Would you put up with a dog that bites?

[Sweetdisposition91]

Hi,
My dog in question is a 5 year old Rhodesian ridgeback. I've owned him since he was 9 months old, he was very nervous aggressive, aggressive to strangers, hadn't been socialised, dominant etc.
I took him training classes, made him experience all different kinds of social situations (whilst muzzled!) and gradually over time he became a confident dog who enjoys human attention. However, there has always been on going issues and I've never met another dog like him!

He has bitten me various times over the past 5 years, causing me to bleed, scar etc. Although he does growl at certain times, every time he has bitten me he gives no warning, and goes into a frenzy attack where he will grab my arm/hand 3/4 times before he calms down. I have seen some behaviourists with no such luck as there is no specific triggers, although it is predominantly when I try to stop him from doing something or over food if he shouldn't be eating it (but will let me take bones and food off him under a normal circumstance)

So basically, has anyone had any experiences of dogs that unfortunately will always have this side to them? a trainer told me this and said I just have to manage him!

And would you just put up with it?

I honestly can't ever see him changing as it's not just me he has also bitten my mum and brother. I love him so much but it's getting to a point where I am now becoming scared of him in certain situations which I know will never end well!

Please be gentle with me as I feel embarrassed to admit this and I am a responsible dog owner when it comes to walking him etc.

[tabulahrasa]

"ignore everyone who says you're irresponsible - if he's on lead and/or muzzled outdoors then that's perfect."

He's not on lead and muzzled though.

[Ilovehedgehogs]

I would ignore the nasty posts that's for sure, the usual posters who come on to say nothing constructive or kind.

[SauvignonPlonker]

I'm not a dog-owner, so don't have anything constructive to add re: dog behaviour.

However, I am a parent of young children & am absolutely horrified to read that your dog is sometimes off the lead & without a muzzle, in public.

You are putting your own needs, and your dog's, above anyone else.

I don't care if he's only bitten "a few times", only bitten you & is "generally" nice.

I just find this thread absolutely horrific; and you are hearing only what you want to hear - that some behaviourst is going to wave a magic wand and that your dangerous dog will be "cured".

Sorry if that's offended you, but I think that all rationale & common sense has left you.

[Sweetdisposition91]

Im becoming increasingly frustrated at the posts saying I'm irresponsible... there is no children where I walk at 5.30 in the morning!!! When I see people I put him on his lead same if I walk him at busy times and lots of times people have stroked him etc without asking he is absolutely fine with people this isn't my issue it's not that he is generally aggressive to people, but either way I said I WILL muzzle him at all times when he allows me to do so but I don't want to set him back by keep forcing it upon him and nor will I never walk my dog!!! If he is on a lead around people yet not aggressive to people any way how am I being irresponsible?!

I've only had my other dog for a bit over a year ( who is an absolute dream to own apart from typical ridgeback counter surfing if you leave anything about!) and he was like this from the off. She doesn't affect him in any way either, never any fights between them over food or anything, in general he is a really chilled dog! I get him to sit and wait whilst I put his bowl down then tell him to eat, then I do the same for Nala my girl. When I give them bones etc he usually loses interest after a while and she will end up eating his too once he's left it which he never has any issues with. I'm lucky that she hasn't picked up on any of his bad traits but she is the sweetest dog ever!

[Sweetdisposition91]

I will definitely try the tea towel thing tonight and put nala in a separate room. The boy loves a bit of chicken surely he will go near it for that whilst it's on the floor

[mycatwantstokillme1]

Ilovehedgehogs, in response toyour post 'I would ignore the nasty posts that's for sure, the usual posters who come on to say nothing constructive or kind.'

Sometimes the truth hurts. We're not being nasty, we're pointing out that OP's irresponsibility (and it is irresponsibility no matter how much she protests) could be very costly to other people who don't know her dog is a biter.

She seems to think she's the only person that's ever going to be out and about in the morning, she can't possibly guarantee this.

And she's twisting the facts to suit her own agenda. First it was he last bit her when they were out and he was off the lead and unmuzzled eating scraps of food. Next he's always muzzled and couldn't possibly be a danger to anyone else.

I hope someone who knows you is reading this and reports the dog, so there's no chance it could attack and/or fatally injure someone's child.

That isn't being nasty, it's just that it's not what the OP wants to hear on AIBU. But yes, YABVU and you don't give a shit about any one else that your dog is a danger to.

[tabulahrasa]

"Im becoming increasingly frustrated at the posts saying I'm irresponsible"

It's equally frustrating that you don't see that you are being.

It's unlikely there'll be children at 5.30 am, but you have no clue who else is there - just out of sight, nor whether there's going to be food there.

He shouldn't ever be in busy places being fussed by people when you know he's willing to bite over food, because you can't know when there's about to be something on the ground or dropped by someone else that he decides is worth biting for.

You're being complacent about the danger he presents and that could put other people at risk and ultimately your dog in danger.

One slip up, one unexpected person and something he'll bite to keep and you're looking at an injured human, a prosecution for you and your dog being put to sleep by court order...that's what you should be weighing up every time you let him off lead or take him out in public.

It's not that you want to keep going or that you want to resolve his issues that's irresponsible it's that you're not taking your responsibility to other people and him seriously enough.

[SauvignonPlonker]

I will muzzle him at all times when he allows me to

A completely contradictory statement. So he is only on the muzzle when he "allows" you & on a lead when you decide others are around.

I'm so glad I don't live anywhere near you, and that my children aren't petting an unpredictable, potentially dangerous dog, while you're in huge denial about how dangerous your dog could be.

OP, others are becoming frustrated at your inability to put the needs of people before your dangerous dog.

The vast majority on this thread are saying that your dog should be PTS. Why aren't you listening?

[MrsJayy]

I really really think your dog should be on lead all the time we never let ours off it just isnt safe for anybody or thing. I know its early in the morning and no people around but by letti g dog off you are putting your dog and you into a situation you can't control and dog is scavaging you are getting bitten how is that fair.

[GinIsIn]

I will muzzle him when he allows me to and that is the crux of your problem. He is the dog, you are the owner. It's not about what the dog allows - you are supposed to be in charge, and if you can't manage that, which I'm sorry but you clearly can't, you shouldn't have the dog. I'm sorry. I know you are trying but you aren't succeeding and it's dangerous. You are putting other at risk by allowing him off-lead and taking him out unmuzzled. All it takes is another person who also thinks 'oh there won't be anyone around at 5:30, I will walk my dog then' and you have a potentially fatal situation. You need to acknowledge that because otherwise you are putting yourself and others at risk.

[GinIsIn]

You are essentially playing canine Russian roulette here and it's very, very irresponsible. The safety of you and others depends on whether or not the dog has 'allowed' the muzzle that day, and whether or not you have correctly judged if others are around - how can you not see that that isn't ok?

[tabulahrasa]

"I really really think your dog should be on lead all the time we never let ours off it just isnt safe for anybody or thing."

My dog is on lead and muzzled anywhere that isn't secure from the public. The lead might not always be a short one, if it's somewhere quiet enough I'll swap him to an extendable one (I injured myself with a longline) and I pay to walk him in a locked secure field twice a week.

But that's the way it has to be as it's the only way I can absolutely guarantee that everyone (other people and ultimately him too) is safe.

[MrsJayy]

Its just sense tabulaharsa jaydog is unpredictible, a bolter, nervy and might bite it is not worth the risk to let him off we have an extendy and normal lead too.

[Sweetdisposition91]

He isn't muzzled at all times at the moment no he last bit me 4 months ago with the food over the park incident.. even then a stranger isn't going to grab my dog so he still wouldn't have been a danger to people if they WERE about. As I said I'm having trouble putting the muzzle on him so I don't want to make things worse by keep forcing it on him.
You could wave a bloody chicken around in his face he isn't going to attack someone for it this is why his situation is different and why I came on for advice... I can tell him to wait and leave things it's just these certain incidents when he's gone into a frenzy.

I have never had a problem with him off lead around dogs and other people again this isn't my issue I put him on the lead to be on the safe side. I walk him in a large open space in the mornings so it's not a case of if I decide people are there, I can see who's there! If we go forest etc then he's on lead as people could come through the woods or whatever

[Sweetdisposition91]

If I muzzle my dog at all times whilst on the lead that is more for my own safety and confidence as if he's on the lead he doesn't need a muzzle for other people's sake.

I understand why this may create people to think I'm stupid but I really am not and I've met plenty of reactive dogs who SHOULD be muzzled as my other dog has been bitten by 3 other dogs in the past year and I am nothing like their irresponsible owners.

[tabulahrasa]

"even then a stranger isn't going to grab my dog so he still wouldn't have been a danger to people if they WERE about."

You don't know that, I've had people try to touch mine... He's a muzzled Rottweiler on a lead attached to me saying, no, don't touch him, he will try to bite you if he's touched... People are weird.

It took me about 5 days to muzzle train my dog, it'll take you longer to have him happy to wear it because he already has negative associations with it, but it shouldn't be a hugely time consuming thing.

[moglovespumpkins]

He should be PTS I'm sorry to say.

[Sweetdisposition91]

Tabula,
He is fine with people touching him and fussing him etc I meant as in if he was doing something he shouldn't be

[SauvignonPlonker]

[Sweetdisposition91]

I will take advice and keep him on lead from now on and I am going to muzzle train him.

[tabulahrasa]

No...I meant mine isn't ok with strangers touching him, but they still occasionally try to, despite his Hannibal lector outfit and me going, no, don't!!! Because people are pretty unpredictable.

People do grab dogs, it's not impossible that he'd find something, you'd try to recall him and someone would grab him for you trying to be helpful.

[moglovespumpkins]

You have already said that there are no triggers, no warnings. So how can you guarantee the safety of you and others around you? Is he going to be muzzled 24/7?

[MrsJayy]

People get weird if you say dont pet him responses we get range from he is so cute to tutting and walking away its very odd

[Purplebluebird]

No, I would not put up with it :( Poor dog can't have it easy inside his mind. What a very difficult situation. I would definitely muzzle him and keep him on a lead, even at 5.30 in the morning.

[tabulahrasa]

I got a tirade of abuse once for crossing the road to avoid someone walking with their dogs, I'm still not quite sure why that annoyed him...people are weird, lol

Actually thinking about it, the reason I stopped letting mine offlead even in quiet places was because someone grabbed him by the collar - nothing happened, but I didn't know in that split second whether he'd be ok with that person or not.