Toby now plays wonderfully!
Snapping around children…
When our daughter, Ella, began to crawl she would make a beeline for our 2 year old spoodle Toby, he took objection to this and was snappy with her a few times. Separating them was the obvious answer however I wanted Ella and Toby to learn how to behave around each other and grow to become friends. Toby had also become snappy with our 3 year old nephew that he had previously played happily with. I was concerned that Toby’s intolerance to children would escalate and possible result didn’t bare thinking of.
I contacted a dog trainer I had used previously and her reply was that there was no way to safely build Toby’s tolerance and improve his behaviour around children, especially as he was such a dominate dog. She flatly told me to re-home Toby – I was devastated. I didn’t want a child, especially my own, to get hurt but I couldn’t imagine parting with Toby, he was one of the family.
I had heard of Doggy Dan through our dog groomer so contacted him for a second opinion. Doggy Dan came and spent time with us, talking through and explaining about dog behaviour, training and giving us the tools we needed to become ‘pack leaders’ and put Toby back in his place. He observed Toby and Ella we discussed ways to manage their relationship. Doggy Dan was confident, as I was, that Toby was not an aggressive dog and his snapping had been to put Ella in her place so as long as we didn’t give him these opportunities combines with all the other skills we should be able to work on their relationship slowly.
We followed the rules given to us and there was an immediate change in Toby’s behaviour. He is more relaxed and much less bossy! Toby is now excellent with Ella and she is slowly learning how to behave with him. Toby now plays wonderfully with our nephew and is happy at the park around children. We are confident in Toby’s behaviour and know as long as we remain pack leaders Toby will continue to be great with children and an important part of our family. He is a new dog!
Thank you Doggy Dan!
