Cocker Spaniel-growling

Question
QUESTION: Gunner is going to be 3 years old. He comes to my office everyday and is very friendly-even with the mailman. Actually, can be a little submissive and wet when he sees people he knows and likes.  He has never been mistreated by anyone-have  had him since a pup. For some reason, he can pick out a child, even an older one, from far away in the car.  He will bark and sometimes growl.  When kids come to the house or office, his tail is wagging and he appears to want to be with them, but he will be growling low but never stops wiggling and never runs away.  On two occaions, he has been gently approached by a child and has really "growled" He sees and hears my response and tries to hide under something, somehow knowing he was wrong.  Today he was greeted by a woman in the elevator at work. She bent down and he was trying to lick her face-all of a sudden- the woman nex to him moved and he gave out a  fierce aggressive growl. Needless to say, I pulled him back-he appeared to know he was wrong and hopped off the elevator his usual way. When we got to my office, he knew he was in trouble. I put him behind a gate and told him to lay down.

He just kinda stared at me.

He is a wonderful dog and I understand Cocker Spaniels can have quirks, but I believe this is a nervous reaction, not that that is acceptable. I will be much more guarded with strangers but everyone in the office thinks he is wonderful and I am out of my mind.  

YOu can take food from him, toys from him, he is never destructive, but these few occasions of a spontaneous nasty growl have made me very concerned.

Other than avoiding situations, any suggestions-Sorry for being so wordy...

This is my first Cocker Spaniel-Have always had larger dogs.

ANSWER: I'd like to know if this incidents always seem to happen most often when Gunnar is in an enclosed space (car - elevator).  What happens on walks when he sees children?  Is there an age level - meaning is it toddlers?

I'd like to hear about the two incidents when he growled at children.
What was his body language?  Did you feel he "might" bite?  Where were you?  Was he on or off leash?  How did you respond?  How old were the kids?  How is he with other dogs?

Of course, I'd immediately advise you to let him approach children and not vice-versa.  You're right - this is nervousness/fear, not dominant aggression.

The good news is he backs off when you express displeasure with his behavior.  He may think he's protecting you too.

Can this be solved?  Yes.  This is a good pup who, for some reason, is getting spooked so I need all the pieces of the puzzle.  Then you begin desensitizing him.

And, any time he growls - you get down on his level - STARE into his eyes and calmly but firmly say NO and continue until he breaks eye contact.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Firstly,thank you so much for the already helpful info. It set light bulbs off in my head.

Gunner's growling is not at toddlers, it is more at children a little older who make direct eye contact with him. I have a 4 year old relative who never looks at him and Gunner never reacts when he is around.  

Other than in the car from his crate-which I can say is getting much better, the real catalyst is when there is close and direct eye-to-eye contact.  He usually starts this himself. When he greeted the woman outside the elevator, we got in together and he gently put his front pawns up on her leg and stared at her face. He always wants to smell or sniff people's faces and it gives the impression that he wants to love you to death.  Somehow, however, the face to face contact or something else set him off.

With the kids, there have been exactly 5 incidents; three slight and 2 definitely unacceptable.
On one occasion he climbed on a 12 year old's lap and when he stared in her face and she stared back and said "hi" and growled very lowly-she handled it well, said stop it and turned him away- it was over

Two occasions were "invasions" of 2 or 3 children 5-12 y/o  who came in with the sole purpose of seeing him-he did not want to leave them but grumble growled-still not acceptable.

The two "totally unacceptable, extremely unfriendly growls were once when he was sleeping in between my two nieces and one went to move him over-I want to believe he was sound asleep and startled-but it is still not good.

The other was Christmas night-house full of people-great day-dog exhausted and asleep on back of couch with one nephew petting him. A 7 year old when walking by the couch-put his hand out to pet him and say Hi Gunner and from no where he let out this horrible growl-Again, maybe he was dozing, nobody knows for sure-but everyone makes excuses for him except me!

Everytime it happens, I immediately respond with picking him up, Yelling "No" "Bad"-(my natural reaction-not very premeditated) He immediately tries to hide under the couch and looks like he knows he was wrong.  I always make him come out from where he is hiding-never hit him-but put him in a separate room or spot where he can see everyone-but not be with them. I want to emphasize, he does not want to be ignored by children or strangers-he wants to be with them

He will always look me and my employees and friends and family right in the eye-not as a dominant-but as just a nice dog-

I have always had dogs-German Shepherd, Golden Retrieves, Akita-Shepard Mix and Boxer. Unfortunately, the Boxer was a true life-changing experience for me. My husband passed away 3 months after we got him-I saw a bossy/aggressive side to him and went to a professional trainer-She immediately pick up on the fact that I could never let him be boss-He eventually went at me, only me, several times and did bite me twice before I had to make a decision-
I will quote my veterinarian "If a dog cannot live in your house, he cannot live anywhere".  I am still scarred from the "Rudy the Boxer" episode in my life-He was great when he wasn't bad. Had a second trainer come in. Told me he could tell dog was never abused but was definitely in charge. When I described the vicious episodes with Rudy, he unfortunately told me that he believed it was not the end of it. Found out later his father had aggressive tendancies.

People say that is why I am so sensitive about Gunner.  Gunner is a wonderful dog-Never has he done a negative thing to or with me. I do not believe he is "protecting" me when he behaves this way-Don't get that impression at all-He seems a little to young to worry about me

I plan to be extremely careful when children are around; tell them to ignore him; have them take him in the yard after a while with toys and play and do ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU SUGGEST.

What scares me the most is that these very brief and infrequent nasty growls seem to happen so quickly

Thank you some much again
Linda


He loves all other dogs and we frequently have overnight dog guests.  

Answer
Linda, do not compare Gunner to Rudy.  This is an entirely different situation.  Rudy did indeed have dominance aggression.  Gunner does not.

And the more specific an issue is - the easier it is to solve and this is quite specific.

What I'd like you to do is email me this last letter so we can chat directly.  Dogs are pack animals and Gunner's problem is he seems to see tiny humans as pups - adult humans as pack leaders and younger children as his "equal".  We need to teach him ALL humans must be viewed as pack leaders.

And yes, of course, in the meantime be careful with kids of this particular age.  They should come in - no chat - no eye contact and totally ignore him.  If he approaches - NO - the message is "these beings are under my protection". Never raise your voice - calm but authoritative is what he'll understand.

And the key to training is to "anticipate" a behavior.  You correct BEFORE it's about to happen.

So write me directly (DeeBeck7765@aol.com) and we'll start from Square One and just re-establish Gunner's hierarchy :)
And the first thing I'm going to tell you is that Gunner (for the time being) is NOT allowed on the furniture.  You may think "what in heck does that have to do with this?".  A lot ! :)
Delores