. But you should REALLY get in to classes. And train and socialize at parks....Keep a distance at first then go closer. ALLWAYS put him in a sit and tell the kids hes in training. Dont allow him to do anything but sit, no jumping, no kisses unless they are on the hand. Dogs see kids as other dogs/toys because they are so small. The way dogs shake hands are grabbing their skin on the side of thier face that is why small kids usually get bit in the face, the dogs dont know any better.

Jessa

[Guest Anonymous]

I have a similar problem. I have an 80lb airedale. Gusto is very friendly with adults and maybe with kids. He barks and growls at kids on bikes and skates. I got Gusto as an adult dog and how do I introduce him to kids?
Whose children do I practice on? We were at the vets and a little boy came in with his Mom. The boy was going right for Gusto. Gusto was wagging his tail and all but I'm too afraid. They were eye to eye. One lunge and the little boy might have been bit.
As for obedience school - Obedience school ruined my last airedale, Boo. Boo, may he RIP. I took Boo to school. Boo was the gentlest dog. But, he wouldn't mind. The trainer told me to get a pinch collar which I did. It worked fine for me, Boo was doing good. Then the trainer tried to use him as an example in class. She told Boo to sit and he just stood there with his silly grin. She again said sit and this time yanked the collar so hard that he yelped. Once again she said "Boo sit" and yanked the collar. This time he turned on her and she was almost bit. After that any time some one other than my self would tell him to sit, he would snap and growl. If I had never taken him to school, he would have still been an unruly goof but a gentle goof.

[Lucky Chaos]

Don't judge all obedience classes because one trainer did not know what she was doing. Find a good trainer who uses positive method's instead of yanking and hurting the dog.

[Guest Anonymous]

my thoughts exactly sash.

i have heard of dogs being resentful of babies becuase they are routinely shunned when the child was around. or dogs that hate visitors because of the same reason. the best way to get your dog used to something is to get a good prong collar, and sturdy leather lead, and some room to train.
dont start by having the kid anywhere near him. just start with them in the same room, then GRADUALLY let the child move around the room (still not touching the dog) just up and walking around, then jogging/ running. you want your dog totally desensatized to the kids movements and sounds before you let them get close enough to touch. kids can get very excited when they pet dogs or when a dog licks them and that squeal of excitement can trigger a highly driven dog. So just go very slow this will not be something that will happen over night.
Be patient and remeber your dog is happiest when it is with you so it will learn most any behavior that will allow it to stay there. so your dog does want to learn, its just your job to figure out how to teach.

[GizmoRedNosePit]

Yes please dont judge all obedience classes like your last one, You have to find one that ONLY uses positive reinforcement. I am actually going to class at petsmart and ITS ONLY POSITIVE. They wont even allow you to have a pinch or choke because its not positive.

You know he even said that negative reinvorcement is horrible. He used to train dogs for the military and police and he got his pink bitten off becuase he did what you said with a choke collar and the dog didnt deal with it anymore. So Trust me, go looking for a POSITIVE reinforcement class! Treats, Treats, Treats, Treats, Ohhh yeah did I forget TREATS!

Good luck, What everyone has said here is awesome!
Jessa

[Guest Anonymous]

i have(had) the exact same problem with roxy (apbt). since we got her about a year ago she has been afraid of kids. everytime she saw one, she would freak out and bark and growl and put on a huge show. eventually however, i found a kid who i would have access to on a regular basis. when they were finally introduced, she was wearing her halti, which subdues her, and i had him give her treats as a peace offering. this was about a month and a half ago. now, we see him almost every week and you would think this dog was in love! she cuddles with him on the couch and follows him around. two weeks ago, some more kids were around and they all got down on the floor with her. a dog that used to be very afraid of kids was letting three of them pet her and hug her. she was even introduced to a baby, whom she was unsure about. it's all about continued and controlled introductions.

[courtnek]

good advice everyone!!

children often upset dogs..they are not Alpha, but they are not submissive either...this confuses them. They become unsure of how to react because the body language is all wrong. They jump, screech in high tones, and flail their arms, which some dogs see as puppy behavior, yet they dont submit...the running and arm-glailing especially upsets some dogs...it confuses them completely.

as was mentioned, careful introduction, where the dog learns that the kids
are allowed and must be respected, is your best bet. Dogs have been chasing bicycles forever...I dont know if they see it as the child running and sets off the chase instinct, or if they just dont like the bikes. Again, careful introduction to a child on a bike or skateboard will probably do the trick.

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. This is a great forum.