Please excuse my very selfish reason for intruding myself into your community

[gnique]

I have lived with Labrador Retrievers most of my life. All of my dogs have been trained by me and I have learned even more from them. I hunt pheasents and I am a member of my local retriever trial club. My dogs are and have been members of the family. We have cats too. My dogs have always slept on the floor in my bedroom. I now have an intact black Labrador who will be six on December 2nd. I have said about him that he is the only dog that I have ever know who has absolutely NO agression. About two hours ago he bit a person. He familiar with her. He has known her since the day he first came to work with me at about eight weeks old. In fact, she gave me a "baby shower" the day I brought him to work! I have no idea what happened and I am very troubled. It wasn't any more than a quick grrrr, a snarl and a nip but it WAS a bite! I don't know what to think and I don't know anywhere to go for advice. I fully understand that this is a rude and selfish way to say "Hello". Just to let you all know, I honestly believe that I DO have a positive "balance" in my Karma account for helping others so it's my hope that I can cash a "Karma check" amongst your community.

The dog was in the front (drivers) seat of my truck. She had just taken a picture of him and posted it to Facebook because she thought he was so cute sitting in the drivers seat. The woman who was bitten was just walking in the door as I was walking out. She turned to me and said the she had taken a picture of Mickey and posted it to FB. She smiled and turned around and walked back to my truck with me and reached out to pat Mickey and he growled and nipped her on the hand. This VERY thing has happened with a hundred strangers (without the biting part) with no problem at all. I am looking for anything - comments, words of advice, anything. Thank you, sincerely, thank you. Nicholas

[Snowshoe]

Welcome to the board, though sorry for the reason.

Hmmm. Often we will question vision and/or hearing in such a situation. One or both is failing so that Mickey was startled when the woman appeared all of a sudden? You say people petted him in the truck before but when was the last time it happened?

Some other health concern going on? When an action is so out of character you have to wonder if there is a hurt somewhere or maybe not something that hurts but, say, hypothroidism? Which can provoke behavioural changes.

Startled but because of sun shining in his eyes? Startled becasue she appeared from behind you? I know you didn't say that but maybe to Micky it appeared that way?

Worried about a hand not belonging to his owner appearing all of a sudden beside his owner and it appeared to be a threat to his owner, you? Becoming protective of you and his truck?

Is the lady hurt? Is she filing a complaint? Was she frightened? Hopefully this was just some freaky, one off thing that will never happen again but I know you will watch for it. I'm sure some others will chime in soon with ideas.

[gnique]

She wasn't hurt in that no skin was broken but she was frightened. I don't believe that she will file a complaint although she would be justified in doing so.

[ZoeysMommy]

My best guess is that she startled him, if he wanted to bite her, he would have

[Dallas dawg]

Was he still in the truck? Dallas has become very possessive of her truck and UTV ( side by side ATV). If she is in either one, don't come near it. I tell people don't go near either one and don't stick you hand in to try and pet her.

I guess she feels that they are hers and she doesn't want anyone in or near them.

[Labradorks]

It is not uncommon for a dog to dislike people reaching their hands into a vehicle when they are inside. Still, this is troubling. I know I would freak out if one of my dogs had done such a thing. I think the first thing I'd do is head to a behaviorist. Not a trainer at this point, but someone to help me to pinpoint any issues I might not be able to see. Your veterinarian may be able to refer you to someone.

[Tanya]

I'd recommend a full vet visit to confirm if anything is wrong medically. vision, pain anywhere. anything. dogs are stoic and won't show their humans when they are not feeling well.

We can offer possible reasons but really we can't know for sure what happened. we can guess at best with the little context we have. Ideally, if nothing is medically wrong with the dog i'd talk to a trainer, one that has been properly educated and is qualified (vs all the self taught trainers). They can properly assess your dog. Most of dog speak is body language and context so hard to do much online other than offer ideas and guesses.

You say he's been patted on the head often, but has he ever been patted on the head when in the car? As mentioned above, sometimes they can be protective or more fearful when in a confined area. Are you sure many people pat the top of his head? reaching down from above the dog to touch the top of the head is a bit of an intimidating movement for many dogs. There are many possibilities.

In the meantime I would recommend management and doing all you can so set up only situation he is comfortable with to be touched by others. don't set him up to have to do that again. Watch his body language and give him space when he is showing signs of anxiety.

[BaconsMom]

I really think this sounds like your pup was startled. No skin was broken is good--A dog's bite can be extremely powerful.

Welcome to the forum, hope other's wisdom can help you in this difficult situation.

[JackK]

Was he still in the truck? Dallas has become very possessive of her truck and UTV ( side by side ATV). If she is in either one, don't come near it. I tell people don't go near either one and don't stick you hand in to try and pet her.

I guess she feels that they are hers and she doesn't want anyone in or near them.

My prior chocolate lab had a very similar incident at almost 10 years old. She had never shown aggression to anything. She was in the back of my Jeep while I was working in a boat yard on my boat. The owner of the boat yard reached into the Jeep to pet her and she bit him with no warning. I was mortified and terrified that something had gone wrong with my dog. It turned out that I learned the back of the Jeep had become hers. She was very possessive of the back of the Jeep. Once out of the Jeep she was friendly to the same person she had just bitten.

I tested this by letting another friend (who was prior warned) reach into the back of the Jeep. She instantly snarled at him but he had time to withdraw without being bitten.

It left me being extremely nervous of anyone being near her in the car. I spent a lot of time trying to get rid of the possessive behavior. Ended up getting rid of the Jeep instead of the dog and I didn't let her use the back of the truck as her lounge space while I was working. I took her out and used a crate. No more issues.

[shellbell]

I would want to rule out anything medical, so would probably pop into the vet for a quick exam to determine if there could be something physical going on.

In general, dogs to not like to be petted on the head. I can totally see where a person reaching a hand into a car to pet a dog on the head would lead to a bite….though in your case it sounds like no skin was actually broken. Ruling out anything medical, I would think the dog was just startled. I would be upset too and understand that, and how the fact that your dog has never shown any signs of aggression and knew this person makes it more shocking.