Second time...need advice so badly...
We have 3 small children, ages 5, 2, and 1. He has always been very tolerant with them and just the right amount of playful. He's a wonderful companion to them. HOWEVER, last week he BIT our daughter on the hand. It was very tramatic for us and my husband and I did a lot of discussing about the possibility of it happening again. We went for giving him a second chance based on the fact that he has never displayed any aggressive behavior and the fact that he was eating. Although he has never been protective of his food, I began feeding him in the kitchen when the kids were not to ensure it doesn't happen again. So, today, he went for our daughter again while he was knawing away on a bone in hte living room. She WAS NOT in his space (this time I saw it all) but she was just walking by. Thankfully he just nipped her (no blood drawn) but was that the last straw? Obviously our kids are most important to us but we really love Telly and his place in our family. What can we do? Is this going to continue because the thought of him with another family is heartbreaking to me. Any advice?  |
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| I'm sorry to hear about your problem, I know how traumatic it can be to deal with aggression!
It sounds to me like you know what triggered both bites: food! Telly is showing clear signs of food aggression and resource guarding, your daughter doesn't have to come up and put her hand near his mouth for him to feel threatened. I think because these were provoked (not meaning your daughter was asking to get bit, but that you know the REASON why she was bit!) that you do have options that would leave everyone happy. Immediate/temporary solution: Do not give Telly any food, treats, rawhides, or toys he is protective of when he is near anyone! Feed him in a crate, give him a bone in a crate and that is it. Pick up everything once he is done. If you do not have a crate I recommend going to get one or getting a gate so you can gate him off in an area. Permanent solution: Get a positive reinforcement trainer and start working with Telly on his food aggression. Walter used to be so terrible about his food that if you went near his bowl he would charge you... now I can pet him while he eats and all I get is a little growl (we're still working). I hand fed him for a long time so he knew the food came from me, and he still has to work for every ounce of food/bone/treat that he gets (sit, stay, down, stay) I hope you can work things out in your home, Telly sounds like a sweetie |
| I'm sorry to hear Telly bit your little girl but as Heather said you knew what triggered him. How old is your daughter? Do you know what exactly she did when she got bit the first time? Is she the only one he growls/bites/snaps at?
Dogs learn by association and if she did something bad - even if she didn't mean it - Telly could associate his food, with her let's say kicking him. Do you know what I mean? I.e. He was eating his dinner, when she walked pass him and she slipped on the floor. She lost her balance and fell on him, hit him, grabbed his hair, etc. This would scare him and he would react with a bite, which makes her cry, you come over worried, etc. you know the end of it. So this whole thing could have "taught" him to be a little worried when she is around. If he hasn't shown any signs of aggression before, this is the only thing I could think of. I would do more obedience with him while she is there and if she is old enough (5 year old ) she can get involved too. She can give him a Kong filled with treats. Ask your daughter to tell Telly to sit and when he does she can give him the Kong. He needs to learn that SHE - your daughter - provides food. This can work if your daughter and of course you feel comfortable doing it. If not, I would recommend you getting a dog trainer in your area, who would come to your house and work on the issues there. You can find dog trainers in your area on these websites. Association of Pet Dog Trainers Animal Behavior College Hopefully everything is going to turn out fine. I wouldn't wait longer. You caught his 'aggression' early enough to change it.  |
| I would not have children around a dog who guards his food at all. Once a dog is happy with children around his food, that is, AFTER the dog has been rehabilitated, a child can MAYBE get involved with the food/dog combo...But not for the initial training at all.
Imagine if the child is working the dog for a treat, and a piece fell on the ground. All of a sudden we are back to someone around his food, and the food guarding will kick in, the child gets bit.. This is definitely a resouce-guarding behavior. Until the dog's whole demeanor is changed, and he wants people around him while he is eating, it is not safe. This is serious. Many dogs will not pass a temperment test if they show any sign of this in a shelter. They are considered not adoptable to the general public and euthanised. If a rescue group takes in a dog with this problem, they work on it until the dog no longer reacts. It must be done in a positive fashion, and very gradual in order to be successful. If a dog is forced to be subdued, it is not at all predictable, because the dog will not feel happy about it at all...and the behavior is not fixed...but only supressed..so can surface again. Here is a really good website with lots of good information on how to manage, and correct his. http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/artic ... -guarding/ Note the reference to the book by Jean Donaldson "Mine". She is the same author of "The Culture Clash", a revolutionary view of canine behavior, in laymens terms. A must read for all dog owners in my opinion. |
| He is neutered?
For now remove everything that may cause Telly to show possessive behavior... no more chews or bones... period. Strictly supervise when Telly and the kids are together. As Kata recommended, bring in a professional. Telly's crossed a line and gone for the bite. Please pick up the phone tomorrow morning and schedule an in-home appointment with a professional dog trainer that trains in a humane way and has experience with aggressive dogs. You might ask your vet for recommendations. I know you don't want Telly to have to be rehomed. Maybe a trainer can help you identify and work through the problem. If Telly simply won't tolerate small children, maybe an OES rescue is an option that might allow him to live. If a bite is ever serious, the choices on what you can do will be taken away. I can't stress enough how important it is that you act now to see if this behavior can be changed... especially with 3 little children in the family. Best wishes to all of you... I hope you can find a solution. |
| Sorry, Jaci. I just want to make a couple comments here.
A dog that only guards his food is not an aggressive dog. It is very normal behavior. My own Bosley is a resource guarder. 
And he may very well be extremely tolerant of children....just not around food. If food, toys, bones, whatever is the trigger, than that is the problem...not the kids.... Just wanted to clarify that.. But either way, with young kids in the household, I would not take a chance. While he is in re-hab and training, any of the neighbors kids can come over to play, not know the rules and bam....big problem...
I do rescue, and would not keep a resource-guarding dog in a home with children unless the adults are very serious about working with a behaviorist to get this under control. The dog may also bite an adult, but adults can read the signals easier, and are much more aware. Kids are kids, and adults need to make sure that they are safe at all times. |
| Firstly I have to ask is he neutered? If not then time to get it done to take the edge off him.
He has also entered the teenage phase which is more challenging then the pup stage. You really do need to work with a professional now for everyones sake in the family and the saftey of the children. |
No... I'm sorry  You're right Nicole... I used the wrong word... guarding issues, not aggression.
I am NOT a professional trainer and I only assist in rescue on the fringe. If a child has been bitten, it's time to get a professional in so they can properly evaluate the dog and home situation so everyone can get on the right track. Being around a high number of dogs on a daily basis, it's easier to understand the causes and visual cues that preceed a confrontation. People with one dog may not understand the signals the dog often gives so they may not be able to handle this on their own. I guess this is why I often recommend a professional trainer that uses a humane approach. The second challenge the dog made was when the child was walking past... did the dog still perceive a challenge or is the dog becoming more insistant or bold? They do push the limits sometimes and he's just a youngster so he may be learning what works. Simply removing all bones, chews, toys that trigger the negative behavior may be enough to stop part of the problem. Nothing to guard - no guarding behavior exhibited. Just avoiding the trigger though will not correct the problem so the core issue needs to be worked through as Nicole indicates. But this is just my opinion... I'm not a pro-trainer just someone with several dogs. These are very young children and a big, young dog... I always get concerned about getting on the right track right away. |
| Thank you everyone for your insight.
Telly is neutered AND we have had extensive behavioral training with him through Barkbusters since he was 4 months old. I talked to our trainer and got some feedback but I thought I'd see what the thoughts were on this board as I know how much loyalty there is on this board to oes. Again, he really is a fantastic puppy that has never shown any aggression through play, activity etc. This two incidents have scared the heck out of me with just the thought that he could hurt my babies. |
Bosley's mom wrote: Sorry, Jaci. I just want to make a couple comments here.
A dog that only guards his food is not an aggressive dog. It is very normal behavior. My own Bosley is a resource guarder. I have to say you are right about a dog guarding his food is natural IF he is the pack leader. I can put my head in my dogs bowl when they are eating and I make sure everybody else can. In their eyes, every human is an "alpha". However, I do not accept food/toys/etc. guarding among each other. Here is my proof. 
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Prof. Boni wrote: In their eyes, every human is an "alpha". However, I do not accept food/toys/etc. guarding among each other.
But don't dogs have a problem sometimes confusing active children who haven't mastered the relationship for whatever reason as equals and sometimes subordinates? I always ensured the kids and the dogs did not interact when food was involved, at least until the kids mastered the concept. |
| We teach the dogs to leave each other alone when they're chewing or eating. http://oesusa.com/AboutU566.jpg We don't allow them to swipe a food item from one another. If they leave the chew or kong, another can pick it up... but they seldom have chews long enough for this to happen.
And if a dog is at their bowl, none of the other dogs are allowed to pester them... when the bowl is empty and the owner has walked away, the others are free to check it out if we haven't picked it up. We set the limits... still, we never leave rawhides nor bones out for them because we don't want any confrontations. |
| A lot of really good ideas here.
While I agree that the probability of a resource guarding issue is in play here, I also recognize that there is a serious risk if this is not handled swiftly and appropriately. I absolutely agree that a professional should be engaged as soon as possible. I think that one comment in this thread stands out - the idea that the dog(s) of the house see all people as alpha or as having a higher position in the pack than they do. This, in my opinion, is critical. I believe that can be achieved without becoming overly harsh or abusive towards the dog. A professional will help you get there. |
| You have 3 very small children in the house all under 5. So it is important now that you get some help. He has nipped twice while resource guarding and with your children being small he is also at face level with them. I would not trust him again at the moment, the risk is too high for the children not to leave this go any longer.
You really do need a Positive trainer to come in to the house and assist and advise with the situation that has started happening. He is at the teenage stage and still growing and getting bigger, they are very challanging at this stage, so for everyones safety now is the time to seek professional help for what has occurred before that nip turns into a real hard damaging bite. You say he is tolerant of the children and shows no aggression, just problems around food. So that is where you have to start with someone who can show you techniques to stop this unpredictable behaviour before it gets worse. Sorry you are going through this and I hope it turns out OK for everyone. |
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