What to do if a dog snaps at toddler? A Comprehensive Guide

Managing the Aggressive Dog is Your First Step

While dog aggression can often be modified through proper human and dog training in many cases, it does take time and dedication. Dog bites can be very serious, so dog owners must take proper steps to manage an aggressive dog until they are 100% sure he can be trusted around small children and other family members. Use baby gates or a crate to keep the dog and child separated when they aren’t being supervised, and follow the advice below to correct your dog’s behavior. If your dog has bitten or attacked someone, use a muzzle when he must be around other people and work with a professional to get his bad behavior under control.

Recognizing the Warning Signs of an Imminent Dog Bite

There are almost always warnings before a snap or a bite occurs, and it is your job to watch for them, so you can step in and separate the two before a bite occurs.

Some of the most common dog body language signs you’ll want to watch for include:

  • Yawning
  • Lip-licking
  • Looking away from the child
  • Trying to get away from the child
  • Pacing
  • Showing the whites of her eyes (“whale eyeing”)
  • Growling
  • Snarling (pulling the lips back to expose the teeth)
  • What to do if a dog snaps at toddler?

    It might seem like your dog is exhibiting these signs for no reason, but they are all warnings that she is uncomfortable, scared, or nervous.

    If that warning goes unnoticed, she may feel like she has no other choice but to convey her message by biting.

    Don’t Punish the Growl! Never punish your dog for growling. Owners will often scold their dogs for growling, but ultimately you’re just destroying the warning. Next time your dog may go straight for the snap, since they’ve learned they aren’t allowed to growl when they are uncomfortable and have no other options!

    What is the impact of canine aggression toward a child?

    dog_-_child Dogs are a wonderful part of many children’s lives. However, fearful or aggressive dogs pose an enormous risk to a child’s safety. Children can behave erratically, move in unpredictable ways and make a host of loud and sudden noises. Children are often very interested in dogs and may want to touch them even when they are showing signs of fear or aggression. Children are at greater risk because they are at the same level as the dogs due to their height and because they are often interested in similar things (toys, food). Children may behave inappropriately towards dogs by pulling their tails, hair or ears. Most dog aggression towards children is fear based, though many dogs will also show aspects of food, possessive and territorial aggression as well. According to the CDC, 800,000 people seek medical attention for dog bites each year, half of which are children. Dog bites are most prevalent among children ages 5 to 9 and are more prevalent among boys. Children under 4 years old are most likely bitten in the head or neck due to their height. As children grow older, extremities become the more likely target. Children are most likely bitten by dogs they know; children under 6 are often bitten in circumstances involving food or possessions, while older children when approaching or invading a dog’s territory. This risk increases when living in multiple dog households. Family pets inflict two thirds of dog bites to children. In a retrospective study by Dr. Ilana Reisner, 66% of dogs had never previously bitten a child and 19% had not bitten a human. This shows that any dog may bite and biting may be a normal canine response to perceived threatening situations. Dogs and children do not know how to behave around each other instinctively. Steps must be taken to teach both dogs and children how to interact with each other safely.

    My dog snaps at my toddler. Help!