Biting Dog

[JollyHostess101]

The post id never wanted to write! Sorry it's long but I'm heartbroken but I just don't trust our dog anymore 😢

Really long story cut short we rehomed a dog between lockdowns and he had issues- reactive on lead to other dogs and was scared of literally everything!

We worked hard with behavioursist and we'd got him to a place we were happy! Still reactive on lead with other dogs but absolutely fine off lead!

We had a baby last year and he was fine withe baby (obviously never left them alone etc) we've also moved more rurally so lots more walks and lots of other doggies!

On a walk yesterday someone was stroking him in the park and the little kids train let of its whistle and he bit the person stroking him without warning! And this evening I've gone to kiss my husband good night on the sofa and the dog (who was on the floor)has lunged and gone to bite him)

We're going round have to contact Spaniel
Aid aren't we? I simply do not trust him- what if our little one gets through the gate we have between rooms to keep them apart it's unthinkable but he's part of the family so we're so sos torn!

I know my in laws will offer to take him but I don't think I'd want him to not be with us but still come to visit- would it be best to put him to sleep?

Where did you rehome him from? Can they give any advice/support?

It wasn't through a rescue it was a friend of a friend who was moving who couldn't have him anymore and we fell in love with him!

In hindsight it might have been that they couldn't handle him but no recourse there!

We've worked so hard and never given up on him until now

As someone who has just adopted a cocker spaniel “with issues” from a rescue op, I hear you,

With a young child on the premises, I don’t think you have any other option but to re-home. You can’t let your heart rule your head in this situation bc you cannot mitigate against random sounds or unpredictable behaviour.

I wouldn’t let your in-laws have him either tbh. Your child will presumably in and out of their home too when they are older, and visiting children are top of the list of those who are most frequently bitten by dogs.

How old is your dog btw? Is he castrated?

Our adopted dog is a lovely boy in many ways but he is an older dog and has been passed from pillar to post bc he can aggressively guard food resources if we are not careful with him. ATM we are coping by not having visitors and we don’t have young dc. He is getting more relaxed with us all of the time but he has nipped a veterinary nurse and a dog-sitter, both of whom are very experienced with dogs.

Tbh, this is his last chance, and if this doesn’t work out, then we are going to have to have him put to sleep bc it’s not right to have him passed on again to a family who may be unaware of his issues. Not everyone will agree with this but imho there are worst things for a dog than being pts when it’s a very considered decision made in collaboration with your vet after they have been given every chance.

@Aromaticproperties67 thank you! I posted on the working cockers Facebook page and got horribly judged so even more tears!

We've done everything we can for him he's 5 (we think) and yes castrated! He's always had his issues but we just worked round them and thought we could all be a happily family so I'm gutted- I'm so torn we love him to pieces but I'm so scared what could happen and i feel like we've failed him!

We're going to get him checked by the vet incase there's something causing the recent behaviour but in my heart I know I don't trust him!

And I also think PTS might be kinder as he wouldn't know why we'd left him and that makes me sad!

Rubbish!🤬

@wavingfuriously who even takes a dog that's bitten?

If you have a suggestion please let me know as we're honestly in bits trying to navigate this!

Got any productive suggestions in that case Wavingfuriously ?

The only thing I can suggest is that someone who breeds and works cockers takes him on. But if he is afraid of everything he doesn’t sound like he would be someone’s first choice in the field tbh.

Definitely consult your vet, as they might be reluctant to pts such a young healthy dog and they may know someone who is willing and experienced enough to take him on.

If you are afraid of him though then I’m afraid to say that being around you will not be helping his state of mind as he will sense your uneasiness and become even more fearful and reactive.

We're not going down that route just yet we just wanted to check for anything underlying that might have caused the two outbursts!

He's such a different dog now I'm just anxious that if the toddler got to him by accident the worse would happen!!

Slightly calmer now snd will see what he's like in the next few days and what the vet says!!

If you haven't already, Google Cocker Rage.
It's a genuine issue within the breed and PTS is the kindest thing in those circumstances.
Sorry you're going through this.

I know my in laws will offer to take him but I don't think I'd want him to not be with us but still come to visit- would it be best to put him to sleep?

Why on earth would you consider having your poor dog euthanised rather than given a happy new home? How utterly selfish of you.

You're determined to make this all about you OP. Grow up and out the welfare of your poor dog first.

Don't let strangers stroke your nervy dog even if he seems like he can handle it, let him get his exercise and keep strange people and dogs away from him now he's proven he will go beyond snapping and warning into a bite he can't be trusted within biting range of strangers dog or human. If the train made him bite, he wasn't 100% comfortable being petted to begin with and that's fine, it's an owner error.

He probably bit your husband because his cortisol was still up, it takes 3 days to go down and spaniels are drivey working dogs so a bit wired which is bad if they decide to start biting. Rage syndrome imo is a load of shit, spaniels are very subtle before they snap, they tense up and their eyes change and a snap can seem to come out of nowhere but once you're familiar with the breed you can see it coming.

Contact spaniel aid or privately rehome in a spaniel friendly group - the dog will be fine in other hands if you're worried about your baby - it just needs adult owners with no children at home who are sensible and aware enough to keep it away from strangers and exercise it which is perfectly feasible, once the dog is away from repeated triggers it will most likely come right. You say he's reactive on leash but fine off - he has issues with dogs then, and he might not react but it will be making him tense and it all builds up and causes a type of ptsd ready to blow their lid in dogs.

Don't kill the dog because you can't manage him properly, it's very cruel.

No, @JollyHostess101 put the safety of your baby first!

Me. Currently have two in my care as foster dogs. Have done historically as well.

Very often there are very good reasons and tbh both the instances you’ve described sound like basic triggers for him.

Contact Spaniel Aid because, if I am honest, I’m not sure you’re equipped to deal with this behaviour.

This isn’t rage. I really wish people who know nothing about rage would stop yapping on about it when someone mentions their aggressive cocker.

Dogs with rage don’t randomly attacking when they’re startled and wide awake 😂honestly, a quick google would have told you that.

OP triggered her dog. Nothing to do with rage and all to do with being careful.

Read my post correctly @SoporificLettuce

Why on earth would you get your dog put to sleep for this?

I'm on the app so can't reply to everyone individually!

Firstly I never said it was a stranger we don't let him near strangers because we know what he's like!

we're not going to run off and get him put to sleep we've spent years working with him and behaviourists and we're shocked and yes very worried about our toddler but have been told on the working cockers group that Spaniel Aid probabaly won't be able to help as they're full so if anyone has any suggestions of where else to try please let me know but what else can we actually do just let him bite us?

We'll go to the vets to check there's nothing underlying to cause this sudden change!

And for all those that think I'm cruel and selfish I haven't really slept all night because I'm so upset at even contemplating having to rehome him as he is part of the family and we're in bits!

And yet you appear to be 'contemplating' having him PTS.

Try SA. SA are picking dogs more carefully because of all the people giving up their dogs cos they CBA, but SA are not ‘full.’ (I say this as one of their fosterers). They just aren’t taking dogs where they don’t believe they can help.

He bit you because you do not understand his triggers. He was scared in the park and I’m guessing at home the dog was on the floor nearby and you loomed over him?

Tbh I’m interested in how old he is and how much exercise and mental stimulation he gets.

What was your response in those situations? Again, that’s likely going to impact why he acts the way he does ^^

Because what honestly would you do with a toddler in the house if no one will take him? Just wait for him to bite her too?

I thought I might get some advice from people who've been through this not a pile on!

So many people excusing that it bit someone and lunched and went for/tried to bite another person...what was the trigger for the second incident...dh went to kiss op...if this was a XL bully/bully breed people would have a different response/reaction. They can't live their lives not kissing or getting close in case the dog bites again. Hopefully it's a medical issue (pain) but if it isn't, the dog needs rehomed or pts.