Question: We have a Jack Russell that is almost 2 years old. She has been spayed and seems friendly to everyone and gets on their lap, but when they try to pet her, she snaps at them. And anytime anyone is here and goes to leave, she keeps jumping up at the door and trying to bite the door knob, then runs to every window so she can see them.
I have tried spraying her in the face with water, but this has not helped. Hope you can help me with this as we will be getting a new grandchild, and we sure don’t want her to attack the child. –Carolyn
Answer: Your dog probably has conflict behavior. She wants to be close with the person who is at your home, but that much close contact makes her nervous, so she snaps at them. Some dogs try to stop people from leaving the house because they are anxious about their departure. This is probably the case with your dog as well.
Because your dog has an aggression disorder, you should seek help from your veterinarian. This type of problem doesn’t respond well to obedience training alone. She should be evaluated for medical problems and sources of pain. Your veterinarian can send you to a Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist in your area or you can find one at www.dacvb.org where you can get help.
At minimum, keep your dog out of situations where she has been aggressive before. She is not appropriate to be with your grandchild right now, so it is best to teach her to be happy behind a baby gate until you get proper treatment for her. It is not worth the risk of a bite to the new baby. Dogs generally bite children when they start to crawl and walk, so it is best to set up a safe situation now even though your dog may not be overtly aggressive toward the baby.
Before people go to leave your house, put your dog on a leash and ask her to sit. Then, reward her with food every couple of seconds until your friend is gone. That way, you will give her a more constructive outlet for her anxiety.

Dr. Radosta
Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
PO Box 210636
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421-0636
561-795-9398
www.flvetbehavior.com Read more articles by Dr. Radosta |
Ask her a question Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2012/03/21/jack-russell-snaps-at-some-grandchild-a-concern/
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