My dog attacks me - advice please

Adding to owners with problem terriers, our bitch can be quite nasty and has aversions to several things including shadows. Thankfully she is OK with children but grooming her is a problem and is very jealous, we find ways to live with her but it’s not easy.

And you have this creature in your home????!!! Why; just why?

Luckygirl - I have him in my home because I have a gut feeling that I have done something wrong (no idea what) and I need to put it right. I also am a fan of terriers because they are feisty and are not as biddable s some other breeds. it's just that he is more feisty than most.

He's always been good with other people and other dogs, it's just me and my actions, and occasionally those of my husband that have caused problems. However, since having the pheromone diffusers he's become a different dog. My other dog, a sheepdog cross, is more nervous in that she hates thunder and detects it much sooner than we do and is also frightened of the sound of guns and she has become calmer.

So, I'm hoping that continued use of the diffusers will make the situation even better. To use a phrase from an advert for a paint product - it does what it says on the tin.

Don’t you worry that he will attack a child swinging their white cardigan about or someone in a loose, flowing white summer dress or something like that?

Eglantine21 - It's very rare that we have children here so I'm not worried about that. I've found that terriers who aren't used to children like to keep away from them. One reason being that small children seem to like to touch small dogs which the dogs don't like. So over the years I've always kept the terriers under strict control when there are children about. I had some friends with a small son who used to want to touch my westie who I kept clamped to my side when we were sitting. I used to tell him that he could pat my other dog (a beardie cross) but he wasn't interested. My dog would growl at him and I would tell him to leave her alone or else he'd get bitten. In the end I resorted to putting his hand in my mouth and gently pressing my teeth, telling him that this was what she would do. This was a child who was quite destructive and, whilst we were at some other friends' home he was shown some hampsters and given one to hold, which he threw against the wall. We found out about 10 years later that he had Asberger's or something similar.

Dinahmo as you have had him from eight weeks old, his behaviour to you both is very odd.
Unfortunately, some dogs are just like this, it’s their character.If you try various things and they don’t work, consider having him rehomed, years ago some friends of ours had problems with a troublesome dog, and it was rehomed with a single man ( young ish) and was apparently fine with him.You can’t have a dog that will turn on you ( or a visitor.)

Lemongrove - I haven't tried various things apart from asking the vet's advice but as per my original post the appointment with a specialist didn't come off and asking for advice on here. I'd been thinking about the pheromones for sometime and finally decided to get the diffusers. Touch wood they are working as he is much calmer.

Dinamoh I was so pleased to read that the pheremone diffuser seems to have helped to calm your dog down and prevent any further aggressive behaviour. I hope this continues.

Luckygirl Perhaps you're just not a "dog person" but for people who are, dogs are like part of the family, even when they behave badly. In my opinion, anybody who can have a dog put to sleep without a great deal of sadness shouldn't really be a dog owner.

I can understand, though, that for a dog who is unpredictable and aggressive and whose behaviour has proved impossible to change it might be the only solution.

Dinamoh, I have 2 dogs, one has behavioural issues, not the same as yours, There is a facebook group called reactive dogs uk, run by qualified dog trainers & behaviourists that can help give you a plan of action to improve his behaviour now he is calmer-he sounds very stressed rather than vicious, which is probably why the diffusers helped-you can get them as collars too

I think he needs to live with a younger man who will be more able to be the boss. I wouldn't rely on pheromones.

I hope your solution continues working, but I couldn’t imagine letting a dog run my life that way!

Hi... very strange behaviour from a dog you have had since a pup. Even more strange is that the vet says he backs down when in the surgery and friendly towards visitors?

I am sure you know this but...dogs are pack animals and all strive for being 'top' dog. In the wild they are put in their place by older more experienced members of the pack. When humans take on a dog THEY become the pack and ALL dogs will try to assume 'top dog' position. Until put in their place.

I am just wondering IF, maybe your dog hasn't got the message? That HE is below YOU in the pecking order? This often happens when humans don't understand their dog (not suggesting you don't but just throwing a few possibilities in the equation)

For instance - IF a dog growls and shows aggression - some owners 'cuddle' the dog to try to reassure him that all is o.k. When in fact. what it does is confirm to the dog that THIS is what I need to do! IF a dog snaps because he doesn't want to be on a chair for instance - throw him off!!! If you cuddle him and give in he thinks "ah ha, this is my spot" In your case IF he doesn't like certain things - throw him out the room as soon as he reacts.

Smacking is never required but a rolled up newspaper and a curt .... get off/down is often all that is required!

I admire you for continuing to 'cope' but no way should you be bitten by your dog. As a total animal lover I would say he just has an inbuilt bad streak which will never be reversed BUT as you say he is fine with strangers...perhaps you need to address your behaviour with him? Not a criticism, just an observation.

Good luck

We had a Westie like this and had to have him put down. Vet said overbreeding has caused mental instability. We spent well over 1000 on trainers and special collars, not to mention our own stitches from being bitten. Nothing worked at all.

This isn’t a training issue, it is a behaviour one. If he doesn’t attack your vet then it is you and your husband that are the problem in his eyes.

So...re grooming. Take him to a professional groomer. Much cheaper and better than having him ‘knocked out’by a vet. When sitting stroking him at home (you say he likes this) give him a gentle brush.

Re his reaction to other noises. Shut him out the room when you are doing these things.

He needs plenty of exercise, walks, ball chasing, etc. and you need to train him as well. He ought to be told to ‘sir’ while you place his dinner in front of him and to ‘leave’ it for a few seconds until you give the command.

Don’t let him up on the sofa unless you say so.

Try Anxitane tablets and a pheromone collar.

No use chastising dogs if that means shouting at them or other aggressive behaviour, as this makes the problem worse, though a firm ‘no’ is effective.

I’ve been through this with various rescue dogs and it is patience, understanding and a soupçon of ingenuity that work eventually.

If you can’t solve the issues, then find the Fox Terrier Rescue and rehome this poor dog.

PS my post sounded more abrupt that I meant it to. Must add, good that you are persevering and this is resolvable.

I agree with Anja You need to look at your behaviour rather than that of the dog.
Reacting aggressively etc will only compound the problem.

My sister got a dog from a rescue ,and he was lovely for about 3 months,then all of a sudden when she was stroking him,he turned on her and almost ripped the skin off her hand, this happened twice so she took him back to the rescue
In my eyes though the poor dog shouldn't have been rehomed without proper assessment, as the rescue had only had him in for about a week, one of the women there told her to watch her finger, anyway it really upset her to return him and a few days later she rang up to ask how he was,they told her they ha rehomed him again,
I would have reported that place. as obviously they knew he could turn, yet they rehomed him again within days
I felt so sorry for the poor dog, as i bet he was again returned

I haven't read all this, but have always thought that a dog that bites the hand that feeds is an issue ....