That had been my plan, but I need to be able at some point to trust him with whoever (girlfriend) moves in with me. Considering what he did with my brother tonight, I'm doubting it's possible to ever achieve that and I'm afraid to try-and-see. It seems it could easily lead to someone getting killed. And I can't force him to wear a muzzle 24/7, that would be cruel. Thoughts?You mentioned a muzzle. Can you keep one on him whenever he is either out of your home, or when other people are there?
Used properly, it just becomes another piece of kit like a collar or harness.
I'd imagine the only candidates are mental issues. He's anxious, and when he was a puppy he had very extended episodes of hallucinating.I know this isn't a new problem, so I'm sure this has been said before but have you ruled out medical issues?
Remind me: how long have you had this dog?My dog has a two-bite-attempt history. Once toward a child, and he connected -- bruised the kid's arm, but no blood.
It was sudden too, my dog had just been playing with the child and seemed to enjoy it. I don't recall any warning signs.
Recently he tried to bite an adult. But I warned the adult and he wanted to hang out with my dog anyway, so I let them -- and the adult stayed alert. My dog was hesitant at first, but warmed to him quickly and jumped on him, got a lot of rubs, etc. Then a few minutes later the adult saw my dog was about to bite, and he pulled his hand back in time so that my dog didn't actually connect. I immediately tackled my dog pretty hard and scolded him. No spanking, just verbal.
I do not believe that in either case my dog's goal was to injure, I believe they were warning bites.
With the child however, right after the bite my took an aggressive posture and barked very aggressively. I believe that if the child had reacted in an inappopriate way, my dog would have proceeded to then bite to injure. And my dog is a 95lb german shepherd, so he could easily kill the child.
I had decided that my dog would not get to be around strangers without a muzzle, and that was fine. I only needed him to accept my girlfriend--whenever I meet her.
Months ago my dog seemed to have accepted my brother, so I thought: if he can accept my brother, then he can accept a girlfriend too. They just have to bond slowly.
But tonight my dog's behavior changed abruptly again. Despite the fact that he had just been playing with my brother, and getting treats from him, and jumping on him to show love, my brother was petting him and my dog's ears pinned back. He also stared at my brother in a way that I've seen before when it was pretty clear he was about to bite. My brother noticed it do and backed off, so my dog didn't actually attempt to bite. But someone else who is more oblivious to canine body language would have stayed too close and gotten bit.
So if I can't even trust him with my brother who he seemed so clearly to have accepted, it seems that the risk is just too great. When I find a partner, how will I know that my dog has really accepted her and won't bite her?
Even if I went to a professional trainer, that only reduces the likelihood. But with a three-bite-or-near-bite history now, I don't think there's any training or other actions I can take to be able to trust him with other people in the way that I need to.
That said, I'm open to suggestions, but it sure does seem to me that I should probably take this as the last straw and let him go. What can you tell me?
For what it's worth, I really got attached to him. He's loyal, obedient, and I believe he would die to protect me. That last part meant so much to me--to know he cared enough to do that... I'm the leader, I'm here to protect him rather than the other way around, but still it's a special kind of love.
Around one year.Remind me: how long have you had this dog?
Similar to mine, but yours is quite a bit more aggressive.I can't really offer much more than sympathy. I'm in a similar situation with my dog - whether from genetics or a bad start to life, she is very nervous with strangers and treats them as hazards to be driven off. Likewise, as a 75lb GSD/Rottie/Dobermann mix, putting her in a situation where she might bite someone is something I've been very cautious to avoid (though not without nerve-wracking moments, in spite of those efforts).
It's definitely a challenge to have a dog like that meet new people. Mine takes a minimum of three weeks just for a basic introduction, and I'm still only mostly sure at that point that she won't lunge at them if they look her in the eye accidentally. That entire time is muzzled and on leash, whenever they might be near the newcomer. Even after that, people are warned to keep her at arm's length no matter how friendly she seems - because she, like yours, can be happily playing one minute and threatening the next if the person does something she thinks is worrisome. In her case, she's got a very bad habit of putting herself between a person's knees, and then panicking because she feels trapped.
So the best I can suggest is to go slow. Even if your dog seems friendly, contact should be kept to a minimum - no wrestling, no jumping up, petting in short intervals (and only if the dog keeps asking for it). Contactless, non-competitive games like fetch can also go a long way toward having a potentially reactive dog see a person as fun and non-threatening. Good luck!
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Mine's actually a sweetie and a pushover once she gets to know a person well. Makes the challenge of having her meet new people worthwhile, even if she makes a TERRIBLE first impression, and second impression, and third impression...Similar to mine, but yours is quite a bit more aggressive.
All I need from my dog is for him to accept one new person.
I called the human society today to ask what would be done with my dog if I surrendered him, and they mentioned their trainer working with him -- despite his bite history. So if they think he might be salvageable, maybe he is. I left a voicemail for the trainer. I'd much rather work with my dog than get rid of him, if there's much hope
Good luck with your friend!
Keep in mind that punishing a dog (regardless of how it is applied) for giving warning, (making a request for space, to be left alone, which is what he was doing) may temporarily suppress the behavior but does not address the reason for the behavior in the first place. Punishment also runs a high risk of teaching the dog not to give warning at all, to suppress those warning signals, lest he be punished for displaying them, the last thing you want is a dog who no longer communicates how they are feeling about the situation they are in.I immediately tackled my dog pretty hard and scolded him. No spanking, just verbal.
Yes, this. Dogs are fast and have good aim. Trust me, if your dog wanted to draw blood, he would have done so. The snap was a warning that he was on his last nerve. Better to heed the warning than to punish him for giving it.Keep in mind that punishing a dog (regardless of how it is applied) for giving warning, (making a request for space, to be left alone, which is what he was doing) may temporarily suppress the behavior but does not address the reason for the behavior in the first place. Punishment also runs a high risk of teaching the dog not to give warning at all, to suppress those warning signals, lest he be punished for displaying them, the last thing you want is a dog who no longer communicates how they are feeling about the situation they are in.
Our dogs do speak -- we owe it to them to listen.
I want my dog to growl, bark, etc., and I allow him to do those things.Keep in mind that punishing a dog (regardless of how it is applied) for giving warning, (making a request for space, to be left alone, which is what he was doing) may temporarily suppress the behavior but does not address the reason for the behavior in the first place. Punishment also runs a high risk of teaching the dog not to give warning at all, to suppress those warning signals, lest he be punished for displaying them, the last thing you want is a dog who no longer communicates how they are feeling about the situation they are in.
Our dogs do speak -- we owe it to them to listen.
Can't you see that's just the same thing?I want my dog to growl, bark, etc., and I allow him to do those things.
I punished him for trying to bite.
I had removed my post by replacing it with three periods. I don't understand why someone else restored it, and now my statement is being challenged.Can't you see that's just the same thing?
