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So, Brinkley is a growler. But usually only with the kids...he tried it with mommy and daddy once...and we fixed that real quick. (by the way, the kids are almost always supervised around him! Before anyone gets on me about the young kids...lol) Of course, some of the growls he does with the kids, I don't scold. Usually when they are handling him more than he wants to, or trying to get his toy, or picking him up from a comfy spot they need back...(like a school backpack or favorite blanket). These low growls I have taught them are his way of saying..."leave me alone"...and that is what they should do. If they don't, he may bite at them.
Well, a couple of times, he has growled and snipped/bitten. Both times were completely uncalled for, and he got scolded very strongly. One time was with my daughter and she leaned down to kiss his head while sleeping. I still think she just startled him...but he nipped her lip and made it bleed, and it swelled for a few days. He also growled and tried to bite my son when He picked him up out of the clean laundry basket he was laying in to put him in the kitchen one morning as we were leaving for school. I know he was comfy and did not want to move, but he got very ugly about it. These times he gave no warning. I have explained to them that they cannot bother dogs while they are sleeping and eating. The sleeping one is what got Emily.
I don't like him being this cranky and easily ticked off enough to nip at people. I don't mind the low growls expressing his opinions..but I won't tolerate the biting.
Any suggestions?
99% of the time he is so loving and playful with everyone...especially and including the kids. They entertain him as much or more than he entertains us and them. He thinks they hung the moon. That is why I don't understand why he knows he can't bite us...but he can them. Does he see them as littermates or somehting? Makes me leery about having him around other kids and stuff too. I am hoping maybe nuetering will calm this down, but I don't know.
My husband was quite upset about him biting Em. I tried to explain that it was no different than the cat scratching and hissing in defense. He understood that, but still didn't like it.
Well, a couple of times, he has growled and snipped/bitten. Both times were completely uncalled for, and he got scolded very strongly. One time was with my daughter and she leaned down to kiss his head while sleeping. I still think she just startled him...but he nipped her lip and made it bleed, and it swelled for a few days. He also growled and tried to bite my son when He picked him up out of the clean laundry basket he was laying in to put him in the kitchen one morning as we were leaving for school. I know he was comfy and did not want to move, but he got very ugly about it. These times he gave no warning. I have explained to them that they cannot bother dogs while they are sleeping and eating. The sleeping one is what got Emily.


Any suggestions?
99% of the time he is so loving and playful with everyone...especially and including the kids. They entertain him as much or more than he entertains us and them. He thinks they hung the moon. That is why I don't understand why he knows he can't bite us...but he can them. Does he see them as littermates or somehting? Makes me leery about having him around other kids and stuff too. I am hoping maybe nuetering will calm this down, but I don't know.
My husband was quite upset about him biting Em. I tried to explain that it was no different than the cat scratching and hissing in defense. He understood that, but still didn't like it.