Bitten by my puppy

Idunnowhyibother · 2022-07-03T22:39:23+00:00

Have an EBT 9 month old male who has not been neutered yet and he has gone for me today quite seriously. I was sat on the sofa and he was lying next to me - I wasn't petting him as tend to leave him be if he's dozing, but as I got up he snarled and tried to bite my hand (nasty bruise but didnt break the skin). I pushed him away from me calmly saying No and stood up but he went for me again. He carried on growling and snapping as I walked over to his crate and he slunk in. I didn't lose my temper with him or raise my voice but was pretty shaken. He's a big boy, stubborn as they come but this has really worried me. He has grumbled before and growled when stroked on the back so we avoid casually stroking him there and also leave him in peace if dozing/sleeping. He has no health issues. Advice welcome.

NrlySp · 03/07/2022 23:44

Could it be a startle reflex?

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 03/07/2022 23:48

Mine will growl snap lunge and snap if suddenly woken from a snooze. Makes it tricky if he’s on my bed or on my knee. Everything is then seen as his bed and he does not expect to be disturbed. Making it clear where his bed is would help. So you either put up with him how he is if you want him to go on sofas and chairs. Otherwise he has a bed in the room and goes in that. And you don’t touch him on make any sudden movements around him when he’s in it. What’s an EBT?

Original poster

Idunnowhyibother · 03/07/2022 23:50

NrlySp · 03/07/2022 23:44

Could it be a startle reflex?

I don't think so...He was definitely awake. He can be quite reactive over sudden noises or movements when dozing so I'm always aware of that around him. Just the aggression directed at me was surprising - if something startles him from sleep like noisy kids outside, he usually just huffs a bit then settles down.

OP posts:

Original poster

Idunnowhyibother · 03/07/2022 23:53

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 03/07/2022 23:48

Mine will growl snap lunge and snap if suddenly woken from a snooze. Makes it tricky if he’s on my bed or on my knee. Everything is then seen as his bed and he does not expect to be disturbed. Making it clear where his bed is would help. So you either put up with him how he is if you want him to go on sofas and chairs. Otherwise he has a bed in the room and goes in that. And you don’t touch him on make any sudden movements around him when he’s in it. What’s an EBT?

EBT - sorry, English Bull terrier.
Yes think you are right - no more sofa for him! He has a bed he can use - he weighs a ton now so on the lap isn't allowed - too heavy!

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Ownedbymycats · 04/07/2022 00:13

My terrier is easily startled from even an apparently light sleep. My very loud and noisy son will almost fall into the snug area the dog likes to be in and the dog has growled and went for him a few times. It was much more dangerous when we allowed him on the sofa as it obviously gave him the extra height to launch a potentially severe attack. We've totally banned him from the sofa, his bed used to be in his crate but we got him another very comfy floor bed and it's been a great success. We've encouraged my son to spend more time with him and not stumble into the room the way he used to.When he's startled now he instinctively presents my son with a toy.
It sounds like your dog didn't want you to move or didn't want you to disturb him.

Bunty55 · 04/07/2022 01:03

How dare he do that !
No more going on the sofa. Do not allow him to place himself at your level again.
Anytime he pushes a boundary like this put him in his cage.

HardRockOwl · 04/07/2022 01:11

You haven't got children have you? As you know, these are powerful dogs and it's one thing for you to be bitten and quite another for a child to be.

DillonPanthersFNL · 04/07/2022 01:29

You need boundaries, he needs to be in a Crate. If he's sleeping he needs to be there so he and you are safe

Original poster

Idunnowhyibother · 04/07/2022 05:13

HardRockOwl · 04/07/2022 01:11

You haven't got children have you? As you know, these are powerful dogs and it's one thing for you to be bitten and quite another for a child to be.

No children - just me and DP. Agreed - is a powerful dog and never on the sofa again.

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coffeecupsandfairylights · 04/07/2022 05:47

You say in your first post he was dozing and then in the second that he was awake - dogs don't have to be in a really deep sleep to affected by sleep-startle. If he was chilling and relaxed on the sofa and not really focusing on his surroundings, your movement could have spooked him and he may have reacted out of instinct.

Going forward in the short-term, he absolutely cannot be on the sofa - sleep needs to be in an area where he is safe and alone, and no waking him up unless you can do it safely and from a distance.

But long term I would be looking at getting behavioural help so you know how to manage him. EBT's are big, strong dogs who could potentially do a lot of damage so I'd want to nip this in the bud now before someone ends up in hospital.

Inthesameboatatmo · 04/07/2022 06:08

Reading these posts like it's ok for a dog to snap like this ! I've had dogs for 30 years and not one has ever reacted like this or even so much as a growl in a person's direction. I couldn't keep a dog like that at all.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 04/07/2022 06:28

Inthesameboatatmo · 04/07/2022 06:08

Reading these posts like it's ok for a dog to snap like this ! I've had dogs for 30 years and not one has ever reacted like this or even so much as a growl in a person's direction. I couldn't keep a dog like that at all.

I don't think anyone is saying it's okay, are they?

But sleep startle is a genuine condition - most commonly it's found in ex-racing dogs like greyhounds but it's also increasingly seen in dogs who were born on the streets or in puppy farms.

I have no idea if this sleep startle or perhaps a form of resource guarding - but neither behaviour is especially rare.

bishbashboshhhhh · 04/07/2022 07:41

You mention a grumble/ growl when having his back stroked has he had a vet check?

Sisisimone · 04/07/2022 14:01

I dont think I could live with a dog like this, he sounds so unpredictable. You could get seriously hurt. Would you get a behaviourist in?

leli · 04/07/2022 14:05

You know EBTs have a reputation for being aggressive and difficult to manage right? I would never condemn any dog, I'm a major dog lover but why for the love of God did you get a dog with a difficult reputation? Google and you'll see.

Womenandwomenfirst · 04/07/2022 15:35

Well, they do say “let sleeping dogs lie”

Anyone - dog or human - can be irritated by being woken up, but snarling and biting is simply not on and I would seek professional advice. A dog with a “snap jaw” can do very serious harm.

Original poster

Idunnowhyibother · 04/07/2022 20:30

leli · 04/07/2022 14:05

You know EBTs have a reputation for being aggressive and difficult to manage right? I would never condemn any dog, I'm a major dog lover but why for the love of God did you get a dog with a difficult reputation? Google and you'll see.

I didn't use Google as a basis for choosing a dog - I spoke to people who actually own this breed. Any breed can be difficult!
He's been seen by a vet and is the very picture of health which is good. I am not frightened of him or continuing to help him with his training and boundaries despite his recent black mark....

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mushforbrain · 04/07/2022 22:36

@leli EBTs don’t have a reputation for being aggressive at all. They are very stubborn and difficult to train but that’s not the same thing as being aggressive. For example if my EBT wants to sit down in the middle of a walk, she will. They’re stubborn. She is as soft as they come though.

powershowerforanhour · 04/07/2022 22:48

9 months old isn't really a puppy. I would think castration and a behaviourist, stat!

XelaM · 04/07/2022 22:48

An EBT puppy attacked our little dog at a puppy class with no provocation whatsoever. He just went for him during "recall training". I must say I'm not a fan of them. Don't they have a jaw that locks?

Thehawki · 04/07/2022 22:54

OP has your dog torn anything or hurt himself? When he is fully awake and calm it might be an idea for you to place a hand towards where you touched him (obv very cautiously) and see if he’s reacting out of discomfort or pain. Might be worth a vet visit instead if you can.

If it’s not that, then the lesson to learn here is to never touch him when he is dozing again, and to not let him on the couch with you at the same time.

A behaviourist will also have far more experience than most of us so it’s worth a consultation with one I think.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 05/07/2022 08:13

leli · 04/07/2022 14:05

You know EBTs have a reputation for being aggressive and difficult to manage right? I would never condemn any dog, I'm a major dog lover but why for the love of God did you get a dog with a difficult reputation? Google and you'll see.

They don't have a reputation for aggression at all. Where did you get that from?

Well-bred EBT's are meant to be even-tempered dogs who are great with people and children. They are independent and can be difficult to train but that's not because they're aggressive - it's because they're terriers!

coffeecupsandfairylights · 05/07/2022 08:15

powershowerforanhour · 04/07/2022 22:48

9 months old isn't really a puppy. I would think castration and a behaviourist, stat!

Nine months old is definitely still a puppy - dogs don't really reach maturity until they're at least 18 months old - and it's even older in larger breeds.

Castrating an adolescent dog also isn't the answer to solving aggression - in fact, many dogs who are neutered due to fear aggression actually get worse once the testosterone is removed from their body.

twistyizzy · 05/07/2022 08:20

Definitely no more on the sofa, this is why we never allow any of our dogs on sofas/beds. Get a qualified behaviourist and talk to your vet about it. Castration won't help and can actually cause increased anxiety and fear behaviour.
Let sleeping dogs lie and never approach or touch a dig whilst it is asleep. Good luck xx