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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog nipped someone today

32 replies

Lynand · 26/06/2017 22:20

I have 2 dogs, brothers, brought up together and now 5. Dachshund chihuahua X. One of them occasionally nips men. If man comes to the house I pick him up until he's stopped barking and then distract him with treats. He's then OK although a workman recently had his finger bit when he reached out to pat him as I was holding dog. Today out for a walk with DH he chased and nipped a runner leaving a red mark and a hole in runners leggings. Other people had passed perfectly OK. He just seems to take a dislike to some. Is a muzzle the only answer?

OP posts:
ThatsWotSheSaid · 26/06/2017 22:22

Was he on a lead?

RiverTam · 26/06/2017 22:25

Nipped? You mean bit?

glenthebattleostrich · 26/06/2017 22:27

I'm a runner who has been bit (by a collie) and honestly I'd be furious.

He needs some serious behaviour training and possibly a muzzle.

Fortheloveofscience · 26/06/2017 22:28

Er...
Keep your dog under control - it shouldn't be close enough to bite runners. On lead if it's not well enough trained.

And if I had a dog that had bitten damn right it would wear a muzzle in public.

Wolfiefan · 26/06/2017 22:29

You can't walk him off lead until you have his behaviour under control. The fact he leaves some people alone is no excuse.
Research litter mate syndrome. You could have your work cut out.
Find a decent behaviourist.

CornflakeHomunculus · 26/06/2017 22:31

I would recommend getting some professional help with him to tackle the source of the issue, whatever that may be. I'd go through one of these organisations to be sure you're getting someone reputable.

In the meantime I'd muzzle train him, keep him on lead where there are people around and keep him separated from visitors rather than doing the picking up/distracting thing.

Yolannnda · 26/06/2017 22:31

It sounds more like the dog attacked the runner, unprovoked.

We had a chihuahua x dog from a puppy who 'nipped' he was territorial and if someone unknown to him tried to stroke his face he would nip them, this behaviour we could carefully manage but I think chasing a runner and biting them needs attention.

Fantasticmissfoxy · 26/06/2017 22:33

You have a dog that you know bites and he was off lead and unmuzzled?! If I was the runner I would have been bloody furious. He needs properly trained and kept on a short lead and muzzled when you go out in public.

SteppingOnToes · 26/06/2017 22:37

If you pick him up and treat him when he is barking you are reinforcing this behaviour - remove him from the room and do not give him attention. You need to keep him on a lead until you sort the behaviour.

AdoraBell · 26/06/2017 22:43

Agree with Stepping.

Stop rewarding the barking and biting and keep him muzzled when out until you can control him.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 26/06/2017 22:46

If you get multiple complaints the outlook won't be good.

Justmuddlingalong · 26/06/2017 22:49

Surely a muzzle is preferable to the police removing and destroying him.

LexieLulu · 26/06/2017 22:58

I don't understand why you've let it get to this? If you knew the dog had "nipping" (biting) tendencies then why aren't you already using a muzzle!
You could have prevented this

BandeauSally · 26/06/2017 23:00

Hang on, you know your dog bites people yet you let it run off lead without a muzzle?? Shock that really quite an appalling level of stupidity.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 26/06/2017 23:05

You need to muzzle him when out. I know it isn't nice but you KNOW he has previous. What if it was a little kid? How rotten would you feel then? It's easy to pass it off as just a nip but he isn't nipping. Nipping is a warning snap that barely makes contact. He is biting. I'm as sympathetic towards dogs as they come. I have two of my own and god knows they're not perfect, DDog2 will get me arrested one day, I swear but you can't let this carry on unchecked. Have you looked into a behaviourist? In the meantime you have an obligation to make him safe and that means muzzling.

Blackfellpony · 27/06/2017 06:54

It's not nipping it's biting.

I have a dog who has 'nipped' people and he is never off lead, is always muzzled around strangers and I never let anyone touch him. I also don't take him to public places where he may be touched as what's the point as he is clearly unhappy about it.

You need some serious behavioural help and to be more responsible OP, sorry.

Your dogs only small but it should be treated the same as any other dog who bites. He needs muzzled and some training before he hurts someone or gets hurt with his actions.

TheoriginalLEM · 27/06/2017 07:01

I work with dogs so can usually predict if a dog is "ok" when im out running. I have to do this because their owners think it's OK for them to bark at us or chase us through the woods. Its like its my own fault for running.Hmm If im wary of a dog o slow to a walk - but really. Its not difficult. put your dog on a lead!!

Veterinari · 27/06/2017 08:11

Hi OP. Your dog needs to be muzzled and you need to seek out an APBC accredited behaviourist. Unfortunately research has shown that both dachshunds and chihuahua's have a tendency to display inappropriate aggression.

You need to deal with this now.

Tinseleverywhere · 27/06/2017 08:20

If he bites someone while out and they take it seriously you could get in a lot of trouble and the dog could even be put down. He definitely needs to be on the lead and on a muzzle.
I agree with a pp about not picking him up and giving treats when people come to the door. This is a well known mistake with small dogs. Either shut him in a secure room if you have one or put him in a dog crate.

Boredbeforeievenbegan · 27/06/2017 08:26

He goes to bite and you pick him up and give him a treat? Seriously?

Bubblegumfan · 27/06/2017 08:26

Would you describe it as nipping if it was a large breed? Or be so calm about it?
Every treat and pick up is a reward for his behaviour! Please get professional help

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 27/06/2017 08:28

As others have said you're dealing with his behaviour totally wrong and you're actually encouraging it by picking him up and giving him a treat!

Get some advice and help from a behaviourist.

TronaldDump · 27/06/2017 08:30

You posted about him 'nipping' a man who was passing him in 2014 and were advised to muzzle him then. Have you tried using a muzzle? Have you seen a behaviourist? As someone who's often out walking my dog with small kids I'd be incandescent if your dog 'nipped' them and would call the police straight away.

BertrandRussell · 27/06/2017 08:37

He bites. Have him PTS before he does some serious damage. And don't get another dog.

crankyhousewife · 27/06/2017 08:54

I have a German shepherd cross but a dogs a dog, and if he bit someone I'd be having serious thoughts about whether he needed to be pts. I know he's a bigger dog who could cause a lot more damage but biting's biting. He's never bitten anyone but we know he doesn't like the vets so he gets muzzled whenever we go. It's not that hard to do.