Hi! So we have got a 9 month old teenager who has been with us since he was 2 months old. About a month and a half ago he started jumping on us and biting our hands, leaving bruises and teeth marks (sometimes bloody as well). He was a mouthy puppy but as well but it stopped completely somewhere in between puppyhood and puberty. These outburst start without any warning. Today we were playing fetch in the yard and all of a sudden he just jumped on my back and started chewing my arms. It was rather painful. Since I've already read a lot about it, I tried to remain calm and calm him down as well by grabbing his collar as gently as I could to prevent further jumping and asking him to sit. In these situations he gets really frustrated when I grab his collar even though he's fine with it other times. He seemed to calm down but as soon as I stood up and tried to move away from him, he just started jumping and biting again. We were at it for good 15 minutes before we could head inside. I didn't have any treats with me at the moment nor a leash. I've also tried turning my back and giving him no attention and that doesn't work, because he just keeps jumping and biting. Another situation is when I try to have a conversation with my mum and don't pet him at the same time. So I've tried sitting on the floor with him and petting him and then it's fine. He does this to my mum too. For example when she goes to the kitchen in the morning to make some coffee or when she's outside doing some gardening. Completely out of nowhere he just lunges and bites. The absolute worst cases happen on the beach. We usually go to a safe distance from others and then let him off the leash. It's all fun and games to a certain time and then he gets super violent. Last time he had those crazy eyes, didn't listen to any commands, got more and more worked up when I tried to grab his harness. My only option was to basically sit on top of him and just hold him still with all the force I got until he calmed down a bit. I didn't handle that situation the best, because I was really upset and fearful and at some point definitely yelled at him. But at that point I was already left with bloody teeth marks. The walk home after the incident, he didn't pay any attention to me and got super worked up by people and dogs passing us. It was like he didn't know any commands. When I think back to that situation at the beach, I did notice at some point that he was tired and didn't want to play anymore but I kinda insisted we kept going. Also our trainer advised us not to play any games where I would be running away from him, which in my mind were fun to him. When I talked about it with my mum, she said that she doesn't play these running games with him. Just a bit of fetch and she's experienced these aggressive outburst too. So I don't really know whats so triggering for him. Maybe he does get so tired but like worked up at the same time? We actually haven't been to the beach since that day. I am planning to take him there and stay there less time and try to avoid those games that could get him worked up, but I am scared that it will happen again and have just opted to avoid the beach. Luckily he's not doing that to strangers. He still wants to jump at some people but it's never like that. He just wants to say hi and lick their faces. And he's a really smart and energetic boy. We've been going to a trainer since he was 3 months old and he is perfect there. We've also been advised to give him more menatal work, which we have. We use all kinds of interactive toys and throw kibble outside in the grass for him to find. He also goes to a training session once a week and we practice commands every day at home. He gets to go on longer walks twice a day, where he gets to spend some time off the leash and we have a big yard for him to play in. And with all that the jumping and biting continues. It's our first time having a bigger dog and it definitely feels like we are doing something wrong with him. But we have already tried so many techniques and tricks and nothing seems to work. It's really frustrating since we love him tons and just want him to be a happy boy.
I forgot to mention that he lives with my mum. I go to see him almost every day and do most of the training. I'm also the one that has been going to school with him since the beginning. He definitely listens to me more. But maybe that has got something to do with the outburst as well. That he's not sure who the "boss" is. I've actually considered doing less with him and decreasing my visiting time, so that he could take my mom more as the primary leader, but I really do enjoy spending time with him and going to school etc. Taking him at my home permanently is not and option due to my work schedule. He would still have to spend a lot of time at my mothers house. I have reached out to a behavioural specialist, but haven't gotten a replay from her yet. We don't have a lot of them in my country
Just today for example she has “attacked” me while out on a morning walk - launching herself at me and trying to bite my arms. Took a minute of holding her back and making her sit before we could continue on. Then right after she gets up from her nap she was jumping at me and nipping with her teeth. Sadly I cannot just leave the room as she has figured out how to open the baby gates or she will if she’s wound up enough just push them hard enough to knock it off the wall. I usually have to grab her and put her in her crate. Then I leave the room. Then this afternoon I decided to try to take her to the school behind my house on a 20 ft long lead for some playtime. When we got to the parking lot at the school as soon as I clipped her to the long lead she freaked out and started biting on it then launched herself on me. She grabbed my wrist in her mouth and was squeezing hard enough it hurt me but luckily didn’t break the skin. We never made it out of the school parking lot as she was too riled up and I was very upset and still am. I think I may have to give her up. I’m scared of this behavior. It’s been happening every day Nox Vidmate VLC and I completely lost it today.
