To rehome puppy?

[MarsBars123]

Our 6 month old puppy bit our friends 6 year old daughter today.

We were having a meal and gave him his food afterwards. She walked behind him while he was eating and he spun around and bit her, he didn't draw blood but her hand was red.

I am in total shock, he has never done anything like this before, should we rehome him straight away? I'm really confused.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

In the wild dogs do not have an alpha, that is wolves, although more modern wolfologists (is that even a word?) prefer to use the term breeding male. They live in family groups, not heirachial packs.

Dogs do lay down to show appeasement and avoid fighting but they don't roll each other as a show of dominance.

[Flatbread]

...and if I remember correctly, the dog ate the sausages while keeping hold of the butter and ate that as well and continued growling at the OP.

Yup, great way to deal with food aggression and a resource-guarding dog, just give him all the goodies he wants. The doghouse 'experts' at their best.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

How would you have delt with it Flatbread?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Oh yes please share your expert solution to that.

[midori1999]

Did you lie about homing your pups through the dogs trust then? it's not their policy to allow people who surrender dogs to them to know who the new owners are, let alone 'stay in touch' with them. Or did they make an exception just for you, as you're such a special owner?!

I'm not interested in where people buy puppies, except for welfare reasons. I haven't had my own litter for four years now and won't for the forseeable future, so back yard breeders are hardly 'taking my customers' are they?

And yes, that 'crazy' advice about the sausages is valid advice, that qualified behaviourists often hand out. What makes you think you know better than countless people with university degrees in dog bejaviour who work daily with dogs? You said you Alpha rolled your puppy on that thread too actually.

[Flatbread]

Kali, the first two warnings are the command. If not obeyed, a deeper version. If ignored, then the tap on bum.

So if pup is far away off leash, then it might be 'sit' followed by a 'sit' in a deeper voice and then if he is still zoned out, I walk over to him and a tap.

Don't need to do it with older girl at all now, she is very attuned. Tbh, I rarely need to give her any command at all, she pretty much is well-behaved and I see no point in giving her instructions just for the heck of it.

But then, it is easier here - not much is expected of pet dogs except that they have appropriate people and food manners. As long as she greets people and dogs nicely, is calm about food and stays away from cows during our walks, we let her be. When she is off-leash, she always comes back frequently and checks that everything is ok, anyway, so I don't even need to call her to me.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

But you didn't answer how you would have dealt with the butter situation?
Given you are so convinced the behavioral experts are wrong?

[TrinityRhino]

My little baby puppy loves paddling in our sea, chasing her tail, sleeping on my chest(even though she's getting big now)



Op, don't rehome, your puppy is still learning. Allow her to eat without strange kids possibly pushing past behind her

[Flatbread]

...and the funny thing is pup is usually very good at sitting. He is naturally lazy plus he knows he only gets food when he sits, so sitting is quite a pleasurable thing for him.

But when we go out, he gets excited at people cooing over him, and he puts his paws on them and they are like 'oh, that is ok' and continue caressing him. He is growing out of it though, as the weather has changed and nobody wants muddy paws, so he is getting a pretty consistent message.

[fortoday]

YOU DO NOT HIT/TAP A PUPPY !!!!!!
For god sake they are babies, just like a toddler, you reinforce good behaviour you do not hit them.

You are teaching aggression- why have a dog if you are going to hit it! For god sake people!

And then people want to know why dogs bite.

[fuzzypicklehead]

" I see no point in giving her instructions just for the heck of it."

Of course I can only speak from my own experience, but I all the dogs I've owned have enjoyed instruction and training sessions. A bit of clicker training provides rewarding mental exercise, especially for clever breeds. Without it, some dog's methods of "self-employment" are less than desireable...

[Flatbread]

Fortoday, yawn, here we go again. Puppies need lots of love and physical affection (i.e., not just sweets), positive reinforcement and clear boundaries.

I really do think sometimes that hysterical owners like you lead to nervous dogs because they baby them, instead of applying common sense in training them.

Like I said before, needy owners lead to nervous dogs.

Fuzzy, agree that if dogs do not get enough mental, social and physical stimulation in their normal daily activities, then special training and instruction sessions help.

[fortoday]

FWIW flatbread my puppy has been in training since she was 8 weeks old, she is a delightful confident dog but has been trained through positive reinforcement instead of smacking, much like my children who are confident and well behaved due to me not using physical violence.

Anyway you sound like one of those competitive mothrs in the bloody playground, I would hate to meet you in the park!

[atacareercrossroads]

Jesus, hitting dogs, pulling tails, pack theory etc Lots of shite being spouted by people who are giving the impression they know what they are talking about

Do you know, I got the spanish inquisition (unexpected of course) when I went to buy a goldfish. Shame the same level of torture questioning isnt aimed at people who want to own a dog that clearly should just get some Sea Monkeys instead.

[catgirl1976]

I spank my Sea Monkeys

Unruly little feckers

[MarsBars123]

The vet/behaviourist called today. She said that dogs growl and nip around food because they are worried and frightened and we need to reinforce the food training we've been doing already, i.e. putting tasty things into his bowl while he is eating. She said we shouldn't try to take his bowl away as that could worry him but that basically we need to teach him not to fear for his food as while he does there will always be a risk he will bite.

[Flatbread]

Good advice. I find hand-feeding a great way to bond with the dog, as well. A dog that is comfortable and secure should be relaxed about you taking the bowl and giving it back, especially if you reward calm behaviour with added food in the bowl. But good to do it in baby steps.

I would think a bit about why your pup might be unsure about his food, given that he has been regularly fed while he has been living with you for so long. Perhaps it is time to reinforce training in all areas...?

Think you are doing a great job, and sure you will be rewarded with a lovely, gentle dog, once he is over the adolescence phase

[Flatbread]

I found NILIF (nothing in life is free) a good way to reinforce basic manners, and it makes the dogs really calm. I don't buy the whole philosophy, but have incorporated the basic notion that the dog earns his rewards and that he consistently shows basic manners such as waiting before going out of the door, sitting and waiting for ok before meals, sitting nicely for walks etc.

I find it calms the dogs and helps with any potential problem areas. Great during adolescence when good manners are somewhat forgotten

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

I've just started NILIF, and it does seem to be helping my adolescent arsehole spaniel to focus

[LookBehindYou]

I love spaniels - the way they put their ears down and pretend not to hear while their incandescent owner yells at them to come back.

I didn't know it was called NILF but that's what I've been doing forever. Makes sense to me.