April 12, 2011
I'm a police dog handler that recently got a new GSD. The dog has bitten me two times. I feel that the bites were caused by me. What do you think?
Full Question:
I am a Police Dog Handler and have recently picked up a new, black haired German Shepherd.He (Sam) came from a handler that recently left the dog section and is already trained in all aspects of Police work. He is a very hard and dominant dog.
I have had him for 6 weeks and in this time I have been bitten by him on 2 occasions.
The first was putting on the tracking harness, which got caught in his mouth. The bite put me off work for 10 days.
The second time was treating him for a wound to the nose. I was wiping away the blood and he decided to bite me on the hand; luckily I had gloves on and the resulting injury was only minor.
On both occasions I have not strung him up and once he has released his bite he has become very submissive.
On both of these times I feel that the bite was caused by me and Sam was only defending himself.
Should I be lifting Sam off the ground with the lead each time he bites me or should I just let it go and realize that it is an occupational hazard.
Regards,
Andrew
Ed's Answer:
You need to solve this problem before he really bites you badly. These bites have nothing to do with anything but dominance. You need to read my articles and Q&A on dominant dogs.
You need to hang this dog until he passes out when he does this. Its not that simple though. There is a program here.
1- You need to do EVERYTHING I say on the dominant dog article. This needs to be done for several weeks longer if there are things you have been doing wrong.
2- You should pick your fights - the time and place.
3- Get a good hidden sleeve.
4- Get one of the dominant dog collars they are collars designed for hanging a dog that bites the handler). Using the right collar is VERY, VERY important in this process.
5- You need a second person to help here.
6- Have a line over a tree limb or something like that. Heel the dog up to it and sit him. Connect the line over the tree limb to the dogs hanging collar.
7- With the hidden sleeve on - reach under that arm and flank the dog -hard so the dog will turn and bite the hidden sleeve.
8- When he bites your back up hangs the dog. You raises the dog off the ground but only with the feet about 2 inches off the ground. He does this until the dog passes out or just starts to pass out (more than likely the dog will shit or piss).
9- The most important part here is for you to remain totally calm - no screaming, no jerking, no loud commands. Very calmly tell him "No, No, No You Will Not Bite Me. Remaining clam is the most important part of this entire process. If you scream and fight the dog the dog will pass out and wake up and want to continue fighting
10- Do this three times on the first day. Do it three times the second day. Then skip a day and try it again. You are looking for the point where he will not bite you.
11- When he will not bite you in the back yard - then set him up and do it in other locations (you pick the spots).
12- When you can't set him up in other locations - then test him around items - i.e. his food dish - taking his ball away - when you do this - let him drag a leash - posture yourself - act like you are trying to sneak up and take it - act hesitant - try and bring out the dominant problem - then when he tries to bite - hang him with his leash.
If you do this properly you will solve this problem. The important thing to understand about hanging is that it is not painful for the dog. It just takes the dogs air away. When this is done properly it makes the handlers seem very powerful to the dog. The dog learns that the handler virtually holds his life in his hands. All dogs have a very strong pack drive - they understand the position of PACK LEADER - when you do this you are very firmly establishing your position as pack leader.
By the way it would not surprise me that you also have an OUT problem - the OUT is 100% a RANK ISSUE. Its and obedience issue. When the handler gives the OUT command the dog must OUT. If you use an electric collar the dog must ALWAYS know its you that is shocking him. So if your OUT the dog and he does not Out - they you always say NO OUT !!! before you shock him. Of course there are other issues here to - the helper should be immediately fighting the dog to reward a good out - that's an entire different issue).
Let me know how this works for you. It is important that your understand that your statement of "I feel that the bite was caused by me and Sam was only defending himself" Is 110% wrong. This is an attitude of someone who is going to get badly bit. It is not the attitude of a pack leader. Get the collar and hidden sleeve and read all of the articles and Q&A sections on my web site about this.
You need to hang this dog until he passes out when he does this. Its not that simple though. There is a program here.
1- You need to do EVERYTHING I say on the dominant dog article. This needs to be done for several weeks longer if there are things you have been doing wrong.
2- You should pick your fights - the time and place.
3- Get a good hidden sleeve.
4- Get one of the dominant dog collars they are collars designed for hanging a dog that bites the handler). Using the right collar is VERY, VERY important in this process.
5- You need a second person to help here.
6- Have a line over a tree limb or something like that. Heel the dog up to it and sit him. Connect the line over the tree limb to the dogs hanging collar.
7- With the hidden sleeve on - reach under that arm and flank the dog -hard so the dog will turn and bite the hidden sleeve.
8- When he bites your back up hangs the dog. You raises the dog off the ground but only with the feet about 2 inches off the ground. He does this until the dog passes out or just starts to pass out (more than likely the dog will shit or piss).
9- The most important part here is for you to remain totally calm - no screaming, no jerking, no loud commands. Very calmly tell him "No, No, No You Will Not Bite Me. Remaining clam is the most important part of this entire process. If you scream and fight the dog the dog will pass out and wake up and want to continue fighting
10- Do this three times on the first day. Do it three times the second day. Then skip a day and try it again. You are looking for the point where he will not bite you.
11- When he will not bite you in the back yard - then set him up and do it in other locations (you pick the spots).
12- When you can't set him up in other locations - then test him around items - i.e. his food dish - taking his ball away - when you do this - let him drag a leash - posture yourself - act like you are trying to sneak up and take it - act hesitant - try and bring out the dominant problem - then when he tries to bite - hang him with his leash.
If you do this properly you will solve this problem. The important thing to understand about hanging is that it is not painful for the dog. It just takes the dogs air away. When this is done properly it makes the handlers seem very powerful to the dog. The dog learns that the handler virtually holds his life in his hands. All dogs have a very strong pack drive - they understand the position of PACK LEADER - when you do this you are very firmly establishing your position as pack leader.
By the way it would not surprise me that you also have an OUT problem - the OUT is 100% a RANK ISSUE. Its and obedience issue. When the handler gives the OUT command the dog must OUT. If you use an electric collar the dog must ALWAYS know its you that is shocking him. So if your OUT the dog and he does not Out - they you always say NO OUT !!! before you shock him. Of course there are other issues here to - the helper should be immediately fighting the dog to reward a good out - that's an entire different issue).
Let me know how this works for you. It is important that your understand that your statement of "I feel that the bite was caused by me and Sam was only defending himself" Is 110% wrong. This is an attitude of someone who is going to get badly bit. It is not the attitude of a pack leader. Get the collar and hidden sleeve and read all of the articles and Q&A sections on my web site about this.
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