I need help.

[Ilsa]

Two years ago my family adopted a mostly-labrador mixed breed, 18 month old (approximately) male dog. His first year of his life before us was spent on his own, fending for himself, fighting other dogs for food. We adopted him and gave him a good home, regular food, exercise, playing with me, a big yard, living in the house. He loves us. We love him. But now he hates anyone coming near our home. I have to lock him away when company comes, make sure he's in the house when any workers come to deal with the yard, etc, outside. He will bite. He's 80 pounds, and his instincts to protect his home overwhelm his ability to hear me calling him off. The training becomes worthless.

I'm going to talk to his vet to see if there is medication for his anxiety, if that's what this is. But I am worried he could seriously hurt someone if just a minor mistake is made and he gets loose at the wrong time. Does anyone have any ideas?

[shenmue]

1. Sending hugs

[Ilsa]

11. Thank you.

I love my dog, but he can get vicious with my other dog over a sxrap of food that falls from a table. I apprecite the warm thoughts.

[Stonepounder]

2. Look to see if there is a canine behaviorist anywhere near you.

We took in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (one of the sweetest disposition dogs you would ever want to meet) who was surrendered because he bit his owner so badly she needed stitches. We consulted with a behaviorist. He came to the house, watched us and our interactions with the new dog (Cooper) and our other dogs, and their interactions with each other.

He gave us a set of guidelines on what to do. It took a while, but now (about a year later) he is an absolute new dog. An absolute love puppy. Yeah, occasionally he has minor flashbacks, but when he does, we use the techniques we learned and it is all fine.

So, ask your vet is he knows a canine behaviorist (yeah, there is actually such a specialization) and give it a shot.

[Ilsa]

10. I will. I'll check into it.

The CB might help me get over my newly developed anxiety over him attacking anyone. He barks and runs to the door if a TV doorbell rings.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

3. FWIW

I always heard that that locking an excited dog away, when other people come around,. actually makes it worse. In fact I knew a guy, years ago, who purposely did that with his dogs. Then when they left he'd let them out and play rough house with them, raising their excitement levels even more. Whether because of that, which I can't definitively say, his dogs were always fantastic watch dogs. BUT he could control them. Once his "training" was over, when people came around, he could tell them to sit and stay, and they would, calmly too.

I'd suggest that the first thing you need to do is explore and apply techniques to gain control. Perhaps leash him securely and let him be in the room with visitors. Make him sit and give him little pokes in the haunches or neck, while holding on to him with a short leash til he calms down. Once he calms down and quiets, Good boy him and give him his favorite pets, but not til he calms down and relaxes. After a few, or even several times, he should begin to catch on that that is the behavior you wish from him. I do know, from my own first hand experiences, that positive reinforcement for desired behavior works much better than trying to punish him for the undesired. Dogs really do want to please their people and be an accepted part of the pack.

Again. My opinion is that shutting him away only feeds the anxiety that causes him to act the way he does.

Then again I'm no expert, but I've always had dogs and none ever did what yours does. Plus I watch a lot of Cesar Milans "The Dog Whisperer" and Cesar 911 on the Natgeo Wild network.

Good luck.

[Ilsa]

6. Recently, we attempted to let the dog meet our guest

down on the street in front of the house where he would feel less threatened. My husband held his leash (on a harness) because I am too nervous about it, and I know that the bad energy is sensed down the leash. He sniffed the young man, then lept on him and nipped at his chest, tearing a hole in his tshirt and breaking his skin. We put him in with another family member in a separate part of the house where he couldn't see or hear the guest. We couldn't give him another chance to behave better (and receive a reward) with our guest because our guest was terrified of him. I couldn't blame him for being afraid.

If he's on the leash, with a harness, he'll still try to jump on a guest. We don't dare let him near another person without the leash. It's too risky, IMO, at the house. But he's not like that at the vet or other places, just at or near the house.

We have rewarded him for good behavior, but at his weight and strength, he can be difficult for a smaller person like myself to control if he gets crazy.

[Ilsa]

9. I forgot to say,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful answer. I really appreciate all of the suggestions here.

[Ruth Bonner]

4. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with this...

I have sort of a similar situation with taking my dog Jack to the vet - 70 lbs and he bites. He's been pretty much dismissed from the last vet we've been going to and we've already been through a few others, hoping he would be better with someone with a different style. The vet says we need to treat him at home - vaccinations, ear infections, etc. if at all possible. 😞

I keep thinking that I need to hire a dog behavior specialist to work with him regarding fear of the vet and being a crazy dipshit regarding people coming to our door - I can only open the door with him on leash and under control - not as bad as your dog, though. We have someone in our town who has worked with aggressive dogs intensively and has had good success.

In terms of dog behavior specialist you might try googling Ian Dunbar and looking for people who trained with him in your area. He is a Berkeley grad who's put his psychology degree to good use helping aggressive dogs and their people. He focuses on dog-on-dog aggression, but his methods might work with your dog - dogs think people are dogs, too.

On the other hand, I had a dog many years ago who bit several people - deep, multiple bites. I thought initially it was the situation, but when it happened several times I had to admit it was him. I talked to the vet who told me I had to do essentially what you described - keep him crated at all times - prior to and while anyone else was in the house. When walking him outside I would have to avoid all other dogs, moving quickly to the other side of the street. Because he had a bite history, I felt ethically responsible to place him with someone who could handle him. When I consulted local dog training people they told me it wasn't going to happen - it was really rare that anyone would take such a dog on - no matter how good and loyal he was.

I thought a life with him crated so often, me panicking every time someone knocked on the door, wasn't much of a life. It started to feel like I owned a loaded gun that could chase people down and fire itself. I put him to sleep - stayed with him the entire time and bawled my eyes out.

I'm sorry if this wasn't what you wanted to read at this point, but, sometimes it makes sense to be happy with the fact that a dog had several really good years with you that were a vast improvement over his rough start - true for my Sam - and to let him go before things get worse because neither you or dog are going to be happy as tensions rise and restrictions limit the joys of life to a great extent. I still feel like I failed him because I should've seen the problem sooner and thrown myself into dealing with the problem before it got so bad, but I didn't see where it was heading. Ultimately, I feel like I did the best I could for us both.

[Ilsa]

7. I understand completely, and fortunately for me, I

won't be permitted to put him down if he gets that bad. Let's just say there is a community of dog lovers who will take him in, regardless of his issues. I'm so sorry you had to do that, but since we've been "cited" already for one bite, I understand the loaded gun analogy.

I think part of it is me needing to be retrained, but I'm having a hard time relaxing with him in a public situation. The idea of my dog hurting anyone horrifies me.

Thank you for your input.

[Ruth Bonner]

12. I'm glad to hear about your supportive community.

I often think Sam would've been better off with a commanding ex-marine.

Good luck with your guy.

[Wilms]

17. I did go all out Drill Sargent for the first few weeks.

I delivered all due respect, care , attention, and positive reinforcement...but no privileges, or playing or snuggles. I meant business.

And I was on it like white on rice, even anticipating situations wear I'd have to correct, and I was able to do so in a fraction of a second. It REALLY gets the dog's attention and snaps them out of their patterned response.

But every dog/human/environment is it's own thing.

[Wilms]

16. You hit the nail on the head.

I was really the one that got the training. And later on I'd mention stuff to people who were having a hard time.

Time and again I witnessed a dog relax when the human eased up on the leash. And then the moment they got nervous and pulled it taught, their dog got aggressive. And so I'd talk them into relaxing the leash, and their dog would chill. Amazing.

[Wilms]

5. Two books for you

The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition)
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Raising-Puppy-Revised/dp/0316083275

Final Hope : Gaining Control of Your Aggressive Dog
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Hope-Gaining-Control-Aggressive/dp/0876053657

Stunning results.

[Ilsa]

8. Thank you so much. I'll work on this

with my husband.