I am heartbroken.... Update #33

[marcyinPA]

My normally sweet 6 year old Corgi dog just bit me. Twice. He was eating something he shouldn't, outside, and when I tried to take it away from him, he snarled at me and attacked me. He bit me through my clothing, once on my leg and jumped up and bit my stomach. He punctured the skin and drew blood.

I don't know what to do. I am sitting here in tears. I know if I report him, they may put him down. I don't know if I should go to the dr., or what I should do. He is not normally agressive, but has had a few moments since we've had him (as a puppy) where he snarled when we tried to keep him from a dead animal.

I have two kids, and I don't want him to turn on them. What do I do?????

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Start with a veterinary medical evalutation. Then a good trainer who specializes in aggression issues. You also need to see your own doctor for antibiotics. Good luck. This will be a tough thread. PM me if I can help in any way.

 

[marcyinPA]

I just called my DH at work, and he is calling the vet. I will call my family dr. This is going to be a tough call. Thanks for the hugs. I can't stop crying. I love my dog so much....

 

[Uncle Remus]

Start with a veterinary medical evalutation. Then a good trainer who specializes in aggression issues. You also need to see your own doctor for antibiotics. Good luck. This will be a tough thread. PM me if I can help in any way.

ITA

 

[jp24]

How often do you walk your dog? There are a few books out there by Cesar Millan that can help you. It will teach you how to be the pack leader in your house so that your dog will be a calm submissive type.

I have 3 dogs - a boxer/lab, plott hound/lab and pit bull/lab and haven't ever had any aggression issues with them...toward me, my kids or each other. It's because they look to me as their leader.

I hope you find a solution and sorry this happened to you.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm sorry. It has to be tough. I hope this can have a good outcome.

Pea-n-me gave you good advice.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Keep in mind (and I've said this before on threads involving giving dogs bones and such) that dogs consider things like dog bones, rawhides and yes, even tasty trash, as "high value" items, i.e. things that they are willing to fight over (which is why I tend to not have them around). Note that I am not saying your dog was right in biting you. But it will be a clue on how it happened and how to move forward. How did you respond when he bit you?

 

[GinnyEmma]

I am so sorry. That is scary and you've received good advice already.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

Dog bites are reportable, so in any state I have lived in, Animal Control is notified, but first offense is usually just on the "record".

Corgi's are smart fiesty little dominant dogs. Super smart, super food driven. I have had two. I agree that training that will REMIND your dog that he is a dog, thus, not in charge is a must!!!!

My DD was young when my first Corgi was older and crochety, so many rules and much supervision were required. He wasn't aggressive as in attack aggressive , but couldn't be trusted with a child and FOOD, so I made sure that situations did not arise.


And, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have never been bitten by one of my own dogs, but being in the animal business, have been bitten by others, and it really is an emotional thing. It hurts, it is frightening and upsetting.

Good luck!

 

[dngnb8]

Dog doesnt consider you the alpha. This is a problem. You need to train the dog, or you will have to give it up.

 

[marcyinPA]

Keep in mind (and I've said this before on threads involving giving dogs bones and such) that dogs consider things like dog bones, rawhides and yes, even tasty trash, as "high value" items, i.e. things that they are willing to fight over (which is why I tend to not have them around). Note that I am not saying your dog was right in biting you. But it will be a clue on how it happened and how to move forward. How did you respond when he bit you?

I yelled at him. I yelled NO. DOWN. It didn't stop him from biting me, but when he was done, and I yelled at him to SIT, he sat. And then he cowered in the corner of my porch. My neighbor came running out to make sure I was ok.

I am going to the dr. to be checked. Our vet's behavior specialist isn't in yet, but we have a message into her.

 

[antmaril]

I have a very good friend (the biggest animal lover I know) who experienced this. She is the best dog owner you can imagine. Her dog (that she raised from a pup) bit her in the face. She had the dog put down. To this day, she won't talk about it. It was VERY hard for her to do it, but she felt that the dog could not be trusted. She just couldn't take a chance.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this issue.

 

[RachaelA]

If you are going to go with a training method, please don't use Cesar Milan. He focuses on punishment and fear as training methods.

N.I.L.F. (Nothing in Life is Free) focuses on positive reinforcement http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/training_nothing_in_life_is_free.html

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Good luck! I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[jp24]

Dog doesnt consider you the alpha. This is a problem. You need to train the dog, or you will have to give it up.

Actually, the owner is the one that needs training. She needs to learn how to be the pack leader, or alpha as you said. The dog will respond to this. All dogs will.

Mastering the walk with your dog is a huge part of this. If you allow your dog to leave the house before you and/or walk in front of you, your dog thinks of himself as the alpha. Your dog should NEVER be in front of you when you leave the house and can only go in front of you on a walk when you give him permission.

 

[jp24]

If you are going to go with a training method, please don't use Cesar Milan. He focuses on punishment and fear as training methods.

N.I.L.F. (Nothing in Life is Free) focuses on positive reinforcement http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/training_nothing_in_life_is_free.html

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Good luck! I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

Um, Cesar Millan does not use punishment or fear in his training methods. He uses energy as his training method. I use his methods and I have 3 well-balanced dogs that I never have to discipline.

Wow....talk about uninformed.

 

[dngnb8]

Actually, the owner is the one that needs training. She needs to learn how to be the pack leader, or alpha as you said. The dog will respond to this. All dogs will.

Mastering the walk with your dog is a huge part of this. If you allow your dog to leave the house before you and/or walk in front of you, your dog thinks of himself as the alpha. Your dog should NEVER be in front of you when you leave the house and can only go in front of you on a walk when you give him permission.

We are saying the same thing. When "she" trains the dog, that enforces the Alpha scenario. I agree, walking the dog is a good tool for this.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This is past the point of Cesar Milan or whether or not to use "positive" training methods.

The dog's life is on the line here and the safety of her family is at risk. She needs professional help asap.

 

[npmommie]

Start with a veterinary medical evalutation. Then a good trainer who specializes in aggression issues. You also need to see your own doctor for antibiotics. Good luck. This will be a tough thread. PM me if I can help in any way.

Keep in mind (and I've said this before on threads involving giving dogs bones and such) that dogs consider things like dog bones, rawhides and yes, even tasty trash, as "high value" items, i.e. things that they are willing to fight over (which is why I tend to not have them around). Note that I am not saying your dog was right in biting you. But it will be a clue on how it happened and how to move forward. How did you respond when he bit you?

agree with this. there could be something medically going on with your dog
I would start there, then focus on training yourself so that he recognizes you as alpha in the house.
I agree with pea on the dog bones rawhide etc
we never have it here , it only causes trouble.
my dogs are the sweetest creature, but give them a rawhide and the beast comes out. I have broken up many a fight that originated because of a bone or rawhide.
I also got bit once. I did not seek medical care, just cleaned it really good and kept an eye on it.
I didn't want the bite reported.
I still have the dog, and she has never bitten again, but we also stopped having rawhides in the house.

If you don't want the bite reported, just clean it very good, keep an eye on it, you know your dogs shots are up to date,
I wouldn't go rushing off to the doc right away, but that is jmo.

of course my words mean nothing if you wake up tomorrow and it looks nasty, then yes call for antibiotic

 

[jp24]

We are saying the same thing. When "she" trains the dog, that enforces the Alpha scenario. I agree, walking the dog is a good tool for this.

Agreed!

This is past the point of Cesar Milan or whether or not to use "positive" training methods.

The dog's life is on the line here and the safety of her family is at risk. She needs professional help asap.

Agreed again! I know that she needs professional help. Sorry, I was giving options past the immediate since you gave her sound advice to get started.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was giving options past the immediate since you gave her sound advice to get started.

I think it's a great discussion for general training threads, for sure.

I like Cesar Milan, he's done a lot of good for the dog world by getting the word out to people about how to work with dogs through understanding of dog behavior and fostering healthy human-dog relationships!