For people who know about animal (dog) behavior?

I have a chow/lab mix female dog who just turned 3. I adopted her from the SPCA when she was 6-8 weeks old. She is an inside outside dog. I mean durring the summertime, she usually stays outside because she likes it, plus she sheds horribly. But durring the winter months we bring her in out of the cold to live. In May we moved to a new house and decided to keep her outside for now because we had a baby on the way who was due in June. So she has been living outside since May and we just brought her in yesterday to live inside for the winter since its getting so cold. We my babu is now 6 months old and I have questons about my dogs behavior toward my son. The dog has acted a little jelous toward him of course which i feel is normal. But she also has been standing over him.. When i put him in the floor to play, she just stands there over him and looks around.. Is this a jelousy thing or could it be a "protective" thing... She is a sweet dog. She always has beebn. She listens good, she

For people who know about animal (dog) behavior?
Your dog is trying to show its dominance. Your dog obviously knows that this baby is a new addition and so feels it must be more dominant. Dont put ur baby in a position where the dog can display this behaviour. Make sure the child is higher than the dog. Always give the baby more attention than the dog. Ur dog has to understand it is not more dominant than ur baby.





Its important to make sure u train ur dog in some basic obediance - sit, etc. This comes in handy when controlling a dog around a small child. Teach ur dog to lie down when the baby is near her, so that she is not so threatening.





Otherwise, she sounds like a lovely dog and those 2 will get a long well.
Reply:if she isn't harming him then she is probably curious of him because you are like her mother - she is worried of him possibly harming you or taking you away from her.





or there is the suggestion that she has grown to like him and doesn't want any harm to come to him. but suggestion 1 is more likely
Reply:For starters Chows typically do not like kids. I've had chow for 35years and my friend breeds them. Only a trainer observing, can get a fair idea on the purpose of the standing over the baby. Keeping it outside for the few months did not help. He will have some jealousy it is natural. Fortunately he has Lab in him so there shouldn't be a concern. Chows are very protective of their family but right now he probably does not know the baby is family since he was kept outside. Likely he is trying to figure out what this new noisy thing is and why it took his place in the home. Do not leave them alone and I would recommend not allowing it to stand over the baby. But as well do not push it away or yell at it when it gets close. Allow it to sniff and lick a little and then say 'enough' and have it stop. Play it safe since NO ONE can say for sure what is going on in it's head.
Reply:Congrads on the birth of your son.





She sees you being protective of the baby so she's most likely following your cue and being protective as well. At the same time it's not a behavior I would want to encourage. Your dog needs to see the baby as another alpha and being allowed to stand over the baby while the baby lays on the floor could possibly be teaching the dog that she is the alpha.





Just my opinion and I am sure you will get lots of good advice on this question. Good luck.
Reply:I'm not sure what is going on but sounds like she's mothering your son. My dogs do that when there is a baby in the house. If someone they don't know comes around the baby they can become protective. We also took precautions when our children were born. Our dogs stayed inside the house and very much stayed a part of the family. My dad had brought a dirty diaper home from the hospital so they could get her scent. My dogs were very protective
Reply:Without actually seeing her, it is impossible to say for sure.





If you are concerned, I suggest you have an experienced trainer or behaviorist observe her.
Reply:She could be protecting him but, honestly, without seeing what's happening it's hard to tell. Since the safety of your baby is involved, I'd suggest that you have a trainer observe the dog with your child to either put your mind at ease or head off a problem before it becomes unmanageable.
Reply:I agree with the answers that you have gotten regarding it is hard to tell what your dog is doing if we are not there, however in the wild, an Alpha wolf will stand over a sub wolf to show dominance!! Is your dog really standing OVER your son?/ That MIGHT be a dominance issue.

flower