From: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Basset Bites Boy!
Date: 9 Jan 1993 01:26:54 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, cressler@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com (Scott Cressler) says:

>Has anyone had to deal with a dog which is aggressive only toward
>small children?  We have two Basset Hounds which we have had since
>pups for about 5 1/2 years.  We also now have a 14 month old son.
>The female, Truffle, has shown herself over the last couple years
>to dislike children.  The last case was when she bit my son, slightly
>breaking the skin on the side of his head. She is now in a muzzle
>when she is inside and he is on the floor.
>
>Our vet has recommended two in-home trainers and I'm not sure what
>to do.  One is a trainer from Sirius Puppy Training, Doug Hofsteder.
>Their training is "lure/reward" training, according to him, as opposed
>to choke train training.  Our dogs have been through extensive choke
>chain training at the Saratoga School for Dogs.  In reading some 
>articles from a Dr. Ian Dunbar given to me by the Sirius guy, this 
>type of training relationship with the dog and the lack of appropriate
>dog/child socialization may have taught the dog this behavior.
>
>The other trainer recommended was Bay Area Dog Training, Mike something.
>Their training is more the choke chain type, although Mike said 
>treatment of this problem would involve some food rewarding to get the
>dog to think positively of the child.  Mike was clear, though, that he
>could make the dog safer but could not guarantee that if the child fell
>on the dog some time she wouldn't bite him.  The Sirius guy made no
>such statement.  Doug said he had no doubt we could change her behavior.

Yes, this behavior can be worked with  and positive results achieved.
BUT>>>>>>
If any trainer tells you that they can GUARANTEE that your dog will never
bite your baby, he/she/it is a fool, in my humble opinion!  Mike stated
things very realistically.  Doug says that there is not doubt that the
behavior can be changed and I agree with that too.  But a guarantee is ludicrous.

>
>What I'm looking for is people who have had this problem and have 
>successfully (or unsuccessfully) solved it.  I don't really need more
>theory or book learning, although I would accept anything you know 
>about these two training companies and methods.  But I really need to
>know how people have solved these problems.  Has anyone done this?
>

I think that you need to keep reading.  You need to know more so that you
can be a good consumer of the training you are considering.  I recommend
Job Michael Evans' book: "People, Pooches and Problems."


>Thanks for any help.  Although I think the muzzle solution is safe for
>the child, it seems to make the dog fairly miserable.  So if we can't
>solve the problem, we may have to try to find a childless home for 
>Truffle.  She is really the most sweet, personality-filled dog with 
>anyone but small children and some dogs.
>

Recognize that as the baby grows and matures, Truffles may accept the child
better.  Just wanted to point that out so that you don't make a hasty
decision.  Good luck!

>Scott.
>
Gail Brookhart
ce293@cleveland.freenet.edu
From: bassett@hpcss01.cup.hp.com (Diane Bassett)
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 20:07:31 GMT
Subject: A good book!
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino