HELP, please!!!

[corriegibson]

I just got a 4 month old Dobie from the pound. He was brought in b/c owner said he was aggressive towards kids. Come to find out he is great with kids unless he is disturbed while sleeping. He turns around w/ the desire to snap at and bite anything that is near him. I have disciplined him (I have trained many dogs before) but it only seems to make him cower and shifty. Basically I am very perplexed about how to 'fix' this problem or even if it can be fixed. I am guessing he was probably messed w/ a lot by the previous owners kids and that possibly is one of the causing reasons for him to act the way he has. Other than the above problem he is really sweet and affectionate. I am very concerned b/c I have a 7 week old, 2yr old, 9, 11 and 15 yr old all in the house. Were a large family! Is this dog even safe for this family? Do I need to get a younger dog whose history I do know? Please help. I have dealt with so many dog problems, but never one like this. Thank you so much!

[21meg]

Hello and welcome to the forums, hope you stay a while and enjoy. :)
If the dog is just great with kids, then keep him. First of all, dogs never like to be messed with while sleeping. My dog even does that when you try and pet her while she is sleeping. You just need to tell your kids (who I'm guessing are wonderful:D) not to mess with him when he sleeps. If he was previously abused by kids or something like that, he is probably still a little weird with kids and will eventually get more used to it.
But either way you really shouldn't mess with any dog when they sleep. It's just their attitude, not a problem whatsoever.
My poodle is a total sweetheart and when I pet her when she sleeps she growls and jumps up, angry. I've learned better lol. (also I tried kissing her forehead once, and she snapped at me and tried biting me.) But my other dog is not bothered at all when sleeping and you pet her. It's just their... personality. See, I know both histories and it has nothing to do with that. It's just them, and how sometimes they need a little personal time when they know they won't be bothered.
To add to this also, don't mess with the dog while he's eating, because he'll probably have the same reaction then also. At least, that's the situation with my poodle.
Good luck... and don't forget, if this is the only problem, then avoid it. Do you seriously want such a good dog, if he is normally very good, to end up in the pound again?
Just don't bother him when he sleeps.

[happyherd]

"I just got a 4 month old Dobie from the pound. He was brought in b/c owner said he was aggressive towards kids......
I am very concerned b/c I have a 7 week old, 2yr old, 9, 11 and 15 yr old all in the house."

*puzzled as to why you would have taken this pup in having such small children*

If it were older children, I would just suggest getting a crate that the new pup could sleep in. You could teach the children that is his space and not to disturb him when he is in his crate... that being said, I dont know how you would keep a crawling infant/toddler away from the dog. I love Dobermans. I have had a Dobie and know they can be wonderful with children, but with his history and the fact that you have such small children, I would be concerned. Perhaps you could contact a Doberrman rescue group (just google "doberman rescue") and they could give you some good advice, perhaps even take the dog in, if they have room. I would hate to see this little guy end up in the pound again. Good luck to you :)

[ScarlettO's Mama]

If the dog is only having these issues while sleeping then I'd highly suggest training him to sleep ONLY in the kennel (even naps) that way there's no chance of anyone "bothering" him while he sleeps and he wont be able to get at anyone/hurt anyone if they do.