Last updated March 3, 2004

Help curb herding reflex nipping
(I will qualify this - the pet owner labeled it, not me!)

Gunny is extremely protective of a baby who turned one year old Jan 7th. We have had a problem twice now when Mom lifts the baby suddenly from the ground, Gunny nips him causing bruising thru the diaper, and another time he got his foot. The baby is still not afraid of Gunny, for which his parents and I are very grateful! He and the baby, Jonathan have had a several month relationship as playmates. Gunny is a 4-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Follow-up comments:
The baby, Jonathan, is the youngest son of my Chiro, Paul. Gunny spent many months playing with Jonathan on the floor in the waiting room. When it was my turn, we would take Jonathan into the treatment room with Gunny and I, and let the two of them play while His Papa adjusted me. Gunny adores all babies. He has a certain excited whine whenever he smells or sees a baby! He is not allowed to go to *any* baby ever since he did that nipping, however.

HERE ARE YOUR ANSWERS!!

First to answer - Cathyyyyy !!!!!

The owners of Gunny are on the right track by not allowing him to go to any babies since the nipping incident. With the relationship that the dog and the baby have fostered for several months, most probably Gunny is viewing Jonathan as another dog to play with, the only way he knows how to play. Regardless of the breed, herding or protective instincts they believe this dog to have, he is at this time a lawsuit waiting to happen. Up to this point Gunny's owners have been very lucky. He should not be left alone with a baby or a child for any amount of time.

You didn't mention the relationship that Gunny has with his owners, but I have a feeling that leadership is not their strong suit. I'm sure Gunny is a great dog, but he very well could be a jerk at the same time. You said that Gunny adores all babies and has an excited whine whenever he smells or sees a baby. That tells me that he has no self control, and has never been taught or worked with on self control. Putting it as tactfully as possible these people need to hear that Gunny sounds like a spoiled brat, and it's them that allowed that to happen. Easy to do with a Corgi. For the most part, it appears that Gunny has had to make up his own behavior rules in the absence of safe and firm guidance. I think I would speak to these people about developing strong leadership skills for a dog that is bred to think for himself. Not only should they work on the relationship at home, but it would do the owners and the dog a world of good to attend a positive method basic obedience class.

After some time working with him and Gunny is showing true improvement, you may want to incorporate Jonathan back into the picture in limited capacity, but not alone, not with the baby on the floor. Possibly the baby could be on the owners lap and Gunny gets to work for food, or whatever. In any event, it is not up to the baby or the dog to be the babysitter of the other one -- ever.

And hot on her heels, TERI!!!

This sounds like prey drive to me. My Gretchen, also a herding breed, does the same thing with small dogs and kitties that are picked up from the floor or being held in arms.(never with babies, however.) She wants them to be let go so she can chase them. I can see where a dog might consider the dangly, wiggly limbs of a baby as prey.

I would never, ever leave Gunny alone with the baby. Gunny's excitement may not be because of "loving babies" but rather desire to chase. Run baby run! I'm wondering how a Corgi "plays" with a baby under a year old??? Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. I would discourage play interaction between a baby and a dog. What will happen when this yr old baby starts to run and squeal?????? If she can't keep the dog in a down stay at a distance from the baby when she picks it up from the floor then the dog needs to be confined in some way.......crate, other room, outside. This is definately a management issue on the part of the owner for a herding dog with high prey drive. Teri .

First, let me congratulate both Cathy and Teri for questioning the title of our question right off the top. Just because the owner identified the cause as "herding" - it doesn't make it true! Great answers, guys!

My reply:
(I always write my answer before I get yours.)

I'm not sure why this owner views the dog's behavior as protective OR herding drive. But I disagree on both counts. The nipping is directed at the dangling baby, not the person picking the baby up. This looks more like competing for the prize - hey, give that back, it's mine! Prey drive - get it before it gets away.

My reply to the owner:

Even if it were true that Gunny is protecting the baby from the person picking it up, "protective" is all too often "owning". I wouldn't encourage or condone it - a baby is not a bone to be guarded from any pet or person that the parents have given permission to enter the house. Discouraging it will not prevent him from acting on his instincts if there is indeed a "real" threat to the baby's safety. One day the baby will be older and will have friends over who will wrestle or run. It is not Gunny's business to intervene - this will become a bigger issue later when the baby is a mobile kid with friends.

Do not "let Gunny play with the baby" - period. The baby is not a toy, a littermate or a dog friend. To establish that as a basis for a relationship is a bad situation waiting to happen. As for grabbing the baby when it's picked up, I'd treat this as the ultimate "Leave it", THOU SHALT NEVER even move toward the baby when it is picked up. Period. You have my permission to be the ultimate alpha bitch where protecting "your" baby is concerned.

I suspect he probably leaps for toys that are snatched up? Does he like keep away/tug of war games? Be very careful that you have complete control and practice a total control "Leave it" while you dance a toy above his head. This is a control/leadership issue and quite probably, prey drive.

Leadership. Set ups and practices. Control exercises without the baby present - down stays, recalls from distractions. Control and supervise ALL interactions with safety being the first priority. You are correct to not allow Gunny any unsupervised access to babies or children.

Desensitize Gunny's response to the action of the baby being lifted (maybe using a doll at first.) Interrupt and redirect anything that even looks like "pre-jump" focus or intent. Desensitize his triggers until you can swing the squealing baby around your head (ok maybe not! *G*) The goal is to reach a point where Gunny doesn't just "keep from snapping" - he totally tunes the stimuli out as not important and none of his business, even when it is sudden and surprising. The goal is to build on a solid foundation of training. Your 'set-ups' are designed to teach him to ignore lifted babies, not sensitize him to it and make it worse.

That excited whining is sort of a "primal" state of excitement ... many dogs do it at the sight or smell of a bunny. It's that particular state of arousal around a baby that probably precipitates the lunge. "It's getting away! grab it!" That is prey drive - and it's dangerous.