Aggressive dog! Bitten twice! What now???

Discussion in 'Labrador Behavior' started by Lou Cooper, Jan 24, 2019.

  1. Lou Cooper

    Lou Cooper Registered Users

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    Please don't judge us or jump on this post to criticise us!
    We've had dogs all our lives, never had problems with any of them, till this one!
    2 year old yellow lab, had her since she was a pup.
    Was such a good pup for the first year we had her, she trained well, house trained well, was just a usual happy pup
    fast forward to now - had her 2nd season last Feb, spayed in June, phantom pregnancy straight after.
    She has bitten twice, once a passer by, other was family member.
    She is now aggressive with strangers, other dogs, can't go to vets without a muzzle, was a caution dog at the vets and wouldn't let anyone near her
    cannot let her near the kids as we don't trust her, can't walk her as she goes for anything and anyone
    Yesterday she flew out her bed straight at me, growling and barking!

    What would you do??? My partner is leaning towards euthanasia. The trust has gone with her. We literally can't have anyone come round to our house as we know what would happen.

    We're at the end of our tether, he's behaviour is getting worse over time, nearly all my clothes have holes in from her jumping at me and nipping at my clothes.

    Like I said at the beginning, please don't jump on me, I'm only asking for advice, not abuse.
     
  2. Michael A Brooks

    Michael A Brooks Registered Users

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    Hi @Lou Cooper

    No thought of criticising you. Sorry to hear about your issue.

    I take it that the vet has cleared your dog of any physiological causes of her change in behaviour.

    I would get a positive reinforcement dog hehaviourist to come to your place to evaluate your dog, and suggest a remedial programme.

    Where are you located?
     
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  3. Jade

    Jade Registered Users

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    I'm so sorry you're going through this. I know how you feel. Years ago I bought a pup from a pet store. It was fine at first. By the time the dog was two years old it was so aggressive. Attacked me many times. Vet's had no answer. A visit to an Animal Neurological Clinic revealed a brain disorder. No amount of training would have worked. I made the decision to euthanize. My dog had no quality of life .
    I'm not referring that this is your situation at all but maybe having some tests done couldn't hurt.
    I hope you can find some answers.
     
  4. Edp

    Edp Registered Users

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    Hello, how distressing for you all. What does the vet say ? Sounds like she could have something medical going on to change her behaviour so severely. I would hope your vet would rule everything out before euthanasia?
     
  5. AlphaDog

    AlphaDog Registered Users

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    You have what would be labeled in my community a dangerous dog. Did the bitten passerby notify the local authorities? If not, you're fortunate. Bite me and you will need an attorney not a dog shrink. Here's the law in my neck of the woods:

    "the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property," and the statute allows for double damages if the owner of the dog "was notified or knew that the dog previously injured or caused injury to a person, domestic animal or property."

    It's bitten twice and the behavior is getting worse. Put it down.
     
  6. judy Long

    judy Long Registered Users

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    I have been in your situation, twice now with 2 of the 6 Labs we have owned.
    First time was 35 years ago with our first she had very similar problems to what your describing. She was neutered, then not long after suffered 2 phantom pregnancies. Her personality completely changed, the Vet put it down to the General Anaesthetic from when she was Neutered and her brains craving to have puppies causing a neurological inbalance.
    We were advised the kindest, safest thing for her was to have her PTS.
    The last time was with our 4th, last October. He had a massive seizure, on coming round he didn’t know who I was. He viciously attacked me numerous times, causing injuries that needed emergency surgery, that were tge worst the hospital had ever seen from a dog attack, Im extremely lucky to even be here still.
    I had to make the sad decision there and then what should happen. He had a tumour putting pressure onhis brain.
    The Vet advised me afterwards, for a dogs personaluty/behaviour to change to that extent it is 95% of time caused, as in my boys case, by something effecting their brain that in very few cases can be cured 100% successfully. Even if it could, you would never be able to trust them again and would always have to be on your guard more so than you normally would with any animal.
    I don’t envy the decision you need to consider.
    I would suggest talking to your Vet, see what they recommend. Wether they think a MRI is need to check for any neurological damage or if a behaviour specialist would be your best option.
    Good luck
     
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  7. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

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    Neutering female dogs which are already slightly nervous or fearful (even SLIGHTLY!) is not recommended - since it can make these tendencies much worse.

    Sadly - again - vets don't know this, don't caution owners about it, and will neuter anything and everything.

    I do think that getting an excellent behaviourist in to do an assessment and let you know what they think about it, will give you more information for making a decision. As someone else has asked above - where are you based? This will help with suggesting behaviourists...

    How are things going now? You posted on Thursday, but we haven't heard back yet...
     
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  8. Gary Wayne Trant

    Gary Wayne Trant Registered Users

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    sad to hear coming from a Lab. Could maybe someone in the house or neighbor be messing with your dog?
     
  9. WillowA

    WillowA Registered Users

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    Don't give up I saw a tv program the other day UK called dogs behaving badly there was a dog like yours on there.
    A dog behaviourist goes round people's houses sorting problems out.
     
  10. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

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    That TV show is really not a good show to be watching or to emulate or promote. It uses aversive methods and as a result every reputable training organisation in the UK has clubbed together to write a letter to the producers to try to get it stopped: https://www.facebook.com/APDTUK/posts/2420475344647135
     
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  11. zrinka

    zrinka Registered Users

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    Could you post or pm me some studies on neurtering and fear?
     
  12. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

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  13. WillowA

    WillowA Registered Users

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    I posted just to show the op there are dog behaviourist who come out to help people with dog issues that they can't cope with at home not try to copy what you see on TV as every case is handled individually.
     
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