Help aggressive springer x patterdale

[Paulbean]

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My dog has bitten someone today, not bad but just a nip. This is the 3rd time this has happened and I don't know what to do? I have a 2 year old and a new born, he growls at my little girl on occasions and I'm worried he my go for her. Help me please

I have had him 6 years and the first 3 years he was loving to everyone but then he changed, he's not a fan of new people and just wants to be left alone.

 

[eingana]

Hi Paulbean, and welcome to DogForum.

It sounds like you're in a rather difficult place, and I don't think that anybody would envy you with this one. The only real solution to this one is going to be to get a good behaviourist to have a look at your boy to work out exactly what has happened to change your dog's outlook on life, how to change it back and what is going on with the growling and nipping. Nobody can tell you what is going on without a proper observation of your situation and how he's reacting to it.

However, there is plenty you can do even pending the appointment. First, take a deep breath, make a cup of tea and get your shock out of your system so that you're not reacting in anger or fear to him but are taking rational steps. Next, work out a plan that means that he can never be in the position of reacting to your children without an adult in between them. That may mean making him up a bed in a room where the children generally don't go, or putting up a baby gate so he is physically separated from them, either way round this means that any time you have to turn your back, he has somewhere to go where he's going to be comfortable but he's not able to be unaccompanied with your children. Next, you make sure that all adults in the home are applying this consistently, including finding a way to make him go back into his area which isn't a punishment for him (throw a toy, throw a treat, give him a command and reward him for it). If he's half as clever as most patterdales and springers, he'll get used to this new bit of routine very quickly.

When you have that buffer zone in place you can start to address the problems without your children being at risk. I'm a doggy person, but in a family if there are small children at risk then the changes have to be to the doggy situation.

Does he get enough exercise? Both of the breeds in his mix can be super high energy and I would estimate that he needs a minimum of two hour long walks, preferably with off-lead time and other stimulation, a day. If you're not currently able to offer that to him then maybe think of hiring a dog walker in the short term to reduce his energy in the house.

There is a critical difference between a nip and a bite in behavioural terms. Was there anything about the situation when he nipped which could explain this as a game, something squeaky that he may think is prey or anything similar? Patterdales have a really high prey drive and they may not be suited around small children if they interpret babies' cries as a prey animal, but this is a crucial difference to aggression.

I can't help noticing that the time that he changed sort of aligns with the age of your older child (or with the pregnancy that became your daughter, at least). Is there any mileage in exploring whether there's any correlation between the two? Does he find being around the children stressful? There are all kinds of reasons why a dog may find either being around the children or the changes in the home which are necessary when bringing children into the home stressful.

For clarity, I don't think you need to go to classes with your dog, you need a one to one assessment with a behaviourist in your home, for the safety of your children and the ongoing happiness of your dog. Clearly you can't have a dog that is prone to nipping around children that are as small as yours, and a prey-driven terrier around a crying baby could be a real hazard so you need to have someone observe why he's doing what he's doing.

I hope you find a way through this worrying situation soon

 

[sweets]

I'm sorry but if that happened in in my house then the dog would have to go that day , no question! Your children's safety is paramount. Yes you could separate them but there's always that chance they would get together and do you want to live always on edge?

It's sad as he was your original baby but human children are way more important and think how you feel if they did get bitten knowing that you knew your dog was capable of biting, your child could be scarred for life.

It would be straight down the vets or to a rehoming centre for my dog.

Sorry

 

[eingana]

You're entitled to your view sweets, but it's just your opinion and nobody is suggesting that rehoming/euthenasia aren't on the list of potential solutions but it's completely down to the owner if they wish to explore what has happened and rectify it before taking the sort of actions which are not reversible.

A dog that is growling is showing a lot of control and restraint so I would take the time to try and understand what is going to and to change circumstances so that he doesn't feel that the warnings are necessary in future. If and when a behaviourist or the owner feel that there is nothing that can be done to improve things then that would be the time to rehome him, on the strict understanding that he doesn't go anywhere with small children.

 

[Paulbean]

Hello to you both and thank you both for your views. I can honestly see both of the story and that's why I'm in such a dilima, ozzy has had a good life living on a farm during the day and back home with me in the evening so there should be no reason he is under exercised. He's had classes and I even got another dog (labradoddle) so he didn't feel left out when we had the little girl. However the first time he did this was when we collected him from the kennels after our wedding, we went to the farm and he but my wife's dad who looks after him everyday. He is part of my family and I would love to be able to rehome him in a more suitable inviromant but that is becoming more unlikely having investigating.

 

[sweets]

If it had been the first time he had bit then I can understand why someone would give it the benefit of the doubt (personally I wouldn't tho) but you say it has bitten now 3 times! Is it really worth the risk? I would at least go to the vets for a health check up and see if the dog is in any pain which may be making it grumpy.

 

[Paulbean]

Thanks I've booked him in

 

[Raven oaktree]

Dogs dont bite because they like to bite people, there is something going on ..You must keep your kids safe, or course you must-they come first every time, but he has been a good dog. Get him checked at the vets , make sure there isnt an underlying problem and he isnt in pain then get him the help he needs from a behaviourist. No rescue will take him if he has snapped, but if you can at least find out why he is doing it then you can work towards changing his behaviour. Im sorry sweets i disagree with you..dont dont bite for no reason and the OP said he had been heir first baby..getting another dog and a new baby was alot of stress for him...i think if you have had a good dog/friend for alot of years and they have been part of the family we owe it to them to try and find out whats behind behaviour like this..Like i say dont put your kids at risk..but please try and get to he bottom of the problem...once you discover what the problem is he would be easier to rehome too. Dogs rarely bite for no reason.

 

[sweets]

How did you get on at the vets?