Need to get rid of dog !

[user68753367]

We bought a dog 8 months ago where we have tried to train him.... he doesn't listen he still nips and snaps and it's now getting to the point where he is jumping up and going for my toddler and you can hear his jaw snap ! It's scaring me as I can't leave them in the room together he does it to me and my bf he tries to bite his ankles and he's the master so it's in heard of isn't it ? He knows not to go on the couch yet still runs in covered in mud and going on there he's not allowed up stairs but as soon as back is turned he's up there.... we've always told him no and made sure he knows and he does get praised when he's good (which is never ) he chews everything up in site and will just take food of the side and out of my boys hand, I'm currently pregnant and it's getting me so anxious ! He goes on walks everyday so he's excersised a lot. He doesn't listen to me whatso ever and when I play with him he gets aggressive to the point it scares me. Any advice would be helpful ? No nastiness please I'm at by whits end

[Rightontheschnozz]

You're getting posts that you don't agree with and you're getting upset? That's just what happens when you post forums.

It sounds like you've tried your personal hardest and that's all you can do. Unfortunatley it's not enough for the pup.

You either need to engage the pup in a professional training sessions or tske him to a shelter.

Try not to be so hard on yourself. You've got to put your emotions to one side for a minute and think about how the dog is feeling; confused, scared, anxious maybe?

You say he's biting your LO but its unclear under what circumstance; is he play biting like you suggest, or is it agression? They're two very different things and both need to be nipped in the bud right now.

I'd keep him away from the LO, if he is around your LO then he needs to be constantly supervised; kids can be full on when dogs don't actually want the attention, but they will usually avoid biting and move away or growl first as a warning.

From what I've read, it sounds like you've not done anything particularly Pro active to stop him or deter him from the completely normal behaviour of play biting. (Every single puppy does this, and has to learn that it's not acceptable) he learns that from his owners.

We had to re home a fabulous dog, nothing wrong with her. Had her from a pup, had her spayed. She just deserved a life we couldn't give her. (She was a collie x lab) she was high energy, loving, caring, amazing. No vices. But still we made the decision that was within the best interests of the dog and she is happy with her new family now. They've done so much more than we ever could and she's come on leaps and bounds. (We do have another, older dog) but sometimes you've just got to give them up, whether you had the intention to or not.

Really hope you get something sorted before it's too late.

[StarryIllusion]

OP I realise that this thread is a week or two old by now but have you taken him to a vet? Only you said that this all came out of the blue? Just started snapping one day? From what you described when you were upset it isn't very clear but what was actually going on at the times he snapped. What was the child doing? You said stroking him but how? Where? Is there any chance that he could be in pain and baby touched a sore spot? My dog started snarling aggressively every time my dad touched him once and I worked out that it was because my dad always ruffled his ears. He had a grass seed stuck in there and it was painful. It's very unusual for a dog's entire personality to change overnight. Get him a checkup.

In the meantime make sure you are the one that feeds/walks him as much as possible. Make him sit before you give him anything including dinner. You always go through doors first, even just a step ahead. Use a deeper tone when telling him to do something. He doesn't understand words yet, remember that. He goes on tone and body language. Imagine you are speaking to a class full of misbehaving children. You are not asking, you are telling and you expect to be obeyed. Firm, even tone. Sound authoritative. Not shouting, just in charge. "Get down." And point at him and flick your hand towards the floor. Indicate what you want him to do instead of just telling him. Point and signal. Give him a hint to what the words mean. Praise and give attention when he obeys even if he takes a few times to do so.

Keep child and dog apart. If they are in the same room do not allow extensive interaction. Allow a sniff and guide the child's hand to stroke his back if you must but otherwise keep them separated until you see major improvement in his behaviour.

I never took either of my two to classes, just trained them at home. They don't really do commands as such but are both very well behaved. Well...at home. The younger may one day kill us both by pulling me under a bus. He just cannot be fucking trusted on a lead. But they both have lovely manners and I don't think my older girl has seen a lead in the last fortnight. She just doesn't need it. Mostly I talk to them. They do learn words eventually but my younger still needs the hand signals to interpret what I mean and the elder needed them until about age 5. Younger is 3. Oldest is now 10.

No is a bad word to use imo as you use it too much day to day. It has no impact. Looking them right in the eye is a challenge and not the way to go about stopping him biting. If I want them to stop something I make a loud Ah-ah! noise. It isn't something they otherwise hear around the house and so they know that when I do that, they cease and desist right now before I have to come over there.

If he mouths you in play, yelp loudly. Real high pitched yelp of pain, curl up as though hurt and turn away. Stop playing and refuse to engage. Yelp louder every time his teeth touch you. Eventually he will start to nuzzle and lick at you in concern. Turn back towards him slowly and stroke, cuddle him gently. Resume playing gently but not boisterously. This is bite inhibition and the equivalent of teaching kind hands to a toddler. It is basically what his mother and siblings would have done if he had stayed with them for the legally required time. Obviously sometimes circumstances dictate that puppies can't spend the minimum 8 weeks with the litter and they don't learn this so we have to teach them. I did this with both of mine and they are soft as muck. Labradors, so soft of mouth anyway but my elder is so gentle you can't even play tug with her as she just gives you the toy. I admire you for not wanting to give up on him even with the roasting you got on here and I really hope it works out for you. If not you will have to rehome as your child has to come first but at least you had a good crack at it.

[StarryIllusion]

Actually where I said about a class of misbehaving children, make that a class of misbehaving, foreign children. They don't understand a word you say so you have to make yourself clear even though you don't speak their language and they don't speak yours.

[maltedmilk1]

Say what you want about dogs etc in my opinion as a dog owner if your dog is going for your toddler you need to rehome him asap. You are right it's absolutely not worth the risk. It's a shame for the dog and probably you should of thought more about the life time commitment you would be getting yourself into but at the same time you have obviously tried your best and it's not worth the risk.

You must do right by your child rehome this dog before we hear something awful has happened.

Good luck with your new baby I really feel for you.