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how to stop a dog from biting

  • 06-03-2013 1:44pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,028 ✭✭✭


    Hey all,

    New to this forum but would appreciate some advice on this. Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed) is 3 years old. He is mostly a good natured little dog but from the day we got him we have had issues with him biting. He does it when he gets excited but also if he is aggravated, I.e. if we scold him over a misdimeanor. He has bitten me twice, and most recently our neighbour. We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    We love him dearly and it would break our heart to have give him away but its causing us (particularly my dad) a lot of stress worrying about it. Does anybody have any recommendations as to what we can do? Can a dog be trained to stop biting or is it a waste of time and money


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Comments

  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,687 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    Where are you based?

    I'd strongly advise getting a good behaviourist to work with you and your dog, no advice over the internet is going to solve your issue.


  • Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭phelo2121


    orla Doherty is top behaviorist in country you would have to travel to cork or Dublin got consultation which costs 180 and she will put a plan in place for ye and phone yeah few weeks later to alter plans if needs be altered


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    get it put down before it does serious damage to somebody.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    When you say bite, is it a nip, or a full on bite? Does he break the skin, is he snarling, growling etc?


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    get it put down before it does serious damage to somebody.

    I think this post is a super example of why you'll not be advised to take advice via an internet forum. You'll get unqualified, unecessarily extreme advice from people who have no idea of what's actually going on.
    You need to get a behaviourist in, but you need one that will come to your home, not one you have to travel to. Your dog is far less likely to demonstrate certain problem behaviours when they're off their own patch, and your problem is one of these.
    Nobody here can give you specific advice on what to do, because you need to get the problem fully described and properly diagnosed by a qualified behaviourist.
    Where in the country are you, hopefully someone here will know a suitable behaviourist near you, who will visit you at home, not in a clinic setting.


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  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,687 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    DBB wrote: »
    You need to get a behaviourist in, but you need one that will come to your home, not one you have to travel to. Your dog is far less likely to demonstrate certain problem behaviours when they're off their own patch, and your problem
    Where in the country are you, hopefully someone here will know a suitable behaviourist near you, who will visit you at home, not in a clinic setting.

    Was just about to post something exactly like this, agree 100%


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed)

    Dont say you were not warned.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed)

    Dont say you were not warned.

    What?


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,736 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    It's very hard to advise on something like this over the internet. It may be an issue with aggression, it may be just nipping through overexcited. Let us know where you are and I'm sure that someone will be able to recommend a trainer in your area.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed)

    Dont say you were not warned.

    What is your point??


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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    andreac wrote: »
    What is your point??

    Isn't it saddening to think of some of the people who own, and claim to care for, dogs :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭ford2600


    Put down a beautiful chocolate lab 6 years ago after he bit neighbour.
    I still get upset when I think of holding him still for vet to inject him.
    That night I wondered did I make right decision. The following morning a father and his twins 8 yr old walked past stretch of road where incident happened.
    Dog would have destroyed those girls if he had bitten either of them
    Never thought I made the wrong decision after that.
    Speak to your vet/behaviour specialist about right call.
    My vet made up my mind over a ten minute phone call.
    Best of luck

    Daisy78 wrote: »
    Hey all,

    New to this forum but would appreciate some advice on this. Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed) is 3 years old. He is mostly a good natured little dog but from the day we got him we have had issues with him biting. He does it when he gets excited but also if he is aggravated, I.e. if we scold him over a misdimeanor. He has bitten me twice, and most recently our neighbour. We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    We love him dearly and it would break our heart to have give him away but its causing us (particularly my dad) a lot of stress worrying about it. Does anybody have any recommendations as to what we can do? Can a dog be trained to stop biting or is it a waste of time and money


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    when something worse happens that will be the headline and will be even worse in the fact that it has bitten before and not put down. imagine if the dog is to bite a kid for the safety of others pleas put down this dog.the dog is a family member i get that but how will you fee when it attack's a child. because more then likely it will at some stage.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    You cant just say put the dog down not knowing the full circumstances. You need to find out why the dog is biting and then make a decision on what to do based on all the facts and get expert advice.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    Galway K9 wrote: »
    LOL that must be a troll. wheres the pop corn (popcorn)

    no not a troll :D


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    when something worse happens that will be the headline and will be even worse in the fact that it has bitten before and not put down.

    Hardly. It's a rather panic-mongery approach to just put to sleep any and every dog once it bites.
    There are a lot of factors which need to be taken into account here, none of which you, me, or anyone else knows just yet. However, instead of getting random, inexpert advice such as yours on an internet forum, the OP should speak to a behaviourist, who is trained to analyse the seriousness of each incident thus far, and thus give an accurate prognosis and treatment plan. It is not necessary to just tar every bite with the one brush and kill every dog based on one internet post: there is expert help out there for people in OP's position.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    . i gave my opinion you gave yours that's cool its up to op to call the shots now i guess:)


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,736 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    when something worse happens that will be the headline and will be even worse in the fact that it has bitten before and not put down. imagine if the dog is to bite the kid for the safety of others pleas put down this dog.

    We don't even know what kind of biting this is, whether it's aggressive biting or a nip because the dog is overexcited, or playful mouthing.

    One of my dogs bit my niece because she was annoying the dog, to whom she was a stranger, by trying to drag her out of her bed. I wouldn't hear of having her put down as I firmly believe that the bite was her parents' fault for allowing her to disobey my instructions, and my fault for trusting her parents to pay attention to me. The dog has never bitten anyone else because I now know what she needs from me to keep her from getting too stressed around strange people.

    Biting behaviour that is not down to sheer aggression is usually solveable by training and management.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    That does not sound like playful biteing op cant even have mates around not due to fear of the dog biting a kid.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    . i gave my opinion you gave yours that's cool its up to op to call the shots now i guess:)

    I'm sorry, but this business of saying "I gave my opinion, you gave yours" is bull when it comes to serious issues like this. Sometimes, if you're not an expert, or qualified in a certain field when there's a serious issue, you kinda need to keep your gob shut.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    i suppose the same could be said to you?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,208 ✭✭✭fatmammycat


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    That does not sound like playful biteing op cant even have mates around not due to fear of the dog biting a kid.

    Lots of dogs don't appreciate children being around. My old dog actively disliked children. Guess what, I didn't have to put him down over it. As DBB said, none of us know why the dog is biting, that's why it makes sense to speak to a behaviourist.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    i suppose the same could be said to you?

    Nope. "fraid not. Like I say, sometimes you need to keep your gob shut until you're sure of your facts.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    well as i said our opinions will differ:) but i await an op update;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,208 ✭✭✭fatmammycat


    Daisy78 wrote: »
    Hey all,

    New to this forum but would appreciate some advice on this. Our family dog (a terrier of mixed breed) is 3 years old. He is mostly a good natured little dog but from the day we got him we have had issues with him biting. He does it when he gets excited but also if he is aggravated, I.e. if we scold him over a misdimeanor. He has bitten me twice, and most recently our neighbour. We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    We love him dearly and it would break our heart to have give him away but its causing us (particularly my dad) a lot of stress worrying about it. Does anybody have any recommendations as to what we can do? Can a dog be trained to stop biting or is it a waste of time and money

    OP, my old dog was a poorly socialised (none) rescue doberman who was prone to fear aggression. His natural instinct when pushed into an uncomfortable position was to bite. But with patience, careful training and me learning to read all the signs that he was becoming stressed he went from an unpredictable biter to much more relaxed non biting animal and I was so glad I put the time and effort into him.
    There are probably reasons your dog is behaving as he does, and maybe you're too close to the situation to see them, where as a person observing from the outside might spot triggers immediately. Ignore the scaremongering, get professional help and decide what the next move is from there. Best of luck.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    well as i said our opinions will differ:)

    I never thought I'd say this, but you're damn right there!
    Like I said, if you're giving behavioural advice to someone as an unqualified, inexpert internet poster (as clearly you are, in light of the the advice you've given), and dabbling in a field you know nowt about, then your opinion needs to be taken as just that: an inexpert, off the cuff opinion based on... not very much really.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,085 ✭✭✭meoklmrk91


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    get it put down before it does serious damage to somebody.
    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    when something worse happens that will be the headline and will be even worse in the fact that it has bitten before and not put down. imagine if the dog is to bite a kid for the safety of others pleas put down this dog.the dog is a family member i get that but how will you fee when it attack's a child. because more then likely it will at some stage.

    And what is it that qualifies you to say something like this? How do you know that it more than likely will at some stage. I worked as a groomer, if every dog that tried to bite me was put down I would say that half of those I groomed would be pts. They were scared and they reacted with the only thing they can use to protect themselves. All of these dogs were perfect once we had finished and they were no longer frightened. To say that any dog that bites is dangerous is a scaremongering tactic and a complete over reaction.

    Also what was your comment about the terrier mix supposed to mean?


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    JustRoss23 wrote: »
    We have had to stop friends calling to the house with their young kids because of this.

    That does not sound like playful biteing op cant even have mates around not due to fear of the dog biting a kid.

    You're right there JustRoss, it doesn't sound like playful biting if it's worrying the OP enough to not have friends over. However, it also sounds like the OP has not done much to fix this problem. It can be a difficult thing to deal with, a qualified behaviourist will be able to help.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,391 ✭✭✭Justask


    Have you spoke to your vet about this? It would be my first port of call to rule out any pain or underlying conditions.
    Best of luck


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭JustRoss23


    meoklmrk91 wrote: »
    And what is it that qualifies you to say something like this? How do you know that it more than likely will at some stage. I worked as a groomer, if every dog that tried to bite me was put down I would say that half of those I groomed would be pts. They were scared and they reacted with the only thing they can use to protect themselves. All of these dogs were perfect once we had finished and they were no longer frightened. To say that any dog that bites is dangerous is a scaremongering tactic and a complete over reaction.

    Also what was your comment about the terrier mix supposed to mean?

    Beacuse op has said she is afraid to invite her mates around who have kids so if the dog behaves itself op might think everything is ok then some day the kids will be around and that's when trouble will happen. op you have two choices put it down or get serious help but please do is soon:)


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