My dog bit a child. How can I train him to stop being aggressive?

Question

My 7 yr old terrier bit my granddaughter (caught her lip). I was petting him and she walked over to stand next to me. He seems to be getting aggressive over time. I have only had him 9 months and the shelter indicated he was good with children. Is this jealous behavior able to be corrected with training? Pet's info: Dog | Silky Terrier | Male | neutered | 14 lbs

Emily, DVM · Accepted Answer

It could be your dog is protective/possessive of you our other what he deems rewards/valued items. When it comes to dogs and aggression, it can be a very long and difficult process with stripped and consistent training. I strongly recommend consulting a veterinary behaviorist as well as understanding once a dog bites it is at a greater risk for future bites compared other dogs. In the meantime you should keep your dog away from all children especially unsupervised. But your best option is to do one on one training for this behavior. Also understand there's a certain degree of liability of handling/owning a dog that has known aggressive tendencies and some insurance policies won't cover dog bite damages.

My dog bit a child. How can I train him to stop being aggressive?

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