Let me give you a little background about my dog because his motivation will make more sense that way.


I used to work at the local SPCA in my area and before I left of course I adopted a dog. That dog was a very special case. He is a purebred black lab that was a backyard puppy. basically the people who bought him left him in the backyard for nine months and couldn't figure out why he had behavior issues so they took him to the SPCA. When he came to us he was extremely hyper (as labs tend to be) and had no obedience to him what-so-ever. He had a severe problem with jumping on people. He became my project dog.

I worked with him everyday (my manager believed in positive reinforcement, feeding them food to get them to do what you want) and he did great. 6 months later he was a very good k9 citizen, but only with me. he would not listen to anyone else.

Since he sat in the shelter for so long and strangers would torment him (ie. poking fingers in his eyes, kicking the kennel in his face) I became the only person that could take him out of the kennel. because of this he was deemed unadoptable and put on the euthanasia list. I offered to keep him

Hank has turned out to be a wonderful dog. He is very obedient (especially on a prong collar) but does have a problem calming down. The biggest problem I have is that he is people and child aggressive.

I can take him out and walk him in public no problem. It's when people approach him or me that he get defensive and growls and snaps at people. children are the worst. Once he gets to know you he loves you and will never show aggression towards you again.

I thought the best bet would be to have a stranger feed him treats so he learns that people all aren't bad. so we did this with my grandpa. He loved my grandpa and let him pet him and everything. When my grandpa got near me he attacked. He didn't bite my grandpa probably cause I grabbed him too fast but he did lunge and try to take my grandpa to the ground.

I have tried everything I can think of and have talked to several trainers. I have tried the gentle leader, which didn't work well. I have tried correcting him. I have tried feeding him treats while strangers pet him. nothing has worked. the problem i think really is people. people will walk up and pet him because "he's a lab he must be friendly" and that's when he shows aggression. I have ordered a vest that says "working please do not pet" in hopes that people will stop that.

He is not an outright aggressive dog. he will not attack you just because. I took him to san francisco yesterday and he did great, as long as no one came up to us. Please give me all the advice you can anything will help. sorry this is so long but I wanted everyone to have Hank's background so this would all make more sense. Thanks for your help!!!

PS: He is NOT dog aggressive AT ALL!!!! even if a strange dog approaches me.

As a safety measure, get a muzzle so people don't get hurt while you're trying to train him. (Can't comment on anything else as I'm not experienced in aggression).

I agree with the muzzle in public! If the dog has problems, especially with kids, then you could very well have a ticking time bomb. You said he's okay if people don't approach him, but children WILL approach. It's amazing how many parents let their little kids do this. And right or wrong, you will be held accountable if your dog hurts someone.

Get this DVD asap: http://www.leerburg.com/301.htm

Also, in the meantime, read Ed's articles on dominance and aggression on the main leerburg website. This will keep you busy!

Good luck!

Hi justine,
You should have the dog looked at by a pro. You might have a fear biter on your hands. There's an article on this site about a guy who had a fear biter and how he went about living with the dog, it's a really good article. Doesn't sound like a dominant dog at all, far from it. Sometimes dogs just have that temperament flaw, and it can't be fixed, just maintained. Hopefully it's not a fear thing,
Good luck,
AL

Thank you so much everyone for your help. I do feel that I have a very confident sense about me with my dog. He is walked on a prong collar at all times and it does seem to have an effect. He IS a fear biter.

I think another part of the problem is I left him with my dad for a few days while I was away and my dad's solution is to beat the dog when they do wrong. So every time Hank growled at someone or barked he got beat upside the head for it. This caused a serious set back in out training. I will never again leave my dog with my dad. I don't think this is how to solve the problem of a fear biter. In fact it seems to me that it made Hank worse because now he is fearful of being hit by someone and this was part of the beginning of his aggression issues.

I don't know if I mentioned this the first time, but there are selective people that he is like this with. I have noticed that people who may be scared of him because he is a big dog or when he raises his hackles (which he does when excited all the time) he reacts to them but when I have talked to people who aren't scared of him he is fine. Hank hates men more than anything but when a male dog trainer approached Hank with confidence, he was fine and wanted to play with him. I am afraid that a muzzle would make this worse. Then people will definetly be afraid of him because of course any dog that wears a muzzle is going to bite your face off (I am being sarcastic).

I plan on trying the muzzle and trying to get him to some training class if only for the socialization. The problem is finding a GOOD trainer and not one that is food motivated.

Thank you so much for all your help everyone. If anyone has any more suggestions please throw them this way!!!!

Thanks again especially to mike a for all your help!!!!

 Quote: justineborghello

I am afraid that a muzzle would make this worse. Then people will definetly be afraid of him because of course any dog that wears a muzzle is going to bite your face off (I am being sarcastic). If anyone has any more suggestions please throw them this way!!!!

What do you mean, "make this worse"? Make him worse? Make you more tense? Who gives a crap that, "people will definetly be afraid of him"! What you have to worry about is eliminating the opportunities for your fear biter to bite!!! A muzzle will help do this. Anyone who owns a dog knows how stupid the general public is. They will pet your dog, approach your dog, feed your dog even if you tell them NO!! A muzzle will deter them and it sends a very clear signal your dog is not, under certain conditions, friendly. They don't have to know why, they don't deserve any explanation.

Your dog, on the other hand, deserves a chance to be his best and unfortunately, with your dog, socializing him (very important) can also bring about potential headaches/lawsuits if not done carefully and correctly. Don't know the correct way to do this but if he were mine, he'd be muzzled for the time being.

And regarding your dad tell him to, well I won't say it cause he's your dad .

Good luck with him. I think it's wonderful you saved him!!!

Saving a dog from an uncertain future is great. Now save yourself from being sued (you WILL be sued when this dog bites someone, and it seems clear at this point that it's likely this will happen eventually). You have admitted in this thread that your dog is getting worse, and that you have present knowledge of his danger to others, yet you haven't mitigated that danger yet by muzzling him. Trust me, this will look very, very bad when they Google your name during the lawsuit to check your background.

You may also lose (probably already have lost) your "one bite free" exception, depending on what state you live in and what their statutory scheme is for bite lawsuits. Many states have strict liability, and some have treble damages provisions for owners who knew of the dog's propensity for unprovoked attacks.

But that's just the law piece; think about the moral piece, and about what your conscience might say when this dog permanently disfigures a child. I add this for emphasis, hoping that your current consideration of a muzzle will ripen in to a commitment to use one until you (and a professional trainer) are certain that the issue is resolved.

Concur in the analysis about your dad; no more dogsitting for him.

Please muzzle this dog and consult a professional for assistance. Please. I wish you the best with your training.

man this is some of the best advice i have ever heard.muzzels are cheap. law suits are not!! you would be killing two birds with one stone he is muzzeld so hes safer and he looks like Hannibal lecter so no body will come near him..Man these guys are always so right about the public.I have a black 4mo old GSD (American i think?..Shes not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes HAHA).but people actually argue with me saying shes Black Lab.She has to be SHES BLACK!Now with your new muzzle you'll have the worlds only black shepard!!Black labs dont need muzzels...The freakin public man.bye the way however poked him in his eyes needs a level 10 belt correction good luck bro

 Quote: Jon Lawrence

bye the way however poked him in his eyes needs a level 10 belt correction good luck bro

I love your thinking, Jon

Actually, the muzzle idea (even for a non aggressive dog) to keep people from approaching/petting your dog is excellent! I think I'll give it a try...