Dog Community

Please help. Don't know what to do...

Posted : 4/24/2006 1:11:59 PM

I have a problem with my dog and we do not know what to do now. We have a cocker-lhasa apso mix that is 1yr 5 mos old. He is typically a good dog but has now attacked my husband twice in 10 days.

The brief history of dog bites:
When he was neutered I brought him home and he bit me when I tried to move him (I had to go to the ER) but he is completely forgiven for that incident since he was sedated at the time and I now realize that I should not have tried to pick up a sedated animal (esp. one coming out of sedation at the time.)

Last summer we had a cookout at our house and my husband#%92s uncle picked him up and he bit him on the nose. We were upset but also forgave him for that since he had come into the house to try to get away from the people and the uncle had come in and picked him up when he was asleep.

However, two weeks ago he was on the couch with my husband. My husband was petting him for about 15 minutes with no problem (tail wagging, licking his hand, etc). The dog suddenly attacked his hand. He didn#%92t just bite it…he attacked. We took him to the vet that afternoon to verify that nothing was wrong with him, he didn#%92t have any health issues, etc. He was fine.

Then only 10 days later the dog was in our bed. (He sleeps with us sometimes.) I was asleep and my husband was going to sleep. The dog suddenly attacked my husband#%92s face. My husband was not touching him, had not moved in fact. He had to go to the ER, will likely have 4 or 5 scars, and was lucky that the dog didn#%92t blind him since the bite was less than 1/2 inch below his eye.

Now we do not know what to do with him. We love him, he is one of the family. But we don#%92t know what to do with a dog that attacks unprovoked and we are planning on having children in the very near future and are afraid of what he may do to them.

Does anyone have any ideas? We don#%92t know what to do…we don#%92t want to put him down but are worried that we will have no choice.

loveukaykay

Posted : 4/24/2006 2:11:24 PM

What is his consequence when he bites?

luvmyswissy

Posted : 4/24/2006 2:26:00 PM

This is typical Alpha behavior. Your dog see's himself as the Alpha in your family. You really need to address this problem immediatly. I would highly recommend you hire a behavorlist to evaluate your dog and help work with you on how to become most effective in training. These issues are more about you than him, you need to know how to assert you self with confidence with rules. However, in the mean time NILF "nothing in life is free" program for dogs. Do a google search and you will get more details. However, No food, no treats, no outside nothing without working for it first. Exmaples are: sit before going outside. Never walks infront of you going through doors. No treats without sitting or speaking or giving a paw. And NEVER, NEVER is allowed to own anything - like you bed. No more sleeping on the bed!! Or on the couch!! Your behaviorlist is going to suggest a leash on him at all times while he is in the house, this give you a tool to train him without getting bit. If he is on the bed, pull him off - no words necessary. Just your actions. If he goes on again, pull him down again and again and agian until he learns this is YOUR bed. Same with the couch. Even if he has his own bed, periodically just grab the leash and pull him off it. No words, so he knows he has no rights. If he has a toy he like to play with and get to

ossisive over it, take it away. You are the boss, you decide when he plays, when he eats, when he sleep and where.

glenmar

Posted : 4/24/2006 2:34:30 PM

I'm not sure I'd go QUITE that far, but yes, you do need to start NILF. No bed or couch privleges until he EARNS them, but I'd not go as far as to jerk him off his own bed when he's minding his own business and being good. That only teachds him that you are unpredictable. Your goal is to be the leader, but a benevolent one.

Christina

Posted : 4/24/2006 2:39:24 PM

In response to loveukaykay:
When he was sedated and bit me he was sent to his crate, which took awhile as he could barely walk, etc. due to the sedation. All of the other times he was also sent to his crate immediately but unfortunately we were more worried about cleaning wounds and taking my husband to the hospital than discipline at the time.

In response to luvmyswissy:
He doesn't walk through doors before me. He always must either sit, lay down or sit, shake for a treat. He is only on the bed when we invite him up...both my husband and I didn't mind him sleeping in bed because my husband works nights and I work days. He doesn't get possessive over any of his toys, I can take his food or bone away without a word. Since the latest bite he has not been allowed in the bedroom at all when we are asleep.

I guess what bothers me the most is that he has attacked twice in the last two weeks for apparently no reason which is out of character for him. I will google the NILF program now. I am just afraid that my husband will think that it is too late. We have many small children and babies in our family and with our hopes of having one in the near future I do not have much time to turn him around completely.

Chris .

Posted : 4/24/2006 4:03:22 PM

OK..I'm a newbie...and we have our own issues with our pup...but given what you've stated...if there isn't a health reason, I'd have the dog put down. I love animals as much as the next guy, but the fact that your husband was nearly blinded by your family pet ought to give you a good reason to have the dog destroyed. He's a part of your family yes, but he's still an animal and one that has shown himself to be dangerous and unpredictible... would you be asking this question if it were your children he nearly blinded?

spiritdogs

Posted : 4/24/2006 7:16:54 PM

This sounds like a problem that you need professional help with, since you now have a dog with a bite history that is very serious.
Children in a home with this dog - out of the question. And you can't in good conscience rehome a dog that has put stitches in someone's face, and scarred him. No rescue would take the dog anyway, most likely.
Before you consider euthanasia, however, you should consult a veterinary behaviorist. It is possible that this dog may have a seizure disorder, or other physical problem, so rule that out before taking such a drastic step. That said, please be careful - you chould acclimate the dog to wearing a muzzle. Since his attacks do damage, instead of just being scary & noisy, you need to keep everyone safe.

spiritdogs

Posted : 4/24/2006 7:22:24 PM

The dog suddenly attacked my husband's face. My husband was not touching him, had not moved in fact.

Dogs that attack "without warning" are often subtle, but the warning can be whiskers pulled forward, or some other sign that humans miss. And, the hubby wouldn't have to move - the dog's trigger might be as subtle as your husband making eye contact. Dominant aggressive dogs may take even that as a challenge or threat and respond with a bite. It's possible that he bit the other time to get hubby to keep patting him. In other words...I'm the leader, and you will stroke my fur.
I worry about dogs that deliberately bite the face, or go for the belly, because they mean business. Dogs that warn usually go for the hand or arm. A dog's mouth is four times faster than the human hand, so when they connect, they meant to connect.

Firestorm

Posted : 4/25/2006 10:52:36 AM

If you have kids in the house..and the dog doesn't have any medical reasons for this behavior. I would seriously consider putting him down. What if it were a child that he bit and made them blind? If I had a dog that was that dangerous and there was no medical reason I would put it down. I will not put my children in danger.

glenmar

Posted : 4/25/2006 10:54:36 AM

She doesn't HAVE children yet. She wants to have them soon.

Again, this dog needs to be vetted to rule out a medical cause for the problem.

Firestorm

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:05:33 AM

I did say in my post that he should be vetted but IMHO I do not think this dog should be around any children regardless of whose they are. I would not put anyone's children nor adults in a situation in which a dog could possible attack them.

loveukaykay

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:11:14 AM

Is there some sort of discipline that would deter this should it happen again and you being consistent with what you do after the fact? Maybe not, Im just trying to think of ideas here.

I know I saw on the Dog Whisperer he got that Min Pin to quit biting the family and other dogs by socializing him with other dogs and by having the family ignore him and act like they were the leader and not him... I know he also used the collar and rolled him over in front of the other dogs, and I know a lot of you disagree with his methods... but it worked and the dog was able to live peacefully with the family. I say do whatever it takes before chosing the option of putting him down... if you are considering putting him down than its an EXTREME case which may sometimes call for EXTREME measures of last resort which may include alpha rolling or whatever... but IMO its worth a try, controversial or not, before making the decision to be put to sleep.