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?

@Potentialmadcatlady no, I agree she shouldn't keep the dog regardless of what's causing the behaviour.

I'm just a bit uncomfortable with "rage syndrome" even being brought up when it's not actually an official condition. In all the cases I've seen where someone has diagnosed "cocker rage", there's been an underlying cause - be that medical (eg a tumour or pain) or behavioural.

Personally I think "rage syndrome" is a really unhelpful get out clause for dogs who either need medical support, or who should never have been sold (or bred) to begin with.

It's bad breeding and, in many cases, unsuitable ownership and I do think as humans we need to start taking responsibility for what we're doing to dogs, not just writing them off as having some kind of syndrome.

Rage syndrome doesn’t exist. Idiopathic aggression does and is normally caused by malfunctions in the brain. This applies to all breeds. It’s rare though. Most people are just awful at reading dogs. Even dog people and dogs vary in their signals so you need to learn your pwn dogs and how fast they move up that ladder (which can also vary depending on trigger stacking).

A friend picked my dog up without warning. My dog was screaming ‘put me down’ with wide eyes, lip licking and trying to get away. I had to intervene. This person trains dogs. As a trainer I only engage with a dog in my class if they make the first move.

Apologies HoppingGreen I read your post too quickly and I see you actually did envisage a time when the op may want her child to visit her gps! So I got that completely wrong and I apologise. Hence this edit.

It just gets my back up when people always go for the op in these difficult situations. Probably bc I am facing something similar atm where we have invested a lot of time and trouble, and we love our adopted dog, but he has bitten two visitors to our house. We have grown to love the dog and we will have a difficult decision to make if we can’t improve the situation.

There is great advice available in the doghouse board on Mumsnet but there are always people wanting to judge negatively and make the op feel worse in an already difficult situation.

Why can’t people just give advice and give it gladly? We all know how shaken we can feel when a dog bites. It’s a really unpleasant thing to happen. Especially when you are worried about a young child in the house. And you love the dog concerned.

@Aromaticproperties67 I'm sorry to hear you're going through this too but thank you for getting it!

If your west London based our old behaviourist was amazing and often worked with serious bite cases- not saying yours is serious but she came highly recommended because she works with dogs with very complex needs (ironically we didn't need her for that when we lived there) so can pass along her details!

I think rehoming a dog who has bitten is irresponsible actually.

Jollyhostess101 we are far away from West London but thank you for the information anyway! I hope you can find the best solution for everyone concerned, including the dog.

FWIW I think you are right to prioritise your child’s safety and then go about finding the best situation you can for your dog with the help of your vet.

Vets can rule out physical issues, often know of good experienced dog homes who can take in a difficult case, and are experienced themselves in handling aggression, so that might be a good place to start (if you have a good vet that is).

Most of my rescues I’ve fostered have come with a bite history. Very often there’s something that triggers it. All of mine have gone in to have lovely lives with new families and no further bites in their new families. Must have been twenty dogs in ten years.

One of my current rescues that I’m fostering was given up due to a bite history. Bit the families toddler. Reason? No exercise, no stimulation and the toddler crawling into its crate when it slept - perfect recipe for aggressive behaviour.

Not all dogs with a bite history should, or need to be, PTS.

It entirely depends on the severity and reasons for the bite. A dog who bites through fear or because their warnings have been ignored is not the same as a dog that gives no warnings and just bites at will.

Similarly, a dog that tries to warn with a snap that accidentally makes contact is not the same as a dog whose bite lands the victim in hospital on a drip.

OP's dog doesn't sound dangerous, it sounds fearful and like it needs to be in a child-free home with experienced owners who can actually meet its' needs.

As @coffeesaveslives says, I've seen so, so many spaniels (both on here and IRL) who live in homes that are completely unsuitable - and then inevitably the dog becomes anxious and frustrated and it shows in their behaviour. It's a bit of a theme.

I'm not at all having a go at you, OP, because you don't know what you don't know, but working line dogs - which I am assuming this is - need an outlet. Long walks are not enough for most of them. They need engagement, input and training. One of my two dogs is a middle-aged lady these days, but she still gets some training time almost every day. If she goes a couple of weeks with no training time, she turns from a wonderful, highly social, friendly, sensible dog (with a huge local fan club) into an utter pain in the arse who is rude and snappy to other dogs.

The first time it happened I put it down to fluke, got back into a normal routine and all was well. The second time it happened I totted up the chain of events, took her out, did half an hour's retrieve training and bingo, back to normal.

I can't imagine what she'd have been like in the wrong home. Well, I can, if I try, but I don't want to.

I'm only posting to encourage all you owners out there with working line dogs to give them a few 20 minute sessions each week that play to what they've been bred to do. You might save you and the dogs a lot of misery and stress.

We’ve taken on a few dogs with bite history, a variety of breeds. They have all come good in the end, but it did take a lot of work and management. Easier for us since we have no young children so the risk is less but the vast, vast majority of the time it is fixable by working on their triggers, plenty of appropriate exercise, engagement and mental stimulation and giving them a safe space to retreat to.
If you feel you cannot manage him and the vet check reveals nothing of note then please do talk to a reputable rescue. There are people who will take on a dog with a bite history and he is only young.

I agree. It goes for any young working breed. Mine was originally bred to flush foxes. I can’t let her do that but I can tap into her problem solving and independent working with shaping and games and various puzzles as well as two formal classes a week.

I do something most days. Without it she’d be a nightmare (and has been when life has happened). A lot of her breed are.

Walking is not enough for most working dogs. They need brain work. Preferably along the lines of their original job but if not then interactive training.

Well said👍🐶

@wavingfuriously oh no that's such a horrible thing to have happen to the dog I can't believe people are that irresponsible- our little girl is being "trained" so to speak how to be around the dog!

Thanks for the advice everyone- we’ve increased the plastic covering the gate between his space and the toddlers so they’ll be even less chance of them meeting accidentally and vet appointment booked for Friday to check he’s not in any pain! And will look into some extra curricular activities for him so to speak!

We're really hoping we can get past the weekends incidents! But good to know some rescues will take if there is a bite history as we wouldn't want to PTS!