What should I do with my dog since he bit my friend?

Question

My friend slept over last night and while we were sitting on the couch watching tv my dog jumped on the couch and out of the blue just attacked her hand. Today she couldn't feel her arm so she had to get a tetnus shot. My dog's a westie so he's small but I don't know what to do because he attacks people. I don't want to put him down, is there anywhere to give him away to someone? I don't know if my mom will let me do that, but I don't want my friends to be afraid of comoing over.

we have tried getting a trainer. it has never worked. but even one time my brother was just sitting down and my dog came up and attacked him. he's done it to me too.

Answer 1

That's a toughie.
How old is your dog and has he always been doing that?
He will need some intense re-training which is difficult since I know not of his age or background.
If worse comes to worse, inquire about a "Westhighland White Rescue" organization.
Seek their advice.

Answer 2

Don't hit your dog, that will only cause him to fear you and popping him on the muzzle *could* cause problems with his health and senses.

If training hasn't worked, and you feel you aren't able to work to correct the behavior, euthanizing him is really the only responsible option that you have.

Rehoming him isn't really an option, because as has been said, a rescue organization will either not take him or they'll have him put down. If you rehome him yourself, you MUST make who ever adopts him from you aware that he does have this history and aggression issues. If you don't, you (your parents) could be held liable if he bites someone even after he's been rehomed (this can still be the case even if his new owner is aware).

Some dogs are unsound, and this is a reality that too many people don't want to face. The best thing that anyone can do for an unsound dog is to take it and lovingly put it down. Talk to your vet to make sure that there isn't a health issue related to his biting, and/or a reputable behaviorist who can actually assess your dog in person. Don't rely on internet opinions when your dogs life or a humans well being is at stake.

Answer 3

Any dog you ever own will have discipline issues. If you don't feel comforatable discipling your dog then yes, you should give him to someone who is good with animals. As long as your dog feels that he is the 'dominant' creature living in this house... he will always do this.
You have to be stern with a dog.
Honestly, your friend that was bitten should come back over to the house... sit on the couch ... and the dog should be made to mind.
Right now he thinks he really did something big by scaring this person off. Which by the way was his desire all along.

What did you do when the dog bit your friend? You should have punished him and made him mind.

Listen, your not the first to have this problem with a dog. Just remember: A dog without discipline is a WILD ANIMAL. Would you let a wild bear live in your living room? Of course not... you have to make a believer out of that dog that YOU are the leader of the PACK and that you will NOT tolerate this type of behavior.
Until you get this dog under control, you cannot let visitors come to your home. You are putting them at risk because you have a wild animal living in your home. Get the dog under control or get rid of it.

Here is a website to help you.
(A dog trainer is great, but it is YOU that must ultimately train your dog. The trainer isn't going to be around all the time.)
http://www.dogobedienceadvice.com/dog_training_stop_biting.php

Answer 4

Taking a dog to a trainer doesn't train the dog, it trains you to train the dog. You then have to follow through. If your dog is afraid of people, chances are that it isn't biting out of the blue, but is giving indications of being afraid and then when it is too close to what it's afraid of, bites.

You can also start working with your dog on the 'nothing in life is free' system. This means that anytime your dog wants something, food, go out, sit on the couch, etc., he has to do something, sit for example.

But if your dog is afraid and acting the way it is, I suggest you check out

www.fearfuldogs.com

Answer 5

Your dog has dominance issues and is seriously aggressive. It won't stop on its own without intervention. You can't give him away to somebody without telling them because you could end up liable and besides, you'd be giving your problem to an unsuspecting person, which is wrong. Shelters will temperament test him and a kill shelter will euthanize him and a no-kill shelter won't take him at all with a bite history. That leaves you with two choices beyond euthanzing him, which I suspect you really don't want to do:

Get a trainer that specializes in aggressive dogs and try and solve the problem. Call your vet and get a recommendation for someone who has a lot of experience with this problem. But there are no guarantees that training will work but you can try and it might help.

Your second choice is to contact the National breed rescue for westies (link below) and they will put you in touch with your regional rescue. They may take him and try and work with him in a foster home and then eventually rehome him. Since he is purebred, this option may be open to him.

EDIT: If a sincere effort to retrain has not worked, then rescue is his best shot. Your only other option is euthanasia.

Answer 6

Out of the blue? Could you describe more about what happened? What other biting attacks has your Westie been allowed to do?
What did the trainer suggest? The more detail you give, the more help you can get. Giving a biter to a rescue group will not work - the dog will be euthanized. Please be aware that you and your family are this dog's last hope.

Answer 7

One of the problems with small Dogs is that they feel inferior. Such dogs need lots of love to compensate for that. You say that you got a trainer so that suggests that YOU didn`t train him from the start, when he was a pup. The person to train the Dog is the person that he`ll see most and who he`ll relate to most and that`s YOU !. If you can`t be bothered to train him or you don`t know how, then you really shouldn`t have a dog in the first place. Dogs take up a lot of time and are a responsibility that not all people are prepared for.

Answer 8

Immediately grab the dog by the scruff of the neck & shake him, pop him on the muzzle. Along with a deep throated NO. You will have to be consistent with every time he bites or shows intention of biting.

Dogs learn best by association so he will eventually learn what the results of biting will be. You will need to over act & be loud in your correction. You want the dog to know you are very upset about what he had just done or was attempting to do.

DO NOT PUT UP WITH THE BITING BEHAVIOR ! ! Never. It MUST be followed with dire action. The stronger the dogs misbehavior the stronger you need to be with your correction.

If there are no repercussions for his behavior he will think that it is OK.

Answer 9

Your canine of course heavily isn't primary. He has some worried issues, it incredibly isn't any longer your fault, he became born that way. once you have this form of canine, you in many instances could desire to think of forward. assorted worried canines, chunk first and ask later. you could the two seem at this occasion as a awaken call and be extra diligent with the canine. Or in case you think of you could no longer administration this canine, it may be suited to place him down. he's clearly unadoptable That shelter ought to've in no way accompanied out this canine to an green proprietor. maximum probably in case you in no way accompanied this canine, he could have been placed down already or worst, harmed somebody heavily. it is your maximum suitable decision. Make this canine a getting to grasp lesson and seem on your next canine from an suggestions-blowing, respected breeder.

Answer 10

,a rescue place wont take the dog if its bit 3 times already.when the dog jumps up on you or anything like the bed sofa, just simply get up and ignore him,then when hes down you sit down,keep repeating this,but remember to praise him for good behavior.and if you think hes going to bite just say EH EH but keep it shor,t sharp, and loud but not to loud.and when a mate comes over and he dont jump on them and dont bit them pet him and give him a treat.this will work if you stick to it,and tell your friend that dogs dont like being stared at!