Understanding Dog Aggression Towards Babies
Dog aggression towards babies is often rooted in territorial behavior, jealousy, fear, or lack of proper socialization with children or babies [1]. Some key reasons include:
- Territorial Behavior – Dogs can view babies as intruders in their space. They may become possessive of areas, toys, or their owners’ attention.
- Jealousy – Dogs accustomed to being the center of attention can become jealous when a new baby arrives and takes that attention away.
- Fear – Fast movements, loud cries, and unpredictable behaviors from babies can frighten some dogs.
- Lack of Socialization – Without positive exposures to children early on, dogs may not know how to properly interact with babies.
Understanding the root causes of aggression is the first step to correcting the behavior and keeping babies safe.
Identifying the Cause
There are several potential causes for a dog’s aggressive behavior towards a baby. It’s important to identify the underlying cause in order to address the behavior properly.
Look for body language cues that indicate your dog is uncomfortable or feeling threatened by your baby. These include tense posture, avoiding eye contact, lip licking, yawning, growling, snarling, snapping, or biting (1). Pay attention to when the aggressive behavior happens – does your dog act this way when you are feeding the baby, changing diapers, or playing with baby toys? Identifying specific triggers will help you manage the situation.
Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any medical issues that could be causing pain or discomfort, and therefore aggression. Illnesses like arthritis, ear infections, and dental disease can cause dogs to act aggressively when touched or approached (2).
Creating a Safe Environment
It is crucial to always supervise any interactions between your dog and baby. Never leave them alone together. You should also aim to keep your dog and baby separated when you cannot actively supervise. This can be done using baby gates to section off parts of your home or using a crate for your dog when needed.
As the ASPCA advises, “Whether it’s a new baby or a visiting toddler, constant supervision and prevention are key. Never leave your dog and baby alone together” (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dogs-and-babies). Keep your dog on leash when your baby starts crawling or walking so you can control your dog’s access.
Baby gates are an excellent way to allow your dog limited access while keeping him separated from your baby if you cannot provide active supervision. You can also use an enclosed crate as a safe place for your dog when you need to focus on your baby without worry of your dog accessing the baby.
Building Positive Associations
One of the most effective strategies for reducing your dog’s aggressive behavior around babies is to build positive associations through rewards and affection. As the source recommends, you should praise and give treats to your dog when he remains calm while the baby is present. This reinforces the desired calm behavior.
Additionally, adults should give affection like pets and verbal praise to the dog while holding the baby. This helps the dog make the connection that calmness around the baby leads to rewards from the owner. Over time, the dog will start to see interactions with the baby as a positive thing instead of something to be feared or reactive towards. Having adults mediate these initial interactions helps both parties (baby and dog) feel at ease while they get used to each other.
Socialization Training
Socializing your dog to your new baby can greatly reduce aggression. According to the ASPCA, it’s important to introduce your dog to new baby sounds and smells before the baby arrives. Talk or play recordings of a baby crying and other baby sounds around your dog. Reward calm and relaxed behavior when the dog encounters these sounds with treats and praise.
Once the baby arrives, continue rewarding your dog for calm behavior around the baby. The ASPCA recommends having someone hold the baby while another person rewards and praises the dog for sitting quietly, remaining calm, or lying down nearby. Slowly decrease the distance between the dog and baby as the dog stays relaxed. However, never force interaction – proceed at your dog’s pace and don’t physically bring the dog close if unsure of reaction.
Obedience Training
Obedience training is crucial for teaching a dog impulse control around a baby. Focus on commands like “leave it” and “go to mat” that teach the dog to resist impulses and refrain from approaching or interacting with the baby without permission.
Practice the “leave it” command by putting a treat on the floor and telling the dog to leave it. Only allow the dog to take the treat once given a release command. Increase the difficulty by using toys or other tempting items. This teaches self-control.
Similarly, train a solid “go to mat” command, where the dog goes to a designated spot and stays there until released. Reward calm behavior on the mat. This creates a safe space for the dog to retreat to when overwhelmed by the baby’s presence.
Impulse control training helps reinforce structure and rules around the baby. Consult a professional trainer for guidance on tailoring the difficulty level and troubleshooting any setbacks. With diligent practice, the dog can learn better manners and coexist safely with the baby.
For more tips, see this reference on managing dog aggression towards children.
Exercise and Enrichment
Increasing daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation can help address your dog’s aggression towards your baby. According to Spirit Dog Training (https://spiritdogtraining.com/9-energy-outlets-for-your-aggressive-dog/), regular exercise outlets like fetch, naming objects, and micro-adventures with friends can provide productive energy outlets. Additionally, enrichment walks in new places without other dogs, as suggested by K9 Turbo Training (https://k9turbotraining.com/10-exercise-alternatives-for-reactive-dogs/), can stimulate your dog’s mind through smells and sights.
You can also use stimulating dog toys suggested by Preventive Vet (https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/dog-enrichment-toys-games-and-more) like puzzle feeders, chew toys, snuffle mats, and more. Rotate the toys available to keep things interesting and fresh. Make some enrichment toys yourself at home too with everyday materials.
Increasing physical and mental activity can make your dog calmer and less likely to act aggressively from pent up energy.
Medication
In extreme cases of dog aggression towards babies, veterinary behaviorists may consider prescribing medication under strict veterinary supervision. Medications commonly used to treat dog aggression include:
- Fluoxetine (known as Prozac® for humans or Reconcile® for dogs) – This antidepressant can help dogs with anxiety or impulsivity by increasing serotonin levels. It may take 4-6 weeks to reach full effect.
- Clomipramine – This antidepressant can reduce anxiety and make dogs less likely to respond aggressively. It takes 6-8 weeks to work.
According to K9 Aggression, medication should always be used alongside behavior modification training. Drugs alone cannot solve aggression. Under a veterinary treatment plan, medication may help stabilize dogs enough to focus on counterconditioning puppies or kids.
Veterinary behaviorists stress that medication is not a quick fix. Owners need patience as drugs take weeks to start working. There are also potential side effects. Close consultation with a vet is imperative.
Rehoming
If aggression persists despite training efforts, finding an alternative home for the dog may become necessary for the safety of the baby [1]. Rehoming should only be considered as a last resort after exhausting other options. However, the priority must remain protecting the child.
Potential new homes should fully understand the dog’s issues with children and have no young kids in the home. Be transparent about the dog’s full history to ensure the right match [2]. Consider reaching out to the original shelter or rescue organization for help identifying a new home. As difficult as rehoming may be, it beats having to euthanize an otherwise healthy dog.
Making the choice to rehome is wrenching. Do thorough research to find an experienced adult home able to meet the dog’s needs. With time and patience, an appropriate new family may still provide a loving forever home.
Professional Help
In severe or complex cases of dog aggression towards babies, professional help from an experienced behaviorist or trainer may be needed. Two options to consider are:
Certified Behaviorist or Trainer
A certified dog trainer or behaviorist can assess your dog’s aggression triggers, recommend a customized training and management plan, and provide hands-on guidance for implementing behavior modification techniques. They may use methods like counterconditioning, desensitization, and positive reinforcement. Make sure they have experience specifically with dog aggression issues.
Veterinary Behaviorist
A veterinary behaviorist is a licensed veterinarian who specializes in animal behavior. They can diagnose any underlying medical conditions contributing to aggression, prescribe medication if needed, and develop a behavior treatment plan. Veterinary behaviorists often collaborate closely with trainers for a comprehensive approach.
Getting input from these kinds of seasoned professionals can greatly help in addressing dog aggression problems through customized training, management, and treatment strategies.