What would you do if your dog continued to bite your husband?
@beutfulmama6701 (1718)
United States
March 10, 2010 11:29am CST
Ok i have my own opinion on what should happen but the family is still uncertain as to what they should do, the husband and wife keep arguing over the best thing.. i decided i would post a discussion here to get a little more insight and then maybe i can present the opinions to the couple and then they can have a better idea as to what they should do.
OK so say you had a dog who was overactive but mellow at the same time, since the day you got him has been attached to your husband, only listend to the husband, played with the husband learned new tricks etc. This dog is so sweet and calm at home all day letting the kids ride on his back pull his tail, plays with them etc etc.. let you know when people showed up and was always excited to see new faces..
Then one night while your 2 year old was eating dinner the dog goes up to the table an eats the kids food ( having never done this before because he knows not to). Ok the husband gets up and calls the dog... after about 3 tries the dog comes.. ten minutes later the little boy calls the dog back into the kitchen and is hand feeding him at the table, the husband gets up walks to the little boy points his finger at the food and then the boy and says " this is your food we do not feed the doggie at the table" and then points down at the dog to have him get out of the kitchen, instantly the dogs jumps up and bites his arm twice and then bit a hole in middle of sweatshirt. HUsband puts dog outside. Over the course of 3 weeks, the dog seems different the mother dont see it at home when the husband is gone, but notices it when he is home the dog seems different almost angry for no reason, then a little more time goes by and the dog seems to not have interest in letting the kids play with him anymore instead he starts chewing on their toys and ripping blanketrs apart... then one night the husband is outside having a cigerette he puts his food on the counter, comes back in to reach for his food and once again the dog just jumps up with no warning and starts biting his hands fingers arms etc. What does this mean? What should they do?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@kaylachan (72206)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Mar 10
Its hard to say what could cause a sudden change in temperment. Has the family been getting the dog to the vet like they should be and keeping their dogs shots up-to-date? That's one of the biggest things.
However, sometimes animals don't take kindly to scoldings especially when food becomes involved. So right there is a cause for concern.
If this behavior continues, then two things may have to happen. The dog needs to be put down (unithized) or given up.
So far the husband in this picture is the only one effected, but the children could be next. And, if the city found out (child comes to school with bite marks) then the dog would be put down by the city.
While people love their pets and don't even want to consider such options, the health and safty of the family should come first. Anything else later.
When an animal becomes agressive it can be hard to tell why, and putting the animal down is the best thing.
And while I'm no longer a dog owner, I know families who live behind us in the neighborhoods that had dogs that got lose and attacked other animals in our complex, and people. And, that beloved pet ended up being put down.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
10 Mar 10
I have to say I think you answer demonstrates you ignorance of dogs behaviour. Killing a dog because of a minor behavioural problem is cruel and unnecessary.
There are very, very, very few bad dogs, only bad owners.
all the best urban
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
11 Mar 10
Well I am not the best when it comes to teaching dogs. I tend to look at them as people when they are not. I watch Dog Whisper on TV and he would say this was wrong and something should have been done the moment the dog did this. I think maybe they should keep the dog but get some training for it. If the dog bites an adult he might bite the child as well. And I was thinking too how long has the child been feeding the dog? That might be why the dog is confused. Anyway those are my thoughts on this hope this helps.
@Bloggership (1104)
• Indonesia
11 Mar 10
In my case perhaps when my dog continued bite my wife... hehehe... Anyway, maybe i will kick that dog head... Naaa, just kidding... Perhaps i just gonna put on cage or tight the dog for a couple weeks while finding some other solutions...
@trish59 (39)
• United States
11 Mar 10
I would have to say that somewhere in the training of the dog, he has been allowed to be the alpha,that he is trying to get that status back, first and foremost pointing at the dog is an agreesive mood by the man, and the dog is reacting to that. Yelling at a dog will get you nowhere and first and foremost do not strike the dog or even give him the idea that you are going to. When the dog is tearing up items belonging ot family members he needs to be given one of his toys to replace it. The family would benefit to get a trainer to come in and teach some obedience to the dog. Apparently the dog felt the man was a danger with the tone of his voice and the actions and was defending himself the way he knows.
@vinster888 (27)
• United States
10 Mar 10
it seems to me that some training confusion has happened. the owner will have to go back to the beginning with the dog and food training. the dog needs to know the human can touch/handle their food but not the other way around. the dog seems to be becoming food aggressive, which will need to be dealt with first. personally my dogs are not allowed within 10 feet of food wherever it is. they know if they want some food that they need to go away and pretend its not there. when the human is done then they get theirs. i had one dog was 5 yrs old before he got his first taste of human food. he never begged and never had interest because he had never had human food. then one day i left him home alone with my new wife. all that bliss down the drain. immediately following was breaking of the begging.
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
10 Mar 10
You know what there are some similarities to what my dog does. My dog gets very suspicious when someone goes near her food and starts growling but that's because she thinks that person is going to take away her food. You said that the dad first spoke to the son and then pointed at the dog. Maybe the dog felt angry because the son was the one that offered him the food or maybe he felt threatened. I don't know but it seems like a very odd situation. Maybe when they are going to give the doggy some food have him sit down first before giving him the food so that he learns that he needs to be still to get his food. And not have the boy feed him under the table anymore. I don't know that's just my opinion.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
10 Mar 10
Hi!
How are you?
To me it seems that the dog is reacting to the situation with the son and the son's food. To the dog, the finger pointing and stern voice may have been a sign of violence from the father and the dog was protecting the boy. It's hard for me to actually think of how to put this, so I'm sorry if it sounds a bit confusing. What I am trying to say is that the dog's behavior has changed maybe because he (the dog) was disclipined because he ate food from a person's plate.
Who is to say the boy hadn't done this before and that it became a normality for the dog?
