How normal is it for a 1/12 year old dog to bite its owner?

Question

Last night, our dog (female, 1/12 yrs, 50lbs - springer spaniel, border collie, pitbull?, maybe others) bit my wife on her arm. The bite did not hurt my wife or break skin (scared her a lot), but it was a deliberate bite. It occurred while the dog was on my wife's lap and she tried to move the dog to another part of the couch. My wife is ready to get rid of the dog because she feels no amount of biting of this sort is tolerable. I'm trying to figure out what is acceptable.

We've had the dog since she was 9 mos. At that age, she was very mouthy, but it subsided with 4 months of dog training and age. It does not occur too often, but the dog uses her mouth on people's hands occasionally. We're still trying to train her off that habit.

The only change recently is that our dog is now allowed on the couch and bed with us sometimes.

My wife doesn't trust information from websites and only trusts dog owners' real experiences.

What is normal? Has your dog ever bit? What did you do?

Answer 1

Any bite that is dilberate is a seriouse problem. Especially if the dog was on your wifes lap and showed her that her moving was unexceptable to her (your dog). This can turn into a potentionally dangerouse problem.

My first intinct is not to rehome the dog, but to step into action with asserting dominance. She needs to learn where she stands in the family pack. Right now she sees herself over your wife, in which is dangerouse right there and more bites will come.

I highly recomend a good veterinary physical exam, to make sure nothing is hurting thus contributing to any onset aggression (sore hips, or a sore lump etc.) then seek the advice of a professional dog trainer or a basic obience class, to put structure back into her life and re-enforce the reality that she is not above your wife in the pack family.

I wouldn't let sleep on the bed and get on the couch any more, that is a priviallege not a necisity for her, and you have to let her see this.

One really easy way for your wife to reassert her dominace over the dog is to bind them, its a non physicical method of taking the leash and tying it to your wifes belt. She ignores the dog, and shows no special favors but every where your wife goes the dog must follow as a subivive pack follower, and your wife is now the dominant pack leader making the desions. You don't talk to the dog, when you get up and get ready to go, you just go and the dog is forced to acept you and follow.

I know it sounds odd, but I did this method with my husky when she would run off and not return when called, and it worked fantasically with her.

I don't think this method, just like a variety of training methods will work with every dog, thats why its important to talk to a professional trainer, where they can properly assess you and your dog to find the right method for all of you.

This is extreemly normal behavior for a dog who is asserting thier dominance over the submissive pack members, but should not be acepted from any dog owner when the dog begins to view themselves as the dominant leader and the owner as the submissive.

I have never given my dogs the oppertunity to bite me dilibertly, they have growled at me and I stopped them there.

Fact is, in dog sociology, the pack leader is never challenged, by his pack.

I can totally understand your wife and her reaction, but I would try the professional trainer to see if they can help you guys out.

Good luck.

Answer 2

When my doberman/lab mix was about 8 months old she was sleeping on my lap on the couch. I did the same thing and tried to move her. She snapped at me and barely got my arm. I immediately disciplined her for it and threw her off the couch. Then I ignored her for about an hour which she did not like at all.

Maybe your dog was in a deep sleep and just having a good dream and was startled when awoken, causing the "bite". Maybe your wife hit a tender spot while trying to move her and that's why she did what she did.

I think what is most important in this situation was how the dog reacted after the "bite". Was she remorseful? Did she act like she realized that she did something wrong? If she didn't "feel bad" for what she did then I might wonder.

By the way my dog had a few other episodes where she tested me but she turned out to be the BEST dog that I ever had (she's now 14 years old).

We all make mistakes now and then and I don't think one little misjudgement on your dog's part calls for her to be gotten rid of. If she really meant to do harm she could have. Your wife needs to realize that.

It seems to me that if anything it was a sign that your dog was letting your wife know that she was not happy with being moved.

Answer 3

No, this is not a normal behavior. When she tried to move the dog, did she (I hate to use this word as it sounds more abusive that I actually mean it to be) hurt and or injure the dog in some way? Some mouthing is normal but there should be no biting. I would not allow the dog on the bed as that is a sacraed area that only you and your wife should be. Allowing the dog there makes the dog an equal and she may see herself as trying to replace your wife as the alpha female. I do not see a need to get rid of the dog as some simple corrective action on your part will stop the unwanted biting.

Answer 4

I understand your desire to want the dog to be able to get on the bed etc. I let my sheltie rarely but sometimes and my maltese-poodle all the time. The Lab hardly ever, for obvious reasons, but sometimes just as a treat. They all know that it is a priviledge not a right. Everything is a priviledge, not a right. They are immediately down, if otherwise. I would establish dominance before the dog is invited up. Make her come over, sit or roll over on command. If he/she has that attitude then he/she may come up. If she starts to stiffen, growl, when you nudge her, she immediately gets down. Try putting a leash on her before this little exercise so you can not only put her down but lead her into another room for "time out". Separation from the pack is dog talk. This all has to be done unemotionally, just confidentally. I am in a wheelchair and am training my dogs to be therapy dogs for rest-homes etc. I WANT them to get up next to someone on a couch/bed to comfort. But I know they have to know it is a priviledge and they must be invited. When your dog gets down or moves over without complaining be sure and reward her with lots of praise or a treat. This has worked for me. By the way I have a cat who would bit if I moved her while sleeping somewhere, and the immediate discharge worked for her too.

Answer 5

A dog that bites its owner only does it because it feels its more dominate than the owner.

If you're letting the dog on the furniture and in the bed you're treating it like a leader, and it will act that way.

It bti your wife because it believes she is lower on the scale than it is.

Its totally unacceptable behavior. You did it to the dog, but undoing it can be very difficult.

Dogs are dogs and should NEVER be treated like people. They sleep on the floor, lay on the floor and eat on the floor. Theyre dogs. You're people, you lay on furniture, you sleep in beds and you eat on the table. You blurr those lines and you create a problem for the animal. this is the result.

If i were her i would also seek to get rid of the dog. But, you can try getting some help training yourselves on how to keep a dog the right way. SO that the dog knows its place and whats expected of it.

Answer 6

depends on the owner - and that's awfully big for a month old dog 1/12 yr=1 mo

dogs are pack creatures and know their place in the pack - the fault lies with you in treating the dog as an equal - you need to TRAIN your dog and establish an order with you and the wife as PEOPLE the dog as a DOG get some training manuals and get to work

Answer 7

try pinning the dog down on its side and see what it does. if it tries to fight with you then the dog is dominant. do not let the dog go if it tries to get up just hold it their until it relaxes then let it go. when ever the dog tries to bite someone just hold its mouth shut and say NO!! that should stop as long as you let the dog know that that behavior is unacceptable.

Answer 8

that doesnt sound normal, i agree with the other answers. I mean its up to you if you feel you cant take the biting anymore. But have you any idea what its life was like before you got it. i mean you say 9 months old. who knows how it was treated before you got her.

Answer 9

i am sure that was an awful experiance but I don't have dogs, so??? what i am going to tell you is about my uncle he is a hunter and he has alot of huning dogs(i don't even know the names or kinds) once one of the dog bit one of my cousin without any reason my uncle was shocked and he took his gun and shot him twice you can imagine that what was the condition of my uncle then but the dog died. What so ever i would say that think before doing anything think think!!!!

Answer 10

i would feel like your wife ....if my dog bit me i could`t trust him no more i would constantly look over my shoulder.
Seems like your dog had some bad experience in the past.