Westie hates kids......

frugallass

I've got an eight year old West Highland White and he's always been a bit 'aggressive' with visitors to the house - but I've always said to visitors to ignore him and pretend he isn't there - once he's had a sniff and realises they're okay he tends to wander off. As long as a hand doesn't come near him then he's fine. Often I'll give the visitors a treat to give to the dog (once he's settled).

My problem is children, he hates them. It's difficult to ask toddlers / young children to ignore him, he's cute and they automatically want to stroke him. The hand coming towards him makes him really aggressive. If we have little people to the house I have to lock him in another room as a precautionary measure.

He has a muzzle but still tries to 'attack' and I'm terrified in case he manages to get it off (which I know he can).

He's always been quite a grumpy dog but he has improved in some situations (he used to hate bed time and would sit down and refuse to move from where he was, and would snap if you tried physically shift him - now, after lots of practice, we quietly go round turning off the lights and tv etc without speaking to him and he just toddles off to bed).

It's difficult to 'experiment' or 'practice' with kids as they're so vulnerable and I don't want to face that situation of putting him to sleep because he had bitten a child.

Is there anything I can do to help him change?

thank you x

Raksha

This is a tricky thing to tackle without experienced help, as it needs to be done by carefully asking the dog to push the limits of what he is comfortable with, without going too far. This kind of situation is an example of how important it is to socialise a young puppy before it starts to develop fears of different situations.

You might be able to help him a little by playing a CD of the sounds of children playing, very very quietly, while he's doing something he really enjoys, like eating or playing with a ball. Do you know anyone with slightly older children who would do as they were told around him, and just let him watch them from a distance at which he is comfortable, while you give him treats, play with him if he doesn't 'react'?

frugallass

great idea thank you

He's a bit of a TV watcher too so I might encourage him to watch more TV with kids or babies on - least they will be safe !

He seems to be more aggressive in the house so he's obviously very territorial

patsy13

dear frugallas
we had a grumpy westie called douglas he hated children too in fact he hated everybody he would sleep on the end of the bed andd if you tried to move he would bite. he did mellow a little bit before he passed away, but we were like you hated him trying to socialise, but now i really miss

patsy

frugallass

he's the same with the bed thing - he doesn't normally sleep on the bed but because we'd had a few sherbets last night we left the door open and he sneaked into our room, I only knew he was there when I tried to move and he tried to bite my foot :eek:

ali-t

frugallass wrote: »

he's the same with the bed thing - he doesn't normally sleep on the bed but because we'd had a few sherbets last night we left the door open and he sneaked into our room, I only knew he was there when I tried to move and he tried to bite my foot :eek:

I would suggest that you need to get a behaviourist in to tackle this and make sure it is a reputable one. If you had a rottweiler or staffy there would be an outcry and people would be telling you to get the dog pts. This is one of my bugbears that many people (not the OP who appears to be trying to tackle this) think it is cute when wee dogs snap. It isn't cute, it is dangerous. :mad:

frugallass

the problem is finances at the moment (isn't it always) - but it seems that it's going to be a good investment in the long term - I'll speak to the vet when he goes for his booster this month and see if they can recommend any behaviourists

thanks all :beer:

MrsTinks

Definitely get a professional in... as you say he's dangerous with children and he is perfectly capable of jumping up and biting them on the face as they are so low down...
My ex boyfriends mother had a westie and a more foul tempered little barrel on legs you'd have to look long and hard for... snappy, dominant, possessive and generally in charge of everyone... which is why she hated me as I didn't let her be dominant... if she sat on a chair they'd let her. I'd brushe her off and not let her back on on my lap. Man that dog hated me! :rotfl:

Best of luck

walwin

frugallass wrote: »

the problem is finances at the moment (isn't it always) - but it seems that it's going to be a good investment in the long term - I'll speak to the vet when he goes for his booster this month and see if they can recommend any behaviourists

thanks all :beer:

I don't know if he's insured or not but some insurance policies do cover behaviourists, so worth digging out your policy and having alook

orlao

TBH, even with professional help he's never going to be safe to be trusted with kids ( or any visitors to your house) but since you're aware of it and acting responsibly by muzzling him when out and shutting him away when nessesary, I would be inclined to just be very careful and try a few different muzzles until you find one he can't remove:eek:

Of course, if you have (or plan) kids it's a different matter and needs to be sorted asap.....