I Need Help With My Chix

[Remy]

I have two rescue dogs... the ChiX is 5yo and we have only had him for 3 1/2 months or so. I have 2 little girls who are 3 1/2 and 21 months.

The 21mo just loves the dogs, and helps me feed them, get them water and loves to cuddle them.

Squishy (ChiX) was great with the kids when he first arrived, but in the last few weeks he has been getting increasingly grumpy, he now growls at my youngest daughter whenever she starts to head in his direction. I monitor her with him and I am trying to teach her to be gentle but even when she is being gentle and stroking his back or his belly he still growls at her

2 weeks ago when my Grandmother babysat my girls, Squishy bit my youngest daughter on the hand He did break the skin but it wasnt a bad bite IYKWIM, she didnt need stitches or anything. Then just before, she was cuddling him (and not too tightly, I was right there) and he bit her again on the face, just below her eye. He didnt break the skin this time but it really scared me and of course she screamed.

So I know he is probably scared and wary of her but what can I do about him? I will admit my first reaction is that he has bitten my daughter twice, he needs to go. But he is a lovely little dog apart from this, he just doesnt seem to like my daughter very much and now I am scared that he will not only bite my kids again, but Im not sure if I can trust him around other children...

Anyway. Long story, but what is the best course of action? Can I fix this problem, or am I going to have to rehome him (which I dont want to do, but I will if there is the chance he will bite again)

?

[Cairo1]

Hi There,

Sorry to hear about the bites. . . . my first port of call would be to have him checked by a vet. He may well be sore or unwell in some way and this should be the first thing to rule out. If he is apparently healthy then the next step would be to sort out a management strategy. You have to decide what rules you can and can't live with in order to keep your children safe from being bitten. That will depend on your circumstances in relation to available time and facilities. See how you go with this information and I will be interested to know what happens from here on. Good luck!

Cairo1

[dee lee]

Assuming he is physically ok- if it were me (and i have daughters aged 5 and 3) I would look into rehoming him to somewhere without small children.

Its not fair on the dog if he is constantly uncomfortable and not fair on the kids either, not to mention potentially dangerous. Who benefits from this situation?

Hope this is not too harsh.

[Remy]

Thanks, I will get him checked out with the vet and see if anything is wrong with him.

deelee2 - No, that is not too harsh I was thinking the same thing, but I feel so guilty because he was a rescue dog to begin with and was great with the foster carers kids, although I think they were older than my two girls.

[dee lee]

Thanks, I will get him checked out with the vet and see if anything is wrong with him.

deelee2 - No, that is not too harsh I was thinking the same thing, but I feel so guilty because he was a rescue dog to begin with and was great with the foster carers kids, although I think they were older than my two girls.

I know, i have a rescue dog and, when she had some dog aggression issues and i considered rehoming, i felt ENORMOUSLY guilty.

Squishy though, may find a childless home where he will be spoilt rotten and be amazingly happy. maybe contact the rescue group you got him from and ask them what they think?

[Tonymc]

Squishy, notice how originally at first the Dog was fine but with a little time has become aggitated towards the Child.

A cuddle means one thing to a Human but to a Dog its totally different.Dogs do not like being grabbed and having a Humans face stuck in their face.This can be taken by the Dog as an act of aggression,hence the biting. Tony

[Remy]

Tony, so what would you suggest?

I teach her to stroke his back, or get her to copy me when rubbing his tummy etc. I am teaching her to be gentle, but that doesnt help when Squishy will growl and bite. He bit my daughter again this afternoon in the backyard while they were playing.

deelee2 - thanks I have contacted my friend at the rescue organisation and spoken to her, and she has suggested that Squishy thinks he is higher in the pecking order than my daughter, and they have suggested trying 'NILIF' so I will try that and see how I go I guess.

[Di*]

Tony, so what would you suggest?

I teach her to stroke his back, or get her to copy me when rubbing his tummy etc. I am teaching her to be gentle, but that doesnt help when Squishy will growl and bite. He bit my daughter again this afternoon in the backyard while they were playing.

deelee2 - thanks I have contacted my friend at the rescue organisation and spoken to her, and she has suggested that Squishy thinks he is higher in the pecking order than my daughter, and they have suggested trying 'NILIF' so I will try that and see how I go I guess.

Hi

I'm an owner of a couple of chi x rescues and I tend to foster rescue chi xs. I find that many of them are very wary of small children. I suspect they have had experiences of having been fallen on, trodden on, tripped over, treated like toys or held too tightly in their pasts. Added to this many have luxating patellas or even old injuries which they may be trying to protect. Being around small children often makes them nervous and some will respond by biting, barking, hiding, depending on their personalites/past experiences. Generally I wouldn't recommend rehoming one to a household with children under about 10. Little kids can't help being a bit unsteady, unpredictable and little dogs can't be blamed for being worried about being hurt.

I do find that chi xs are often good with kids once they know their place in the household and if they feel safe. They are often very playful little dogs and kids love to play with them.

If you are up to it and have the time to manage the situation, you'll need to make sure your children and dog are always supervised. I would avoid letting your child pick up or cuddle Squishy for the reasons Tony suggests. Instead I'd suggest you let Squishy come to the child when he's ready and when your child is still, e.g. sitting in your lap, rather than bringing your child to the dog. Chi xs also tend to be bright little dogs so obedience training is also a good way of building their confidence, exercising their brains and keeping them in their place.

good luck to you all

Di