BIG problem my boyfriend was bit in face by Chief

[Elaine]

I am going to say what no one else here seems to be willing to say. Not only is this not Todd's fault, it's yours. This dog didn't just out of the blue leap up and bite Todd. and when he did, I see you didn't mention that you let the dog know what he did was wrong, which just reinforced to the dog that he was right.

He is resouce guarding and you are his resource. You have said how you repeatedly let him get away with inappropriate aggression with your brother's friend and I will bet that Chief has been showing increasing aggression to your boyfriend that you either didn't recognize as aggression or you did and just didn't do anything about it. As you said, he's your dog and you think he's being protective and up to now you probably liked it and unknowingly encouraged it.

I agree with the others that you need to change a lot of things with this dog, but you need to change what you are doing even more.

[MustLoveGSDs]

I will be completely honest here. Elaine I was still pretty much asleep when this all happened. I did immediately make him get off the bed after the incident, I did not verbally correct him though as I was just taken completely off guard, dumbfounded, baffled, shellshocked, etc. By the time I took everything in it would have been too late to correct him. I followed Todd to the bathroom and stood there in silence next to him as he was bleeding in the sink. Chief walked up to him and lightly touched his nose to his hand where there was blood and had the look in his eyes like he knew he did something wrong. Todd left and Chief went into a corner and curled up. His crate is currently being occupied by our new foster dog who I can't leave to just run around freely and to his own devices just yet.

I haven't repeatedly let him get away with aggression to the friend. I stated that when I was not at the house, Chief and my brother's friend played and got along great. It was that one time I happened to be at the house with chief when the friend came over and Chief got protective over me. The next couple times I was over there with Chief when the friend showed up I had Chief crated to avoid that from happening again(and he would bark in the crate at the friend and I would correct him). I don't think it's cool, funny, or cute at all when a dog is protecting me from friends/family who are not threats. Chief has never shown any aggression towards Todd. In fact he loves to give him kisses and will roll over for him. Todd has fed him plenty of times and has worked OB with him. They have formed a good relationship but Chief is definitely my dog.

[rjvamp]

How is Todd doing? Is he back from the clinic?

[DianaM]

Also, something you need to be aware of- this may be reported to the Health Dept and Chief may now have an official bite record. Depending on your area, he might need to be registered as a "dangerous dog." I am that this is not the case, but be aware so you don't get thrown off guard if they lay this on you.

If you don't have enough crates for every dog, given this situation you really need to purchase another crate or maybe even bow out of fostering for now. We only see snippets of your life so no one can make a good recommendation but you might need to dedicate all your resources to your own dogs.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Quote:but I do not think he was guarding the bed

He wasn't guarding at all, as far as a 'protection' thing.

You or the bed.

RESOURCE guarding is different and I'd agree with that. He was telling your boyfriend it was his (the dog's) bed. He didn't want to move from HIS bed. And he certainly wasn't going to allow your boyfriend to be the boss of him and tell him what to do.

This was NOT protection behavior.

This was your dog NOT knowing his role and position in the house. This WAS the dog TELLING your boyfriend to knock it off and let him alone.

IF YOU want your dog to be in charge. And if you WANT your dog to be able to know it's HIS decision where he wants to be, when. Then you can continue to make excuses and blame your boyfriend.

I would read up on those sites I posted to look at aggressions.

The situation at SOMEONE else's home with someone else involved is DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you see being in someone else's home, in a completely different setup, the same as YOUR home and YOUR bed with YOUR boyfriend................then you are NOT going to be able to get a handle on this.

In both, your dog reacted all on his own with no leadership or guidance from YOU.

But your home situation is from your dog thinking they have the lead role in the house and can take charge. The trigger was your boyfriend having the GALL to think he could remove the dog from THE DOGS bed.

Quote:It was that one time I happened to be at the house with chief when the friend came over and Chief got protective over me.

That's not 'real' protection. The friend wasn't doing anything!!!!! And if YOU said it was ok, that should have (if your dog knew you were the leader) assured your dog and had him calm. The only similiarity being that AGAIN he didn't look to YOU for guidance or leadership but just reacted. But it would appear the trigger was from fear (or something else).

EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE. Walks and exercise are NOT just about fatigue. But about YOU being out and about with your dog and YOU are in a leadership role to guide him thru the walk. So he looks to YOU gets guidance from YOU and learns that you are in charge and he doesn't have to take charge and react if YOU are calm and in control.

Dog classes are the same! Our dogs learn to look to us, learn from us, not have sudden fear reactions cause they know that YOU are in charge and control and will take over. They learn to NOT bark, NOT charge, listen and learn and behave because they don't have to keep the scary away.

I don't think your dog is a disobedient and out of control dog. I do not think that GENERALLY he's blowing you off and taking the leadership role when he's uncertain or wants his own way.

What I do think is that he humors you and generally listens/obeys cause it's easier and why not?

But when the crap hits the fan (in his mind, not reality) you are like an annoying gnat in his ear. I've got it mom, stay behind and shut up cause I will bite/bark/take charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like I said before. Classes aren't about 'obedience' per say. I've raised/trained 4 dogs and they darn well know their commmands to before I start classes. But when I go to classes (and I always will and BTW have NO dogs that have bit anyone in my house ) they seem to go selectively deaf in a new situation with new dogs/people/places.

Suddenly my perfectly trained dogs lose their minds and don't listen to me at all. UNTIL they learn to in class, in the world, etc.

[Emoore]

Sounds to me like a fear issue rather than a dominance/protection issue. The fact that he curled up behind you doesn't sound like he was protecting your or trying to be dominant, sounds like he was hoping you'd protect him.

Definitely go see a behaviorist.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I was thinking about the fear thing too.

NILIF is a big relief to the dogs, but you have to really be the leader all the time. So that the dog looks to you, like said above, for everything before acting. Because they know you will handle it.

Kind of like a teacher. The good teachers have the classrooms where kids thrive, and IF something happens, if they get bopped on the head with a lunchbox, they don't hit the kid back that did it, they look at the teacher, and the teacher steps in. Whew, what a relief for those kids that they don't have a Lord of the Flies classroom.

That's what our dogs want. I dropped out of one obedience class with Bella because it was heading toward Rally. I am not good with left-right, line dance type things and instead of leading her, I was off kilter too, and it was freaking her the heck out!

So it takes a lot of thought of what you are communicating to your dog, and a dog who is afraid needs to be handled with confidence and assurance, and never be given the pressure of being in charge.

Check out the Yahoo shy k9 site. A dog can think they are in charge and still be fearful. Creates a mess!

All those things in the list I mentioned above, what MRL and others are saying, the more I think of it, the more important I think they are.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Quote:A dog can think they are in charge and still be fearful. Creates a mess!

[gsdlove212]

I have to agree with MaggieRoseLee on this one. Sounds to me like Chief thinks he is large and in charge. I think it is very important to bring him back to reality and that is going to mean some serious world shaking! The advice MRL gave you, IMO is sound. I also think that finding a good behaviorist will also help you with some "hands on" work, advice, and training.

[Brightelf]

Jean and MaggieRoseLee have given you ideal advice.

Deeeeep breaths! Yes, this is a serious issue. But, this is something that can be worked on.

Please listen to what folks are saying-- Chief was not protective of you in either situation. He was "large and in charge." Time to change his thinking and demote your dog!

Chief needs:

NILIF
Vet check
Behaviorist visit
Obedience classes
WAY more excersise-- even if he is a blob around the house
Zero furniture privilages
Zero praise, treats, eye contact, cuddles-- unless he WORKS for them.

Does that sound harsh? It does. Give him a chance to WORK for those things. Was the sit slow? No cookie/praise/petting for that, let him do it again, and better. Time to raise the bar for this dog. job well done.

You're not his resource to guard. You're going to be more his leader that he's had before-- and he will LOVE it. Not right away, he'll be surprised by the change. But, he can r-e-l-a-x under a calm, assertive, strong leader.

Yup, a CALM leader. This was a wake-up call, but that's okay. You have the resources and tools, both without and within yourself, to rise to become that calm, confident leader who guides him. You can do this for Chief!