My dog tried to bite someone :-(

[superlambanana]

I am SO upset. I absolutely adore my rescue Rottie. She has been a bit of a handful as she is scared of strangers and has backed away from them and given warning snaps (in the air) so we've tried positive reinforcement (getting visitors to give her treats), making sure she's not crowded or put into situations where she's nervous, (eg not leaning over her) and not letting others stroke her until she knows them well. We've also started using a Halti to stop her pulling on the lead.

Today DH was bringing her up the path and she apparently just went for the builder and got his trouser leg. She always barks her head off at people coming up the path and this seems to have got a bit worse recently but she has never, ever gone for anyone. DH had her on a short lead.

We are going to muzzle her every time we take her out but I'm just gutted. We can't afford behaviourist sessions, which would otherwise be my next step. We have a baby on the way in June I love my dog to bits and just want to sort it out. Does anyone have any advice? She is six and we've had her 18months.

She shouldn't be allowed up to them without being invited. You really need to be able to spend a lot of money to educate yourselves as a couple of saved up for sessions won't do it. I don't care how much you love the dog.

Thanks for your positivity, Hercules. Is the fact that I am posting here for advice on what to do not an indication that I want to do something about it? Or should I just shrug my shoulders and give her back?!

If we have to spend a lot of money then somehow we will work out how to do that. We can't just 'educate ourselves' overnight.

Actually I do think you should give her back. You are out of your depth and don't have the funds to get the ongoing expert help you need. You have a large dog with the ability to seriously maim someone and don't have the skills to stop this. I don't doubt you love your dog but love won't solve the issue. Is the builder going to report the dog? It might be out of your hands.

www.rottweilerwelfare.co.uk/Newaboutus.htm
Not sure you would find taking her to rescue so simple anyway as these say they won't regime dogs that have shown aggression.

Rotties can be hard to read - their early warnings are very subtle.

I have one, he's terrible if strangers touch him (his is because of a spinal problem, so not helpful there), but, he'll go over throwing off loads of back off appeasements signals that don't look massively different to other dog's greeting signs and then suddenly go, right you haven't backed off so now I need to make you...I can see when he's uncomfortable, but other people don't seem to notice it at all.

I doubt it has much to do with your ILs unless she's worse when they have her...dogs are pretty good at knowing what they can get away with with different people, much like children, lol.

The way behaviourists usually charge as far as I know is that they do an assessment, give you a report and behaviour plan, then keep in touch by phone and email to see how things are going and you only pay for another session as and when it's needed. ( I don't know for definite because mine didn't want to work with my boy and he sees a vet instead)

Hercules we have had dogs before. The dog didn't actually bite him and we obviously don't want this to happen! I wasn't there so am waiting for full report from DH. If everybody just gave every dog back at the first sign of issues there would be a lot of behaviourists out of jobs and a lot more dogs needing to be rehomed. I committed to rehoming a rescue, warts and all. If I can sort this out without disrupting her life again by having to rehome her then I will.

Should add I think Rottweilers are fantastic dogs however should only be owned by experienced people.

Thanks tabulah, that's helpful Yes I do think she can be hard to read and perhaps it's just that we've missed the signs. I'll try to find a behaviourist that's used to working with Rotties.

That's the point. The bite was not the first sign of trouble; it was the end result. You missed all the signs leading up to this. You could have avoided him trying to bite someone hence my points about your lack of knowledge and experience which will take some time, money and effort to change. All of thus with a baby on the way... If you don't get it right you're going to find it impossible to rehouse him after the next bite. If you love him to bits them I honestly think you would ensure he is homed with the right people sooner than later.

I don't like this thread at all..so the dog went for someone on her property? I have a GSD who loves everyone except one delivery driver we have, she has never barked like she did or even growled like she did at a delivery driver before he called two days running and yet he still tries to stroke her . She really dislikes this man and to be honest makes me dislike him too I know to keep her shut away now when he calls, but there is clearly something about him she dislikes. Could this be a similar situation?

I had a rescue that would have tried to bite the builder too, he was a rottie and my current cross isn't reliable with strangers. Neither gave/ give the children a moments bother. I think you need support but can't see why you can't try to work through it like you plan. Most of us don't start off experienced with aggressive dogs...

I've found a Rottie specialist dog trainer not too far away - will check they're accredited then ring them tomorrow. I know the bite attempt was the end result (I'm not that stupid!) so until we get the behaviourist in (hopefully very soon) she will be kept well away from anyone but us.

Thank you cakesnbeer - that's exactly my point!

I take back any kind of understanding I may have shown. You posted on a thread that your dog had snapped at your sil and hadn't done this for months. You've failed to mention this on this thread and still haven't got advice.

To a point I agree. My golden retriever was once scared by my sons friends coming to the house and thought they were intruders. She generally loves absolutely everyone but even she growled then hid under the dining room table
But this isn't an isolated incident. The dog has been showing its unease for a while and recently has been worse. The attempted bite is much more likely to be an escalation of this behaviour than a dog simply in a one off situation which scared it.
Good luck with the behaviourist. I hope it goes well

Op, what have you done since dec when your dog snapped at your sil and during the time between this snap and the last time it snapped months previously?

I you are pregnant you can not possible keep your dog, surely you know that?

Fair point, Hercules - I should have done something before, and I let other things get in the way when I shouldn't have. Now I am.

Posted on your other thread by mistake where you say your dog has snapped a few times at people back at start of January.

I think we will have to agree to disagree as we are so poles apart in our thinking about responsible dog ownership and children. Leaving thread.

OP you are cherry picking the comments you pay attention to. Also leaving thread.

You can't keep this dog and your baby. You need to decide.

Last point. If you are keeping this dog and intend to actually get help you need to be completely honest. You've missed out stuff on this thread and then responded positively to messages based on your half tale whilst conveniently forgetting the reality.

You do know that if it shows aggression to midwife/health visitor or so forth they will refer your child to CYPS (social services) as at risk?