Biting Terrier

[monksie 0]

We have two terriers. One is a lakeland x and the other is a patterdalex. Both are between 12 and 18 mths old. The patt is the eldest.

In June whilst we were away the patt bit my cousin on the back of her leg whilst playing in the back garden. She has since bit someone whilst tied up outside a shop. And on another two occassions, she has bitten people we know. The bites have been nips, and not an actual attack where she wont let go.

A couple of times she has broken the skin, but only slightly.

 

She is a cracking dog otherwise, and will be worked when she is a bit older.

We have been fortunate she hasn´t bit a child etc, which is why we are asking for help.

Could anybody suggest any advice on this please.

I should mention she came from a hunt kennels, and we got her when she was approx 12 wks.

 

Thanks in advance......

[Tallyho 181]

You got to think yo your self it could bite a child, and her bites might get a bit more serious, personally if it was mine i would have it put to sleep, before it bites again and someone has the police involved and the dog has to be destroyed any way .

[Guest gaz100604]

i know ive said this alot recently on here but ill say it again , get the bar position it above the dogs head and bring it down as fast and as hard as you could. easy really if it bit my kid outside a shop the dog and you would be in a serious load of bother, you asking questions which you already know the asnwers too. if hes biting people at random he could do it in the field clonk of bar is in order for him methinks

[DevonHunter 0]

Right. I KNOW f**k ALL ABOUT DOGS. Surely theres another way to around it and having the poor bugger killed. He is technically still a puppy. What if you wack him him across the top of his mouth with a stick and show what he did wrong i.e. the bite and then wack him again and maybe this way he will understand a bit better?

 

I'll say it again before all you dog jedi's give me abuse. I know nothing about dogs im just curious to the sitiuation and wondering if there is another way around other than killing the dog.

[DevonHunter 0]

Right. I KNOW f**k ALL ABOUT DOGS. Surely theres another way to get around it then having the poor bugger killed. He is technically still a puppy. What if you wack him him across the top of his mouth with a stick and show what he did wrong i.e. the bite and then wack him again and maybe this way he will understand a bit better?

 

I'll say it again before all you dog jedi's give me abuse. I know nothing about dogs im just curious to the sitiuation and wondering if there is another way around other than killing the dog.

Edited December 17, 2008 by DevonHunter

[Guest oneredtrim]

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Edited December 19, 2008 by oneredtrim

[Pignut 4]

We have two terriers. One is a lakeland x and the other is a patterdalex. Both are between 12 and 18 mths old. The patt is the eldest.

In June whilst we were away the patt bit my cousin on the back of her leg whilst playing in the back garden. She has since bit someone whilst tied up outside a shop. And on another two occassions, she has bitten people we know. The bites have been nips, and not an actual attack where she wont let go.

A couple of times she has broken the skin, but only slightly.

 

She is a cracking dog otherwise, and will be worked when she is a bit older.

We have been fortunate she hasn´t bit a child etc, which is why we are asking for help.

Could anybody suggest any advice on this please.

I should mention she came from a hunt kennels, and we got her when she was approx 12 wks.

 

Thanks in advance......

 

Hmmm.... questions that come to mind immediately:-

 

1. What sex are they? That will play an important part - boy and girl? Two girls? Related?

2. Are they part of your family, ie live indoors with you or out in kennels?

3. What did you do when she bit?

4. Are you having her spayed - was she in season at the time? They can go very odd during their season?

5. What game was the child playing with the dog? What were the rules? Was it a game of dominance or I'll have that toy?

6. How does she behave on a lead when she meets other dogs.

7. What is her position in the family? Does she try and rule the world?

8. Are you the boss of this dog, are you a working team or are you below her?

 

I would, for the time being, when you are out and about put a muzzle on her to stop this happening again in public. I would look at the relationship between her and the other dog in your family, between her and your family/child, between you and games. How she sees life will be reflected in her social behaviour with humans and other dogs.

 

I have two Patts. One is a spayed bitch - she was mental when in season so I had her spayed. She would rule the world and every so often has to be reminded that she can't. She wouldn't bite but she has a short fuse with other dogs. If the fuse appears, I wade in and break up the fight, leaving both Patts under little illusion that they cannot fight in front of the boss (ie pack leader). Unacceptable behaviour gets it back and worse from me. You have 3 seconds in most domestic animals' heads to say well done or how dare you. Use that time wisely otherwise you might as well shout at the wall.

 

The other Patt is a hunter. He is castrated and was a rescue. Someone originally thought it was funny to teach him to wind up quickly. He attacks other dogs on a lead - he gets a bollocking from me or I do not put him into that situation. He is very protective of every toy to the point he will get them all and sit on them like a chicken on eggs! I taught him the word "dead" and if I say it, he has to let me take the toys. He will do it. If you then play tug of war with him, which he loves, I practice the dead command and nothing happens until I get the toy. He gets praised for good behaviour but I keep eye contact with a slow and steady voice and I say when he gets it back. He has learned because together we agreed the rules and I made him. If you do not play by the agreed rules (even kids can play this game with him and he is fine), he honestly doesn't understand what you are doing and defends his property.

 

So, you have to get into your terrier's head and the biting has happened twice. I think there are alot of outside factors (see above questions) that you have to look at first before you go destroying a dog.

 

Just my two penn'orth.

 

Good luck

Pignut

[littlefish 587]

We have two terriers. One is a lakeland x and the other is a patterdalex. Both are between 12 and 18 mths old. The patt is the eldest.

In June whilst we were away the patt bit my cousin on the back of her leg whilst playing in the back garden. She has since bit someone whilst tied up outside a shop. And on another two occassions, she has bitten people we know. The bites have been nips, and not an actual attack where she wont let go.

A couple of times she has broken the skin, but only slightly.

 

She is a cracking dog otherwise, and will be worked when she is a bit older.

We have been fortunate she hasn´t bit a child etc, which is why we are asking for help.

Could anybody suggest any advice on this please.

I should mention she came from a hunt kennels, and we got her when she was approx 12 wks.

 

Thanks in advance......

 

Hmmm.... questions that come to mind immediately:-

 

1. What sex are they? That will play an important part - boy and girl? Two girls? Related?

2. Are they part of your family, ie live indoors with you or out in kennels?

3. What did you do when she bit?

4. Are you having her spayed - was she in season at the time? They can go very odd during their season?

5. What game was the child playing with the dog? What were the rules? Was it a game of dominance or I'll have that toy?

6. How does she behave on a lead when she meets other dogs.

7. What is her position in the family? Does she try and rule the world?

8. Are you the boss of this dog, are you a working team or are you below her?

 

I would, for the time being, when you are out and about put a muzzle on her to stop this happening again in public. I would look at the relationship between her and the other dog in your family, between her and your family/child, between you and games. How she sees life will be reflected in her social behaviour with humans and other dogs.

 

I have two Patts. One is a spayed bitch - she was mental when in season so I had her spayed. She would rule the world and every so often has to be reminded that she can't. She wouldn't bite but she has a short fuse with other dogs. If the fuse appears, I wade in and break up the fight, leaving both Patts under little illusion that they cannot fight in front of the boss (ie pack leader). Unacceptable behaviour gets it back and worse from me. You have 3 seconds in most domestic animals' heads to say well done or how dare you. Use that time wisely otherwise you might as well shout at the wall.

 

The other Patt is a hunter. He is castrated and was a rescue. Someone originally thought it was funny to teach him to wind up quickly. He attacks other dogs on a lead - he gets a bollocking from me or I do not put him into that situation. He is very protective of every toy to the point he will get them all and sit on them like a chicken on eggs! I taught him the word "dead" and if I say it, he has to let me take the toys. He will do it. If you then play tug of war with him, which he loves, I practice the dead command and nothing happens until I get the toy. He gets praised for good behaviour but I keep eye contact with a slow and steady voice and I say when he gets it back. He has learned because together we agreed the rules and I made him. If you do not play by the agreed rules (even kids can play this game with him and he is fine), he honestly doesn't understand what you are doing and defends his property.

 

So, you have to get into your terrier's head and the biting has happened twice. I think there are alot of outside factors (see above questions) that you have to look at first before you go destroying a dog.

 

Just my two penn'orth.

 

Good luck

Pignut

 

Some good advice there I think. Have your dogs had much one-to-one structured training or do they run wild together doing their own thing? Maybe a bit of individual basic obedience might help them know their place. What age was your friend who was bitten and what sort of 'games' were they playing? One of my dogs gets very overexcited very quickly and 'games' need to be very much controlled by the human.

 

Also....I hate to see dogs tied up outside shops - it leaves them feeling abandoned and anxious and likely to react if the are frightened even by some well meaning or curious people who might stand over the tied up animal and make it feel under attack. AND as well as that some arse might steal them!

[littlefish 587]

We have two terriers. One is a lakeland x and the other is a patterdalex. Both are between 12 and 18 mths old. The patt is the eldest.

In June whilst we were away the patt bit my cousin on the back of her leg whilst playing in the back garden. She has since bit someone whilst tied up outside a shop. And on another two occassions, she has bitten people we know. The bites have been nips, and not an actual attack where she wont let go.

A couple of times she has broken the skin, but only slightly.

 

She is a cracking dog otherwise, and will be worked when she is a bit older.

We have been fortunate she hasn´t bit a child etc, which is why we are asking for help.

Could anybody suggest any advice on this please.

I should mention she came from a hunt kennels, and we got her when she was approx 12 wks.

 

Thanks in advance......

 

Hmmm.... questions that come to mind immediately:-

 

1. What sex are they? That will play an important part - boy and girl? Two girls? Related?

2. Are they part of your family, ie live indoors with you or out in kennels?

3. What did you do when she bit?

4. Are you having her spayed - was she in season at the time? They can go very odd during their season?

5. What game was the child playing with the dog? What were the rules? Was it a game of dominance or I'll have that toy?

6. How does she behave on a lead when she meets other dogs.

7. What is her position in the family? Does she try and rule the world?

8. Are you the boss of this dog, are you a working team or are you below her?

 

I would, for the time being, when you are out and about put a muzzle on her to stop this happening again in public. I would look at the relationship between her and the other dog in your family, between her and your family/child, between you and games. How she sees life will be reflected in her social behaviour with humans and other dogs.

 

I have two Patts. One is a spayed bitch - she was mental when in season so I had her spayed. She would rule the world and every so often has to be reminded that she can't. She wouldn't bite but she has a short fuse with other dogs. If the fuse appears, I wade in and break up the fight, leaving both Patts under little illusion that they cannot fight in front of the boss (ie pack leader). Unacceptable behaviour gets it back and worse from me. You have 3 seconds in most domestic animals' heads to say well done or how dare you. Use that time wisely otherwise you might as well shout at the wall.

 

The other Patt is a hunter. He is castrated and was a rescue. Someone originally thought it was funny to teach him to wind up quickly. He attacks other dogs on a lead - he gets a bollocking from me or I do not put him into that situation. He is very protective of every toy to the point he will get them all and sit on them like a chicken on eggs! I taught him the word "dead" and if I say it, he has to let me take the toys. He will do it. If you then play tug of war with him, which he loves, I practice the dead command and nothing happens until I get the toy. He gets praised for good behaviour but I keep eye contact with a slow and steady voice and I say when he gets it back. He has learned because together we agreed the rules and I made him. If you do not play by the agreed rules (even kids can play this game with him and he is fine), he honestly doesn't understand what you are doing and defends his property.

 

So, you have to get into your terrier's head and the biting has happened twice. I think there are alot of outside factors (see above questions) that you have to look at first before you go destroying a dog.

 

Just my two penn'orth.

 

Good luck

Pignut

 

Some good advice there I think. Have your dogs had much one-to-one structured training or do they run wild together doing their own thing? Maybe a bit of individual basic obedience might help them know their place. What age was your friend who was bitten and what sort of 'games' were they playing? One of my dogs gets very overexcited very quickly and 'games' need to be very much controlled by the human.

 

Also....I hate to see dogs tied up outside shops - it leaves them feeling abandoned and anxious and likely to react if the are frightened even by some well meaning or curious people who might stand over the tied up animal and make it feel under attack. AND as well as that some arse might steal them!

[Guest jbswildlife]

you have to look at what the dog is thinking, I dont know their routine, but i'm thinking is the problem down to the dog's being to much alpha rather than seing humans as the pack leaders. dogs need to know their routine its what will make them good rather than a vets next cull. try the louder voice let them away with nothing totally confuss him with what he knows then bring him back with the treats and make everyone around you treat him after a sit comand as example.

[monksie 0]

Thanks for the good advice. I think you are right, she does think she is the leader at times.

My cousin who was playing tug of war with her at the time and she is in her late 20's.

 

Regarding being outside the shop, she was with the younger terrier at the time and gets protective when strangers approach. I am not making excuses, just stating why she may have bitten the stranger.

 

We will try some one on one training with her, as this is what she may be short of.

 

Also I am sure she will be a different dog once she gets working. In the meantime it will be a muzzle when out and about and lots of training.

 

Wish us luck, and thanks again for the decent replies!!

[Guest jbswildlife]

Thanks for the good advice. I think you are right, she does think she is the leader at times.

My cousin who was playing tug of war with her at the time and she is in her late 20's.

 

Regarding being outside the shop, she was with the younger terrier at the time and gets protective when strangers approach. I am not making excuses, just stating why she may have bitten the stranger.

 

We will try some one on one training with her, as this is what she may be short of.

 

Also I am sure she will be a different dog once she gets working. In the meantime it will be a muzzle when out and about and lots of training.

 

Wish us luck, and thanks again for the decent replies!!

good man, make sure the dog is not tRAINED TO BE A ONE MAN DOG, get friends and family to order it about. good luck mate they will test you its their nature