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[rdryan]

Xerxes just bit my mom. He has always been fine with my mom, never an issue before. And he was acting normally with her and then just went crazy growling and bit into her hand. This is bite number 2 both with people he is used to and normally enjoys.

 

[taisa899]

How bad are the bites? What was she doing when he bit her?

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[ruthcatrin]

Yup, describe the situation is as much detail as you can remember.

 

[rdryan]

She came over to visit this morning like she does every day. Xerxes waited for her to get in and then went to see her with his tail wagging and she always gives him a chest rub when he greets her and then he normally rubs his body along her legs and then he goes and lays down.

He was in the process of the leg rub when he gave a low growl and turned and grabbed her hand twice. As soon as I said "out" he went and laid on his mat like nothing happened.

She has several puncture wounds and lots of bruising. Might need some stitches.

This scenario was similar to the first bite. He was enjoying being petted by a family friend, walked away and when he turned to come back for more with his tail wagging, suddenly stopped, growled and grabbed the hand of the friend, Two puncture wounds that time with lots of bruising.

Immediately before and immediately after both instances, he was acting totally normal.

 

[rdryan]

This one is likely going to get reported if she has to go get stitches.

 

[rdryan]

I am in way over my head with this one. There is no way for me to keep anyone safe unless he is gated to my room any time there are people here. And there are people here often. I babysit my grand children Monday to Friday. This just sucks.

 

[cinnamon roll]

When he bit the other person were they petting the same area? Maybe he is sore there?

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Hang in there we will help you thru this we many amazing people on here.

 

[rdryan]

No the other bite, he was done being loved, walked away and turned to go back, with his tail wagging and on his way by, he grabbed the friend's hand. His hand was on his leg at the time. The bite wasn't as bad as this one and the friend happened to be a young man, who Xerxes has issues with but not usually this one.

Mom was done petting him and he was part way through his ritual body rub along her leg, her hands were at her sides. She was pretty shaken up. This was totally unexpected and he has always loved my mom.

Our house is a busy one. With grand kids and extended family coming and going. He is going to spend a lot of his time gated away I'm afraid. I cannot trust him with ANYONE at this point. I understand when he is feeling nervous and feeling the need to guard against a stranger but he sees my mom every single day. She is a little, quiet woman, not imposing or threatening at all.

I talked to a trainer in our area, there are very few close to me and she does only obedience work and agility. He has been through obedience training and is obedient 99% of the time. I am waiting for a call back from someone a few hours away who deals with behavioral issues but feeling pretty hopeless at this point that I can provide him the environment he needs to be in to give him a good life while this gets worked on and keep everyone safe at the same time.

On a positive note, he had his breaky this morning and had no regurgitation and a solid poop. So the Earthborn food seems to be the answer to that issue.

The original owners told us he had trouble with the vet and had to be muzzled. Also told us he was nervous of young men but he either didn't act this way or they didn't tell me the extent of it. He has always been wonderful with my grand children but he was also always wonderful with my mom, so now I am a stressed out bag of shit.

 

[cinnamon roll]

I couldn't imagine what you are feeling right now. My heart goes out to you.

How old is he again?

 

[rdryan]

Turned two in August.

 

[DMikeM]

But he has been sick for weeks right? There is no way of knowing how uncomfortable he is or how he will react to any situation right now.

 

[DennasMom]

Bummer.

I'd put him on his rug and give a full body massage... see if you can find any sensitive spots. Could be his tummy, too, if that's been upset lately.
Make sure you're comfortable touching him everywhere... he might react but not grab for you, where for the others he's grabbing as he's reacting...

You might also want to introduce him to a 'happy' muzzle... so you can maybe keep him closer to you safely when there's action about the house. Make wearing the muzzle a pleasant non-event, so neither one of you feels bad when he has it on. Let the kids know this is just his safety mask, that it's not a punishment for him. If you can find one that's fun to look at, versus a scary wire cage, that might help others view it as less imposing, too.

Another idea - put up a webcam to capture the area most likely to have 'events'... then maybe you can review the video and see if there are any signs he's giving off that can help point to the source of the issue.

You say he 'grabbed' hands in both cases... but released when asked (that's a GOOD thing). It doesn't sound, the way you've described it, like an aggressive act, more a reaction to something he was trying to stop?

Does he have a 'hard' mouth when taking treats, too? You could work on his bite a little bit... make sure he always takes treats gently, go back to 'ouch' and 'yipe' when he grabs anything too hard... see if you can soften up the 'grab'?

Seems weird that he'd walk away, then come back for a grab... not sure how that fits in doggie vocabulary...

 

[rdryan]

I have worked him over with my hands and so did the vet last week but nothing. No reactions whatsoever. He has had the runs and some regurgitating after meals that did not agree with him but was his usual self otherwise.

He has a muzzle but I have never had the need to use it with my mom.

And yes both times, he was happy for the petting and then turned back and grabbed. He grabbed for mom a second time after I hollered "out" and then he left for his mat.

Doesn't have a hard mouth at all, not when taking treats or when playing. If he accidentally gets you with his mouth when playing, he immediately releases and backs up.

These were not accidents. I don't believe they were due to his food trouble because the first incident he wasn't having trouble. This is definitely behavioral. Started with just strange young men and is escalating to others who don't live here.

I've talked to lady who bred them and she said the mother turned out to be the same way. Became very unpredictable.

 

[cinnamon roll]

Did the breeder have any suggestions?

If this is breed into him you are gonna have a hard decision on your hands.

 

[Mario]

I'm sorry. What a sucky situation to be in as you know what a sweet dog he is but I don't think that a dog who seems to be getting worse with people they are around regularly would be a dog I'd want to have around my children or grandchildren. Sorry if that is insensitive or offensive to some. Since it doesn't sound like your mom did anything wrong or provoking what if your grandchild was over & say coloring not bothering him at all & he took off after a kid. I'd be sick knowing that there had already been warning signs with his behavior. I don't know your & Xersxes' story since I'm new but have other people in your life expressed concern about this? Namely your kids that have grandkids? I've got a friend whose mom had an aggressive German Shepards that went after people & then her own child. The grandma/dog owner refused to lock up the dog when family was around since it was their home too- it really messed up my friends relationship with her mom & they had to quit visiting as she couldn't risk her kids anymore. Not saying that's what's happening here at all but just something to think about.
Again I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Hope I haven't over stepped any boundaries or offended you... From my short time on this board I can tell that you've really spent a lot of time, effort & love on Xerxes and are focused on giving him a good life.

 

[rdryan]

She had no suggestions. She was just someone who thought she had a cute CC and bred with a friend's Cute EM. She found a new home for her CC who had started turning on family members but has since lost contact with them.

Stress sucks..... might hit a bottle or two of wine tonight. LOL

 

[cinnamon roll]

You more then deserve that bottle.

Hopefully someone with exp in this situation shows up to help.

Again I am so sorry. How is your mom?

 

[rdryan]

I'm sorry. What a sucky situation to be in as you know what a sweet dog he is but I don't think that a dog who seems to be getting worse with people they are around regularly would be a dog I'd want to have around my children or grandchildren. Sorry if that is insensitive or offensive to some. Since it doesn't sound like your mom did anything wrong or provoking what if your grandchild was over & say coloring not bothering him at all & he took off after a kid. I'd be sick knowing that there had already been warning signs with his behavior. I don't know your & Xersxes' story since I'm new but have other people in your life expressed concern about this? Namely your kids that have grandkids? I've got a friend whose mom had an aggressive German Shepards that went after people & then her own child. The grandma/dog owner refused to lock up the dog when family was around since it was their home too- it really messed up my friends relationship with her mom & they had to quit visiting as she couldn't risk her kids anymore. Not saying that's what's happening here at all but just something to think about.
Again I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Hope I haven't over stepped any boundaries or offended you... From my short time on this board I can tell that you've really spent a lot of time, effort & love on Xerxes and are focused on giving him a good life.

Absolutely no offence taken. I have been gating him and muzzling him when new or newish people need to come in. Only gave him freedom with the people he has been trustable with but he proved this morning that is no longer anyone. Trust me, I will not risk anyone, especially the kids getting injured. He will remain gated when it is more than just us here until I can figure out my next step.

Everyone is concerned of course but they all know I am not new to dogs and will not risk anyone's safety. This morning was a real eye opener.

I am stressed, frustrated, heartbroken and overwhelmed by it all. Still waiting for a call back from the behaviorist but he is 2 hours away and have no idea how long before he come and evaluate him.

 

[Hector]

Sorry things got to this point. I can tell how much work you've put in this dog. I can also tell how much you love him. If you decide to keep the dog, the best you can do is manage him so he can't ever bite anyone again. With an unstable dog, there's no telling what will set him off. If the dog went after your mom that he loves so much, then he can come after you too. I know this doesn't help, but I would tell myself the same thing and there is no room in my house for a dog that turns on its people.

 

[rdryan]

Sorry things got to this point. I can tell how much work you've put in this dog. I can also tell how much you love him. If you decide to keep the dog, the best you can do is manage him so he can't ever bite anyone again. With an unstable dog, there's no telling what will set him off. If the dog went after your mom that he loves so much, then he can come after you too. I know this doesn't help, but I would tell myself the same thing and there is no room in my house for a dog that turns on its people.

I am shocked at how fast it got to this point. We thought we had a handle on his triggers and were making some headway and then this. My heart is broken. I love this dog incredibly. I thought I was helping by bringing him home and keeping him out of a shelter but what a mess we have now. My mom had to go to the ER and of course the bite was reported so animal control is coming tomorrow so I can show them his needles are up to date. I offered to go there with the paperwork but they insisted they will come here..... ugh.