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Author
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Topic: Dog bit my girlfriend!
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JR
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Member # 258
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posted October 02, 2003 06:29 AM
Last night my Australian Heeler bit my girlfriend in the face after she pushed him away from the table when he tried to get some chicken. We've had him for 2 months, (he's 3 years old), and he's been the sweetest most gentle, lovable dog ever. Lately he's been eating lots of grass and other plants and throwing up and his stomach makes noise, so I think he was hungry, but we've pushed him away from the table before and smacked him, but last night he freaked out on her. I smacked him and put him outside, but now my girlfriend is afraid of him, and I don't trust him around people anymore. I'm taking him to the vet as soon as I can to find out what's wrong with his stomach, but I'm worried about his behavior now. Any ideas as to what's going on with him?
Posts: 2 | Registered: Oct 2003
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fullhouse9873
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posted October 02, 2003 11:49 PM
Start some basic obedience training with your dog. That will help you gain control - and teach your dog that you are the boss.
If food aggression is a problem - don't let the dog in the room when you are eating. It sounds like this may be food aggression - as he is a good dog the rest of the time. What do you know about his past - was he abused or neglected at all? A good trainer can help you try to work past these problems.
Also - don't let your girlfriend become afraid of the dog. If he's smart (which that breed is) - he will pick up on that and use it to his advantage. It may help to have your girlfriend work with the dog on some obedience.
Good luck (and good luck with the tummy problems - let me know what you find out from the vet - my pup is constantly pulling up grass - but he doesn't eat it)
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
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JR
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Member # 258
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posted October 03, 2003 10:40 AM
Thanks for your reply. The vet feels that the stomach problems were most likely from something he got into outside and will pass on it's own, but he gave the dog a shot and some pills to help with it. He seems much better today and isn't eating grass anymore. I guess he was eating the vegetation to make himself sick and get rid of whatever was bothering him.
The vet said much as you did, that we need to be carefull with food around him, and that my girlfriend needs to work with a trainer to be more dominant with him. She is still nervous, but is willing to work on it because she really loves him so much.
He was an abused dog, basically kept in a cage outside for most of his life, and never interacted with women at all, which may be part of the problem. He is also not fixed, something which we will take care of soon. Hopefully this will all help so we can keep him and enjoy him as we have been.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Oct 2003
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fullhouse9873
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posted October 03, 2003 11:05 PM
Fixing him will definately help. Just remind your girlfriend not to be afraid - he will pick up on it.
I was bitten by one of my two dogs (not sure which one) - while I was trying to break up a bad fight. I was scared of my one dog (we had only had him a month) for a long time. Once we started going to training - it helped me gain control.
Good luck with him - I don't know if you said, but what kind of breed is your dog? (That may be a part of it)
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
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fullhouse9873
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Member # 222
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posted October 03, 2003 11:07 PM
I'm sorry - he's an Australian Heeler. On the bright side - you have that going for you. As far as I know they're not an overly aggressive dog (as opposed to a pit bull, etc)
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
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