I would like to state something about the issue of jealousy.

"People commonly believe dogs attack because they feel their status in the pack is being threatened, but some experts believe this is too simplistic and has no scientific basis.

Canine psychologist Kathleen Martin says: 'It's a known problem for dogs to attack newborn babies and small children. People put it down to jealousy, but dogs don't actually get jealous – it's a human emotion.'

Animal behaviourist Peter Neville says there are three reasons why a dog may attack a baby.


Mixed signals

Firstly, the baby may be using something the dog is used to having. For example, the infant could be on a chair the dog likes to sit on.

The dog will ask the baby to move using body language, which the baby, of course, doesn't understand. When the baby doesn't move, the dog will snap.

To another dog, this snap would be the equivalent to a light slap, but to a baby with soft skin and no fur, it is a serious wound.


Hunter instinct

Secondly, the baby may be seen as prey. A baby squeaks and gurgles, waves its arms around and stares with big eyes.

This can trigger the hunting instinct in dogs, causing them to try to harm the baby. Peter says this reaction is common in dogs such as terriers.


A defensive reaction

The third reason for attacks comes later when the baby is able to crawl. It is a defensive reaction caused by the baby doing something the dog doesn't like.

The dog will again give body language warnings that mean: 'Don't poke me in the eye' or 'Don't pull my tail'. If the baby ignores these signs, the dog will lash out."

I know your child in question isn't a baby but it's the part about jealousy that is important. If you start giving your dog more attention yourself to try and curb what you believe is jealousy, you are likely to make him even more aggressive towards the child so it is potentially dangerous to believe he is jealous in the way that humans get jealous. I have read about other cases where grandparents thought their dog was jealous of the grandchild and tried to give the dog more attention. That just made the dog even worse but it was funny how the dog was only like this when at the grandparents house...it's home. When the grandparents visited the house of their daughter, the mother of the child, the dog got along fine with the child there. If it was down to jealousy, the dog would feel this no matter where he was, the fact he was only like this when in his own home proved it was not jealousy like what humans experience.

I agree that your child should start having more to do with the dog such as being the one to feed him and such. Teach the child to ask the dog to sit or give a paw before he is allowed to have his food or treats but always supervise. Never leave them alone even for a second but try not to speak or get involved and don't speak to the dog, only the child.
If the child wants to stroke the dog, ask him to call the dog over to him and then give him a gentle stroke and maybe a treat too. Instruct the child not to approach the dog to stroke him. If the dog doesn't come to him when he calls him over, it maybe that he just doesn't feel like being fussed and the child should not approach him. This way, the dog knows that he isn't under pressure and that if he wants to avoid the child for any reason, he can just stay away. This will have a calming affect on him and he'll learn to trust the child more. It's about mutual respect.

See if you can graduate to letting the child take him around the garden on his leash and teach him to do tricks and such for treat rewards. This will help build the relationship between them but work on it slowly and only get the child to do things the dog can't really act aggressively towards first such as the child being the only one allowed to give the dog his food and that the dog must obey a command from the child in order to get it.

During this time, if at all possible, nobody else should give the dog his food, only this child.

When you see good improvements, teach the child how to groom the dog. Just a few gentle strokes with a soft brush at first and graduating to a full groom as the relationship gets better. Again, a treat reward for standing still and allowing it will convince the dog that it is a pleasant situation and always make sure the child remains gentle with the brush and not inflict any pain. If the dog has a longer coat that may get a lug in it, the child should ask you for assistance in getting it out. Even if the dog is really short coated, daily grooming is always good.