How should you react barking/growling?

[girlbuffalo1]

Wrigley hates kids. I understand that is it my fault that he was not socialized around children much as a young pup as we have no family or friends with children and I don't generally try to talk to strange children wandering aroudn the neighborhood.

As an older pup 5-8 or so months he would just back away quickley if a child tried to approach him. We never forced him to be pet and we never tried to keep him in that scared like situation. We would treat when he would do good--such as holding a sit/stay and not backing away ect. I would say from 8-13 months he started growling--kindof the nervous get away from my growl--if you are familiar with it. We would generally tell him no and keep on walking or we would try to do a command like sit or stay and get him to focus on us--

It seems that in the following months (he is now probably around 18 months) it keeps getting progressively worse. Now if he sees a child on a bike go by he will bark and grown ferociously at full alert. Some kids he still will ignore. It's all very random (not always on a bike, not always boy or girl, not a specific race or age).

We have tried to deter him in many ways besides distraction as that stopped working quite some time ago--leash pop to get his attention, picking him up to take him away from the situation (even while being held like a baby in my arms on his back he will continue to try to look in the childs direction and growl)--we've tried using something like a stick to tap him with to get his attention--we've tried treats ect.

Now it seems that he has started doing this to radom adults as well although not to quite that extent. He has NEVER had issues with adults in any situations prior to starting a few weeks ago. There have been no strange situations, or happenings. I took him to visit my mom at the nursing home and when the nurse came in he started barking at her. I picked him up and he continued to bark--tried all the tricks (commands, treats ect)--nothing worked. He also did this while a relative tried to come up to a car he was in alone--barking ferociously and growling--until he saw me--instantly stopped and wagged his tail.

He is very docile in the house and in general--he has his basic obedience and is doing beginners agility with no problems.

What should I try next? I am not against doing physical things to get his attention (but I will not hit or punish him in some severe way).....

Is there any way to do anything that doesn't involve actually knowing some kids? Why would the adult agression start coming now too when he has never had a problem?

[Tazwell]

Well, I've tried these 2 things with some of my rescue's dogs, both have had good effects. I saw both techniques featured on "It's me or the dog" Recently, too.

First, don't pick her up when she does that, always just use a leash. I try to avoid physical ways of getting a dog's attention, period. But that's just me. I like to use food, to get their attention. Or you can teach them the "Wrigley! *treat* Hey, Wrigley! *treat* Wrigley! *treat* " Technique, to teach him when to give you attention.

So the first technique is to have him sit there with you, or go to a place where you know there are children, or you can use child-volunteers, I guess. Have him on the leash, and make sure he sees the kids, while they're running around and doing kid-things. Remain cheerful, and keep his attention for most of the time, and when he's not growling, and his attention is on you, reward him. If he starts growling, get his attention by saying "Ah-ah!" and when he brings it back to you, reward him. That will desensitize him to kids, teach them that they're okay. He gets treats when he sees them!

The second is the walk-away technique. You see children up ahead, and he's walking along with you on a leash. You praise him, and reward him, while he's good. As you walk closer, he's probably going to start growling. As soon as he does this, you go "Ah-ah!" and immediately do a 180 turn and walk away. Repeat this until you can walk past the kids with no reaction.

The second technique works best with fearful and overly-excited dogs, rather than aggressive dogs-- but without knowing the real reason of his anxiety, you can try it out anyway. You can even do a combination of techniques with him.

Neither of these techniques will make him okay with kids, either, and maybe nothing will. They will just help him more manageable for you, and less reactive. If the problem is truly scaring you, and you don't think you can control it on your own, a professional trainer or behaviorist will sure be able to help :)