Jack biting people.

I got a call from my mom yesterday. Jack apparently ran out of the yard and attacked somebody on the sidewalk walking past. Tore the kid's jeans and actually made him bleed.

This isn't the first time this has happened and it scares me. About a year or two ago he bit our neighbor for no apparent reason. My mom tells me he's beoming unpredictable. He even snapped at her a couple weeks ago. The problem is, he doesn't act like this when I'm home. I told my mom he's becoming the product of an unstable envioronment and just needs a firm dose of NILIF. He's a very dominant dog and needs to be reminded who's boss regularly.

I don't even know what to think at this point. Biting people is NOT something my parents will put up with for very long. I love this little black dog more than anything.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for posting this, but it'll make me feel better.

Well, you just really have to be blunt with your parents, it seems, and let them know that they need to work with him when you aren't there. There are some dogs who are constantly going to challenge their humans, and they are the ones who need constant reminding.

Do they exercise him enough? Letting a dog out to run in the backyard isn't enough. Are they making sure they take him places where he can safely meet others? Many people think you need only to socialize puppies and then they are set. But exercise and socialization are for life.

Our neighbors have a very aggressive/"protective" (however you want to put it) Weim. If my two are out in the front yard playing or "taking care of business", he will wander out from the garage (they have an invisible fence) and he's fine if they're only out for a few minutes but when they start running around in our yard and playing he'll start barking, and not the friendly "I want to play" bark, the "I don't like you and I want you to go away" bark.

I've tried petting him before and was afraid I was going to get bit. And after the aggressive barking at us today while I was outside playing with my two, my mother in law told me he's even bitten Colorado (my 7 year old brother-in-law), took his sock off and everything.

My thought is that he was NOT socialized as a puppy, with other dogs or other people. He lives outside in the garage and I don't think he's ever inside and the family does not own any other pets. I'm not saying he isn't taken care of, because he obviously is, and I know his family loves him, but I just don't think he was socialized or trained properly as a puppy.

I guess the point of this was basically, see if your parents can take him out more, try to socialize him with people and other dogs, and maybe that will help.

Wow... I'm sorry you're going through this with Jack, Ashley. I know how much it sucks. =( *hug*

Honestly, the most important part of dealing with any sort of aggressive behavior is management. You need to set him up for success, by never allowing him off-leash in the front yard. Never, ever, ever. It is much better to keep him crated while you're gone than for him to have any opportunity to get out.

Spend time walking him around and have meet & greets with neighbors. They should kneel down, allow him to approach them when he feels comfortable, offer him treats, and pet him when it's appropriate.

Gonzo is similar, in that he is very, very wary of strangers walking near the house. The issues stopped completely after I made it clear to my family that I will $#^&*^& them up, if they ever allow him out in the front yard. Even though my neighbors probably thought I was a weirdo, I introduced him to all of them, and when ever we're on walks I ask them to say hi to him.

I can't say whether or not I agree with this behavior being the product of an unstable environment, or dominance. It's obviously a protective behavior. It has probably been reinforced, unintentionally, many times... Jack sees a person near the house, who is on a walk, Jack barks/chases, the person continues walking. Jack thinks to himself, "Hey, I showed them!", and the behavior is reinforced. I agree that NILIF could help in general, but I don't know if it would solve this issue. Preventing any & all chances of him being reinforced, by never allowing him off-leash in the front, is my advice. Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jessika

He lives outside in the garage and I don't think he's ever inside and the family does not own any other pets. I'm not saying he isn't taken care of, because he obviously is, and I know his family loves him, but I just don't think he was socialized or trained properly as a puppy.

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I agree that a dog needs to be socialized with pets & people but, a dog
who "lives" in the garage & isn't living inside with the people is not the way
to go. A dog needs much more from his people than food & water, to be
"cared for".

I'm so sorry to hear that sweet Jack is doing this!! :(
Jack isn't one of those outside dogs that can bite at a whim. This dog does agility and spends every moment with Ash when she's not at school. There are 5 inside dogs in their family and her parents know dogs.
Good luck Ash - if anyone can rehab him - I know its you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lizbud

I agree that a dog needs to be socialized with pets & people but, a dog
who "lives" in the garage & isn't living inside with the people is not the way
to go. A dog needs much more from his people than food & water, to be
"cared for".

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I can not judge whether he does live in the garage, I can only assume as the garage is closed at night but during the day while they're at work he is in the garage.

And I spoke too soon -- apparently he attacked a boy today, had a hold of his leg pretty good, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law (the one who was bitten) came outside because they heard screaming and found him lying in their driveway with the dog attached to his leg. The boy had to be taken to the hospital. :(

:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by k9krazee

Jack apparently ran out of the yard and attacked somebody on the sidewalk walking past.
Tore the kid's jeans and actually made him bleed.

This isn't the first time this has happened and it scares me.
About a year or two ago he bit our neighbor for no apparent reason.

My mom tells me he's beoming unpredictable.
He even snapped at her a couple weeks ago.

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:eek:
BAD Boy, Jack!! :mad:

Ashley ~
Is there any way you could have Jack living with YOU at College?
Are you in a Dorm, or living in a house / apartment?

I sure hope the Family keeps a really *close* eye on The Boy till this is resolved.

Is there likely to be any fuss raised by the latest "victim's" family -
will there be an Animal Control or Health Dept report of the bite?

Please be sure Jack's up to date with his Rabies and other vaccinations;
as well as having a proper dog license - so no one can accuse you of breaking any laws.

We'll contribute to his "bail fund" if there's a need.

BEHAVE, Jack!!

Phred, he is up to date on everything and I haven't heard news of animal control or anything being called. There's no way I can have him up here at the moment, I'm living in the dorms. This summer, however, I'm staying and taking classes and living at our cabin so I'll be able to keep him with me then.

It's definitely protective behavior, and I did tell my parents the best way to deal with it at the moment is to prevent it from happening again. We do have a fenced yard, but one gate goes across our driveway and sometimes in the winter they get too lazy to make sure it's shut. If somebody is outside with the dogs the open gate is fine, as a simple "JACK!" will keep him in the yard. I do believe my parents were both in the garage at the time of this incident. He definitely needs to be watched while outside, and I did remind them of that. My parents are just frustrated with his unruly behavior.

He is a very high energy dog and I know for certain he isn't getting enough mental or physical stimulation these days. Heck, I'm at school 7-8 months out of the year and get maybe a total of two weeks with him during that time if I'm lucky. I know for the time being his needs aren't being met and I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. That's kind of what I was referring to when I said he lives in an "unstable environment." I feel awful for him and if I could have him up here with me I would in a heartbeat.

I have worked hard to socialize him. I got him when he was about 4 months old, past the critical time of socialization. He was AWFUL to socialize and it took him a long time to be around other dogs. But he's fine in large crowds of people of all ages, great with everybody at the dog park, agility trials, visiting family and friends, people on our walks in the neigborhood...everything. It's just around the house.

*sigh*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by k9krazee

There's no way I can have him up here at the moment,
I'm living in the dorms.
This summer, however, I'm staying and taking classes and living at our cabin
so I'll be able to keep him with me then.

He is a very high energy dog and I know for certain he isn't getting
enough mental or physical stimulation these days.

But he's fine in large crowds of people of all ages, great with everybody at the dog park,
agility trials, visiting family and friends, people on our walks in the neigborhood ... everything.
It's just around the house.

*sigh*

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Put a Hat and a Vest on him, then introduce him as your New Roomie! :p
Majoring in Animal Sciences. ;)

What about your BROTHER?
Is he living at home? ... Any possibility he could help keep an eye on The Boy?

Sure hope your Folks get the Hint and help guide Jack through this problem.

{{{Hugs}}}

Wow, I'm surprised about Jack. He is a high-energy boy, but he's so smart & clever, and seems to really enjoy attention from people, it's hard to imagine he'd actually bite a person. I hope things work out alright for him. Youv'e taught him so many cool tricks, maybe you can teach him to keep his mouth shut? Oh, wait a minute, that doesn't work with kids, either. :rolleyes:
Just joking, I know it's a serious issue. :(

I have been reading this thread as it has progressed. Unfortunately I have nothing constructive to add. You know more about and are better at training animals than I am. But I am sorry that Jack is having some problems, and I am sorry to hear that it is causing you additional stress while you are working on your degree. We all know he is a special boy. Jack, knock it off.

Jack! This is such a surprise.

Hang in there, Ashley and keep after the parents while you are at school.

Since I have met Zack two or three times and know how sweet that boy is I definitely have to say this is a "protecting home turf" kind of thing. I'm sorry that I have nothing to say to help. I know you are so good at working with the dogs and that this is something that you can deal with. Like I said just make sure you keep after your parents too. We as parents of skinkids need reminders as well. Gentle reminder! ;)

Hang in there, Girl!

Thanks guys. I'm as shocked as you are.

I'm going to continue to keep after my parents, my brother does live at home but he's going to college full time and is working 30-40 hours a week.

I'm just *so* afraid Jack is going to do one more thing wrong and they're going to call it quits and do something drastic (which they know I'd never let them live down). It's just so hard when I'm here and they're at home with him. They're not used to such a "high maintenence" dog. I know it's hard on Jack too and I feel awful for him. Just one more year of this, then I should be able to get an apartment up here and eventually move back home to finish four years of school down there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by k9krazee

I'm just *so* afraid Jack is going to do one more thing wrong and they're going to call it quits and do something drastic (which they know I'd never let them live down).

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You are extremely lucky you don't live where I do or something drastic would have already happened. My Mac nipped a kid two weeks ago in play--inappropriate play for sure, but he was not being aggressive. Didn't break skin, didn't even put a hole in his pants. Mac will likely be declared a dangerous dog who among other restrictions can never leave my property unless he's on a short leash and muzzled. If Mac had broken skin and acted like he meant to bite, like it sounds like Jack did, he would already be dead. Court ordered by the AC department. If Mac has a second incident, no matter how minor, that is what will happen. My only choice will be do I take him in or does AC seize him.

From the way you descibe things right now, my only suggestion is make sure Jack doesn't have the opportunity to bite again. If that means he's leashed and muzzled all the time when he's outside, until you can have him with you again, so be it. It's better than dead.