Aggressive dog or my fault

[JellyStarb]

Last year, our family dog (Jack Russel X) aged 3 bit my Mum when she dog sat at our house. He sleeps under the covers which she didn't realise and she thought he was dead so woke him up and he bit her. She said it was her fault. We live home and toss and turn in our sleep and he never even grumbles at us so think he was disorientated by her.

Today I was arguing wuth my older teen DS. We were shouting and the dog was barking and jumping up, we kept telling him to stop and resumed our argument. He jumped up at me and I think he bit my hip then he backed off again It looks teeth shaped I think rather than a claw catching me, about an inch wide, has pulled away skin but doesn't feel deep and as its kn a thing stretch mark area may look worse.

Is this an aggressive dog or a warning nip gone wrong.

Can't say he didn't warn us so I do blame myself for not removing him or calming things down so its dreadful if I would need to consider removing or PTS because of this but its the second time a year apart he has drawn blood on someone.

Sensitive image for anyone who cant deal with blood

Yes this is your fault! You are the adult, you were shouting and knew the dog was becoming upset and just told him to shut up 😐 poor dog. He may be aggressive but hes in an aggressive environment so that is your fault.

Imo he was protecting your dc

Imo both incidents were human error. .

this is a dog reacting to things going on around him. So yes, it’s your fault.

Both sound like human error but I’d probably get a behaviourist involved so they can give you their professional opinion. You don’t want it happening a third time, human error or not.

This is difficult, both incidents have a clear trigger and explanation, so I wouldn’t say he is an aggressive dog. I think Jack Russell’s can be nippy. But it’s obviously not a good situation! How old are your kids?

I think I’d be looking for a dog behaviourist to give you some advice, and the standard thing to get him checked at the vets - just to make sure there is nothing bothering him that is reducing his tolerance.

Similar incidents have happened with my ddog but he's only ever growled and once or twice air snapped when he was disturbed from sleep. Two actual bites where skin has been broken sound worrying to me.

Christ on a bike. Your dog warned you he was distressed and you dismissed him.

Also, who the hell prods a sleeping dog. 'Let sleeping dogs lie' isn't it the oldest saying in the book!?

Honestly, I would considering re-homing - but not because he's done anything wrong, but rather because you have. If you can't even listen to your dog when he's telling you he's unhappy and you're making him distressed...that's poor. Dogs only have two ways of telling us they're unhappy; barking and biting.

Sadly, with a bite history - even one that is perfectly understandable - no one is really going to want to take him. You just need to do better.

Who on earth argues in front of a dog that is clearly distressed?!

Behavioural classes are needed to stop this nasty out of control behaviour.

Not for the dog though, it’s you that needs them.