ALABAMA -- Duke has acted aggressive before. I've posted about it once. That post was actually not the first time. The first time he snapped and growled at my husband when he tried to pull him off of the bed by his collar. He was sick and had been to the vet. He came home with a cone on his head because he had a catheter in his leg. He was in distress and I just gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Last night we had the behavior specialist over, who's been working with us. We were teaching him to go to his bed and stay there until we release him. He was doing great. I'd had him on there for about 10 or 20 minutes, given him a break with some praise and petting, and then put him back. I brought him a bone so that he could be entertained by something and I was sitting on the couch about 10 feet from him. I decided to mess with his bone as I ALWAYS do when he's in the middle of a good chew. He has never acted badly before. He has "guarded" by covering bones with his feet or turning his back to me or laying his ears to the side, but has never growled or bit.
Last night he actually bit me. And by bit I mean he curled up his lip and bit my hand pretty hard. He didn't break skin, but it hurt. I then told my husband to come down and test the behavior again, and he growled at him, but didn't actually bite. For the record he respects my husband much more than me.
I'm at a total loss what to do. If I didn't have small children this wouldn't be a huge issue. But I have a 4 year old and a 4 month old baby. The behavior specialist (who's extremely reputable I might add) said that he is responding to stress. So he's not even really food guarding as much as reacting to new rules.
What happens if he's at the dog park one day and something a small child does stresses him out? The fact that he wasn't technically just guarding food is even more concerning and makes him even more unpredictable to me. The behavior specialist is very concerned that this shows he is capable of the behavior, and can't give any guarantees about how he's going to be in the future and whether this will get worse. Each dog is different.
The fact that this went from snapping to actual biting and biting pretty hard is even more concerning. I don't know what to do. I adore this dog. I can't even express to you how much so, but he has totally stolen my heart and I am devastated. Let me assure you that he could tear my house down and I would never rehome him. I have always said that aggression and biting is the ONLY reason I would ever rehome a dog, because of my children. I adore this dog, but I adore my children more. What do I do?
I am so hesitant to jump the gun and regret it forever or always wonder. But what if I don't do something and he bites my children or another child at the park or while on a walk? I'd never forgive myself ever. Please help.
(Husky-owners.com - November 19, 2014)
