My mother is 69, and adopted a puppy just over a year ago. The dog is a very well-behaved, neutered male pit/Shepard mix. He has never shown any signs of dog nor human aggression, but has recently had some "spastic" moments. While on lead, I have observed him jumping up and biting at the lead. One sharp correction, and he always has snapped back into shape for me. When my mother walks him, it's a different story.

Three times in the last week, he has jumped up and bitten the leash and then her arm while being let out to go to the bathroom. She has thin skin and has been punctured and bruised each time. As soon as she yells at him, his tail goes between his legs and he runs to the door to go inside. I haven't been around in any of the instances so am just relaying what has been explained to me. I have been unable to recreate the scenario. I am a 200 pound man and the dog simply behaves better for me than her.

She is considering giving him up, which is understandable, but she has made it so far and loves him so much I can't bear to see that happen. I'm wondering if a remote collar might help. I own a pet store (where my mother helps out) and "Hank" is here every day. He is very well socialized and consistently trained and I feel pretty certain this behavior isn't aggression. But it has to stop now! I'll be taking him into my pack tonight while she thinks about what her best course of action is.

Any suggestions or advice appreciated. This little guy has become part of the family, and anything I can do to keep him with us, I will.

Please let this not be another one of those stories: adopted a cute puppy, he matured and is too much to handle now, too dangerous, have to "give him up" (PTS?).

Does your mother want an adult high-drive dog? Is she willing to do GW and OB with him?

I've got it! Chip, how would you like to have a 3rd dog? You seem to be doing fine with Hank and your mother could come and visit!

Does this dog have any formal training? If not, that's the first issue to address. This is the age where they start to test the boundaries and when social status and pack drive kick in. As far as e-collar - It's a great tool when used properly. Zapping a dog when you don't like what he's doing isn't necessarily using it properly. If the dog doesn't know formal commands - Sit, Stay, Down, Come, Place, Leave it, etc. - Then it's not fair to use an e-collar. E-collars are used when a dog refuses a command he has demonstrated he KNOWS. My dog knows a command when they do what I asked: 1. The first time I say it, 2. In a normal tone of voice, 3. In the face of distractions, 4. Without a cookie/toy bribe. Once I'm sure my dog knows what it should be doing, then it's fair to issue a correction. Until then, you're just picking on him for being a dog, doing normal doggie things. A dog that feels picked on has three choices - 1. Ignore the human, 2. Become fearful of the human, 3. Aggress at the human. Most dogs choose number 1, and the ones who don't end up rehomed or dead through no fault of their own.

Oops, just re-read your post and saw that you said your dog has training. However, I still stand by my criteria. Lots of people come to my studio and tell me their dogs have training, even formal training, but there's just one problem they want me to help them fix (ie biting leash, jumping, aggression). I ask them to "show me." And that's usually where everything falls apart, and the owner sheepishly signs up for my level 1 class.

Sorry to have been so brief, I was at work when i submitted the thread and was just looking at my mother's badly bleeding arm.

I'll try to address every question and point thus far.

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

Please let this not be another one of those stories: adopted a cute puppy, he matured and is too much to handle now, too dangerous, have to "give him up" (PTS?).

Were this not potentially a grave medical issue, "giving him up" would not even be on the table. My mother is elderly and bruises and bleeds easily. I have photoed the injuries and will send those to Ed with the back story.

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

Does your mother want an adult high-drive dog? Is she willing to do GW and OB with him?

She has a trainer, who is good, but IMHO too soft (Every aspect is positive, and corrections are nearly absent). And for what it's worth, despite his lineage, he's not a high drive dog, even at his young age. He is an oddly lazy and aloof pup. Very food motivated, though, and has picked up training well.

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

I've got it! Chip, how would you like to have a 3rd dog? You seem to be doing fine with Hank and your mother could come and visit!

This is certainly on the table, though not something I had planned for!

 Quote: lisa brazeau

Oops, just re-read your post and saw that you said your dog has training. However, I still stand by my criteria. Lots of people come to my studio and tell me their dogs have training, even formal training, but there's just one problem they want me to help them fix (ie biting leash, jumping, aggression). I ask them to "show me." And that's usually where everything falls apart, and the owner sheepishly signs up for my level 1 class.

Well, he isn't my dog (yet, lol). And he certainly isn't at the level my dogs are, but he's a pup and owned by an older lady. I work with him a little every day at the shop, but he has a different "job" than my dogs. He got his CGC at 12 months, but obviously isn't doing the bite work and such that Rose does. He will "out" on command while playing tug, etc., but he just isn't terribly driven to play tug or fetch. Rose trembles with anticipation to get the command to bite a sleeve or hanging tire. Hank loses interest as soon as he has to wait a few seconds on a tug toy. With three owner bites in a week, I doubt I'd ever even introduce bite work to this dog. Of course, if he were part of my pack, I might feel differently down the road.

And as for an E-collar, my idea for it is to put on him when she is walking him alone. So far that's been the scenario every time he has "spazzed" and tried to run circles, jump, and bite. All I am looking for is something she could use to give him a harsher correction than she physically is able to if he goes into spastic mode and she fears for her safety.

An aside, he doesn't get the exercise I feel he needs. She walks him 20-30 minutes every morning and again in the evening. My own working dog flat out sprints that amount every evening, plus spring pole and bite work, weather permitting. Shortstack isn't built for that, so we just walk on leash with Rose for Rose's cool down. If I do wind up taking Hank in, he'll be an interesting fit. Wish us luck!

Hi Chip, How often does this dog get to really burn off some energy and get GOOD exercise? No offense toward your mom AT ALL, but if all he is getting is calm walks on a leash, it would make perfect sense that he would have periods of not being able to control himself, and maybe even show some frustration.

Perhaps by introducing some consistant and appropriate exercise as well as some consistant training (I bet your mom would absolutely be able to master marker training!) this behavior could be squelched.

I think Barbara's points are good ones.

Is there any way that you could watch your Mom take the dog for a walk, without the dog knowing that you are there? Then you could observe for yourself what his behavior is. (edited to add: nevermind! I see that you have seen this behavior yourself)

It sounds like a 15 month old feeling his oats, compounded by a lack of any real exercise.

Barbara, she used to take him to the dog park 2-3 times a week, but I have to admit I am the cause for ending that. He never had an issue, but I can remember at least four instances where a big lab, boxer or such got terrorized by a (usually) smaller dog while trying to retrieve and got fed up. In every case I can recall, the owners of the little dog either said or alluded that a big dog has no place at a dog park if it is likely to behave like a dog. And on here and other forums I ran into a ton of dog people with logical reasons not to take your dog to a dog park. It was a good ritual for them and really worked out, but I worried about worst-case scenario.
I keep him overnight about every other week, and he gets as much exercise as he'll give on those days. I have him tonight until Thursday night, and we have walked, played, and run his pants off! He just did a long sit/stay waiting for his food with my girls. Oh, I don't need a third dog...

 Quote: Chip Bridges

Oh, I don't need a third dog...

Too late Good luck with your new pup!