He bit me. Now what.
So this is a first. My dog bit me. Everything was calm on my end, and everything seemed calm on his end.
I was trying to put him outside for when my fiance came home so my fiance could come in and take off him shoes and stuff and not be jumped on (we are working on down right now and I wasn't particularly feeling well enough to do the training, my back still hurts, and I am passing a 7+mm kidney stone). I called him to come to the back door, he didn't move so I moved a little closer (because I was being blocked by the table) so he could see me signal to him and he started over, and was heading toward his crate. I just said This way buddy, pointed with one hand, and put my other hand on his side lightly to guide him in the direction and he turned and bit me.
Of course my first reaction isn't to move it was to stand perfectly still, and just grab him and close my eyes. He bit me a good 3-4 times, and only stopped when I finally had the courage to move and pin him on his side and yell STOP STOP STOP STOP.
For some reason instinctively I just grab whats hurting me, I really don't know why, I just always have. Its not just with the dog, its with most things.
I'm not like leaning over top of him when I try to lead him or put a collar on to go outside, I'm standing next to or in front, and bending down at the knees and coming to his level, which is what you are supposed to do, right? I'm reaching out fairly slow, he doesn't stare, put his ears back, tilt his head down, refuse to look at me, growl, whine, or anything. He seems happy, and normal.
I'm not getting mad, or frustrated, in fact my mood was completely neutral. And after, if anything, my feelings were hurt and I was sad, not being angry.
It seems to be a trend though and happening more frequently that he doesn't want to go outside. I can't have him peeing indoors and I can't have him biting me when I try and leash/collar him to bring him out for what ever reason, weather its too pee or to play. Most times I'm just like fine whatever don't come play with me then, but when I feel like I really need him outside seems to be the times that he is the hardest, and I don't know what to do. Luring with treats hasn't been working either since he doesn't really take interested when I am trying to get him to work with me lately.
I don't know why he is biting me.
Generally he has seemed distant from me for over a week. He loves loves loves everyone else. But he wont play with me, wont take food from me, like today I put out food and has has refused to eat it all day but if my fiance puts out the same food he will eat right away, ignores my commands (sit, stay, lay, drop it, leave it, etc) and generally seems like he doesn't like me anymore. But he is completely fine with everyone else.
Does he just not like me? I'm not mean to him, if anything I dote on him constantly, I'm the only person that ever offers to play with him, before he started being distant we were like two peas in a pod, inseparable, we did everything together. He was all around happy with me.
My fiance said give him a few more weeks see if he comes back around, but if he doesn't we are probably going to end up re-homing him. Which is really sad because before this last week, we were doing great together.
Other than re-homing him I don't know what to do. I can't afford a trainer right now. I don't want to re-home him, when he seemed close, I really loved him, and I still love him. It makes me really sad to think it might be one of my better options.
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Comment by Anna Morelli on June 21, 2014 at 8:06pm
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Hard to evaluate what you describe. Dogs don''t change that drastically in one week, unless sick or injured and nothing points to that as an explanation, since he's fine with everyone else. My GUESS ( and that's all it is) is that this is fear based and that something in you has changed, which he may be misinterpreting. If my guess is right, anything you do to correct him will only make it worse. Try to think back to what may be different with you and your handling of him. Re-homing him if he has a bite history ( which you are legally bound to disclose ) would put others at potential risk, especially if you have no understanding of why he is biting you. It looks like, somehow, the trust between you has broken down and needs to be re-built.
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Comment by Jane on June 21, 2014 at 7:54pm
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Are you absolutely sure nothing is wrong with him physically? If so, google "nothing in life is free" and implement it all immediately. Basically you make him work for every. single. thing. Going out for a walk? Sit. Being fed? Down. Throwing a toy? Shake. etc. You need to feed him. Put the food down for 20 minutes, if he doesn't eat, pick it back up. No more food until the next meal. I'd also suggest keeping a leash on him so you can get him outside if you need to without getting your hands near him.
And I'm not trying to be a downer, but rehoming a dog that bites is a liability issue. You can be sued if he bit someone again, and most rescues won't take a dog with a bite history.
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Comment by Kay White on June 21, 2014 at 3:00pm
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@Chris: Right my fiance said basically the same thing to me last night. Its something I am doing because he is good for anyone else, including perfect strangers.
Up to this point I have been pounded on other websites about not going outside the box of positive reinforcement training. So its been oh good boy this, good boy that. Never any bad, or NO! Because if I did and reported on it they would jump down my throat and say I was abusing my dog and he needed to be re-homed, and the whole nine yards.
I did recently start making him only be allowed on the couch or bed if he was invited. So I started that a few days ago.
Most of the time I am the one taking care of him, but since he started not accepting the food I started having my fiance feed him because it didn't feel right not having him eat, but from what you said it seems like he is going to have to deal with it.
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Comment by Chris Payerl on June 21, 2014 at 12:14pm
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I'm assuming the dog has been to the vet recently to be sure there is nothing physically wrong with him that could be triggering a pain reaction causing him to bite. Hard to say from what you posted but it sounds like a VERY sassy teenage brat who won't listen and who doesn't take you seriously. He's making you move toward him, not listening to your directions, etc. He won't eat for you, only for boyfriend. Sounds as if he doesn't see you as alpha to him. He needs a round of NILIF (nothing in life is free). Only you feed him, not boyfriend. Before he gets his food, he has to go outside and potty, then come in and sit. Only then does he get the food. Leave it on the floor for ten minutes and then take it up, whether or not he ate it. No food or snacks until next scheduled (on YOUR time) feeding. He won't starve. Break the daily food allotment into two or three smaller portions so he does get hungry during the day and you have more chances of training. Only pet or play with him when you call him to you for petting and playing. He gets his favorite toy only after he complies when you tell him to come, sit, lie down, etc., and then only for as long as you day he can have it. It's not a case of him not liking you, he's not respecting you. Dominant dogs nip and bite more submissive ones; he's seeing you as a more submissive pack member. You say you dote on him constantly --- STOP! Make him work for your attention and approval. He expects you to dote on him no matter what --- like a more submissive pack member caters to a more dominant pack member. You need to assert your dominance over him, not in a mean or nasty way, but in a firm and assertive way. If he seems to be trying to keep you away from boyfriend, he may be "resource guarding" boyfriend for himself the way some dogs guard toys or food (which is not good). Boyfriend needs to step back and let you take the lead with the dog at least for awhile. If you can't afford classes, check around for free training sessions at your local rescue centers/humane society or check a dog training book or DVD out of library.
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My grandmother made a good point on facebook about medications. I did just restart my birth-control and my hormones are everywhere.
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