Question:

We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.  He’ll gingerly accept food offerings from my son, and seem o.k. with him for a while, but eventually starts the growling and avoidance again.  We have been crating him at night and when we’re out, but we don’t want to crate him any time my son is home.  We’re new to malamutes, and could use some advice.  TIA Tyler

Response:

>We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much >of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the >first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, >hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.

Did the rescue know you had a young child?  Many rescues I know will not adopt to families with children under 7 years of age.  If so, did they check this dog with children?  It sounds like your dog has had a bad experience with children and is reacting out of fear … which could lead to a bite. Perhaps you should contact the rescue group and talk about returning this dog and obtaining another one that is better with children. Songsmith

Response:

"The second day it began growling (ears back, >hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.

Did the rescue know you had a young child?  Many rescues I know will not adopt to families with children under 7 years of age.  If so, did they check this dog with children?  It sounds like your dog has had a bad experience with children and is reacting out of fear """"""""""""""""""""" <<<snip>>>>> O.k–I know at 21 we were all perhaps a little immature, but isn’t this taking things too far??? tee hee hee.  I would suggest re-reading the post. Cheers, Cin & Sid

Response:

There is a very very good bet that this dog was abused by a yong man and the dog is reacting to that. I dont think that this is breed specific and it sounds as if the dog is reacting out of fear rather than aggression.  I would suggest working with a trainer or a dog behaviorist. I would suggest that your son avoid eye contact with the dog, and avoid making any overtures to the dog, including feeding him from hand.  I would just have your son ignore the dog and spend a lot of time physically in his presence with YOU or another person as well.  Let the dog move at its own pace to feel safe around your son. There are lots of tips to socializing a poorly socialized dog and perhaps some reading might help.  Otherwise, have a trainer or behaviorist come to your home to check the dog out in its own environment. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much > of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the > first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, > hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.  He’ll gingerly > accept food offerings from my son, and seem o.k. with him for a while, but > eventually starts the growling and avoidance again.  We have been crating him > at night and when we’re out, but we don’t want to crate him any time my son is > home.  We’re new to malamutes, and could use some advice.  TIA > Tyler

Response:

contact the rescue folks and get the dog OUT OF THERE! do not risk your child with a dog of unknown background! I am horrified that a rescue would adopt out an unknown animal to a home with so young a child. The right dog will come along – talk to the rescue folks and they should help you resolve this. Nancy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much > of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the > first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, > hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.  He’ll gingerly > accept food offerings from my son, and seem o.k. with him for a while, but > eventually starts the growling and avoidance again.  We have been crating him > at night and when we’re out, but we don’t want to crate him any time my son is > home.  We’re new to malamutes, and could use some advice.  TIA > Tyler

Response:

Yep I missed that too – 21 Years Old not Months old – darn abbreviations and speed reading anyhow Even so – this dog is not in the hands of people who know how to handle the situation and IMO should not stay there and the rescue should have checked on ALL the people who would be interacting with the dog before adoption. Unknown background dogs are awfully scary to place – you never know what the reason for abandonment was nor the ‘normal’ reactions the dog might have developed Nancy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "The second day it began growling (ears back, >hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room. > Did the rescue know you had a young child?  Many rescues I know will not > adopt to families with children under 7 years of age.  If so, did they > check > this dog with children?  It sounds like your dog has had a bad experience > with children and is reacting out of fear > """"""""""""""""""""" > <<<snip>>>>> > O.k–I know at 21 we were all perhaps a little immature, but isn’t this > taking things too far??? tee hee hee. >  I would suggest re-reading the post. > Cheers, Cin & Sid

Response:

With many of the northern breeds family status is a strong and important function.  This animal is use to being number 2 and is ready to assume number 1 when you are away.  His actions say that your son is seen as a threat to him being number 2.  Pay extra attention to the dog and minimise your attention to your son when around both of them.  Your son can handle it I hope.   Have your son do something such as walking it somewhere that you don’t take him, when you are not around.  This will give them a brother-brother relationship.  Unless your son tries to "overpower" him before this relationship is built, you should be able get past this. Northern breeds as well as many others put alot of importance of trust in the stucture of the family. dw > We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much > of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the > first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, > hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.  He’ll gingerly > accept food offerings from my son, and seem o.k. with him for a while, but > eventually starts the growling and avoidance again.  We have been crating him > at night and when we’re out, but we don’t want to crate him any time my son is > home.  We’re new to malamutes, and could use some advice.  TIA > Tyler

– D Weston Http://www.indianlaw.com/westsys/

Response:

See what you can find out about his history.  Sounds like he may have been abused and your son reminds him of whoever did it.  Don’t force acceptance. Your son should not make an issue of it, allow the dog his space and time to get accustomed to his new surroundings and "pack".  Let the dog approach your son, not vice versa.  If your son tries too hard to force the issue, the dog will feel threatened and may retaliate.  You want to positively reinforce desirable behavior, so when the dog willingly spends time with your son, give him a food reward & lots of praise.  It’s ok for your son to bribe him to get him to come, also.  He should also try to find something besides food that the dog likes, like some kind of toy or activity, and spend time with the dog doing that, so the dog will associate him with pleasant, not unpleasant, things.  Kindness, time and patience will gradually win him over. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >We just adopted a ~3yo male(neutered) malemute from rescue.  We don’t know much >of it’s history.  He seemed to get along great with everyone in the house the >first day, including my son.  The second day it began growling (ears back, >hackles up) everytime my 21 y.o. son came into the room.  He’ll gingerly >accept food offerings from my son, and seem o.k. with him for a while, but >eventually starts the growling and avoidance again.  We have been crating him >at night and when we’re out, but we don’t want to crate him any time my son is >home.  We’re new to malamutes, and could use some advice.  TIA >Tyler

Response: