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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

Ddog attacked and bit me

238 replies

MotherForker · 15/02/2021 18:25

For context, I've asked for advice before, ddog jumps and mouths/bites when she is highly aroused. It's playful, apart from the fact she is 25kg and 18 months old. We have been working with a behaviourist on this.

Tonight, I let her into the garden without realising that our NDN dog was out. Their dog is lovely, but terrified of other dogs and jumps and barks at the fence. We have added to the top of the fence to prevent them ever meeting. Ddog used to just wag her tail and look bemused by this, but recently has started jumping and barking back and launching at the fence. She's been mouthing me in the house for the last hour.

NDN was trying to get their dog in and I went to fetch ddog, as no amount of treat was going to tempt her. As I went towards her she turned and launched at me, bit my hard on my wrist. She kept going until I managed to grab her collar and bring her in. Then I was trapped by the door and she carried on barking and jumping at me. My wrist is bleeding and swollen.

I am doing everything advised by behaviourist. She has been checked by vet for pain several times. I've sat and cried feeling sorry for myself. I have two children and will soon be sole parent in this house (stbxh is moving out in a week).

I don't want to give up on her. But it more and more feels like she is beyond my capabilities. Any advice welcome.

OP posts:
OytheBumbler · 15/02/2021 20:20

I agree with the pp who talked about over-stimulation. It sounds like she gets plenty of exercise and actually needs teaching about how to be calm.
Sometimes just teaching her to lie calmly next to you on the lead can be extremely difficult for an anxious dog but very beneficial for them.

AlwaysLatte · 15/02/2021 20:20

I would rehome immediately - an adult only home sounds perfect, especially one who can really give a lot of exercise and be firm. Pup needs this chance - PTS without trying this option is really sad and hasty. Can you get them to take her tonight and send some pictures and cards to your children so that they can have a 'pendog'? Not the same, I know, but far safer!

namechange43210 · 15/02/2021 20:22

@freckles20 yes, and if you read my post I did say I'm not sure how her dog would take it and also to be sure her dog wouldn't snap. I was very clear on that as I know it could be a risky move.

Original poster
MotherForker · 15/02/2021 20:23

Thanks. The behaviourist was actually one recommended by @PollyRoulson

My aunt lives 200 miles away so she couldn't go there now. And I'd need to talk to her about this most recent behaviour.

OP posts:
Tallybeebloom · 15/02/2021 20:24

There is no need to have the dog PTS if you have a good home waiting for her with your aunt and uncle. I don't think you can keep a dog that has bitten like that around children though. Even with the best training in the world you just can't take that risk.

Cats4life · 15/02/2021 20:24

Hmmmm so you're angry and fly of the mark quickly? Interesting.....
Be honest here you're over your head, you did not research the breed properly and you clearly cant cope otherwise you wouldn't be repeatedly posting on here asking for advice. And the first thing you do is get defensive. This is not your dogs fault. Puppies are babies, toddlers they will do what you let them away with and Ithey will grow into dogs that you condition. I guarantee it you give her to an understanding home they will teach her properly. Shes not aggressive, she deserves better. And it's scary that shes in the house with children as well, this behaviour should have been stopped along time ago, which you admit to in previous posts so dont blame the messenger

JamieFrasersSassenach · 15/02/2021 20:25

@MotherForker just wanted to say please go straight to A&E - if you go anywhere else they will only send you there anyway. Dog bites must be properly treated - the skin is broken and dogs carry all sorts on their teeth. You will need it cleaned properly and a course of antibiotics

HoldontoOneMoreDay · 15/02/2021 20:25

It absolutely doesn't help to pile onto the OP who has just been bitten and is at the end of her tether. And who has also been very clear that PTS is the last thing that she wants.

I'm also in the overstimulated camp, it sounds like trigger stacking to me and the NDN dog was the thing that pushed your dog over the edge. She then redirected to bite you.

Have you had a proper, warts and all, conversation with your relatives? What's their set up like? She sounds to me like she needs to be the only dog, no kids, maybe even semi-rural so she isn't bothered by other dogs. In normal times a reputable rescue might be able to help you rehome but I think things are a bit all over the place at the moment.

Have you thought about muzzle training? This is for the dog's sake as much as yours.

And yes, you do need to get that bite seen to.

Cats4life · 15/02/2021 20:26

Also your dog should be sleep a good amount of hours per day like easily 16 is she doing that?

LST · 15/02/2021 20:26

Oh op what a horrible situation. I have had to rehome a very much loved dog. He did not fit into our family. We tried everything. He was a beauty and a lovely dog but the problems we had with him far outweighed the positives. It was a stressful environment for all of us, including our other dog. He wasn't aggressive though.

Regarding the bite I would definitely get it seen to. I got bitten by a friends dog and went to the walk in centre the day after. They patched me up and gave me antibiotics.

DenisetheMenace · 15/02/2021 20:26

HoldontoOneMoreDay

It absolutely doesn't help to pile onto the OP who has just been bitten and is at the end of her tether. And who has also been very clear that PTS is the last thing that she wants“

It’s horrid, isn’t it?

Impatiens · 15/02/2021 20:28

Yes I agree - at least you know and trust the ppl she'll be going to.

Do you think she's been affected by the upheaval in your homelife?

DavidsSchitt · 15/02/2021 20:29

That needs looking at. Also the "mouthing"....stop thinking about it that way, it's a bite. She bit you, your kids could be bitten by her.

Llamadog · 15/02/2021 20:34

The judgment on this thread is hilarious. I’m sure that no one posting here has ever done the wrong thing, and frankly how anyone can judge whether OP has from what she has said here is beyond me. The reality is that the dog has bitten OP and is a potential risk to her and her children. It doesn’t really matter what the rights and wrongs of it are now, keeping a dog that has bitten like that in a house with children the ages of the OPs isn’t justifiable. I’m afraid the dog either has to be rehomed or PTS. In addition, it sounds as if OP is having a very difficult time at the moment given the situation with her stbxh, and the dog situation is just too much.

Original poster
MotherForker · 15/02/2021 20:34

@Cats4life I was only snappy to you because you made loads of twatty assumptions. Yes I researched the breed. I don't think she's aggressive, I've never said she's aggressive. The behaviourist said I had a very good understanding of her body language.

She is easily aroused and excitable. This leads to jumping and biting because I didn't deal with her bite inhibition stuff properly as a puppy. I am not presenting myself as perfect. I feel like the worst dog owner in the world and the worst parent. My dc have just been told their parents are separating and I'm about to tell them their dog is leaving too.

I have clearly fucked up, I've never said otherwise.

OP posts:
Indecisivelurcher · 15/02/2021 20:35

Hi OP I've done the cardinal sin of not rtft, however this sounds very similar to my mums labradoodle who they do absolutely loads with, agility, hoopers, trailing, X2 walks a day, proper training, and just absolutely cannot get her to stop jumping up and mouthing. The dog really pisses me off to be honest. She's blummin big. And she scares my kids age 3 & 6, they sit on the worktops until she's calmed down. She's fine when she's calmed down. Based on my mums experiences of trying to train her out of this behaviour, I am not sure you'll be able to. Based on her drawing blood and you being about to be a single parent dealing with a lot at the moment, personally I think you should take your aunt up on her offer to have the dog. I know how this will feel as I've been in a similar position myself and had to give a dog up to my friend. I never thought I'd give a dog away. But several years later it was absolutely the right thing to do. Good luck!

tabulahrasa · 15/02/2021 20:37

Hmm... I’m not so sure your aunt and uncle are a great idea tbh.

I think your dog needs more than the average pet owner is going to be able to deal with. I’d be very worried that they either won’t cope either and she gets worse or even worse try some training method that makes it go really bad really quickly.

With what you’ve already been doing and looking at that bite, this is absolutely definitely more full on than an overexcited dog mouthing.

Shadeslayer · 15/02/2021 20:39

She bit you and you have kids she needs to go I'm afraid imagine that was your child bleeding and scared.

I'm so sorry

ArcherDog · 15/02/2021 20:43

OP this thread is spiralling out of control now, the best thing you can do is hide it, never come back, and talk to your behaviourist as soon as you are able.

You do not need to kill an 18month old puppy. She is not beyond saving. Whether that’s by you or you pass her over to someone else, is for you to decide.

IsThePopeCatholic · 15/02/2021 20:48

It’s just not worth taking the risk. You would never forgive yourself if she attacked your kids. Time to say goodbye.

tabulahrasa · 15/02/2021 20:49

That’s not that I think you couldn’t train her with your behaviourist necessarily btw, just that if you do decide you’re not up to this and want to rehome her, I don’t think doing it privately like that is the best plan.

PurpleM · 15/02/2021 20:50

I've had dogs that have gotten so wound up by bloody cats happily sat out of reach, that they've turned the frustrations on each other & nipped my hand in trying to grab lead to free themselves. Very situational but needs management. Rest of time were totally fine but neighboring dogs are harder to avoid than cats which can shoo away then let dogs out, so their bucket is constantly getting refilled with the stress of it.
Does your dog have reasonable bite inhibition normally or is this mouthing quite rough? I'd take advice from behaviourist/vet that know the dog.

Sure can travel for animal welfare reasons, to rehome with family or a rescue.

Crossornot · 15/02/2021 21:15

Op, just to say that you are definitely not the worst parent in the world, nor the worst dog owner. Give yourself a break. You have tried much harder than many people would. I don’t know what to suggest you do about your dog’s behaviour - I can’t possibly judge what she’s like or how appropriate your handling of her is based on internet posts, and nor can anyone else. I think you should have a really frank and open conversation with your behaviourist in light of today’s incident, and see what they think. I do remember reading your previous posts and thinking that, if anything, you were slightly minimising the dog’s behaviour to yourself. It sounds completely exhausting and unpleasant.

As far as your children go, don’t not rehome her because you are worried about causing them further upset and instability at the moment. They will be upset, but they will also be aware of how much stress the dog is causing, and they will adjust very quickly. I really feel for you, this sounds like a horribly tough time, and far from being a terrible mother/owner, you in fact it seems to me are the person taking responsibility for everything, and trying to look after everyone. That’s a lot. Be kind to yourself and don’t torment yourself about this.

Gribbit987 · 16/02/2021 00:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tabulahrasa · 16/02/2021 00:54

OP - is yours the dog with multiple food allergies?...

That can have an impact on behaviour, I don’t know if you’re aware?....