[Dailydrool] Need advice for a hound who hates kids

[Elizabeth Lindsey]

I don't know about training a fear of children out of a dog who may  
have been given very good reasons to fear children. I leave the  
possibilities of that to the more experienced folks on the Drool.

However, I do know that children don't stay one age for their entire  
lives. Four-year-old nieces aren't going to be four forever. They're  
going to grow and mature, and it may be that one day when they're  
ten, eleven, or twelve, this basset will be able to be around them  
comfortably. Especially if she's fine with older children now and  
isn't given any reason to fear the nieces as they age. While they're  
growing, they can be taught how best to behave around a fearful  
basset, which may very well mean leaving her alone.

My aunt had a dog that I was told didn't like children. My parents  
reminded me of this every time we went over to visit. The dog told me  
so herself by snapping at me when I got too close a couple of times.  
I was sorry the dog didn't like me, but I wasn't heartbroken over it.  
I learned to respect the dog's wishes, proving that young nieces are  
capable of not trying to be friends with a dog who clearly doesn't  
like them.

For everyone's safety, though, especially while the nieces are still  
so young, I'd keep the dog securely out of the children's sight and  
reach while they're visiting. This would thwart any temptation to try  
to see the dog behind the adults' backs. I'll confess to being one of  
those children who didn't always listen, a child who once snuck away  
from a birthday party in one room to try to play in another room with  
puppies I'd been expressly told not to touch. The mother dog  
justifiably bit me. Letting the basset play at a doggie daycare  
during a visit from the nieces would be one way to ensure that no  
one's put in a position where they might fail.

It sounds as if this basset is wonderful in every other way. If the  
four-year-old nieces (who won't stay four for long) aren't around all  
that often, then why not give her a home?

Elizabeth