Terrified and Hopeless

moburda · #1 10-11-2009, 03:55 PM

I am sitting here writing to you all with tears in my eyes. Patrick just bit one of ours friends! I don't know what to do. We have only had him for two months and he has quickly become part of our family. I love him like my own child. As with any parent, I have gotten Patrick the help that I thought he needed. We have been working with a behaviorist since the first week we had him. He is on Elavil, we train everyday, he walks for hours to release some energy but I just don't think we are equipped to deal with whatever issues he is working with.

What in the world am I going to do? Do I become a recluse and hide in my house because he can't be around any people or dogs? We did what we thought was right. We met our friend outside, introduced her to Patrick, she gave him treats and he seemed fine. After about twenty minutes she got up to go the bathroom and he lunged at her and bit her ankles. He brought skin! I am terrified right now. Terrified that I am not equipped to rehabilitate him. Terrified that he may bite somebody and do some real damage. Thank heavens my friend was wearing long pants.

I appreciate you reading my post. I just needed to get this off my chest. I feel like I lost a member of my family. I don't know what to do.

esabbott · #2 10-11-2009, 04:15 PM

I know exactly how you feel! We had a sheltie when my children were growing up and he decided one day that he would bite my oldest daughter( right in the butt) she was around 15, I felt horrible we were not sure whether to keep him or not. He did break her skin and made her bleed. I ended up talking with my vet about it and he convinced me to keep him and keep working with him, enroll him in training classes, etc. So we did---it turned out that he never did bite again. But he ended up being sick. and I wonder whether your dog may have some underlying health issues. How healthy is he?

IluvLucy · #3 10-11-2009, 08:20 PM

It sounds to me like you are doing all you can. Did you talk to the behaviorist about this? What did they say? Training of any kind should help. I've never been a big fan of using drugs to treat a behavior problem unless there is an underlying physical problem you are trying to address. I'm not familiar with the drug you mentioned so I don't know what it is for. Our current boxer Max is rescue with some fear aggression issues with strangers. He simply doesn't trust people not to hurt him and he doesn't trust me enough to protect him from harm. I have been taking him to a training center, more for the socialization than any training but a combination of both is a good way to help. I don't know all the details of your situation but my first impression from what you have just described is that you have a dog that is trying to control the situation. If he was o.k. with this person until they got up to leave, It seems like he was trying to keep them from leaving (without his permission). I may be way off base here but I'm just throwing that out there as a possibility.....

moburda · #4 10-12-2009, 08:19 AM

Elavil is an anti depressant that the trainer recommended we put him on. He had a doctors appt this weekend (he did great at the vet) and came out with a clean bill of health.

As it turns out we have a session with the trainer a little later today. I can't wait for her to come over.

BigDies · #5 10-12-2009, 06:34 PM

Since you tried introducing him to your friend outside, I'm assuming that you probably knew that he had some aggression issues to begin with. I think you did right by meeting outside and having your friend give him treats but that isn't going to have him get over his distrust of strangers that easily. I think you probably gave him too much slack too fast. Her standing up probably startled him and he reacted solely on instict. I would keep your boy on a leash when stangers are present, even inside, just so he can get more used to the coming and goings that people, strangers, will make. I'm in no way a behaviorist and this advise is purely what I would try if I were in your position. Don't give up on him just yet. He could have done a lot more serious damage then he did if he were seriously trying to attack someone. It seems to me (again NOT a behaviorist) that he may just need some more training. Good luck.

StellaBee · #6 10-12-2009, 06:48 PM

I don't have any advice, but wanted to say good luck and I wish the best for you guys!

NicksMom · #7 10-12-2009, 07:01 PM

We have a 4 1/2 year old rescue we got last December his list of I hate is pretty big, No Dogs, No Kids, No Cats, Car Chaser and takes a Thyroid pill oh and not crazy about new people. I have Emma Parsons book Click to Calm it has been pretty helpful also the Culture Class by Jean Donoldson. When new people are introduced to Bumper they are instructed not to look at talk to or touch him. I have found that this method works best for him. The person is no longer a threat if they show no intrest. When introductions happen outside he is allowed to wander around everyone for a bit then he is taken in the house and given a yummy bone to chew. A little later he is allowed outside to practice being around people again then back in for a yummy treat. I don't allow Bumper to be around the stressor read: new people, kids, or whatever the trigger is for very long. When the introductions happen in the house he is on one side of a baby gate and the new person is on the other he is not allowed out to see the person until he appears calm and then it is only for a limited time and back out the baby gate he goes. I don't ask people to feed him. If he is afraid of them and I am asking them to feed Bumper a treat his food motivation will override his fear momentairly to get the treat but he still has fear. I beleive the treat need to come from me such as, go sniff the persons shoe and come back to me for the treat. When someone is comming and going from my home Bumper is not allowed near the exit/entry point. Baby gates are a wonderful management tool for my home. Hang in there read everything you can train any chance you get but concider managing space as well.