Lurcher Gone For Son

[Tracyc69]

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Hi!

I am new to this site and am a new lurcher owner so please bear with me!!

We got our Lurcher (Henry) from a dogs home in Manchester 5 weeks ago. He is about 18 months old according to the vet. He is great with everyone, very friendly and very bouncy. We have a four year old son, he is very good with dog and knows not to bother him when he is in his bed and when he is eating etc.

He has started growling at him for no reason. On Saturday I was in the kitchen preparing lunch. Henry was watching me as he always does at the doorway to the kitchen. My son wanted to come into the kitchen to see me, Henry started growling at him, I went to my son and each time we tried to pass him he started growling at my son. When my partner tried to get past him with my son he didnt do it.

Yesterday I was in the kitchen again (I'm always in the kitchen!!) and I had my back to the doorway and I heard Henry growl again and then my son was crying, I think that Henry has bitten my son as he's got a small graze above his eye, although at first my son denied it as I think he thought he'd done something wrong.

I am now worried about Henry and this aggression which he has never shown before, he always goes to my son for a cuddle and likes playing with him. Please can anyone help me as I don't want to take him back to the home and I'm hoping that something can be done whilst he is still young. Please please help!!

 

[Debbie b]

Hiya and welcome to k9,

sorry to hear about your son and your lurcher

Firstly does Henry only growl at him when your around, if so it sounds like he has attached himself to you and doesn't want anyone else near you, as you rescued him there is no knowing of his background, you need to make the dog understand although you have given a home he needs to know the ground rules, if he growls at your son throw something noisy on the floor beside him and tell him off, you need to make sure that he knows that your the pack leader and not him, i'm affraid if he doesn't get better you will not have a choice but to take him back, i hope this resolves it self , good luck

 

[jane002]

I take it you got him from manchester dogs home,

unfortunaly as far as i know of none of the dogs there are accessed properly, as it is a stray pound,

your best bet is to get someone in - to access the situation,

as no one can give adivce over the net - on problems like this with out knowing whats happening,

and what the dogs like, you need to see the dog in person to be ble to do that,

and with a child being involved its not worth taking the risk.

Jim Greenwood - hes only in cheshire,

he is a lurcher man and does work with problem dogs.

Give him a ring, and have a chat to him.

http://amarna-letters.co.uk/dogtraining/jjaboutme.html

Jim - 07896 025435

Email - dogman2@btinternet.com

if you email him - it does take him a few days to get back to you, as he does get very bizy.

 

[bigbell]

hi there, agen i agree wiv u being the pack leader but ur husband and ur son also need 2 be above the dog in the rackings, the dog mite not jst be grawllin at u, as ur in the kitchen preparing food he mite be agressive ova his food this is why he isnt lettin ur son pst and in2 the kitchen cos he will be nearer it, think of a pack of wolves or lions, the pack leader eats while the others circle around until they r allowed in to eat, well this is like ur dog and ur son,

wether he is grawllin 4 this reason or another the dog must no tht, 1, he cant fight wiv pack members and 2, tht every1 else in the pack, ( ur family) is above him,

assoon as u hear him do this agen, run ova and wiv 1 hand and abit of force make him lie down and turn him on his side, he may riggle but u hav 2 control this and dont stop until you hav turned him ova and he is lieing there relaxed, keep him there 4 about 15 seconds and if u r kneelling beside him, remove ur hand off him (which shud be around his shoulder/neck area), and he should stay there wiv his head down, if he attemps to move use ur hand 2 pin him bak down, u may need abit of force like ive sed but dont harm the dog at all, its not needed. by doing this u r stampin urself as leader ova him, if this has worked u will hav more control ova him wen needed,

how old is ur son, if u wud like 2 talk more pm me and ill get intouch wiv u, im no expert but all this is wot ive bein shown and told, ive neva had this problem myself but i no sum1 tht has and afta bout 2weeks they had a different dog, u and ur family hav more than likely bonded and fell in love with the dog by now and the lst thing ur wantin 2 do is take him bak, so if u can try different things 2 help settle the dog in without harming him or ur family its worth a go i think, hope this and the other replies help, but like i sed if u fancy a chat pm me,

mark

 

[~Annie~]

Hi Tracy, and welcome to the site.

I have been in exactly the same position as you, a fair few years back, and I know just how horrible it feels ... you aren't sure what's happening and you have little idea what to do about it. Just like you I agonised over returning my dog to the rescue kennel and hoped that with the right advice I could solve the problem with no harm done. My youngest son, aged 7, was the child (we have four) that Jasper was growling at, and like all the children he had plenty of doggy experience, having grown up with dogs, so we knew that he wasn't the problem.

You probably won't want to hear this, but imho you should return your lurcher. We did all the right things, including consult a professional behaviourist, but we still ended up in A&E with our son after Jasper bit his face ... luckily he just missed his eye but Phil is 18 now and still bears the scar where he needed stitches just below his eye and in the side of his nose. Thankfully the scar is faint and just adds something slightly piratical to Phil's rugged good lucks, but it could have been so much worse (and my other son only has sight in one eye so I know how life defining that can be, so many activities and professions are closed to him).

If you had had your dog from a pup all the advice re. establishing pack order etc. might be worth pursuing but he is a rescue with a history you cannot be sure of ... he may even have bitten a child before. Sorry to add to your distress, but please think hard about whether you want to take any further risks re. your childs safety.

Annie