I need Help Mom's dog bit my neighbor

[joy4749]

Today my Mom brought her 2 year old german shephard over to play w/my 7 month old newfie Remi.They were playing fine until my neighbor's son came out of my back door and Mom's dog bit Robert in the elbow and the rear end.I got Mom's dog and we put her in Mom's car so we could attend to Robert's wounds.My sweet baby was licking this scared teenagers bottom and whining when we walked back in the gate. Question-What can my Mom do to help her dog get over this behavior? She is willing to do anything as this is her child. Thanks, Darby

 

[luvxl k 9]

We had this problem when at a ballgame, Apache accidently bit a teenager there. It was totally an accident though, which even the girl involved agreed. We paid her medical bills, had to have Apache quarantined for 10 days and nothing more came of it. Really depends on whether the neighbors get the police involved (they have to if he needs to seek medical help, even cleaning) and how far they want to take it. Is this a reoccuring problem, or just an accident?

 

[joy4749]

My Mom's dog is aggressive to everyone that is not in our family. Mom took her to private obedience lessons and only takes her from her house to mine. I wonder if she needs to socialize her more but she is afraid to because of her aggressive behavior.She also never walks her in the neighborhood and she only plays in Mom's big fenced in yard or mine.My neighbors are the best& luckily it wasn't serious enough for Dr. but Mom is heartbroken & wants to know what to do from here. More obedience classes with more socialization?She will do anything to help Libby she just doesn't know what direction to take.

 

[2ndchance]

Have Mom seek out a trainer that deals in problem areas. If her dog is prone to do this a trainer can show her how to reshape his behavior. Was this a freak accident? Did you actually see what happened? How does the dog react to children in general? Sorry lots of questions I know, but more info is needed.

 

[joy4749]

I don't think it was an accidnet. Mom and I were in the yard relaxing enjoying the warmer day watching them play and Robert came out my back door and Libby(her shephard)started barking and bit him in the elbow first and then ripped through his blue jeans and his boxer shorts. Mom and I saw the whole thing and it was like slow motion in a nightmare.Mom grabbed Libby who was still trying to get to Robert. Libby doesn't want anyone coming in my yard or my Mom's. She loves my newfie she loves my husband and my teenagers and anyone that is in our family but she doesn't really like anyone else. I worry everytime she is over at my house that is why I am always out in the yard or in my house I am everywhere she is. Remi looked horrified at what his friend did.I have felt like something like this may happen if she was left unattended but it is hard to tell your Mom her dog needs help with her behavior and I don't want her to think I'm criticizing her dog especially since I am so obsessed with becoming a new newfie owner(I brag too much about what a good dog I have)Of course now she will finally listen -she has cried her eyes out since this has happened this afternoon. I told her about this forum and said I was going to help her get help for Libby.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

From the way you describe it, it sure doesn't sound like an accident, especially when you say she ripped through the clothes. What if he had shorts on? It also concerns me that this boy was not a child running and teasing the dog. As far as socializing the dog, I think it might be a little late for that. Was she socialized as a pup? I would seek the help of a behaviorist. I don't mean to sound negative and I can understand why your mom would be upset, but her dog does sound very protective and the potential for a more severe attack to a smaller child may not be so minor.

 

[joy4749]

Mom took Libby to pet smart for classes but everytime she went the class was only her and the instructor so she wasn't in there with other dogs or other people. She socialized her some but not all the places I take Remi. I don't think it was enough. We live in a small town and I looked in the yellow pages for a behaviorist with no luck so I thought I would call our vet and maybe pet smart? and ask around to see if anyone knows of anyone. Any other ideas? Thanks

 

[Pam G]

Our first dog was a german shepard, who was also aggressive to anyone but our family...or our friends that he was used to. He ended up getting worse with age and had to be put down at age 7 after attacking an 8 yr old boy that was in our house. It was a horrible experience, for the child and for us..this was our baby...a dog that slept in our bed..and now we had to put down a beutiful, healthy 7 yr old dog. Thankfully, the child wasn't seriously injured..but could have easily been mauled to death if I hadn't been right there to pull the dog off him. I blame myself for lack of socialization..but we were young, it was our first dog and at the time, I didn't know any better.
I feel terrible for your mom. I hope that working with a behaviourist will help...although it is very hard to change an aggressive, protective dog.

 

[joy4749]

I just got off the phone with Mom and she is still crying-I think she knows in her heart that she should have taken Libby and socialized her more but she didn't and she is paying the price now. We all love her so much and are going to try everything we can until all hope is lost. It was the scariest day of my life to see a dog I love so much tear into a 17 year old boy that I also dearly love. Not counting going over to my neighbors of 19 years who I have never had a cross word with and apologizing. They treated Robert themselves because they didn't want Mom to be reported. I'm just gonna pray for a miracle.

 

[Ivoryudx]

Okay, I apologize to the Petsmart Trainers we have on this list, right now, as this is not aimed at all Petsmart Trainers, but MOST do not have the knowledge/training experience to deal with this type of behavior. Their great for puppy socialization, but they are not behaviorists, and most dogs need more than a puppy class.

Has your mom been in contact with the breeder of her dog? If its a good breeder, they should know ways that could help, as well as trainers they would recommend. At the very least they need to be notified of what has happened.

Your mom needs to decide how dedicated she is to this dog and working on this problem. No matter what training happens it will take time/months maybe even years for this to be under control, but keep in mind this behavior probably will not go away, but it can become managed. How far are you from Raleigh, NC? I can pm you the name of a person who has MANY years of experience with evaluating and training problems. She may even know someone closer to you if she's not available.

Yes, your mom and you can probably see a lot of things that should have been done differently, but now you need to be proactive. You can check out Obedience Trainers in your area and ask them if they know anyone they would recommend. Given that this is a German Shepherd, you could possibly call your local police department and ask them if they have a canine Officer who you could get in contact with for help/insight.

Overall this situation puts your mom in a very unfortunate circumstance, but it is also a natural thing for this breed to be protective. It is very important for any German Shepherd Owner, or any Guarding Breed of dog, to have training to control the behavior.

 

[joy4749]

We are only 2 hours fron Raleigh. That would be awesome if you could pm me her name. The breeder of the dog is my Mom's best friend. Mom is going to contact her but she is staying with her daughter who is undergoing chemo and Mom hated to bother her until she comes home.(That's why I'm on the job)
My Mom really loves Libby and I think she should have her evaluated because we are too emotional and uneducated about her behavior to make a rational decision. If there is hope for her I know Mom would do anything but neither of us will get over what happened today and if there isn't hope for Libby I am going to have to be there for my Mom because it will kill her if she has to put her down. It woul be wonderful to talk to someone that is a professional. If this happens again the teenager may not be as lucky as our neighbor was today and we couldn't live with that.

 

[Nasus]

Since i'm in a different time zone i read your terrible story right before going to bed last night.. i could not reply only because i knew this was no accident.. 2 bites are not an accident. There may be hope for Libby but as a few have said it is very hard to undo this type of behavior. As Ivory said you must become proactive and your mom must be willing to do the work. I understand how heart broken the two of you are now, but this is a safety issue now. If Libby needs to be at your house i would muzzle her, there are muzzles that allow dogs to drink as well as play.. i know u might think this shocking but in Paris all dogs must be muzzled when out.. even going for a walk. In libby's case the muzzle would be just a stop gap measure until u can get her help. IMHO i really don't see this ending well even with the help. I'm so sorry for you and your Mom.

 

[Leslie]

Okay wait, did Libby know this kid who just showed up in "her" yard. This breed is built for protection and it may not be aggression that you're training out, it's curbing the protection and helping mom get into the role of the leader. If Libby was protecting her yard and her own from this kid who just "showed up", she was doing the job this particular breed has been bred to do, protecting.

I get so sick and tired when people sound so hopeless because an untrained/unsocialized dog that has been bred for protectiion protected its family from a stranger (not a stranger to you but a potential threat) in the only way they knew how. Bad dog, aggressive dog, lock him away and don't take him out. Ugh! Your mom needs to get a handle and become a strong leader to this dog. Libby's instincts are telling her she has a job to do, to protect, and that protection hasn't been shaped. You CAN undo training mistakes.

I'm really sorry this happened but have little doubt that with proper support (the behaviorist, etc.) that your mom can work with this dog and undo the bad habits. People do it with rescues all the time. You'll want to pull your hair out at the roots during the "undoing" at times, but it does work. Please keep us posted.

 

[Nasus]

Originally posted by Leslie:
[QB]

I get so sick and tired when people sound so hopeless because an untrained/unsocialized dog that has been bred for protectiion protected its family from a stranger (not a stranger to you but a potential threat)

Leslie with all due respect, if u have read thru the posts u will see that this has been an ongoing problem. This dog goes no place but his own back yard and the posters back yard. this was a 17 year old boy that was attacted.. and what if it would have been a 7 year old ? there is great concerns over this.. and u being sick of ppl feeling hopeless over something like this is IMO just to bad.. first and foremost is protection of the humans this dog comes in contact with, be it an accident or planned visit. A lot of work will have to be done. And if this dog does not come around there will be only one thing to do i'm afraid.. this being said i am sure that all will do there utmost to insure Libby gets all the help she needs. Mom also has to step up and be the Alpha protecter and not Libby. just MHO.

 

[Jenn]

Susan, no offense here since I know very few at our local stores deal with dogs like this.

I normally give someone an option of moving to a class with other dogs. I cannot even start a class unless it has more than 1 person. I also bring my dogs with me and suggest dog parks etc to make sure they get sociliazed.

I think Leslie has a point so it would depend on that kind of situation.

Heck our Rottie would rip you a new one if she didn't know you and you came on our property, but the second we left the property she loved everyone. Protection dogs have a job to do.

I hope you can find a behaviorist to help since that would be the next step.

How did the dog do in the store and the trainer? Any signs of aggression when they are out in public places? If a dog is human aggressive, we are not allowed to even let them in class.

A strong Alpha role for your mom is important as well.

 

[Ivoryudx]

joy4749 - I sent you a PM with the information. Please keep us posted.

 

[DroopyMcGruff]

Okay, my input, from what i have read is this dog TRULY is your mom's baby...it may be simply put, a jealous dog, who wants no one else near HER family. socialization could play a part, but as Leslie and Jenn said, your mom needs to be the dominator NOT the dominated.

 

[LordOfTheDrool]

I think that when things like this happen it is too easy to say this is an issue with the dog when more times then not it is poor training of the owner. With help this issue can be resolved. Go get owner training.

 

[Jeannie]

Originally posted by Lord of the Drool:
I think that when things like this happen it is too easy to say this is an issue with the dog when more times then not it is poor training of the owner. With help this issue can be resolved. Go get owner training.

I think this post is completely out of bounds. In an earlier post it was stated they didn't have the knowledge to train or what to do with the dog. At least she is trying to get help. So why attack her? I would think being supportive and offering advice would be better than snappy remarks.

 

[csk1134]

I don't really think that was meant as an attack, Jeannie. He's stating a really valid point. Alot of times when something like this happens, it IS immediately said that the dog has issues. However, most of the time those issues are because the owner of said dog doesn't have the experience or the training to handle said dog. Especially dogs like this one, who is most likely trying to do exactly what is was breed for.

A behaviorist is a great place to start, and following that up with a great trainer is a MUST. Both Dog and Owner need help here.