My neighbor who is my newest dog's nemesis, before when I started raw and didn't totally get it he got sick. Previous to that my neighbor sprayed him with weed killer. Anyhoot today the neighbor put his hand in to open the gate and Bolt Bit him but good. Let me fill in a bit. I got Bolt June 20 and he has barked at the meighbor since day1. When he did this I would come out and stop Bolt and make hime sit calm and submissive. Problem I have teenagers. The rule is to watch the dogs out. Well 14 year old son let them out and for wome reason my neighbor reached in to open the gate, he was going to use the back hoe on his driveway. Bolt's out there high energy dog, been barking at this guy9unless I'm there) since 6/20/09. neighbor reaches in and opens gate, I know nothing of this, and bolt snags him on the web part of his left ring finger and on his veing above. Being a farm raised man he carries on. Later he says", he's barked at me since day one that isn't right he's going to hurtr someone." His hand is jacked up. Bo;t hit him inbetweeen and on top odf the vein. I'm pissed as the kid have been informed bolt cannot go out uless watched. If I had been out ther and sween him charging the man I could have stoopped it, i was busy, God I've been working on this dog forever and I may now havr t retun him I need help've sent a messageto my best frienf Mary kay,m Mollu says ouycantreaxh

Do i need to realize I cant save him? He's my family I have t to save him

I'm affiad he willbite more Indian dogf trainers plese help I rescued him he on top t=fof whats goint on I think I can fix it but i've contacted

He bit my neighbor bad tonight. HE came through the gate unbeknowst to me.

Have you offered to take care of medical costs for the neighbor?

Have you considered a muzzle for the dog when outside? Even when you are supervising?

Is the barking still an issue?

Sorry unable to get online yesterday. The neighbor says he doesn't need a doc, he's not reporting it. The first priority is to make sure he's (the dog) secure. Turns out he chased him back to his door. He's begining obedience this week. I've also found a Shutzhund trainer who often helps people with aggressive dogs. She's helped many a biting shepherd owner. If the neighborlets me know before he walks into the fenced yard to use our bakhoe, I can put the dog on a leash. The kids are being told they need to be careful with him or he will have to go. I don't want to send him back to the rescue. He's very smart and eager to please so I'm going to do whatever I can to "fix" him. I tried to buy a muzzle when I first got him and the one I purchased was too long for his nose. I have seen cage like ones, I'll probally have to get one of those if needed. He's OK on leash and in my home. I think it was like someone coming in the front door with no one in the house. Some people would like this kind of protection , but I think it's just not safe to have him like that.

 Quote: Michelle Pociask

The kids are being told they need to be careful with him or he will have to go.

Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately I know nothing of biting dogs. But one piece of advice I feel comfortable sharing is that the kids should not have any part in his training or care. As you've found out they are unreliable (not a knock on your kids but kids in general).

Biting being a serious issue I think for best results and safety of all; you should be the only one attending to the dog. Is he crate trained? If not consider tethering; but I think in cases where you are busy, if he is with you or locked away there will not be a repeat of the episode that just occurred.

I know this advice doubles your workload; because I often have my kids take my dog out when I am busy and it is a God send. But under the circumstances until reliable control has been established by you I don't think it is a good idea. JMO.

I have several gates on my property and all are padlocked. I do not under any circumstances want someone coming in my dog area.

I also have no tresspassing signs.

I agree. Howhever after school they have to let him out as I work until 4 and later on certain days if I have bus duty. I have a fenced yard. It's not a matter of him getting out. It's a matter of him not being left out while the children get distracted and forget the dogs are out. Also the whole running at the fence and barking when the neighbor is out needs to be stopped. I stop him when I'm out there. I was thinking of putting a tie out at the back door for late night or early morning let outs. That way he can't get to the fence line and bark. I have the same rule about the dogs and digging. If they let the dogs out they are supposed to go out with them. If they are left the largest starts a digging spree. I think they know it's serious and he(Bolt) will have to go back if they cannot do the right thing. They are teenagers. Well my daughter is a tween and she's more responsible than my son who's 14. He(the dog not my son) is crate trained and stays in the crate when I am not home. He cannot have anything in the crate or he destroys it. He just ate a hole in a chewproof tire. He's always been high energy. He chews extreme Kongs into pieces and he also ate our everlasting treat ball. When I let him out he has to have a Kong or something in his mouth or he bites my labx. He didn't have a toy when he bit my neighbor. He looks for his toy on his way out. It's almost like he knows he needs something to chew on or he can't control himself. I'm looking forward to taking him to a professional. I should have put him in obedience when I got him ,but I was so focused on my pittyx's dog aggression I thought he would be OK if I waited. Also now that it's freezing outside I have been able to run with him on my bike.

Same here as Betty. My side & back yards are fenced with a 6' stockade fence,gates padlocked & signs posted. My neighbors on both sides are very 'respectful' of my dogs. Behind all our houses on my street are woods & the back side of my fence is 'posted' in several places as well.

Just talked to a trainer recommended by friends, she's has a bootcamp and will take him for 300$ for 1 week. Also she does private for 25$ per visit. THis is the woman who does Shutzhund. She said she and her daughter could both work with him. I don't know about giving him to someone for a week. She sound like a jerk and pull trainer. She told me to put a prong and a line on him and knock him off his feet anytime he shows aggression. I'm not real sure about this though. I will need to research it further. Especailly after reading about some of the horror stories with bad trainers on this site. I will try and search the name.