My dog just bit me & I've no bloody clue why.

[Annarose2014]

So I have a terrier for years. He's a lovely thing. He's always rolled on his back for cuddles, since day one. And will be all snuggly and affectionate. He's very much a lap dog, and very cuddly. Wants to be petted all the time.

About a year ago, out of the blue, after years with us, he started snapping the odd time. We used to pet him in his bed when we'd come home from work - he would do his usual lie on his back and literally all sometimes we'd be doing is shaking his paw, and he snapped a couple of times. So we figured it was some "bed" thing and now when we come in we say hello but don't go near him in the bed. If he gets out and says hi, we pet him.

Then what happened is that he'd come over and say hi, and flop down on his back all "pet me pet me". So we would. But he snapped a couple of times doing that too. Which was a bit baffling. So now we basically give him a pat on the shoulder if he gets out of bed to say hi, but as soon as he flops down on his back we stop, as we just aren't sure of whats going on there.

So because we've been careful, we thought we'd nipped it in the bud and it hasn't happened in ages. We were congratulating ourselves!

So this morning I'm in bed, and he comes upstairs to say hi and have a cuddle. Awww...right? He likes to burrow into the duvet all adorably, and he was on his back beside me and I was patting his right shoulder and telling him what a sweet dog he was, and he just hopped up and bit me! All bared teeth! WTF???

I'm baffled - no warning signs at all. Of course I couldn't see his tail cos of the duvet, but he seemed alert and engaged at all times with his mouth lolling wide open. What the hell did I do?

And I have to add that he rolls on his back for cuddles 100% of the time - that can't possibly have been the common denominator. We've been cuddling him that way all his life!

Now in the moments before that he was on active guard duty downstairs - strange builders making noise next door. So may have been a bit keyed up from that? But he hadn't been barking. But FFS why should I suffer because of that? And maybe that had nothing to do with it at all?

I thought we had it figured out, but apparently not.

By the way my reaction was to roar at him to get out of the room. He ran out and I closed the door behind him.

Fuck, have to bring him for a bloody walk now and all. I know I have to be normal as they don't associate stuff with earlier events, but I'm so upset.

I need to identify the triggers here. I don't want to be wary of ever petting my dog.

Is he in pain? I'd get him checked over by the vet.

It doesn't seem to pain. We thought that last year and got him checked out at the vets but nada. No apparent sore spots when examined.

Am wondering if its a looming over him thing?

Though how the fuck you're not supposed to loom over a 6kg terrier is beyond me.

As there was a sudden behaviour change a year ago, I wouldn't discount taking him to the vets again and possibly asking for a more thorough examination including some blood work to confirm this is not a medical issue.

Just because you have been doing the same handing all of a dog's life - touching in their bed, shaking paws, standing over them, rubbing their belly for example - without a reaction does not mean they are okay with it. It means they are tolerant of it. It is not unheard of for a dog to tolerate it for many years then eventually have enough. If it is not a medical issue, it is likely that he has been giving subtle signs of discomfort at handling. If these don't work, a dog will escalate to snapping and biting things to protect their space.

If medical causes are ruled out, it's possible that you may have been misinterpreting your dog's behaviour. For example a dog rolling onto its back often doesn't mean "rub my belly". It can also be saying, "please leave me alone".

I am definately considering that. So exhausting though, to have to second guess a dog who's being (on the surface) adorable and pawing for cuddles.

I mean, if we were to cut out that, whats left? He flops over onto his back within seconds, so every cuddling session would have to be abruptly cut short after 2 seconds.

You would just need to focus on other parts of your relationship that don't involve what he possibly perceives as invasive physical contact. Training games, walks, sharing space companionably without touching. If that is the issue, after being given more of his own space he may well begin to enjoy petting again once he feels comfortable that he has a choice about it.

You say you've had him for years OP. How old is he? Is it possible he's a bit senile? Although I imagine the vet would have already covered that if he's old.

It's just a thought as I have no idea how dogs behave when they get very old - my dog's still a youngster - but I've had cats and I know their behaviour can become a bit unpredictable when they age.

First stop should be a full medical check up at the vets. Lots of things could cause him to snap intermittently, from pain to vision problems and more.

If he gets a clean bill of health, then as Spicy said, it could just be he's got fed up of you misreading his body language and decided to escalate his response. Rolling onto his back could well be a calming signal, which means he is doing it to tell you he's uncomfortable and he wants you to back off. This is a great little book for learning the basics of dog language and calming signals etc.

Many people would think the dog in this video is being friendly, due to the wagging tail etc, but as the video demonstrates, it is actually giving off repeated signs of feeling threatened, being uncomfortable and wanting the camera holder to back off. These signs are easy to miss if you've never been taught about them, but it's well worth educating yourself if you can. Dogs don't just snap without warning, a snap/bite will only come as an escalation once the dog feels it's warnings have gone unheeded. The warning signs will have been there, you just didn't see or recognise them.

Re him flopping onto his back within seconds. If he isn't in pain and doesn't have any other medical issue and this is a calming signal, it sounds like it would be a good idea to do some fun training with him so that he starts to associate your approach/attention with positive things. Even just very short clicker training sessions, where he gets rewarded for positive interaction would help improve his associations with you and encourage him to want your attention. Have a look at Kikopup both on YouTube and her website Dogmantics for some ideas for short training sessions you could try. You can even use the clicker to train him to enjoy being stroked - I think Kikopup has a video on this somewhere.

Thats a fascinating video, thanks. I definately see that there might have been cues I missed. I don't remember for example if there was any licking going on, but I highly doubt I'd have registered it as important if there had been.

The dog is 6 or 7 (we don't know exactly) so no senility.

I have been thinking about it and I think we need to stop petting him when he's on his back totally. At first I worried that would cut out all cuddly interaction but then I realised that this dog will certainly find other ways of getting petted. And maybe they would be ways he's more confident in.

I don't think that all his back rolls all his life have been "vunerable" ones as sometimes he falls asleep on his back on your lap etc., but I am starting to think that some of them must be, and we obviously can't tell the difference.

Will have a chat to my DH tonight. Perhaps we treat him like a baby too much.

This morning I've been emotionally normal but physically distant (no petting) and to my suprise he doesn't even seem to notice. He's dozing off in the chair right now.

Agree, helpful, informative video.

Thanks Moosemama.

I'm a big fan of Tellington Touch and am currently doing a course in learning more about it. It's a gentle and respectful way of touching your dog (as well as other things) and really does wonders in strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

It can also be used for behaviour issues and in therapy if a dog has been injured or is recovering from an illness.

Jess absolutely adores it and it helps her feel more calm within herself.

This is the UK website:
www.ttouchtteam.co.uk/

And one of the books about it:
www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Touch-Your-Dog-Influencing/dp/1846891884/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

We often think that dogs rolling over are 'asking for a tummy rub' but actually this is an appeasement behaviour. It's a dog saying 'I feel uncomfortable but don't want any trouble' if your dog shows this behaviour and you respond by petting, you might accidentally be telling your dog 'I don't care you're uncomfortable, I can touch you wherever'. Your dog has learned that if he bites you leave him in peace. Have you ever previously told him off for growling? If so he could have learned that growling is pointless as it just results in telling off and so gone straight to biting (which works). It has become a quick and easy way for him to show you he's uncomfortable. Have a look at the resources page in Dr Sophia Yin's website, lots of great behaviour resources there. Good luck