We have what we're hoping is a fixable behavior modification issue. Our black lab mix has always been skittish around men in particular, and we've been working on trying to get him more comfortable. For example, he barks and growls at deliverymen, visitors, etc. We began taking him outside to meet new people there and then come inside with them, and that worked to some extent. We've also tried giving him lots of things to do ("Sit here, sit there, roll over, etc.") while a visitor is over, and that has been beneficial too.
However, there have now been three incidents where he has viciously snapped at, snarled at, or bit someone -- one around Christmas, one (where it was aimed at me) a few months ago, and one earlier this week.
1. We (stupidly) brought him to my girlfriend's family's Christmas eve event. He seemed fine, but someone reached down to pet him and he snapped at him and gave him a relatively minor bite on the finger.
2. He got out of the yard and followed another dog down the street. I chased after him and (since he had no leash) reached down from behind to grab his collar and pull him around. Not knowing it was me, he turned and growled and snarled -- then seemed to realize it was me and calm down.
3. This past Sunday, we took him on a walk through town. Like at Christmas, he seemed fine -- multiple women had come up to him, and all he did was sniff their hands. Then we see a group of two women and a man approaching, and he seemed interested in them (pulled us toward them). The man started to hold out his hand, and the dog snapped and jumped up and bit his hand. He jumped back up a second time, but this time I was able to pull him away first.
At this point, we're concerned that it's not safe to walk him outside our yard and that it wouldn't be safe to keep him long-term, with the possibility of kids in the future (and young kids in my family anyway). We've talked to a couple of trainers, and we intend to set up an actual session or series of sessions in the next week or two, but the core problem seems to be: since the behavior isn't consistent -- we don't necessarily know when he's going to snap and when he's not -- how do we ever know that it's "better"? How could we ever feel confident that he's not going to bite a child we pass on the street?
Any feedback would be much appreciated. I'll check back throughout the day to answer any additional questions. I'm sure I left out quite a bit.
However, there have now been three incidents where he has viciously snapped at, snarled at, or bit someone -- one around Christmas, one (where it was aimed at me) a few months ago, and one earlier this week.
1. We (stupidly) brought him to my girlfriend's family's Christmas eve event. He seemed fine, but someone reached down to pet him and he snapped at him and gave him a relatively minor bite on the finger.
2. He got out of the yard and followed another dog down the street. I chased after him and (since he had no leash) reached down from behind to grab his collar and pull him around. Not knowing it was me, he turned and growled and snarled -- then seemed to realize it was me and calm down.
3. This past Sunday, we took him on a walk through town. Like at Christmas, he seemed fine -- multiple women had come up to him, and all he did was sniff their hands. Then we see a group of two women and a man approaching, and he seemed interested in them (pulled us toward them). The man started to hold out his hand, and the dog snapped and jumped up and bit his hand. He jumped back up a second time, but this time I was able to pull him away first.
At this point, we're concerned that it's not safe to walk him outside our yard and that it wouldn't be safe to keep him long-term, with the possibility of kids in the future (and young kids in my family anyway). We've talked to a couple of trainers, and we intend to set up an actual session or series of sessions in the next week or two, but the core problem seems to be: since the behavior isn't consistent -- we don't necessarily know when he's going to snap and when he's not -- how do we ever know that it's "better"? How could we ever feel confident that he's not going to bite a child we pass on the street?
Any feedback would be much appreciated. I'll check back throughout the day to answer any additional questions. I'm sure I left out quite a bit.