Confused re dog suddenly bitting for no obvious reason

J

Jake10

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 March 2010
Messages
1,293
Location
UK
Visit site
Mums dog (Fox terrier - if knowing the breed helps :confused: ) can be a bit snappy/growly but has never done anything else before this morning. This morning mum stroked her - dog was no where near her food bowl, her bed nor did she have anything near her that she could guard (all three of those are the only times where she snaps/growls) - The dog bit her not just once but three or four quick, hard bites enough to draw blood :eek::(

The dog has spent most of the day in the crate since mum, quite rightly, didn't want to risk her doing the same to my baby cousin when she came round later on or anyone else. She's absolutely fine now and you can stroke every part of her without any issues so since the usual 'triggers' weren't present and it doesn't seem to be pain related we're at a loss as to what caused her to do it or if she'll do it again :confused:

It's looking like she will be spending Xmas in the outbuilding (it's heated and has a sofa so not too bad) since we will be having relatives staying and we can't work out why it happened or if she will do it again. :(
 
You've no idea if it's pain related unless she gets a throrough check over from the vet.
What age is she?

dog was no where near her food bowl, her bed nor did she have anything near her that she could guard (all three of those are the only times where she snaps/growls)

If she's been 'allowed' to behave this way, then there was every likelyhood it could escalate. 'The only time she snaps or growls - so she resource guards everything she sees as hers, that is NOT on. 'Someone approaches my thing, I display aggression, they go away again'. That's what she has learned.
 
Same as above, sounds like you and your mum are making excuses for her behaviour and the dog is making decisions not you. What did your mum do when the dog bit her ? I can't understand how that could happen 3 or 4 times ?
 
Biting multiple times (it can happen really quick, collies especially are notorious for it), is usually a protection/defence bite - get away from me/my stuff. As seen on 'THAT' Cesar video!
 
She's 5

Anything that she guards is taken off her and she's told off - Though I admit it's very inconsistent since the only people who bother (me and mum) are at work most of the time. All things that she guards she takes to her crate. Food is guarded including stuff raided from the bin and dead/semi dead mice. Toys are not guarded

She sits and waits for her food to be put down and you can usually pick the bowl back up again with out problem - Just the odd occasion where she'll have a snap, we've been putting that down to her not being able to see clearly as it happens when she is due to be clipped and her eye and face fluff have started to cover her eyes :o
 
Jake10 said:
She's 5

Anything that she guards is taken off her and she's told off

She sits and waits for her food to be put down and you can usually pick the bowl back up again with out problem - Just the odd occasion where she'll have a snap
Click to expand...

So, you randomly take her food off her, she never knows when and where you might strike, you take all her stuff off her, and when she complains that it's unfair, you tell her off, so you have reinforced her need to guard. That's how she will be seeing it.
 
bonny said:
Stop making excuses for her ....and I would be interested to know what your mum did when she was bitten ?
Click to expand...

She put her in the crate - No raised voices no hitting (we don't smack our dogs if that is what you're implying?). Just 'Go to your bed' and she did

Other dog completely ignored the entire thing...
 
Last edited:
CaveCanem said:
So, you randomly take her food off her, she never knows when and where you might strike, you take all her stuff off her, and when she complains that it's unfair, you tell her off, so you have reinforced her need to guard. That's how she will be seeing it.
Click to expand...

The food bowl is usually taken up to add something else to it and is returned as soon as it's added - but yeah I can see that that might confuse her

She's usually offered a game with a toy to distract her from the guarded item so that it can be removed. Would that still reinforce her need to guard?
 
Jake10 said:
She put her in the crate - No raised voices no hitting (we don't smack our dogs if that is what you're implying?). Just 'Go to your bed' and she did
Click to expand...

I think as long as you are making excuses for her and there are no penalties for biting then the chances are she will carry on with it.
 
bonny said:
I think as long as you are making excuses for her and there are no penalties for biting then the chances are she will carry on with it.
Click to expand...

So what would you consider an appropriate penalty for biting?

I've never had a dog that bites or has shown any inclination to mouth anything other than a toy
 
Why would you remove a bowl with something in it, to add something more, couldn't you just drop it in or wait until she is finished then drop it in? She doesn't *know* that something else might be coming, she just sees the bowl leaving her.

She probably knows rightly you are only distracting her with the game - I would try swapping the guarded item with a handful of food etc rather than trying to lure her away from the item and she never get anything at the end of the game.

You've already said things are "very inconsistent" - dogs don't like very inconsistent.
 
Jake10 said:
So what would you consider an appropriate penalty for biting?

I've never had a dog that bites or has shown any inclination to mouth anything other than a toy
Click to expand...

Maybe read your own quote on your signature and answer your own question ....what would another dog have done ?
 
So - Stop occasionally picking up the bowl (when we took her to puppy classes the trainer said that picking up the bowl every now and then would prevent guarding)

Offer treats instead of a game when guarding

Have a sit down with the rest of the family to try and make everything more consistent

Anything else we can do to try and correct it before anything else can happen?
 
Jake10 said:
So - Stop occasionally picking up the bowl (when we took her to puppy classes the trainer said that picking up the bowl every now and then would prevent guarding)

Offer treats instead of a game when guarding

Have a sit down with the rest of the family to try and make everything more consistent

Anything else we can do to try and correct it before anything else can happen?
Click to expand...

I can't advise for definite because I can't see the dog and I can't see you or your Mum, these are all just ideas!

Picking up the bowl every now and then only works for some dogs and some types of dogs.
Some dogs, you just shouldn't mess with when they are eating, it can even be genetic. Put the food down or the bowl and put food into it, walk away, come back for the bowl.

Even putting her into her crate to eat so she can have some peace and quiet might be another option.

If you are physically coming over the top of her, a lot of dogs can feel that as pressure.

There is another post about food aggression posted today that you might want to look at.

Think about her breed and what she was designed to do - to hunt and go to ground for a foe - they are game little dogs who don't back down easily. You turn it into a fight, she might fight back harder. Some people see 'swapsies' as bribery, but it works better for some dogs than giving them a wallop or shouting.

Yes, everyone MUST be consistent.

You might benefit from getting a trainer in to observe what everyone is doing and to see her triggers and motivation.
 
Also, limit her ability to access things that need to be guarded. Get a bin she can't access or put it somewhere she can't get to it. My dog loves to chew - he's crated at night, is supervised in the house and anything else chewable is kept at a great height. Bedroom doors are closed. If you put your mind to it, you can stop this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top