I don't know what I'm gonna do with this here dog. The other day a neighbor's kid came over while the wife was here alone and Ivan spazzed. He was snapping at this kid all viscious like. It was all she could do to hold him back (on a leash). Ivan has never showed this kind of agression before.
She finally settled him down and told the kid to come up to him (guess thats not the way to handle that) and Ivan lunged at him. He deomonstrated severe strength to try and get this kid according to her.
I made sure the kid knew not to come over unless one of us was outside. I didn't like this behavior at all.
Today, we were all outside and the kid came back. Ivan was fine. He even let the kid pet him, wagging his tail and all. It was like he was a different dog.
If he was trying to protect her, why would he lunge at a kid? I know that dogs can't decipher between adults and kids, but this is a little kid (he is 8). Also, the kid was not threatening in any way.
What would cause his behavior to change like this and do you think we should still be cautious with him around this kid?
HMMM- Sounds like Ivan was just trying to be protective! I am glad to here you told the kid to be carefu! I wonder do you have Ivan tied out? If dogs are on chains-that will make them aggressive I have heard! Be careful! Maybe obedience training would help? What breed is Ivan?
Just because in your eyes the kids wasn't threatening doesn't mean that the dog didn't think the kid was. The same thing happened with trinity. I still don't know what was up. She hasn't done it since but maybe your dog and my dog just had bad days and didn't felt like being messed with except by their owners.
Ivan is a Boxer/Lab mix. He isn't chained....he is in a fence, but the area isn't as big as where he was before we moved. We are working on some additional fencing for him and the goats.
It just really worried me to hear of him acting like that towards a child. I also talked to their parents to make sure the kid doesn't come over unless we are home and outside.
Another thing, our other dog wasn't doing very well here (Piper). Last week we had to take him to my mothers until we can get our fences right. He kept digging out and roaming. We were really worried about that so we took him to her (he is familliar with my mother) until we get things fixed where he cannot get out. So far, Ivan is not a digger.
Thats my best guess on your situation! I think they are just trying to adjust! You probably just need to be patient, and things will return to normal when they adjust to there new surroundings! Oh- you have goats too! Im jealous!!!!
Ooops Again! Didnt know it was Ansys hubby! Found that out on another topic! And yes! I am a dummy- I knew the name rang a bell, the new avitar didnt..... But glad BTT had a good laugh! And glad he got his! I don't know why i like goats- I just have since I was at my first petting zoo, and at every state fair-I cant tell you why- I just do- always have!
-- Edited by lovinOEBs at 02:22, 2005-07-10
I will add that they are a very overlooked, nice, family pet! I just think they are cool, sweet, and most really love attention, and food- OMG! Maybe its cuz they are like me!! Loving food and attention that is!!
Actually, a few breeds of goats are being sought after as pets. The TN Fainting Goats make just as great of a pet as a dog would. They wag their tails just like a dog when you pet then. They are less maintenance too. We have one fainter and one brush goat. Next week we are picking up 2 Angoras and 2 Boers. We hope to get a few more fainters in the fall and start breeding them. Because the myotonic gene is recessive you have to breed a fainter to a fainter in order to get a fainter.
I'm a city boy and I've learned so much about goats recently. They are wonderful animals. Pack animals as well. They love being with their own kind. A single goat is a lonely goat...lol. Hector, our brush goat walks around on a leash just like our dogs. He'll come inside and lay down if we let him...lol.
We have found that the market for people buying them as pets is pretty big. We're hoping to provide some great pets to peoples homes by next year sometime.
Well I think goats out on farms, at petting zoos, family pet goats are all cool! You are lucky! Sheep seem like such close ansectors to goats- but dont like people as much in my experience...Oh and by the way- I reffered to peoples goats on farms are pets!!! I dont know if they live in there homes- walk on a leash, or wag there tails! I guess if I had my dream of a 20 acre farm and was able to keep any goat- I would treat it as my pet! I wouldnt just treat a goat as livestock!
I was told that goats like to eat trash or maybe that was another animal. I'm not sure I thought it was goats. What I was told is that goats will eat everything including trash. LOL
You are correct! They prefer a nice mixture of weeds, but I have seen them eat cardboard, paper, plastic, and even aluminum foil! They are rubbage eaters...lol If you have them in your yard, not only will you NOT have grass....but you wont have anything else either....lol
In a way thats a good thing but if you have something else in your yard besides trash and grass then I guess you better move it before it gets eaten. LOL. Why spend the money to get a garbage disposal when you can get a great pet that will do that kind of work for you. LOL
Just wantted to tel you whoever told you that dogs cannot distinguis between children and adults is VERY wrong. The can tell the difference. Not sure why your dog acted that way could be a number of different things or just one. Dogs respond to things they pickup that we cannot pickup such as someones mood or if they are ill. Many times simply what a person is thinking can alter their scent and a dog will cop attitude over it.
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This too I shall live through.
For like the Phoenix, I shall rise from the ashes and soar through the sky having been reborn. http://pitbulls-dobermans.tripod.com
And glad he got his! I don't know why i like goats- I just have since I was at my first petting zoo, and at every state fair-I cant tell you why- I just do- always have! 
This too I shall live through.
For like the Phoenix, I shall rise from the ashes and soar through the sky having been reborn. http://pitbulls-dobermans.tripod.com
