Ddog attacked and bit me

[MotherForker]

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.

@MotherForker

I didn't let her mouth for an hour, it was on and off. I was trying to finish something that needed to be finished before taking her for a walk. How do I stop her? I couldn't move from where I was?

This is where you need to prioritise the dog and deal with the situation. If you really are unable to walk her/feed her immediately, then you need to put her in a room/outside, somewhere quiet, away from everyone else, so that she doesn't mouth you "on and off" until you are ready to deal with her.

I'm wondering why you keep saying "I know, I know" after you mention her breed. I saw you did this on one of your other posts as well as this one.
I personally would not get a labradoodle because its an overbred dog which can be prone to health and psychological issues. It is also a large dog that needs a lot of exercise and stimulation and while it looks like a cute Teddy, is actually more like a working dog in terms of temperament and needs. I would not have a dog like this unless I knew for sure I had the skill, time and ability to meet its needs.
Is that what you mean?

I do think it's often an attention thing. Because I'll most often take her out immediately. And she will refuse to walk anywhere. Just stand and sniff the air, then go back home.

I can't feed her, her tea at 3pm or after she'd eaten. She is very food orientated, she would happily eat all day long, so it's no indicator of if she's really hungry. Other requests include wanting to go in the garden to bark like a loon at cats and NDN dog, which I don't let her do.

She most often does it when I'm in a work meeting. It's like she knows I can't get up and deal with her. If I shut her somewhere she barks and barks and the neighbours give me evils (even thought their dog barks).

So yes, clearly I can't handle her. I've never claimed I wasn't at fault. I don't know why so many people have decided to be so brutal in their tone.

@wherethewildthingis it's because I know they are a hated "breed" on the doghouse. So I assume I will be judged as soon as the breed is mentioned.

I do know that about them. I grew up with labradors. We wanted one able to do decent walks as we are an active family.

I would never get a poodle cross ever again (not that I think we'll ever get a dog again, before anyone berates me)

The OP has confirmed she's rehoming her dog. No one else needs to carry on putting the boot in. It's done.

I'm so sorry @MotherForker - you must be absolutely heartbroken. FWIW I think you've done everything you could and you're doing absolutely the right thing. I know that's a bit hollow though.

Thanks. Been to Moor injuries and the Dr says if don't need tetanus or antibiotics as it isn't a puncture bite but what they class as a graze.

Oh OP I'm so sorry for you all. Really hard situation. Rehoming sounds the best option for everyone. Good luck

“it's because I know they are a hated "breed" on the doghouse. So I assume I will be judged as soon as the breed is mentioned.”

No... it’s the dodgy breeding that’s hated, not the breed...

But, unfortunately, dodgy breeding can lead to dogs with temperament issues.

I know you’ve said you got some things wrong when she was young, but honestly - with the amount of input and help from a behaviourist, it isn’t normal that an 18 month old dog is biting like that in fun...

She sounds like a really high drive dog with poor impulse control and poor bite inhibition - which is a really hard combination and yes you are part of the equation, but I suspect half the people blaming just you would also be really struggling with her too.

She’ll probably be a great dog for someone, but that someone isn’t likely to be just any old dog owner.

Hi , vet nurse here , i feel really sorry for you all , you know there is no way you can keep an aggressive dog in a house with children .
I think there are many people who are so quick to judge and criticise a situation that they may have no experience of whatsoever .
I have many years experience in my job and thankfully we don't really see that many aggressive dogs, considering how many dogs are seen in a busy practice per day.
But of the aggressive dogs we do see i am always amazed how the owner / family of the dog live with the difficulties, impracticalities ,compromises that they make to keep it, and some of the injuries that the dog has caused, such hardwork for no pleasure .
It is all well and good saying use / change your behaviourist , who as we know can make all the difference, but sometimes in some cases nothing is going to help.
I think if this were me i would trial the auntie / uncle rehoming ,can you also carry on paying for the behaviourist for them also?
Sadly if the dog shows the same degree of aggression when in an orderly calm environment i would put to sleep .

I hope the Doodle Trust can help you.

If you might have to wait, how do you feel about muzzle training her so she can wear a basket muzzle out & about?

She is muzzle trained and wears it on walks. The behaviour is the same, the muzzle just causes bruises instead of bite marks.

She struggles with getting treats through it though (although it is possible) so it prevent any realistic training when she is wearing it.

@MotherForker

She is muzzle trained and wears it on walks. The behaviour is the same, the muzzle just causes bruises instead of bite marks.

She struggles with getting treats through it though (although it is possible) so it prevent any realistic training when she is wearing it.

A properly fitted muzzle shouldn't cause this issue. Dogs should be able to drink, pant and eat through it.

Is it a properly fitted Baskerville style one?

I thought you probably would have covered it - the important thing is you are managing risk.
What about squeezy treats like paste or primula cheese? She could lick them through a basket muzzle.
It's probably beyond that point now OP I'm sorry things have come to this but hopefully you will get support & find a resolution for you all.
DDog may just need a clean slate in a new home that's better suited to deal with her challenging behaviours.

OP - so how do you react to the mouthing/attention seeking in the house? Also, have you had a follow up from the behaviourist to assess how you are enacting his/her instructions?

MotherForker we put our puppy into the garden or kitchen when unable to walk her immediately if she gets restless. It's unfair to have a puppy in a room with excitable children all the time if they are restless for a walk.

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this OP and also the smugness from people who clearly have no idea about training techniques - smacking a dog on the nose isn't going to teach it not to bite.

for you

@sunflowersandbuttercups it is properly fitted baskerville one. She can pant, drink and eat treats. But it's harder and she gets frustrated. The labrador in her likes to inhale treats in milliseconds. When she can't do that she gets annoyed and refuses to take them.

If we put her in the garden she barks and jumps around and pisses of the neighbours. Our kitchen is open plan with the room I work in. The kids are separate from her in another room.

She doesn't always want a walk. Because she will then refuse to go anywhere. Sometimes she does it after a walk. It's attention seeking.

I have spoken to behaviourist since last night, yes. When she mouths in the house I stop her, turn back if appropriate (she hasn't already lost it), sometimes put her in crate if necessary.

When I'm working I have treats and try and get her to lie on her mat, and do calming stuff. She is getting better at this since I have been "catching the calm". She will also do stuff like chew something on the other side of the room while looking at me, knowing I can't get up and stop her.

Have you tried time outs OP? I've found these to be very effective in the past - they have to be done quickly, firmly and consistently (i.e EVERY time). Dog performs attention seeing behaviour and then you quickly and firmly get up and leave the room (closing door very firmly behind you) without looking or speaking to the dog. Wait five mins, return to room but be aloof. If dog tries to attention seek again, repeat the process. If the dog approaches in a calm manner they can have a pat/scratch. The rationale is that if they are demanding your attention in an inappropriate way, they get the exact opposite - you buggering off. The trouble with putting them in their crate is that it takes too long and they often don't connect their behaviour with being put away. Timing is everything in dog training and you have around 3 seconds for the animal to make a connection between their behaviour and the consequence/reward. Remember that talking to her (even if you think you're telling her off) and looking at her can in themselves be rewarding!
She looks beautiful by the way - I have a black version of her.

Above not so helpful out on walks of course...
Is it you she mouths/jumps on or people walking past?

When I'm working I have treats and try and get her to lie on her mat, and do calming stuff. She is getting better at this since I have been "catching the calm". She will also do stuff like chew something on the other side of the room while looking at me, knowing I can't get up and stop her.

Have you tried just tethering her? Put her in her bed, install a tether in the wall and attach it to her collar so she has no choice but to stay in her bed. Give her a kong or long-lasting chew and just ignore her.

OP it sounds like ultimately you have made peace with the fact you need to re-home. I had to re-home our greyhound last year, he was very stressed because of our youngest two DC. Was unfair to keep him with us (he was starting to growl). Sometimes it's the hardest decisions we make that are in the best interest of the dog. You just want them to be rehomed with the appropriate family to live out their best life. Our greyhound went to a person with another greyhound and no children.

Everyone on this thread wants to help and trying to be supportive 💐

Op I'm sorry you are going through this.
It sounds like you have done so much for your dog.

This might not be helpful but I have a young golden retriever who is playful, next door neighbor has 2 huge, dog and people reactive mastiffs. They are never walked and they are wound up. When let out in the adjoining garden they go crazy at the fence if my Goldie is out, which makes my dog terrified and bark back. Nothing I can do about next doors dogs. But I can grab, call or whatever my dog at the time to get her in and I can honestly say she will never bite me even in that state of being wound up/scared/agitated. So to me you have done what you can and your dog needs to be pts.

I would say re home but I'd be worried if she escaped or bit a child out and about. Its just awful but too risky.

I would not have your dog in my house and I love animals and have 2 young children so I get it.

@Isitgiroday she only ever jumps and bites me/stbxh, never anyone walking passed or other dog owners. For them she's all waggy tails and bending in half greeting (when their bum and face almost meet).

We have vet appointment tomorrow and will obviously discuss all this. The behaviourist is still concerned that there may be underlying pain or gut issues. Not that's causing it but making it harder for her to control herself.

It's attention seeking. Oh, FFS.