I need help!!

[Kasianni]

I have been lurking in "bad dogs" for a few days now, trying to find a similar post and I just don't. Not sure what to say I am a big mess right now. On Saturday, I had to run out and get some things for my sisters Birthday dinner. Theo is not left alone because of his seizures and I usually crate him when I go out and my sister comes over to keep an eye on him. For some reason, I thought he'd be happy in his stroller this time, what a mistake that was. Theo is always vocal when I go out, he barks and barks and the minute I shut the door he stops and is always a sweetheart for my sister. I've never had issues with either of them, except for a bit of barking. Well on Saturday when I put Theo in his stroller, he barked at me, but then tried to lunge at me!! I was really like WTF is he doing! He didn't stop thought, he lunged and lunged and got so aggressive I rolled the stroller into my room and was thinking to shut the door and let him cool off. Well once in the room, he tried to lunge at me again, and was so aggressive towards me, I was scared. Really scared. This is not the dog I know. So he lunged again, and flipped the stroller, and came after me!! He has tried to grab onto my clothes before when leaving but this time he grabbed my arm and didn't let go. I was really freaked out and didn't know what to do. He kept grabbing and biting and I yelled at my sister to come and help me, she grabbed him and he let go and latched onto another part of my arm and started shaking my arm, my sister got him off, he grabbed and bit my leg, he was fine with my sister did not try to bite her at all. I even took my other hand and tried to pry his teeth off my arm, and so he bit my other hand. I am freaking out writing this here and actually telling someone other than my sister who was here. I feel sick and I haven't been "ok" since Saturday. My sister finally got him in the crate and I left the room and went to the bathroom to see what he had done. I can not believe the damage he did. My arm has deep bite marks all over it, and my leg was already purple. I sat on the damn floor and cried for a long time. My sister told me to go to the hospital and I didn't because I didn't know what they would do to Theo. He has never shown this aggression other than barking. So I wrapped my wounds and called my vet and brought him there. The only thing I could think of was that there was something medical going on. He was checked from a to z and vet found nothing wrong. He is still weak in his hind legs but that he normal as he just did 8 weeks crate rest because of his back. I don't know what to do. I brought Theo home and went right away to a professional animal behaviorist up the street. They are really good there and they told me to stop babying Theo and start showing him I am the boss. Well, yup he has been babied for a 8 weeks now cause of his crate rest maybe that had something to do with it, I don't know. I've gone through so much with this dog as you all know, all his medical issues, he always comes first, and now he has done this and I don't know what to do. I can get him 6 lessons with the specialist which they say will work, but it costs 500$ and really I just don't have that right now. I am struggling enough, with him going down and the vet bills and neurologists, it has eaten all my savings. I am at a loss here. I can't think and I don't know what to do. I though maybe my Doxie family could give me some advice on this one. Someone told me to put him down, and I was like WTF are you nuts??? Its not an option, he is not a bad dog. He did a really bad thing, but he is not a bad dog. I don't know what to do.

[Lisa]

Putting him down....not an option!!! Let's just take that off the table.

First, rayz for YOU.

Second, you did everything right. Everything. Vet, check. Behaviorist, check.

I would think, no stroller. Crate or loose. Go back to basics. Feed him in his crate, make him sleep in his crate etc.

How is he with Mika?

As you know, we have aggression issues with P'nut, but hers are directed at Pixel. I kind of know what to do with dog on dog aggression, but not much experience with people.

[Alex's Mom]

ITA with Lisa. tons and tons of and for you first of all.

That he's never done this before I think means that he'll be ok. I wonder if this is because he's had 8 weeks of inactivity, and now has way too much energy....combined with him being worried that the stroller means more of it? and then separation anxiety. My friend Jane's jack Russell Rilla acts like that whenever she leaves - separation anxiety on steroids! She has to crate her when she goes out. HAS to, because that's the only thing that'll stop the behaviour (and she's a vet, so knows more than most people about behavioural issues).

I totally get how you're feeling, Kasia. You know how close I was to Alex...when she tried to kill Maxe that one time, it was many many days before I could even look at her with anything other than anger (look only, mind you!). Has Theo calmed down now? is he back to his usual self? if he is, then you need to try to let it go, at least in your dealing with him. And take it right back to basics, as Lisa said. You have to be boss, and he has to know it. Which means not being upset at him, but being firm in your dealing with him.

VERY scary incident indeed. We're here for you, and don't forget it!!! If you can't afford the behaviourist (and believe me, I get that!) at least see if they'll maybe give you some advice over the phone. and then follow it.

It'll be better, believe it!

[Kasianni]

Yes, it is off the table as its not a option at all. He is fine with Mika, in fact those two never fight. I think in all the time I've had them they have never had a fight. Theo bugs her at times and she walks away. He is never aggressive with her. Even during the attack he was fine with my sister when she was trying to get him off me, it was ALL directed at me. Mika was even barking at him and trying to push him away. That evening when he was in the stroller he started to bark at me again, freaked me out. My niece took him out and put him in his crate, he was fine afterwards. I am going back to basics, no more stroller, and trying to get things back to normal. That evening when I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch, and crying, I couldn't help it, I was in pain and freaked out, he came to me with his head down, and put his head between my legs and just hung his head there. He knew he did something bad. I felt bad for him. I have let it go Paula, the minute after it happened and he was in his crate I was trying to give him water as he was foaming at the mouth from barking so much. I think I was mad for maybe 2 minutes in total and not even mad, just very very sad that he would do that to me. I feel that I've done so much for him during his life, and gone above and beyond for him and for him to turn on me like he did, just depresses me, doesn't make me angry. Makes me feel sick in my stomach, has since it happened. My wounds are healing now. I know I needed stitches in one of the wounds as it bled for 10 hours until it stopped but I think he bit a nerve or something. Surprised the neighbors didn't call the police with all the barking and screaming going on. What a mess. Theo has always had separation anxiety, but I always crate him before I go out and this time I didn't, what a mistake!! Sadly, I can not afford the $500 right now for him to see a animal behaviorist, I so wish I could, he needs it, I need it.

[LexieLuvr]

I'm so sorry! Sounds like you got good info. Please keep us posted, wish I had some ideas.

[lotsadox]

I'm so sorry, Kasia. That's very hard to deal with. Try not to take it personally. Dogs react to situations differently than we do. It's usually the situation that they are angry about, not AT the person involved. I don't have any advice except what has been given to go back to basics and nothing in life is free with him. I had to do that with Scooter after he went after my friend when she came in the house and ended up biting me. You also might try using the squirt bottle with him. Scooter will now stop behavior if I just show him the squirt bottle. I don't even have to use it. It's also good because you don't have to get close to the dog to use it. You can correct them from a distance.

I do have one question because I can't remember from your other posts. Is Theo still on any meds?

Edit: I remembered something I got from Whole Dog Journal and had to look to see if I still had the email. Here's a link to some ebooks they have. One is specifically about modifying aggressive behavior in dogs and might be helpful. Since it's an ebook it's not too expensive.

[oceangirls]

How horrible. I am no help on this either. Would they let you do appointments with the specialist one at a time, as you are able to afford it (rather than signing up for all 6)? At least they could give you some techniques to start on. I would think they'd rather have some of your business than none at all.

Sending you lots of rayz and hugs . Be careful. That is a scary situation.

[Karen]

Oh gosh, i'm so sorry you had to go through that. Not at all on your scale but I know the feeling of just being hurt...albeit mine is a puppy...but still..you are loving on them and all of a sudden teeth come out :(

I don't have any experience but all the other tips give seem like a great place to start. It seems like he already knows he hurt you really bad...that has to mean something considering he hasn't done it before.

and good luck, hopefully you will never have to go through anything like that again.

[Ivan]

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles...ogbootcamp.htm

[bittyup]

Firstfor you. I think all of the advice here is right on. My Doxie would go for me if I walked into a room where he was hanging out with my daughter. My sis had a lot of issues with her collies and a lot of it had do do with the younger one being so very smart and full of energy. She did have a behavioralist come in and they are still working on it but all is well. My two cents is seeing the stroller as the thing that needs to be eliminated. What ever you do I wish you well and I am sure it will all work out. Arnica Montana is great for bruising. My mom used it when my cat Molly bit her years ago(for no reason)