I have a three year old GSD X border collie. I got him from Dogs Trust in September. He is the perfect dog in the house and we adore him. He has never met a person he doesn't like, is sweet and gentle, patient with children and is often described as handsome and charming.
However, he hates all other animals, especially dogs. We have managed this as best we can for the past several months. We have tried training and medication, but nothing has been successful. I would like to try a behaviourist, but I'm concerned that the cost will be crippling.
On Friday morning, I took him for his 6am walk. The wind blew my hair into my face so I looked down for a minute to push it away, and suddenly there was another dog coming towards us. I tried to go in the other direction but my dog got a bit tangled up so I decided to do my best and try to manage him while the other dog passed us. My dog was clawing at his face to try to get his Halti off and was working his mouth and he bit my thigh. I don't think he meant to. I spoke to his trainer at Dogs Trust and she said it sounded like a classic redirect bite. He was just too overwhelmed. I don't even know if he realised what he did.
I didn't realise at the time, despite my leg really hurting, but he had bruised me badly and drawn some blood.
As you'd expect, I'm now feeling quite nervous about taking him for walks. I'm not worried at home because he simply isn't aggressive. But I know now what he is capable of on walks. We have tried to get him a muzzle, but he has a long, thin nose and we're struggling to find one that fits properly. Everyone clearly thinks we're crazy for keeping him, particularly as we're going to TTC later this year. But I don't want to send him back to Dogs Trust: he's settled and happy and he doesn't deserve to be rejected from a second home. The people who had him before clearly didn't socialise him properly, but that isn't his fault.
At the moment my husband is working away Monday through Friday, so most walks are my responsibility. And the dog looooves his walks. But where do I go from here? How do I get my confidence back and how can I prevent this situation for occurring again?
Oh, and if anyone had any good muzzle recommendations, they would be gratefully received. I've included a photo so you can see his nose.
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My dog nipped me. What do I do next?
31 replies
Amaxapax · 12/05/2014 19:46
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