I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my puppy

I went through the same experience with my puppy
so I understand your frustration.  I couldn't walk
a foot without a bite, he would bark, growl, and
was just obnoxious. He is a mix of Chow/Shep/
Husky/Akita.  I was scared if I couldn't handle
a 35lb pound puppy what would I do when he
full grown. All the advice I found in books like
no bite and yelping just made it worse because
he was reactive.  My stress just increased his
excitement level.
It wasn't until I met one of his sibling's parents that
I began to feel better about the situation.  She told
me that the puppies mother was feral and aggressive
so a shelter had to put her to sleep when the pups
were two weeks old.  This made a lot of sense because
the dogs didn't have a mother to teach them manners.
The other family's dog had similar issues plus food
aggression.  They did what Mic suggested and adopted
a Rotti to put her in her place.  (Not an option for me).
I had my mom watch how I handled the biting to pinpoint the trigger. I was pointing at him and he loved it.  My finger was
the prey.  It seems simple but it's hard to see your
mistakes in the moment.  I started crossing my arms
and turning my back on him when he tried to bite.
Sometime I could only get a few steps at a time but it
worked.  We also took three classes the first year. 
Just hang in.  It does get better especially after the
back teeth set.  At six months I was covered in bruises
and by ten months just a few. 
I would love to hear any tips your learn in your training
session, so please pass them along.
 
Good Luck,
Nic
 
 
 
 
 

I've not read the entire list of posts, but I would encourage you not to give up.  You've gotten some good help here, but in all my years of dog experience let me hit a couple of high points for you:
 
1.  No matter how "many" dogs we've all had or how much "experience" one has, there is always something new to learn with EVERY dog -- no dog is made by cookie cutter.  My point isn't that it's hopeless-- but rather anyone who tells you it 's 'easy' it fooling themselves and you, and sometimes you just plain have to keep trying to get better and to 'outsmart' the dog in order to be consistent.  But you WILL hit it and you will get better.
 
2.  If you have kids, this can be a heck of a family 'life lesson'.  Kids know by looking at themselves and at friends that not everbuddy is the same.  Why do some kids toe the line and others just seem to look for ways to get into trouble (and I'm not necessarily talking about your kids -- but kids generally DO understand this whole concept). 
 
But if you talk to your kids about the fact that this dog is a "for life" responsibility but he IS A CHALLENGE -- and how can "we" help him?  If he were human what *would* we do?  But maybe just like that adopted kid with 'issues' because he had a rough start (and this sounds like a serious bite inhibition problem - which can be caused by a myriad of things), this pup has to have some special handing and some special rules. 
 
Just like the kid that is ADD or autistic or from an abused home, sometimes they *need* different rules in order to help them make the right choices.  So let's set this pup up to MAKE the right choices and not set him up to make wrong ones.
 
3.  The toughest thing a pup has to learn is to make good choices.  Don't think that because they are a 'dog' that they don't make choices.  OH BOY do they ever.  But crawling inside their head to figure out what makes them choose what they do is a big huge deal. 
 
Narrowing down this dog's 'choices' so it can't screw up quite so bad is a big deal.  But sometimes, particulalry with a kid, if you help them see you are just trying to make sure that puppy doesn't make bad choices.
 
Making "choices" almost sounds like a contemporary buzz word -- but it's sometimes an easier way for kids to understand that they can help a dog to succeed, or they can set him up to fail. 
 
Try and give the kids a real life example from YOUR house of a rule maybe you've instituted to help them choose 'right' rather than setting them up to screw up (maybe it's a phone call to you the instant they change their plans rather than them 'forgetting' to check in or something). 
 
I'm hoping this turns into a really positive thing ... not just for this pup, but for your entire family.  So that one day you overhear your kid saying to a friend "MY Mom?  You know I hate to tell her I screwed up, but I know I *can* tell my mother because MY mother won't even give up on a dog, much less give up on me!!"
 
Good luck!!  It's tough to ask for help on a forum like this ... and by the time you sit down TO type out a plea for help, it's often when you're tired and "coping" has worn so thin you can't think of what to say.  It's hard to remember how little we all know of each other (and honestly we see everything from the worst of the worst to the best of the best here, so no one can 'assume' everyone truly means well, so please don't take it too personally).
 
I'm so glad, momtomany, that you're seeing a glimmer of hope.  And DON'T be afraid to ask for help.  One of the wonderful things about a message forum like this is that SOMEONE may have just one more thot of something they've either seen work or have tried themselves.  It just gives you a bigger frame of reference.  Good luck!

Hey all well we went back to crate training and put the lead on to go out potty today, during the day she will be in the crate or attached to me.  Until we figure out anything else that works I have to at least show her I am the boss.
 
I have done foster care and have never given one back, although I have had social services take two boys and put them in a mental institution.
I am in the process of adopting a little girl who is 12 and we were just approved for that, maybe we are just stressed from everything and trying to get her to listen just came at the wrong time I dont know.
 
I am not giving up on the dog and I am trying hard to take back control, but it is hard, and the kids are doing great in listening to what is good for her. 
 
No new placements are expected for awhile we need to get the adoption finalized first.  So that should help.  Looking forward to the trainer coming on Monday to see what she has to offer as well as the trainer that Mic knows.
Not quitting, not my style just frustrating and trying and needed some encouragement to hang on and keep it up.
 
Thanks all for the encouragement it is really what I needed.
Julie

Sometimes that's the BEST part of a board like this -- just the support and "one more thot" to help you out.

Great attitude mom!    Your right, sometime life is just too stressful and we don't think the way we do when it isn't.   Good luck on your adoption!
I read this at the beginning and then I missed some of the posts. But I assume you went back to crating your pup, and from all that I read, thats a good idea.
Also, Mic and Anne both made me see how important it is to make my dog see that I am the boss.  Working for everything she likes - WORKS!  With help and guidance from them and a trainer, I'll bet it will all work out just fine.   Just don't let yourself get down, try to keep you faith in yourself in training your dog. You'll do it.  Someone told me a while back that one day I will look back at Bubblegum and see how much I accomplished and how much we love her and its so true.   She will always give me something to think about, I will always have to be "on the ball" with her, but she is worth it!   Your dog will be too!  GOOD LUCK!

I'm glad you are having a better day.  I just needed to
know my dog wasn't a lost cause too before I
started making progress.  I'm sure your efforts
will pay off.

you do sound much more positive today - good for you that you will continue to work with him.
I know puppies can be frustrating - but imagine how frustrated they get when we can't make them understand what we want from them

I am glad that you are feeling better and more hopeful about things. Good luck with it.
 
I think you were given some great advice and I hope all goes well with the trainer. Keep us posted.