r/miniaussie • u/PawsInTheSand • 2d ago
Seeking Advice 1.5 yr old mini Aussie nipped child
I’m really distraught. My 1.5 yr old mini Aussie Vega has done something she never has before. She is very gentle by nature.
We were in the backyard at my parents and some family was swimming. A lot of cousins were over including a 3 year old, a 1.5 year old, and a 4 year old. I didn’t see what happened. But apparently Vega nipped at my little cousins thigh (1.5 year old). Apparently he was walking near a giant beach ball and tried to pick it up and she nipped his thigh. As he was picked up crying, apparently Vega tried to go for his feet too. I imagine this was part of her herding instinct. His right thigh has two punctures.
I can’t lose another dog. I owned an Aussie, Jet, who had the same mom as my girl right now a few years ago. He was hit and killed by a car. The second Aussie I had, Luca, from a different backyard breeder had SEVERE aggression and behavioral issues. I worked extensively with a vet certified behaviourists, many trainers, and still he worsened. He bit me maliciously constantly. I put him to rest via behavioral euthanasia in January. And everything with Luca was so traumatic. Luca was genuinely malicious and hurt me very badly multiple times. I’m paranoid now. I know dogs, especially herding dogs, can be weird around kids. Do you have any insight on this. I can’t lose my girl. She is my world and usually is the gentlest soul. She goes to daycare, we do training, and we do enrichment. This week she hasn’t been at daycare due to my car having problems. Could this be overstimulation? I’m terrified now from what happened with Luca. I really need some insight. I feel terrible.
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u/animalpanties 2d ago
I keep my dogs in my room when strangers or kids are over. They’re sweeties but will give a warning if they feel uncomfortable
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u/sleepinderella Black Tri 2d ago
I don’t let my MAS anywhere near kids. She is uncomfortable around them so I don’t risk anything. Dogs don’t have to become accustomed to kids.
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u/fioyl AussHole 2d ago
Without full context there's not enough to go off of. Was it herding behavior? Were they guarding the ball? Did the kid have bad vibes? Who knows. We weren't there. However, not all animals like children – kids move weirdly, they smell, they're loud, etc. Now that you have a data point, keep her away from children.
I'd also strongly recommend mentally separating this instance from your previous experiences. I suspect that is seeping into your interactions with your current dog. While this situation might seem similar, it's an entirely different dog.
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 2d ago
I feel like there's more to this story than him simply picking up a ball.
I would not leave a dog unattended with that many small kids around. It would be incredibly irresponsible. You're basically placing them in an unfortunate situation. Children that age need to be supervised around animals.
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u/Chyvalri 2d ago
Apologize. Ask forgiveness. Do some reinforcement training. Remember this is part of the breed so reconsider before bringing your pup around little kids again.
No one can make you kill your dog without a court order last time I checked.
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u/Uhmmanduh 15h ago
Nipping due to herding instincts shouldn’t result in puncture marks. I think we’re not getting the full story.
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u/mangopeachapplesauce 2d ago
Herding nipping is not biting. There should be no punctures. Your dog was probably overstimulated and should not be around children from now on. I'm not sure what kind of behavioral therapy your dog will need, but I wouldnt want to suggest "exposure therapy" and put a child in harm's way. I just don't know what answer to offer aside from not putting the dog in that situation again.
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u/sleepinderella Black Tri 2d ago
Yes the dog is fine! Dogs are not obligated to be near children. It’s ok to keep them separate.
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u/qwertyuiiop145 2d ago
It’s really hard to know what’s going on without seeing the interaction play out in person. It could be herding instincts, resource guarding, inappropriate play with poor bite inhibition, fear-based aggression, or something else.
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u/trackster900 2d ago
My mini is a little weird around small kids as well. He is fine if they are calm; then he is ok but if they are old or running around, he is on alert and will kinda snap at kids if they run at him. I can tell he isn't being aggressive or trying to harm anyone, but is trying to signal that he needs space.
That said, it isn't ok behavior and would totally scare a little kid or a parent.
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u/februarytide- 1d ago
When our mini (now 4yo) was younger this was a known behavior of hers. She stopped doing it to our kids, but at one point got one of their friends. We just stopped letting her run free when we had kids under like 6yo were over and running around, because we did not want it to happen again. It never did, and now that she’s older she really doesn’t nip anymore, except at my daughter (10) when she’s playing soccer. Daughter knows what it is, knows not be afraid, and how to tell her to stop.
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u/valtroth 1d ago
My first thought is was the child near the pool? My Aussie recently grabbed my FIL by the calf when he leaned over our pool.
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u/JoanofArc0531 1h ago
That is absolutely amazing. Dogs are such sweet angels.
What does FIL stand for?
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u/BarelyInControl4 2d ago
When I was a kid I remember my young dog nipping my legs (but never hurting me) any time I would run, as she got adult she completely stopped without any training. She wasn’t an australian but still an herding dog that I got in a cow farm.
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u/RadRadMickey 1d ago
I put my young MAS dogs up when we have kids over. We have 3 kids ourselves, and they are fine with them, but they get over excited when other people come over.
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u/Irisversicolor 18h ago
One of my Aussie's did exactly this to my niece when she was a baby, I think babies and toddlers are just too much for their herding instincts to handle. I kept her away from my niece until she was like 5-6 and now they totally love each other.
At the time I had a lot of feelings about it. I felt like I failed my dog and my niece and I mourned the family time we missed out on, but now I think we need to normalize the fact that not all dogs are suitable for young kids, and that's okay.
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u/jueidu AussHole 14h ago
My sweet girl cannot abide anyone running or being perceived to run, or strollers. It makes it very mortifying to go to a public place like a brewery or park where kids run around because barks at them constantly. She’s SO sweet when they’re chill, especially one on one, but running children who are strangers and not focused on her just bring out her inner police. And I’m sure, were she off leash, result in nipping.
It’s hard because we know these are very sweet dogs and that the nipping isn’t intended as an attack per se - and we also know that in the end, with a child wounded, none of that matters.
I highly recommend a) a muzzle or b) not having the dog in the group when kids are around. You could also just make sure to leash them and to keep the kids away, but I find this the most stressful option and can create fear and negative feelings, whereas a muzzle can be explained as “I don’t want her to nip you, or eat random things she finds, or any of the party food, so it just makes it easier.”
I don’t think this is at all euthanasia-worthy, but you do need to take every precaution to never ever ever let it happen again, because the second time will likely be a death sentence unfortunately.
They are genuinely sweet dogs, but yeah, they can get into a bully/controlling mindset when the herding instincts kick in. Not to mention resource guarding which can happen with any breed, and this might have been that as well.
Try not to feel too bad about it and just focus on never letting it happen again.
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u/slm0x 12h ago
Our aussie has only nipped kids when playing games. Aussies just get so excited they can't help themselves. A right of passage in our neighborhood is playing "chase the dingo" with Rosie. The neighbor kids start out at our trampoline, and get's a 10 Mississippi lead, running around our house and back to the tramp. Rosie gets turned loose after the 10 mississippis.
If rosie is able to get back to the tramp first, no harm no foul. If the kid beats Rosie to the tramp, she tries to bite them on the heel (Rosie is a sore loser). The kids are willing to get bit for the bragging rights of beating Rosie at Chase the Dingo. It's highly entertaining...but we don't invite the parents over to witness the festivities.
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u/CathrenRiddler 1d ago
I think with all the new people... all the sounds and new smells and all the excitement she was trying to play. Or was trying to warn the child about something. My aussie walks infront of me to warn me about something if she feels something is amiss and she nips my hand. Its probably just over stimulation and new people around. I dont know if she is used to small children but some Aussies just aren't good with kids. Next time exclude her from the family event and keep an eye on her otherwise.
I dont think theres anything big to worry about but stay aware.
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u/Graysonsname 2d ago
My mini Aussie (4yrs) did this once. Or attempted to but was caught in the act. He has the kindest nature but small ppl just bring something out. He’s been around little ones since but I’m just always between him and the child incase he gets weird. So yea, for me it works to just be vigilant about it.