[Orange]

My usually sweet dog has started "attacking" and biting people. When my mom sits down in her chair at night Rosie will lunge and jump on her and bite at her. Not full on biting, but enough that he's bruised her, broken her skin and torn clothing. When that happens I go right to him and firmly say, "NO! Kennel!" and he'll walk into his crate and I make him take a time out. Sometimes we go through this 2 or 3 times before he gets normal. Today he did the same thing to a guest at our house. (Mom let him off the leash when I told her to keep it on.) My sister and her kids are coming today and there's no way I can leave Rosie free.

He's 18 months old and was neutered at 7 months. I've read about the teenage butthead phase and that may be what's going on. But I have a 90 pound powerhouse that I can't control. Ideally I'd seek out an animal behaviorist, but I live at least 4.5 - 5 hours from anyone. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! When we're by ourselves he's never shown an aggression towards me. It scares me what he's doing to other people.

I need help today and in the long run...I love him and I worry that I'll have to get rid of him. I'm scared. And I love him so much... I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP...

Debra

 

[Kasco]

I would start by taking him back to basics in his obedience. Check out the NILF sticky thread. Make him work for everything he gets. In short, knock him down a notch. Be careful in the mean time! Good luck.

 

[angie7349]

Sounds liek you have lost Alpha statis you need to firmly yet kindly get control.............I agree back to the basics and remind him he is at the bottom of the ladder, it sounds like he was putting your Mom in her place (below him)

 

[portugee]

Biting

I feel for you, as I am new to this breed myself, and agression is my biggest concern. I think you have to re-establish Rosie's place in the pack. He needs to know that he's second to his human companions. The simple things count, don't let him in the door first, he eats last, give greetings to everyone else in the room before Rosie. I'm sure he is loyal to you and your family, but is attempting to move himself up in the pack. Good luck. Gunnar's dad.

 

[ALPHAMALE]

put your foot up the dag's arse next time :wink: if you realy dont know what to do than get proff help qiuck before this get worse :wink:

 

[Cinder]

Yikes. Is his biting, or nipping? He's old enough to know better, sounds like you really need to get on him, big time. The best advice I got was that "you need to put the fear of God into him, and make it seem like his life is ending". Scare him good when he does this.

 

[ambulldogpup]

Honestly, this does not sound like 'attacking'. Not to say it shouldn't be stopped. But attacking is when the dogs eyes dilate, and there goal is to kill. This sounds like playfullness, this is how dogs play with each other, with there mouths. How often/long is the dog walked everyday? What type of discipline does it get? I reccomend reading a few dog physcology books from your local library, try to stop the problem yourself. If your unable to do so, contact a canine behavorist ASAP.

 

[Crazy-J]

My usually sweet dog has started "attacking" and biting people. When my mom sits down in her chair at night Rosie will lunge and jump on her and bite at her. Not full on biting, but enough that he's bruised her, broken her skin and torn clothing. When that happens I go right to him and firmly say, "NO! Kennel!" and he'll walk into his crate and I make him take a time out. Sometimes we go through this 2 or 3 times before he gets normal. Today he did the same thing to a guest at our house. (Mom let him off the leash when I told her to keep it on.) My sister and her kids are coming today and there's no way I can leave Rosie free.

He's 18 months old and was neutered at 7 months. I've read about the teenage butthead phase and that may be what's going on. But I have a 90 pound powerhouse that I can't control. Ideally I'd seek out an animal behaviorist, but I live at least 4.5 - 5 hours from anyone. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! When we're by ourselves he's never shown an aggression towards me. It scares me what he's doing to other people.

I need help today and in the long run...I love him and I worry that I'll have to get rid of him. I'm scared. And I love him so much... I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP...

Debra

Debra...I feel for you! My usually sweet dog has also begun "attacking and biting people and wound up sending a 78 year old woman to the ER. I was informed by police that its required for a biting dog like that to go to obedince school. Since John and I have Angus (the one who is attacking, and Magnum our new pup) they're enrolling together.

Here's his story...my dad had to undergo emergency open-heart surgery and we had to have angus go somewhere for a while until my dads sternum healed because gus likes to jump and we were afraid one jump on my dad would have him back in CCU. So anyway my sister took my dog because he loves her and her children. I would be apt to say that he was annoyed after 3 weeks of being constantly nagged by kids and picked on. He is used to being with me at mom and dads and there is only myself and an older brother at home. Neither of us pick on him unless he wants to be picked on (playfully). Other than that he lounges. I noticed he gets annoyed if the kids pick on him a lot there too. At that point he likes to be put in my room. So my guess is that he just was at his wits end. So anyway, my nephew was taking Angus out to potty. When he went to open the door Tucker, my sisters little Dachsund, darted out the back door. Angus being new found buddys with him darted after him dragging my nephew with him. He ran into the neighbors yard who in turn got upset due to the amount of dog poop in her yard. She came out and got into my nephews face swinging her arm and yelling. Angus took this as a threat and nipped at her. When he did she went to pull away and ripped open her arm. Angus had NEVER done anything like this. Worst he's ever done is bark and get nasty with people in uniform but never gone to attack anyone. At any rate, he is now required to partake in obedience training, which I think is a good thing. (not that he's a bad dog but there are a few things that he could change)

This obviously isn't the same situation, but unfortunately my dog hurt someone. So I feel your pain and frustration.

 

[bubbabulldog]

put your foot up the dag's arse next time

well said.

 

[Cookies Mom]

you better take everything away from this dog and start the nothing in life is free!!!! I would start the next time this dog starts to lounge! Your dog thinks he is above your mother on the totem pole so to speak. Not good!!!
You have to control everything dog eats last dog gets everything last, everthing the dog needs comes from you!!!! get control of this dog before it's to late.

 

[Jackie]

Wow, you're tough!

"No, kennel!" What do you give him a toy to play with when he's in there? Sounds like you're sending a 2 year old to time out. Must be growling at people too!


Cowboy up girlfriend!


little jackie

 

[Jackie]

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