Aggression towards 1 kid....

[Watts]

Wrigley, my 1 1/2 year old Weimaraner has never been aggressive whatsoever with any kid or child or person. He always barks at everything, but he's the biggest weeny and gets scared of everything. Like those little windmills in the yard, he'll run up to them all tough, then we he gets close, he'll tiptoe up to them acting all scared and confused. It's quite funny. Problem is, we have new neighbors. And yes, they have a kid around 7 or 8. Our neighbors and us, share a driveway. Not really, they're just side by side. And the kid is always walking around outside playin around. Well, yesterday i was talking to him, he was out finding snails. Wrigley was inside barking as usual, because he stays in the kitchen and our backdoor faces the two driveways. I asked him if he'd ever met wrigley. He said he had(my wife probably introduced him). So i let wrigley out, the kid took off runnining immediately, got about 20 feet away and stopped. Of course wrigley chased him and then just stood behind him barking at him. At first i though he was just curious and being playful. But when i went over to him to shut him up, his hair was all standing up and he was not playing. It was almost aggressive. It wasn't to the point where if the kid moved he'd have bit him, but it had me a little worried. anyway, i grabbed wrigley and he calmed down a little bit, but he was still trying to get to him, like to sniff him or what not, like he always does with new people. By now he wasn't aggressive anymore and his tail was wagging. I told the kid he just wanted to say hi and get to know you, but after that the kid wanted no part of wrigley. He was scared so i told wrigley to go inside and he went over and waited by the door.

I'm not sure what to think, but we have kids over all the time, my wife owns a daycare. And wrigley is always fine. Hyper and too big for the little ones, but never EVER aggressive. Now he's got me worried. was this a one time thing to where he just saw the kid outside and didn't like him walking around in his yard? Or was it just this particular kid? Next time i see him, i'm gonna give the kid some treats to give wrigley to sorta warm him up, both wrigley and the kid. Was it that the kid immediately ran away causing wrigley to freak out a little bit? How do i fix this? He's never been like this so i'm really worried. YOu guys on here have helped me before and you always seem to have some decent advice. So what do you think?

 

[brock23]

Probably a one time thing, but like anything else keep a eye on it. Good to see you have a Weim especially one named Wrigley (I assume he/you are Cubs fans).

 

[Watts]

Yep, of course, big Cub fans. We go to about 10-15 games a year. Its' a 3 hour drive, but, it's worth it. Bought XM just for the Cubs so i never miss a game. Although lately that wouldn't be a bad thing....

I hope it was just a one time thing. He had been barking at that kid for awhile, he was probably just curious to what he was doing, then the kid got scared and it probably scared wrigley. Hope that's the case....

 

[memyselfandmiah]

I wonder if the kid has been taunting him through the fence?? (I did that one time when I was a little kid. ended up in the ER for stitches from one Australian Shepard that finally got the taunter next door)

 

[Renee750il]

Like Memy, I wonder what that particular kid has done to Wrigley . . . I'd hold off on the treat sessions until I found out a little more. Just keep Wrigley away from him and watch that kid like a hawk. Dogs don't develop a dislike or fear of one particular person for no reason.

 

[Adrienne]

I would gather that Wrigley was caught off guard when the child took off running right away. This is a prey like movement that entices the dog to chase. When he stopped and turned around Wriggly may have taken that as a challenge.

If the child will let you I would have him sitting down and Wrigley on leash during the next introduction. The child should be calm when first being introduced and can the give Wriggly a highly valued reward like a yummy treat or some play.

 

[bubbatd]

No dog should ever raise it's hackles at a child . If Wrigley likes being groom, I would suggest a lawn session with the 4 of you, and explain to the boy IF he has been teasing through the fence. Follow up with a dog treat , pats etc to both boy and boy.

 

[Watts]

Thanks guys. Good info and i'll do my best to not let the situation get any worse. I"ll keep an eye on that kid. I had suspected maybe the kid had done something. We're gone all day and there are times when the kid is next door when we aren't. Although doubtful through the fence, since when wrigley is in the fenced in back yard, we are home and would have noticed it. If he were to tease him, it had to be through our back door, which faces the neighbors house and our two driveways. I think he was just suspicious of somebody, anybody, lerking around his house. He always is. It's just he's never gotten worked up over it. He usually barks, then once he smells you, he starts wagging his tail and wants to be all over you. Next time the kids outside though, i'm gonna put wrigley on his leash and walk him over and introduce them and see how he reacts. Both the kid and wrigley. I've heard that when a dog senses that he is the superior, he'll act like he is? Dont' know if that's true or not. Could be a little of that since the kid took off and ran away because he was scared? But most kids are scared of wrigley, he's a big dog. And he's never done that before. Anyway, i'll keep an eye on it and let you guys know if anything else comes about....

Thanks again!

 

[whatszmatter]

I think your dog is just a little "scared", its not a terrible thing.. yet. How well is he socialised, he sounds like he needs more. I'm not saying you haven't done things right up to this point, some dogs just need lots more than others. I don't think he had his hair raised because he felt "superior" to the kid. I think he had them raised cause he was a little unsure of the situation and a little scared.

The behavior he's shown by the various lawn ornaments and such seem like he's unsure in some situations. Some dogs just need to be shown that things are OK. Don't make a big deal out of them, but get him around as many things as possible, and in controlled situations.

Take him to parks, by swings, slides, to neighbors houses to meet kids and other lawn ornaments, by cars, bikes, motorcycles in new environments and make it fun. You can watch this one particular kid, but don't be too quick to blame the kid our dogs can be weird about certain things sometimes too. A running kid is fun (prey drive) when it stops to turn around, its defense time. especially with a "new" person and your dog was unsure of what to expect next.