Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Low growling at baby
Hi girls. I have 2 rescue dogs (below in siggy).
The black lab mix is actually a therapy dog (though we haven't gone on visits in a long time).
I noticed that she will do a low growl towards the babies if I am holding them close to her. (say I am sitting on the couch with a baby on my lap and she is a foot away).
I know you are not supposed to correct a growl. Usually I say "Hey, be nice!" and I ask her to "Go say hi" which is what we do in therapy work. I try to encourage her to come and see the baby and I give her attention as well.
What should I do about this? I have never seen her snap at anyone before but sometimes she will growl.
Re: Low growling at baby
I used to post here under a different name, and I remember you. Your babies are getting so big! They are beautiful.
When the growls happen, are you actively trying to get your dog to engage with the babies or are you each just doing your own thing? I probably wouldn't push to her to interact with the baby too much, but rather let her approach only if she wants to.
Is it possible there's something in the area that she's resource guarding? Maybe a favorite spot on your couch? Or maybe guarding you?
Growling can be appropriate as a warning, but if you're not sure what's setting her off, then I think I'd fall back on the standard advice in these situations: 1) get her a check-up to rule out medical changes, 2) step up NILIF, and 3) have a behaviorist out for a consult. Often the behaviorists spot things we don't, so I think they'd probably give you more insight into the situation.
Best of luck!
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
^^^ What she said.
NILIF will help, but a behaviorist is something that you should really check out.