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  1. #1
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    Exclamation Random Attacking

    Hello all,
    My husband and I are looking for some suggestions before we reach out to our vet. Our 1.5 year old pure bread yellow lab puppy, a male named Eddie, is, 90% of the time, the best dog we've ever had (and I have had a few labs). He is incredibly smart, loyal, and loves to cuddle. The other 10% of the time, Eddie has these "spells" where he will randomly turn on me or my husband, and attack us. This typically consists of him latching onto our arms with his mouth, and growling. It often takes 30 seconds or more to calm him down after one of these episodes. He has not caused any significant damage to either of us, but he definitely leaves marks.

    We keep Eddie very active. 2-3 daily trips to the park, a 2 mile run a few times a week, and also doggy daycare 2-3 times a week. With all of this in mind, we cannot figure out why he does this. There have been 1 or 2 times that my husband or I could point to where the episode was sparked; however, for the most part, we cannot pinpoint it. It is often unprovoked. We have tried a choke chain, and are now onto a prong collar (we only put these on him when we go for a walk or run).

    We absolutely love Eddie. We do not have any children yet, so he is our one and only (fur)baby. We provide a very loving and caring home for him, and has since we got him at 6 weeks old. Any help or advice you could give us would be great. He has been doing this since he was only a couple of months old, and now that he is 75 lbs it is much harder to control. We have tried a lot of tactics, but would love more ideas or suggestions.

    Thank you!!

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    i HIGHLY recommend finding a positive based trainer/behaviorist who can better asses your dog and give you an in depth plan to address the issue. ASAP if this has been an issue since he's a pup.

    personally i'd also recommend working his brain and manners more not just physical exercise. Lots of training, work on new tricks to challenge him. I would also recommend nothing in life is free "nilf" program where he needs to "earn" everything from time outside, to your affection to food/treats. It's not about limiting your dog but just asking him for a cue before he can do things (the reward is he gets to do that thing or get affection or eat). Dr Sophia Yin calls it the "learn to earn".
    The Learn to Earn Program: Developing Leadership in Humans and Impulse Control in Dogs | Animal Behavior and Medicine Blog | Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

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  4. #3
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    It sounds like play, over-excitement, just inappropriate play. Adding a choke chain or prong collar and correcting this will make it worse, especially if it is aggression.

    My advice would be to videotape it happening so you can show that to your vet, or better yet a behaviorist or someone well-versed in Labs so they can tell you if this is play or aggression and help you move forward.

    What is his lineage? How is his breeder? Have you contacted her? What were the parents like? Since you got the pup at six weeks, I am having doubts about his breeding, meaning that temperament of the parents were not taken into consideration. I could be wrong, but a pup going to his family at six weeks just sends up a lot of red flags.

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  6. #4
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    what have you tried?
    Is there consistency or predictability in when he gets the crazies? particularly time a day? after a particular activity?
    Last edited by Tanya; 11-30-2015 at 03:23 PM.

  7. #5
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    I'd ditto the above. I would contact a good trainer / behaviorist asap, and someone who knows Labs. It sounds like overexcitement / inappropriately rough play ("There have been 1 or 2 times that my husband or I could point to where the episode was sparked" —that just makes it sound as though the dog was getting over-excited, perhaps through high-energy play?) and either a lack of training / manners or dire need of revisiting such.

    The problem here, as I see it, is not merely this escalating to dangerous levels w/ you two (and this is of course a concern), but that he might "snap" not with either of you two but with a child or stranger, either causing real damage (let's hope not) or resulting in a call to the police for a biting incident. Actually, this is all a concern—but, as you are describing the situation, all at least a real possibility.

    I'd also like to know more about his history of obedience / manners training. And the detail of him coming home to you at 6 weeks is, I agree, alarming. Beyond the doubts this raises in re his breeding, I am wondering if the dog was just never properly socialized or developed bite inhibition. Leaving marks is serious. If he's leaving marks, he is already biting at a dangerous level.

    Good luck, and please move quickly on this.



  8. #6
    Real Retriever PinkDragon14's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    It sounds like play, over-excitement, just inappropriate play. Adding a choke chain or prong collar and correcting this will make it worse, especially if it is aggression.

    My advice would be to videotape it happening so you can show that to your vet, or better yet a behaviorist or someone well-versed in Labs so they can tell you if this is play or aggression and help you move forward.

    What is his lineage? How is his breeder? Have you contacted her? What were the parents like? Since you got the pup at six weeks, I am having doubts about his breeding, meaning that temperament of the parents were not taken into consideration. I could be wrong, but a pup going to his family at six weeks just sends up a lot of red flags.
    I second the part about the pup going home at six weeks. I know it's hard, but pups shouldn't be removed from their mom/home until 8 weeks or later. Usually in these last 2 weeks (6-8), they learn manners and how to behave from their mother.

    Again, agreeing with Labradorks, it sounds like over-excitement. Since he's still on the younger side, he still has puppy energy, and no amount of exercise will take it away completely. When he has these episodes, I would put him in his crate/bed/pen to settle down for a while (probably about 10-15mins). If he begins to play aggressively, I would end the game and ignore him as much as possible.
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  9. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    When do these spells happen? Can you see any pattern? It's pretty common for dogs to get what we call the zoomies where they run around in circles like they're demented. Some people call it butt tucking. A young dog with little training might get overly excited in these spells and try to engage the owner by biting at pant legs or jumping up and latching onto arms and growling. For these dogs its play but inappropriate play if they involve the owner by biting. My dog gets these spells just after a good walk and after swimming, pretty reliably. He does not bite me but he sure zooms. I sure would not say this makes up 10% of his time with me though.

    There have been 1 or 2 times that my husband or I could point to where the episode was sparked
    What are the things you can pinpoint as a spark?

    Since this worries you, we can't see. and it could be nothing like what I've mentionned as play and thus could be a serious behaviour issue I think calling in a behaviourist to observe soon would be a good idea. Can you video one of these spells? It might help a behaviourist and/or the Vet. Has Eddie had his one year rabies booster yet? Not that I'm suggesting he has rabies at all but maybe you're due for a Vet visit anyway?

    ETA: 10% of his time with you he is like this? Really? So if you spend about 10 hours a day (on a weekend maybe?) with him he's like that for a whole hour? Or enough times to make up an hour? Yowser, in that case Vet and Behaviourist for sure. Hope you decide you're way out on that number.
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  10. #8
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Agree with getting a behaviorist involved. Also, would definitely start with a checkup at the vet.

    Sending good thoughts. Please keep us updated as you can.
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  11. #9
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    It sounds like frustration...I'd agree with mental activity and a behaviorist as well as classes. Just to rule out anything medical, I'd visit the vet as well. Good luck with Eddie! Even under these circumstances, we'd love to see pictures of him!

  12. #10
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    My husband and I would like to thank you all for your input. We have contacted two behaviorists, referred to us by our vet., and are hopeful! Like we've mentioned before, he is SUCH a love, we are looking forward to seeing positive changes in him! For now, here is a picture
    -img_3262-jpg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails -img_3262-jpg  

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