My dog is trying to bite my son and is very good with others. How should I deal with this problem?

Grant: My dog is trying to bite my son and is very good with others. How should I deal with this problem?
My son is 15 years old and is very gentle with my dog( bloodhound) and even feeds him. But my dog will start to growl when my son goes near him. My bloodhound has CHD and is having trouble moving and that can be a cause for aggression but my dog is just attacking my son. How should i handle my dog.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Menthus
honestly if it where me and im 17 id grab the dogs muzzle and smack it. I LOVE my dogs but the second they show aggression i put them in there place, which works fine for me. My dogs are very submissive, kind and gentle to the point where my 1 and half year old brother can literally jump off the couch onto my dogs and they will do nothing. No im not an animal abuser, so dont get the wrong idea i just believe in dogs natural pack mentality.Im pretty sure, if you have a father in the house, the dog would see you and him as the alphas but he thinks that your son and him(the dog) are on equal playing ground.

Answer by Fairydogmother
If the dog isn’t on pain drugs, please ask the vet for some and ask for a good glucosamine supplement. As for the specific behavior with one specific gentle teen, I’m at a loss. You might try some of the methods in ‘Feisty Fido’ at https://www.patriciamcconnell.com

Best wishes!!

Answer by tarra
This sounds like a classic case of possessiveness. I wonder if you are near the dog when your son approaches? If so your dog is being wrongly overprotective of you.

Due to your dog being ill, do you allow him to rule the house? Sort of like pamper him, give him free roam of the house?

Often dog’s who are given a status higher than their owners, get confused about who it is they are meant to be protecting. The type of behaviour your dog is displaying is cause for concern. Try doing these things to see how your dog responds.

Have your son call your dog to him and reward him with a treat. If your dog can go to your son and take the treat gently, that would be great. If your dog growls/barks then make sure your son doesn’t give him the treat as rewarding unwanted behaviour reinforces it.

Another thing to try is put your dog on the lead in the house as just doing that transforms their behavior. You won’t have to keep the lead on permanently, as when dogs are corrected they learn quickly providing it’s consistent.

By putting the dog on the lead you are restricting their movement, altering their position in the household. Yes I know your dog has movement problems but like all dogs when they are stimulated by something (an unwanted guest/food) they can find the strength to move. Each time your dog goes to bark or tries to bite your son, tug his lead very quickly to correct him and say firmly ‘NO’. Repeat it as often as needed. In between times of barking/growling when your dog is behaving appropriately towards your son, that’s when to praise your dog, reward him.

In fact have your son hold the lead in the house and let him be the one to reward your dog with treats when the right behaviour is being displayed. Dogs are more biddable when restricted on a lead and want to please more. Have your dog lay down on command when on the lead in the house and tell him to get up, reward him with a treat.

Your dog will soon learn his place again.Give it a couple of days or 5 using the lead in the house and you will see a difference.

My dog was possessive of me so I know what your going through. He also growled at my young nephew when he approached me. I sought help from a dog psychiatrist and doing the above things I have shared with you, my dog soon learned his place again. But you have to be consistent and praise the dog when he does behave correctly. Hope it helps.

Answer by Mike
Take your dog and a shotgun to the woods…………………………….then YOU WILL know what to do!