My Bichon Bites. Help Needed.

welsh_cake

Hi All,

I have a Bichon Frise and he has many, many problems. They are mainly due to his lifestyle before I had him, but I feel he is getting worse. He didn’t have a very good life before I had him, he suffers with separation anxiety and if anybody even walks past the gate to my house he goes absolutely mental and just wants to get out so he can get at them. I think he was beaten before I took him on (ex puppy farm). Anyway, I have been trying really hard to teach him that he can’t get away with it, but whatever I do just does not work.

A neighbour popped round to my house the other day and Charlie was going mad and wanting to get out of the house so he could get at her, I told him to be quiet and as soon as I opened the door he jumped up and bit her hand. I told him off and my neighbour said it was fine and that it didn’t hurt. Anyway, I saw her last night and her finger is black from where Charlie bit her. I am so ashamed, I just didn’t know what to say. I am really concerned now, as I love him to bits, but this behaviour cannot go on. Does anyone have any advice or tips on how I can stop this. One thing for sure is that I will never give up on him and am prepared to do whatever it takes to make him better.

I have been to training classes with him, but as soon as he is out of his “comfort zone” he turns into the scared little boy I took on a couple of years ago. I am really desperate now, as I am scared that one day he is going to bite a child.

chris_n_tj

Hi Welshcake dont worry it be sorted, so dont panic.
First question is Charlie neutered? and have you a rough age for him.
How long has he lived with you.
What methods have you tried in the past?
Lastly is he crate trained.
I will try and help you so if you could anwswer these questions I will have a better idea.

(TJ used to be a little horror at the front gate and it took me 30 mins to stop it.)
So I do know how you are feeling, believe me.
Chris n TJ xx

welsh_cake

Hi Chris

Yes he is neutered. We think he is about 5, but not too sure. We have had him for 2 years. He is not crate trained. He is a very spoilt dog, which i think is half the problem. I don't want to have people having a go at me on here, but he does what he wants when he wants. He has the run of the house, sleeps where he wants etc, but so did our other Bichon and he didn't have an aggressive bone in his body and loved everybody.

As for training, then i have to admit i am not great. He has been to local dog training, but wet himself with fear when the man went up to him and it was a mixed class of dogs and he didn't get into it even after 8 weeks. I try to ignore him when i come into the house after being out, but he just keeps on and on and on jumping up at me. I have no willpower when it comes to him.

thanks for your response Chris.

chris_n_tj

welsh_cake wrote: »

Hi Chris

Yes he is neutered. We think he is about 5, but not too sure. We have had him for 2 years. He is not crate trained. He is a very spoilt dog, which i think is half the problem. I don't want to have people having a go at me on here, but he does what he wants when he wants. He has the run of the house, sleeps where he wants etc, but so did our other Bichon and he didn't have an aggressive bone in his body and loved everybody.

thanks for your response Chris.

Lol Welsh it the same here with TJ so dont worry. We will get Charlie back on track dont you worry.
Chris nTJ x

foreign_correspondent

I think it is very likely that it is this lad beung mistreated in the past which has made him nervous, not you spoiling him so dont feel bad. He sounds anxious and defensive rather than aggressive to me... clearly punishment will only add to his fears - I think you have to focus on making people coming to the house/past the gate positive experiences for him

sarabe

First of all you absolutely have to stop telling this dog off.

Next you have to stop setting him up to fail.

if anybody even walks past the gate to my house he goes absolutely mental and just wants to get out so he can get at them.

Deny him access to the front gate. Every time he goes mental he is practising going mental and getting better at it.

A neighbour popped round to my house the other day and Charlie was going mad and wanting to get out of the house so he could get at her, I told him to be quiet and as soon as I opened the door he jumped up and bit her hand.

Same again. He was going mad and wanting to get at her and you let him.

I try to ignore him when i come into the house after being out,

Why?? There really is no need to do this. It is probably quite damaging to your relationship and no doubt very confusing for him.

So.... get him a crate and make it a lovely place to be, somewhere where he will feel safe and where he can go when people come to the house.

You need to start to desensitise him to the things that he is scared off by associating them with good things. Food is the obvious one but toys and games can be used too.

Is he motivated by food? Does he play? What does he enjoy?

I was blessed to share my life with an ex puppy farm stud dog for 6 years before he sadly passed away last year. He was scared of everything except dogs and progress was very slow but always in the right direction.


I'm happy to help: How to introduce him to a crate and use it effectively and how to help him to cope better in all situations. Just ask or pm if you prefer. I won't be offended if you'd rather not.

meritaten

I realise I am NOT going to earn brownie points on this thread - but, you have a dangerous dog OP. the dog had problems when you got it you say. the dog hasnt exactly got better has it? so what have you done or not done?

personally I wouldnt keep a dog that bites unless it protecting its owner. if you think the dog is protecting you then its worth trying a dog expert. if the dog is biting out of aggression then, sorry, but i would have it put down. I would NEVER allow a dog to harm a friend, neighbour, relative, child or a stranger. a dog who bites is anathema to me! unless it was being protective!

sarabe

Don't be silly Meritaten.

The dog is no more dangerous than any other scared dog that has been let down by us humans.

What else is a dog supposed to do if he is upset. Write a poison pen letter? Take you to court?

And anyway he was being protective. He was protecting himself.

welsh_cake

Thanks Sarabe.

Wow now Meritaten - under no circumstances will my dog be being put to sleep. When i took him on I promised him that i would take care of him, love him and help with every hurdle he had to jump and never make him go back to the life he used to have. If he was a large breed i would be more concerned, but i don't let him out around children and don't let him wander the streets. He is with me at all times. He usually calms down when he realises the person at the door/gate is not a threat to me/him and he is then fine, its just don't know what went wrong the other day for him to snap.

I believe his problems can be solved and he is only aggressive when i am around, as he is protecting me (the only constant he has ever had in his life).

This may sound contradictory, but he is the most loving little dog and a playful little sole when he is happy in his surroundings.

Sarab, the reason i try to ignore him when i come in the house is because i am being constantly told to do it by people who have had their dogs trained and my vet also told me to do it. He also told me to lock him in a room overnight, but i can't bring myself to do it - he has had the run of the house since the day we had him.

sarabe

welsh_cake wrote: »

Sarab, the reason i try to ignore him when i come in the house is because i am being constantly told to do it by people who have had their dogs trained and my vet also told me to do it. He also told me to lock him in a room overnight, but i can't bring myself to do it - he has had the run of the house since the day we had him.

And did they give you a reason why?

I'm afraid you have been misled. It's about the very old and outdated 'dominance theory' That if you ignore your dog they will look up to you as the leader. It's a load of old b******s.

How much respect would you show to a boss who walked in to the office and ignored you. Sure it might make you think that he was so important and that you were a nobody who didn't deserve his attention but is that the sort of relationaship you want with your dog.

Many years ago when I did subscribe to the 'Me boss - you dog' stuff I had a young beardie cross pup. Prior to her I had bumbled along with my dogs in a way that felt right to me but now I was being told that the best way to rear a pup is to ignore them. So I did.

To this day I deeply regret this. She was a fantastic dog, I loved her dearly but by the time I realised this was wrong the damage was done. For all of her 16 years whenever I came in all the dogs would rush to greet me and she would just ignore me or walk away into another room.

So you don't have to ignore your dog or shut him away or eat before him or anything else that every 'dog expert' tells you.

Oldernotwiser

sarabe wrote: »

Don't be silly Meritaten.

The dog is no more dangerous than any other scared dog that has been let down by us humans.

What else is a dog supposed to do if he is upset. Write a poison pen letter? Take you to court?

And anyway he was being protective. He was protecting himself.

I have to agree with Meritaten, although I love dogs. In fact, if the neighbour had chosen to report the bite, the decision could have been taken out of your hands.

We had to do this with a rescue beardie cross once and it was the hardest thing I've had to do but we couldn't take the risk of a child being injured.