mcraven2
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- Apr 15, 2013
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Warning, long post!
Okay so first a little back story of Diva: We adopted her February 2012, she had just turned 4 at the time. We adopted her from Tennessee and she was only used for breeding. When we brought her to our vet a few days after adopting her she said she was underweight and all of her teeth were shaved down due to living in a cage, most likely from chewing on the wires. She clearly wasn't socialized or loved but she took to the family right away. That being said, she has gotten worse with strangers over the past year and a half, she is our little guard dog who has gotten more territorial as she has been here longer. She is so loving and fun with us, but once someone rings the doorbell or comes in the house she runs at them barking, but NEVER did we imagine that she would ever bite someone! Now, just last week Diva attacked our 10 year old female English Bulldog, Princess, and Princess ended up biting Diva back on her ear that required us to take Diva to the vet just incase it was infected (Princess NEVER starts any fights with her, but she does defend herself when Diva has attacked her. Since adopting Princess last January they have gotten in 4 bad fights but are fine 99% of the time). The bite really wasn't too bad but I always would rather be safe than sorry. So today while we were in the yard letting them go to the bathroom, my neighbor walked over (like he does all the time) and Diva ran at him barking (like she does all the time) but this time she bit his leg! It wasn't a horrible bite, but it was still a bite that drew blood. We have know this neighbor forever and are good friends with him so he was only worried about rabies which we told him she was up to date on all of her shots. We now are going to keep her on a leash at all times while she is outside and if we know that someone is coming over she will be on a leash at all times. I honestly don't think I am going to trust people petting her on walks at this point, even though I think she would only do it in the house or in the yard because it's her territory, but I just don't want to risk her biting another person, especially someone we don't know. I'm just so frustrated, she is so loving and fun around the family and I just wish she was like that with everyone. Thanks for reading this long post!
Anyone have any ideas or training tricks that may help with this behavior?
Okay so first a little back story of Diva: We adopted her February 2012, she had just turned 4 at the time. We adopted her from Tennessee and she was only used for breeding. When we brought her to our vet a few days after adopting her she said she was underweight and all of her teeth were shaved down due to living in a cage, most likely from chewing on the wires. She clearly wasn't socialized or loved but she took to the family right away. That being said, she has gotten worse with strangers over the past year and a half, she is our little guard dog who has gotten more territorial as she has been here longer. She is so loving and fun with us, but once someone rings the doorbell or comes in the house she runs at them barking, but NEVER did we imagine that she would ever bite someone! Now, just last week Diva attacked our 10 year old female English Bulldog, Princess, and Princess ended up biting Diva back on her ear that required us to take Diva to the vet just incase it was infected (Princess NEVER starts any fights with her, but she does defend herself when Diva has attacked her. Since adopting Princess last January they have gotten in 4 bad fights but are fine 99% of the time). The bite really wasn't too bad but I always would rather be safe than sorry. So today while we were in the yard letting them go to the bathroom, my neighbor walked over (like he does all the time) and Diva ran at him barking (like she does all the time) but this time she bit his leg! It wasn't a horrible bite, but it was still a bite that drew blood. We have know this neighbor forever and are good friends with him so he was only worried about rabies which we told him she was up to date on all of her shots. We now are going to keep her on a leash at all times while she is outside and if we know that someone is coming over she will be on a leash at all times. I honestly don't think I am going to trust people petting her on walks at this point, even though I think she would only do it in the house or in the yard because it's her territory, but I just don't want to risk her biting another person, especially someone we don't know. I'm just so frustrated, she is so loving and fun around the family and I just wish she was like that with everyone. Thanks for reading this long post!
Anyone have any ideas or training tricks that may help with this behavior?
