What should I do with my dog, now that it has bitten?

Question

I have a 5yr old black lab/chow mix. He has been our "baby" for the last 5 years. Last night, my husband tried to bring him in from outside. He is very stubborn and didn't want to come in. He growled, but my husband still reached for his collar. He snapped and bit my husbands lower lip pretty bad (needed stiches). We are going to have our first baby in a few weeks. What should I do with him. My head says get rid of him, but my heart breaks everytime I think of it. Who should I talk to? Would my next step be to try to have him go to obedience training? I am sooo confused!

Answer 1

Your dog needs to learn he is not pack leader and that you are! Get him into classes with someone who is used to dealing with aggressive dogs, and not someone who is going to just lure him around with treats. Canine pack leaders do not bribe their pack with food! This dog does not sound so much aggressive as just thinking he is in charge, it isn't all that hard to change. He may very well feel the baby is beneath him, so you will have to be vigilant and supervise him or crate him when you can't.

I can give you some tips on things you can do at home, but you really should have a GOOD trainer in your area to help you.

Answer 2

I would place an ad in the paper and give the dog to someone that does not have any kids. Do not let that dog around your baby... He WILL bite! Chow dogs bite people for no reason. I would get a full breed lab puppy for you baby and start over. i know your feeling i have a 5 year old pit bull but she has never bit. I could not image getting rid of her but you must take care of your child. Please get rid of the dog ASAP Also look up a no kill animal shelter in your area. Good luck!

Answer 3

Aggression is a very difficult behavioral problem to manage, especially in a dog who hasn't exhibited symptoms of this problem for years. There are a number of factors that can influence aggression, and there are a number of different 'forms' of aggression (play aggression, predatory aggression, fear aggression). Each one is different, and each has it's own prognosis.

First, I'd say it wouldn't be a bad idea to run your dog into your veterinarian's office. There are a handful of conditions that can influence our dog's behavior. Painful conditions, like arthritis or sore 'parts', can make our dogs sensitive about being pulled or pushed. There are no studies with direct correlations, but it might be worth having his thyroid levels checked, as I have seen some aggressive dogs resolve themselves with thyroid therapy. A thorough physical exam is a great place to start when dealing with any behavioral issue.

Face bites are bad news. Dogs who are simply biting out of fear or anxiety most often catch us on the hand or arm in an effort to warn us to give them some space. Your husband did make an error in reaching for the collar after the dog growled - that was the dog's way of saying "I'm not comfortable, and this is your warning" - but in NO way does that make it appropriate for your dog to bite. Chows and Chow mixes do have a genetic predisposition to aggression, so I can't say that I'm entirely surprised.

Anytime you're battling a behavioral issue, it's always a good idea to get your dog into some general obedience classes. "Sit", "stay", and "come" are very basic commands that will be substantially important in a training regimen. There are a lot of "do it yourself" books, but I recommend a professional trainer - they can keep you on the right track with questions, and also give you tips if your dog proves especially difficult to train.

If the dog is only exhibiting signs of aggression when he's being asked to go somewhere he doesn't want to go (like coming inside), it might be best to keep a leash on him. You'll have a handle on bringing him in without getting too close to his face. If he comes inside with basic commands and without growling or resisting, make sure you praise him with something he values - a treat or a favorite toy.

I do caution you, however, that the addition of a child who is not aware of properly handling or responding to a dog is always a danger, even with dogs who have no history of aggression. A pull of the tail or a rough pat on the head could cause VERY real damage to a small child. Most behavioral specialist will tell you that it's not worth the risk! There are a number of rescue groups and "no-kill" facilities you can take the dog to if you're worried about euthanasia. It might not be a bad idea to check around while you're doing some training, in case things don't work out and you need quick action.

Good luck with your dog. It can be a very difficult decision to make, and it's always best to consult a veterinarian or behavioral specialist before you make any choices.

Answer 4

Number one the animal control should have contacted you about a Rabies quarantine or immediate euthanasia with a facial bite. If they didn't than call your vet, because it is FEDERAL LAW!!!!
Number 2- Chows and chow crosses have a higher tendency to be aggressive. With that said, I had 2 awesome, wouldn't hurt a fly ,chows when I was younger, but I also am heavy on obedience and do not tolerate an animal evening lifting its lip at me or somebody else in the household. (not heavy handed- just quick to vocally disapline and punish be sending them to their bed)
If you want to keep the dog, then seek a veterinarian's help who specializes in behavior. They are your best bet. If you decide to get rid of the dog, please consider euthanasia. If he's bit once without correction, it will happen more and more frequently and passing him to somebody else places you with legal liability if he attacks them. And be honest if you place him in the shelter, because they will have to make the decision on whether this dog is even adoptable.
Tough decision and I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.
-a dvm

Answer 5

You need to see an animal behaviorist or professional trainer. This dog has had five years of running the house. He thinks that he is in charge (the alpha) and until you assert yourselves and make sure the dog knows that humans are always in charge then you will continue to have problems. Here is an article explaining alpha behaviors and how to assert yourself so the dog understands you - http://www.forpaws.org/articles/alpha.htm. There is a form of training called "Nothing In Life Is Free" (NILIF) that is briefly touched upon in that article. This article expands on NILIF behavior modification http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm. You need to institute NILIF NOW and get a professional to guide you through this process ASAP. Good luck.

Answer 6

You should take it to a shelter. They will probably have to watch it for 10 days to make sure that it doesn't show signs of rabies and then they will put it to sleep. It is definitely not safe for you to have the dog around a newborn. We recently had to go through this with a dog who rarely bit but every few years he would bite a kid (this was not our family's dog it was a friend's dog).

Answer 7

Spray him in the face with a squirt bottle full of water when he tries to do it again. He senses the forth coming baby and knows he will have competition soon.
He will need to know his place soon or you will have a mauled baby.
If you feel that ti will not happen by that time you should think about professional training and or placing him in a new home.

Answer 8

You definatly, decidedly need to consult with a good animal behavorist (your vet may have a referal). Ideally you should try for one with a DMV. It's impossible to tell over the internet if this is a one of thing that's unlikly to be repeated (an animal biting due to pain for example) or something fixable or if your dog isn't gonna ever be safe around children.

Answer 9

You should get rid of him I know it will be hard. I had to shoot my dog after it bit my wife and it also snapped at my 4 year old.You don't have to shoot him , you can take him to a animal shelter.

Answer 10

you could give him to the SPCA to take care of him or they could train him. my friend's friend was bitten by her dog, and they put it down for doing that, which i don't think u want to even go there do u? what i would do is put a muzzle on him, just 4 a little while.