My dog suddenly fears my son. How can I help them get along safely?

Question

My 1 year old dog (Staffordshire bull terrior) has all of a sudden gone scared of my 4 year old son? I don’t know what could have sent him like this, but he won’t go no where near my son. HELP! Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 44 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, I don't have a way of telling you what may have happened to cause this. It is possible that you son may have accidentally hurt or scared Buster. It is important that you do not force their interactions together, as scared dogs can be unpredictable, and their natural way of protecting themselves may be to bite the person they are scared of. Sometimes medical issues can cause a change in behavior, and I would recommend that you have Buster checked out for anything that can be specifically treated. If the examination is completely normal, then hopefully the vet can discuss what may have happened, evaluate the current situation, and make specific recommendations on how to get things back to normal. Another option is to seek a consultation with a board certified veterinary behaviorist, who will be more able to help you specific situation.

My dog suddenly fears my son. How can I help them get along safely?

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