Well, hell. Now what? (Dog bit me) - 2nd Update: #353

[Pinehawk]

You don't know what you're talking about. That you don't know the difference between obedience training and operant conditioning training makes any opinion you post pretty much useless. ANY dog can bite at ANY time if they are stressed - and you might not know what stresses them. If that thought scares you, don't bring a dog into your house. Simple solution.

I've had indoor and outdoor dogs growing up. Many of them. Have never been bitten. A dog that bites is unacceptable. We only had one bad one over the years, which we took in for someone, and it was put down when it was determined it had violent tendencies (killed another animal).

 

[ericram]

Playing with a dog and allowing them to play bite is setting them up to fail IMO.

It' good you said it's was your opinion. I say your opinion is completely wrong. That's my opinion.

 

[LunchBox50]

or peeked

I was going to mention this one, but let it roll because of the serious nature of the conversation. The copy editor in me remains strong.

 

[alaskanseminole]

You don't know what you're talking about. That you don't know the difference between obedience training and operant conditioning training makes any opinion you post pretty much useless. ANY dog can bite at ANY time if they are stressed - and you might not know what stresses them. If that thought scares you, don't bring a dog into your house. Simple solution.

We have an complementary assessment set up for 2pm today. The trainer will be in our home with the veterinarian on Zoom. The trainer will support us in rehoming if we don't want him to go back to the breeder.

So, a couple of things. Play biting and teaching a puppy the limit of that behavior (essentially that it's not allowed under any circumstances) must be done during the first 6 months of a puppy's life. If you miss that window and the behavior persists, it's very difficult to extinguish (but not necessarily impossible). It's vital that a dog understands that a human hand can and will touch, probe and examine their mouths and the rest of their body at any time and that it's not a threat to them and that biting a hand even lightly is not allowed at all. Playing with a dog and allowing them to play bite is setting them up to fail IMO.

I did this (and still do this). We play chase at night...he jumps up on the bed and then we wrestle and he "bites" on my hands and NEVER clamps...you can feel his vibrating jaw restraint. We ran hair dryers on him early, groomed/brushed him while giving him treats. Our goal was for him to be a certified therapy dog our son could take to senior citizen homes. He's so darn friendly...he's never been aggressive towards other dogs and is probably the most popular (friendliest) dog in the neighborhood.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Man, I feel bad you have to deal with this OP.

One thing I notice from your pics, you guys seem to have your hands on your dogs a lot. I’ve never had a dog that liked to be hugged or held or grabbed. Do you worry that habit will make it more likely Joey will react that way again?

Edit to add after reading the post above. Nobody will convince me that wrestling with your dog isn’t a bad idea. Never seen a dog that liked to be manhandled.

 

[TennNole17]

Another poster mentioned- you should be really happy it was your hand and not your dick. If he got your twig and berries I bet this discussion is a lot shorter

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

Dude did you not fvck with your dog enough when it was a puppy? You should have been able to take any food/toy or treat from your dog after giving it to them.
Our golden doodle is a pussy. Our little cavapoo will lay by his food and he pouts until we make her move.
I think you should try and find someone who doesn’t have kids that would take the dog before you put it down. I know if I didn’t have an infant child at home I’d take it.
It’s a beautiful dog still full of life and learning.

 

[Hawki97]

I think you should try and find someone who doesn’t have kids that would take the dog before you put it down. I know if I didn’t have an infant child at home I’d take it. It’s a beautiful dog still full of life and learning.

Yep, that dog is very adoptable to the right situation.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Man, I feel bad you have to deal with this OP.

One thing I notice from your pics, you guys seem to have your hands on your dogs a lot. I’ve never had a dog that liked to be hugged or held or grabbed. Do you worry that habit will make it more likely Joey will react that way again?

My last dog, Jack, loved to be held, petted, etc. When I would get home from work, the routine was I'd lay on the floor so he could jump up on my chest and nuzzle.

Joey isn't as much of a touchy dog as Jack was, but he's constantly nudging my hand to pet (and keep petting) him. He loves to jump up on the bed in the morning to wake our son up. He's usually right next to me on the couch.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Joey isn't as much of a touchy dog as Jack was, but he's constantly nudging my hand to pet (and keep petting) him. He loves to jump up on the bed in the morning to wake our son up. He's usually right next to me on the couch.

That’s fine, but none of that is grabbing, hugging, wrestling, etc.

 

[alaskanseminole]

That’s fine, but none of that is grabbing, hugging, wrestling, etc.

At night it's the wrestling he seems to really like, that and the chase.

Hell, at this point I just don't know. The trainer took detailed notes over the phone and we'll know more in 2 hours when we meet with the vet.

 

[BelemNole]

This is on you OP. Your dog "showed his teeth" and you tried to be friendly with him instead of immediately correcting him.

We had a biter when I was a kid. You touched his bowl and he'd go after you. As dumb kids we thought this was fun. We'd kick his bowl and then run as he chased us biting at our feet/legs.
He was nearly put down twice, once for biting a general's wife.

 

[JWolf74]

Another poster mentioned- you should be really happy it was your hand and not your dick. If he got your twig and berries I bet this discussion is a lot shorter

As well as other things....

 

[ping72]

Would you want your daughter to date a guy who was nice most of the time… but every now and then…

Personally I’d get rid of it and not have to worry about the next time it snapped. But I know others get more emotionally invested in pets than I do.

 

[TennNole17]

Another thought- you’re rationalizing his behavior based your (advanced) understanding of his temperament. If YOU can get it wrong, I imagine others (including kids) could just as easily read the dog wrong.

 

[Derekd3408]

Not necessarily true. Wife is on the phone with the breeder in the other room.

This is a discussion and it's not an easy one. Also, don't confuse trying to understand the behavior with excusing it. @tarheelbybirth seems to understand that.

Your soul job as a parent is to protect your children. I'm not going to say anything negative about you as a father, I'm sure you are a fantastic one, but there is a threat in your home now and no matter how small, it does jeopardize your kids safety. Your love for the dog is blinding that. If you had a 20 min conversation with the people I know that had a situation like yours and kept the dog, you would have got it out of the house yesterday. A legit horror story.

 

[noleclone2]

Would you want your daughter to date a guy who was nice most of the time… but every now and then…

Personally I’d get rid of it and not have to worry about the next time it snapped. But I know others get more emotionally invested in pets than I do.

Yeah, I see it same and key thing is the dog appears to overall be a great animal and not deserving of euthanasia. Ideal fix is a nice home with no other dogs or kids.

 

[ping72]

Yeah, I see it same and key thing is the dog appears to overall be a great animal and not deserving of euthanasia. Ideal fix is a nice home with no other dogs or kids.

Yes. Some dogs just don’t thrive with kids or other dogs.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Would you want your daughter to date a guy who was nice most of the time… but every now and then…

Personally I’d get rid of it and not have to worry about the next time it snapped. But I know others get more emotionally invested in pets than I do.

We're going to compare an instinctive animal to a human? Really?

 

[ping72]

We're going to compare an instinctive animal to a human? Really?

In their motivations? No.

In their actions? Yes.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

At night it's the wrestling he seems to really like, that and the chase.

Hell, at this point I just don't know. The trainer took detailed notes over the phone and we'll know more in 2 hours when we meet with the vet.

WTH??? You’re going to take the word of professionals over the HROT mob???

 

[Pinehawk]

The consequences of us being wrong is...new dog.
The consequences of OP being wrong is... potential permanent disfigurement of his child, and living with that guilt for life.
Easy choice for me.

 

[TylerJ23]

Makes you wonder why some folks even own dogs if they can be discarded so easily like trash w/o thought. It's not like this a pit bull thread.

Because this is about protecting your family.

I just hope it never hurts anyone else again, I couldn't live with that on my conscience.

 

[seminole97]

If you had a 20 min conversation with the people I know that had a situation like yours and kept the dog, you would have got it out of the house yesterday. A legit horror story.

 

[Derekd3408]

Because this is about protecting your family.

I just hope it never hurts anyone else again, I couldn't live with that on my conscience.

This. I love my son 1000× more than any dog and wouldn't dare put him in harms way, even if the odds were extremely low. OP now knows his dog could potentially bite again and thinks it's time to talk to people who will guess why the dog did what it did. No trainer or behavior specialist can say why with 100% certainty.

Gotta be honest, I thought dog people were a little whacko before this thread, now I think some of them need professional help.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

This. I love my son 1000× more than any dog and wouldn't dare put him in harms way, even if the odds were extremely low. OP now knows his dog could potentially bite again and thinks it's time to talk to people who will guess why the dog did what it did. No trainer or behavior specialist can say why with 100% certainty.

Gotta be honest, I thought dog people were a little whacko before this thread, now I think some of them need professional help.

And - once again - NO ONE can say with 100% certainty that ANY dog will never bite. If that possibility bothers you, do NOT get a dog. Ever. A properly conditioned dog is no more likely to bite than any new dog you might bring into the house...as in, it's just about as likely a replacement dog will bite you. You haven't improved your odds.

The only question that is relevant here is whether or not the professionals think the dog is a good candidate for operant conditioning therapy and whether OP can/wants to pay for it. And that's on the OP. Nobody else's opinion matters.

 

[TylerJ23]

And that's on the OP. Nobody else's opinion matters.

I guess he shouldn't of asked a message board then.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

I guess he shouldn't of asked a message board then.

He's seeking the advice of professionals. I'm sure he already had that in mind. It was suggested back on p.1, regardless. The knee-jerk "take the dog out and shoot it" is simply dumb "advice". People with that attitude should never own a dog. Those who think that replacing the dog lessens the risk of a bite are similarly wrong.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Maybe he could be re-homed at the White House?

 

[jonesy5960]

I don't know man. I have really loved all of my dogs, but that kind of attack can't be trained away. The dog should probably be euthanized before he does a lot of damage to someone.

 

[TylerJ23]

He's seeking the advice of professionals. I'm sure he already had that in mind. It was suggested back on p.1, regardless. The knee-jerk "take the dog out and shoot it" is simply dumb "advice". People with that attitude should never own a dog. Those who think that replacing the dog lessens the risk of a bite are similarly wrong.

Cool.
He posted looking for opinions.

 

[jonesy5960]

I’d try to rehome the dog. Golden doodles are off the charts popular.

If you do it better be with full disclosure. If you're giving it to someone who understands that you're giving it up because it bit the shit out of you and you don't trust it, good luck finding it a home.

 

[JustSayOV]

Another poster mentioned- you should be really happy it was your hand and not your dick. If he got your twig and berries I bet this discussion is a lot shorter

 

[TennNole17]

and you're 100000% right.

 

[fivecardstud14]

This. I love my son 1000× more than any dog and wouldn't dare put him in harms way, even if the odds were extremely low. OP now knows his dog could potentially bite again and thinks it's time to talk to people who will guess why the dog did what it did. No trainer or behavior specialist can say why with 100% certainty.

Gotta be honest, I thought dog people were a little whacko before this thread, now I think some of them need professional help.

Well it’s such a good thing you’re being honest. Honesty is key. Yay for honesty!

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

If you do it better be with full disclosure. If you're giving it to someone who understands that you're giving it up because it bit the shit out of you and you don't trust it, good luck finding it a home.

It shouldn’t be to tough to find it a home. Like others have mentioned, a home without kids or another dog and this dog will most likely thrive.

 

[alaskanseminole]

I guess he shouldn't of asked a message board then.

I have no problem navigating a message board and can handle the responses in the thread. Believe it or not, there are some great points being made on both sides of this conversation. I just got off the phone with the vet and I'm about to type up the response/results.

Gotta give me some time, though as me and my wife need a little time to bawl our eyes out.

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

Maybe he could be re-homed at the White House?

You are kinda rowdy today.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I have no problem navigating a message board and can handle the responses in the thread. Believe it or not, there are some great points being made on both sides of this conversation. I just got off the phone with the vet and I'm about to type up the response/results.

Gotta give me some time, though as me and my wife need a little time to bawl our eyes out.

Honestly, whatever your decision, nobody would blame you for exiting the thread. You don’t owe us anything.

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

Honestly, whatever your decision, nobody would blame you for exiting the thread. You don’t owe us anything.

I need to remember this line for all threads.