please help!

danehdee · 11-25-2011, 10:18 PM

I recently posted a topic about my pup acting like he was 3 months again... but this is more serious and would like some advice.
My dog is 9 months now and very aggressive - food wise, and attacking me I feel for no reason at times.

We got him at four months from 4 college students who had gotten him from a breeder. He was underweight when we got him(7lbs) & had food aggression.

I have worked with 2 personal trainers for his food aggression and biting for no reason when petted - one trainer felt something was wrong with him mentally and suggested medication and a dog behaviorist because of his food. As for the biting she thought that maybe he didn't want to be petted and that's why he would growl and snap/bite.
The other trainer said - he could sense my fear with the food aggression but didn't understand why he would bite when being petted.
He still has food aggression - but we are still working on it.

MY dog has escalated to biting for absolutely no reason... he'll lye on the floor, and go on his back for a belly rub and then just bite me.
Or he will be lying on the floor and I'll go to grab his toy on the couch and he will attack me - as in I have bite marks on me. He has attacked me quite a few times and i'm at a loss.. I don't know what to do.

onyx'girl · 11-25-2011, 10:23 PM

Stuff his mouth with a ball or a tug and play with him. End it on your terms and put the toy away. YOU control the game. But let him win the toy all the time until you do take it away....he needs to learn he has confidence, but you are his leader and he defers to you(without a conflict) Are you practicing NILIF? or are in a training class?

danehdee · 11-25-2011, 10:25 PM

Yes always practicing NILF.

THe first trainer said he wasn't able to attend classes because of his aggression, ;S so I contact another trainer who helped me with his obedience

RocketDog · 11-25-2011, 10:27 PM

It's hard to say without seeing the behavior. Were the trainers familiar with GSD's? COuld it be that he never learned bite inhibition, or how to stop biting when playing? If he starts up when you go to grab his toy, it could just be that he wants to play because he sees you going for his toy. My pup still will mouth my arms and hands when I pet him some of the time, because he still wants to play that way. It's a gradual extinction. Did yours ever stop entirely? That's my first instinct about it.

I would definitely contact a GSD specific trainer and talk to some past clients for references.

danehdee · 11-25-2011, 10:29 PM

it's weird.. he'll just come up to me, say working on the computer and i'll pet him and he will growl/snap/bite me?!
The last trainer owned GSD and labs.
My pup is a lab/gsd mix

onyx'girl · 11-25-2011, 10:30 PM

When he randomly bites you, what do you do? What is your reaction? He obviously thinks he can get away with it, and the reason for his biting may be a key in why he is doing this.

RocketDog · 11-25-2011, 10:31 PM

Sounds like attention getting behavior. Or a pup who's not learned how to play without biting to start it.

I still would contact a good behaviorist who has experience with GSD's.

chelle · 11-25-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

When he randomly bites you, what do you do? What is your reaction? He obviously thinks he can get away with it, and the reason for his biting may be a key in why he is doing this.

I'm curious here, too. And when you say, "bite" -- what do you mean? You don't mean, break the skin sort of bite or ??? As in an aggressive, true bite? or a playful mouthing kind of thing?

danehdee · 11-26-2011, 10:50 AM

It's not puppy biting/nipping - its more aggressive - attacking. Bruised or broken skin
He'll just growl bare teeth and bite me - I yell in shock because it usually happens out of no where. Some what unpredictable.

To correct I will yell noo bad dog! And he will lye on the floor and bare his teeth at me. I will tell him time out! He usually won't go in the crate for a time out without a treat being thrown in - so I can't do that or it is rewarding bad behavior.

cta · 11-26-2011, 10:54 AM

i would maybe bring him to the vet for a check up to make sure there aren't any medical problems causing this behavior. i do know that thyroid abnormalities can cause randomly aggressive behavior. just a thought.

11-25-2011, 10:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
danehdee Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 63	please help! I recently posted a topic about my pup acting like he was 3 months again... but this is more serious and would like some advice. My dog is 9 months now and very aggressive - food wise, and attacking me I feel for no reason at times. We got him at four months from 4 college students who had gotten him from a breeder. He was underweight when we got him(7lbs) & had food aggression. I have worked with 2 personal trainers for his food aggression and biting for no reason when petted - one trainer felt something was wrong with him mentally and suggested medication and a dog behaviorist because of his food. As for the biting she thought that maybe he didn't want to be petted and that's why he would growl and snap/bite. The other trainer said - he could sense my fear with the food aggression but didn't understand why he would bite when being petted. He still has food aggression - but we are still working on it. MY dog has escalated to biting for absolutely no reason... he'll lye on the floor, and go on his back for a belly rub and then just bite me. Or he will be lying on the floor and I'll go to grab his toy on the couch and he will attack me - as in I have bite marks on me. He has attacked me quite a few times and i'm at a loss.. I don't know what to do.

11-25-2011, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Stuff his mouth with a ball or a tug and play with him. End it on your terms and put the toy away. YOU control the game. But let him win the toy all the time until you do take it away....he needs to learn he has confidence, but you are his leader and he defers to you(without a conflict) Are you practicing NILIF? or are in a training class? __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

11-25-2011, 10:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
danehdee Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 63	it's weird.. he'll just come up to me, say working on the computer and i'll pet him and he will growl/snap/bite me?! The last trainer owned GSD and labs. My pup is a lab/gsd mix Last edited by danehdee; 11-25-2011 at 10:32 PM.

11-25-2011, 10:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	When he randomly bites you, what do you do? What is your reaction? He obviously thinks he can get away with it, and the reason for his biting may be a key in why he is doing this. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

11-26-2011, 10:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
danehdee Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 63	It's not puppy biting/nipping - its more aggressive - attacking. Bruised or broken skin He'll just growl bare teeth and bite me - I yell in shock because it usually happens out of no where. Some what unpredictable. To correct I will yell noo bad dog! And he will lye on the floor and bare his teeth at me. I will tell him time out! He usually won't go in the crate for a time out without a treat being thrown in - so I can't do that or it is rewarding bad behavior. Last edited by danehdee; 11-26-2011 at 10:52 AM.

11-25-2011, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
danehdee Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 63	Yes always practicing NILF. THe first trainer said he wasn't able to attend classes because of his aggression, ;S so I contact another trainer who helped me with his obedience

11-25-2011, 10:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,270	It's hard to say without seeing the behavior. Were the trainers familiar with GSD's? COuld it be that he never learned bite inhibition, or how to stop biting when playing? If he starts up when you go to grab his toy, it could just be that he wants to play because he sees you going for his toy. My pup still will mouth my arms and hands when I pet him some of the time, because he still wants to play that way. It's a gradual extinction. Did yours ever stop entirely? That's my first instinct about it. I would definitely contact a GSD specific trainer and talk to some past clients for references.

11-25-2011, 10:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,270	Sounds like attention getting behavior. Or a pup who's not learned how to play without biting to start it. I still would contact a good behaviorist who has experience with GSD's.

11-26-2011, 10:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
cta Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 637	i would maybe bring him to the vet for a check up to make sure there aren't any medical problems causing this behavior. i do know that thyroid abnormalities can cause randomly aggressive behavior. just a thought. __________________ Chobahn 3/26/10 "If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." -Woodrow Wilson

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement