I do too.

She couldn't understand she wasn't second to you was because nobody but you confronted her about it. Disciplining a dog and a human are very different.

Dad can discipline the child for disobeying the mother and that child will learn not to disobey mom. But with a dog, especially one with alpha tendency, the whole pack (family) must be involved with establishing the pack hierarchy. Even our beta when left to his own devices will attempt to fill the role of leader when we get lax, but fortunately will gladly submit easily to anyone's authority when they step up.

Training an alpha dog is risky especially the older ones set in their ways, they may at anytime challenge authority, even yours.

The older my Dingo gets the more primitive she got. As a pup she was great with children in a human sense of the term. Now, a dominant female she expects discipline in the ranks. Unless I'm with her I don't let children around her because, I don't trust the little rugrats to behave. She takes some special handling for sure but I wouldn't trade her in for anything. She's needy, protective, an excellent hunter scavenger and there is no better dog to have with you in the woods, nothing ever sneaks up on our family I'll tell you that! :) What a sight to see when she is out in the sticks. I'm sure you can tell I'm proud of my girl. :D

Sounds like from what I've read you had an elderly high maintenance alpha female. Not a good thing to have in the house with small children unless everyone is involved. Just by snapping at your child just this once, I doubt you'd ever be relaxed no matter how much the rest of the family got involved.


The decision though sad, was yours and your Vet as you knew the circumstance and the dog better than anyone here.

Hope can find another companion for your family that is less maintenance and will cause less anxiety and worry.

In my experience, beagles are great with kids, especially if you can start 'em as pups. Once they get over their "I'm-going-to-chew-every-shoe-in-sight" phase, they're terrific guardians for kids and surprisingly gentle, all of which without getting so big that you'd worry about them accidentally falling on a little one. And there's no better "emergency" alarm than a beagle's distinctive bark.

The more you talk about your mum, the more I like her. :D