Rescue dog attacked BF help!!!

[lovedobe]

I rescued a 1-year-and-7-month-old neutered male dog named Archi. He was surrounded to a friend who works with rescue and he couldn’t keep him any more. He is extremely hyper and full of energy, and I’m having a hard time socializing him with my current dog, Bella, who is a 6-year-old spayed female and very well-behaved.

Archi is up to date on all his vaccinations and sleeps in his crate at night without any issues.

However, he is not socialized at all. We first introduced the dogs in a neutral area. Archi was wearing a muzzle, but he was still barking aggressively through it. He spent the night in his crate, and the next morning I attempted another introduction in the backyard with him on a leash. He sniffed Bella briefly, then started barking and almost attacked her. My boyfriend stepped in and told Archi to sit, but Archi bit my boyfriend’s leg and broke the skin.

I am extremely concerned about what to do next and how to properly train him. For now, I want to keep him and work on socializing him, but it’s clear that Archi has a difficult past and may have been abused or isolated. I don’t want to give up on him, but I’m afraid that if I return him, they will put him to sleep.





Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ravenbird]

I am extremely concerned about what to do next and how to properly train him. For now, I want to keep him and work on socializing him, but it’s clear that Archi has a difficult past and may have been abused or isolated. I don’t want to give up on him, but I’m afraid that if I return him, they will put him to sleep.

Dogs don't live in the past, so please don't make his past an excuse. Archi needs serious no-nonsense training and boundaries. If you don't have experience in this, look for a trainer who works with aggressive dogs and be willing to use tools (e-collar, prong collar training) so you have control and he can learn that boundaries exist and push-back causes consequences. Any male dog that attacks a female dog has serious dog aggression.

The incident you describe is aggression toward the dog and when you try to interfere, he re-directs his aggression onto the human. This is way too much to address on a forum, but I would start by not letting him see your dog at all, no introductions until you have control. Truthfully it sounds like you are a bit over your head with this dog. I understand that he can & should be trained, but honestly, he would probably do better, be happier in a home with no other pets (or children) and with an experienced trainer.

I wish you the best with him.

 

[lovedobe]

True dogs don’t live in the past but they behave based on their past. He was neglected and abused rescue put some weight on him but unfortunately they are overwhelmed by the amount of dogs they have and can’t keep Archi any longer.
That being said I am here for some training tips from ur own experience!

How did u copy with situations like that? What worked best?

 

[Rits]

Find a behaviorist that has experience with dog reactivity. As mentioned, this is not something that can be worked or talked through over words. You're dealing with reactivity and redirection at the same time. There isn't room for error with these two behaviors to figure it out on your own, so thats why its best you work with someone in person in order for the correct methods to be started right away. The bite will be worse next time.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Oof I keep typing a lot of things but just end up going down rabbit holes lol

Without having directly observed the situation you describe above, it's really tough to gauge the seriousness of his reaction. People are often accidently bit when they interfere in a dog fight but it doesn't sound like Bella was reacting (?) and there was distance between them and those injuries are usually on people's hands because the impulse is to reach in an grab a collar to separate the dogs. If he redirected his emotions to the nearest human leg, that is a different story, I think.

I see @Rits responded while I was himing and hawing so to echo: someone needs to help you determine if you're dealing with lack of confidence or something more.

 

[BG1]

I second all @Ravenbird has said.
Max safety now for you and BF and the dogs:

1. Crate and separate, muzzle on when out.

It sounds like you are attempting to socialize him with your female dobe, much like Cesar the Dog Whisperer did with his old pitty Daddy, or Beckman does now with his dobe "Prince" (see youtube).

The problem is you dont have the background or setup to do this yourself.

And it seems to me you are emotionally invested and not listening to experienced advice.

Honestly- you meant well and kudos to you for caring, but put your emotions aside now and listen: this is a recipe for disaster.
So, if you insist on DIY:
2.Back to basics,
3.including hiring a vet behaviorist.
Or:

4. You can try to rehome, and I would do that.
But...
You have a difficult "dangerous dog" with a bite history now.

Check your local FakeBook rescue groups for advice, referrals.

Good luck!

 

[Ravenbird]

dogs don’t live in the past but they behave based on their past.

This is true.

He was neglected and abused

This has nothing to do with him being dog aggressive and aggressive to you/your bf when you try to stop him.

I am here for some training tips from ur own experience!

How did u copy with situations like that? What worked best?

Again, this is something that's impossible to teach over the internets. Words can be misunderstood. You MUST be able to see your dog escalate before he does.You must be ready to discipline him for it, and you must be ready to prevent him from coming up the leash at you.

My own experience in years of learning dog behavior is that Archi needs to be trained simple obedience with walking on leash, manners and respect for any boundaries you give him - in other words, get on his own bed on the floor, or crate when you tell him to, with no sass back. Not bolting out the door in front of you, not barking at the postman, not jumping on you - even if it's affectionate. He needs to look up at you as a leader, not a mean boss. Think of your favorite teacher in grade school, not the one that didn't make you try hard, but the other one who made you try hard and then made you feel terrific and proud of yourself and want to do more of it. This is what being a leader for your dog is all about. They will bond with you and respect you to the point that when you say "leave it" when he's staring at a dog, he is happy to oblige instead of snapping at you. Until then, you owe it to your own dog to not let them be together. She will have no choice but to defend herself it he attacks and dog fights are something you never want to happen and you definitely don't want the vet bill.

I'm just being honest, and it's not what you want to hear, but when you have a dog this reactive (biting at a person trying to control him) you need serious leadership and knowledge of how to read a dog and the strength and self-discipline to make him listen and respect you. He now has a bite history and that's a heavy liability on you to make him a good citizen. Dogs that get to the point of reactive biting (he was telling your bf "Don't you tell me what to do!") - gain confidence in themselves in making humans back off. They almost always get worse before they get better because they don't want to give up their own "boss status". These are the dogs that get on the couch or the bed and bite you when you tell them to scoot over. It's not because you're being mean, it's because they have never been taught to respect you. And this is why it's helpful to have a professional trainer step in.

 

[BG1]

@lovedobe you are getting some good advice here and the other dobe forum, inc about "honeymoon phase".

I've had a bunch of rescues inc one with triggers, so my advice is slow down, be calm, set consistent patterns, boundaries, and learn from the dog in front of you...

What's Normal Behavior in a Rescue Dog | Signs to Watch

Learn what behaviors are normal in newly adopted shelter dogs and which are concerning. Understand adjustment timelines, body language, the honeymoon phase, and when to seek professional help.

friendsofshelterdogs.org