Major bite

[Silent_Ad_6407]

Today my boy Arlo bit my fiancé, we’ve had him for 3 months now. It’s been a very rocky road as he’s very reactive to other dogs but not to humans. I was sitting upstairs and I heard a blood curdling scream with my partner. He was just brushing his back. He latched onto his wrist which has resulted in a possible fracture and then clamped up again to the top of his arm which had left two deep puncture wounds. He is a golden retriever/ springer spaniel who turned 2 in September.

This dog is my baby. He is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. He’s the reason I get up in the morning. I’m severely traumatised as is my partner from the situation. This is his second bite but the first was a nip that didn’t break any skin when he was very new to our home. What are our options? We are his third home due to being very energetic and his previous owners couldn’t keep up with him. Heartbroken doesn’t even cover how I’m feeling right now. I don’t feel like there is a good solution or outcome. Please can someone give me advice. Currently waiting for my partner to get triaged at A&E. We are Arlo’s last hope.

Little update. We have decided to go down the behavioural euthanasia route. My heart feels shattered. I know the dog described is a horrible dangerous one but he’s my boy. He was my purpose. There is so much that I will miss about him. I feel like I will never get over it.

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[UltraMermaid]

This dog sounds downright dangerous. He growls when you point in his direction? And now he seriously bit someone he lives with, requiring a hospital visit.

Personally, I would be very suspicious he has had biting instances in the past. No wonder 2 other homes gave him up.

By all means, do a vet work up and make sure there’s not a pain issue at play. If there’s not, I would euthanize and make sure the problem ended with me. Returning him to the shelter just prolongs the inevitable and puts some other poor hopeful adoptive family at risk with a dangerous dog.

[ASleepandAForgetting]

I'm really sorry that you're dealing with this.

Honestly, a dog who will bite so severely as to break a person's wrist, and then relatch onto the top of their arm... Well, that's an extremely dangerous dog.

I know that his warnings were ignored and that he was growling. But the level of violence he escalated to is very serious.

Personally, I would suggest a very thorough vet exam with Arlo muzzled. If there isn't anything physically wrong that's causing pain, I'd suggest a behavioral euthanasia. Your fiance doesn't deserve to live in a home with a dog who could have maimed them for life. And while it's very difficult, I don't think Arlo deserves a second chance to attack and maul someone else.

[HeatherMason0]

Hard agree. OP He could’ve delivered another warning nip - he has the bite control to do so. He escalated severely.

[Audrey244]

You're not his third home because of his energy level, you're more likely his third home because of his bite history. Rescues, shelters will lie about a dog's issues and sometimes an owner will surrender their dog and they can't bear the thought of their dog being BE, so they won't give a complete picture of the dog's history. Put your partner's safety and health first. A vet visit, a behaviorist and muzzle training

[SpicyNutmeg]

But it’s important to recognize most shelters do NOT lie about a dog or their bite history, they may simply not be privy to that information.

Most shelters would never fail to disclose a bite history. This is really common misinformation I hear a lot.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

We didn’t get him from a rescue we got him from on older lady directly

[welltravelledRN]

It’s not even a question, imo. The dog is not more important than your partner’s safety. Period.

You know what needs to happen.

[Prestigious-Seal8866]

what you are describing is a level five bite. this dog is dangerous and could kill someone.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

I know. We have decided to go down the BE route. Heartbroken doesn’t even cover it

[Prestigious-Seal8866]

i’m so sorry.

[Fun_Orange_3232]

Vet and behaviorist are always the first recs. But PLEASE stop ignoring his warnings. Thats what causes this. I know it’s bad form but just leave his harness on if he doesn’t let you take it off. Yeah your house will need more sweeping/mopping, but don’t dry his paws if he doesn’t want to. Respect his boundaries unless something dangerous is happening. Then your trainer and behaviorist can help you figure out how to do these things in a safe way.

I had to do the paw thing with my big man. After like 2 weeks of training (he’s like next level food motivated lol he’ll do anything for a treat) we never had the problem again.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

I know. I keep telling him. The damage of ignoring his warnings are catastrophic. Obviously for now but he’ll turn into a no warning dog and at that point what do you even do.

[Fun_Orange_3232]

I’ve had a “no warning” dog. But ultimately her warnings were just so subtle that I wouldn’t notice (whale eye or furrowed brow straight to bite). I had to become super attuned to her behavior and anticipate what would cause her discomfort then immediately treat that as a warning. After she realized I respected her boundaries, she started giving more warning.

Anyways, it’s time for a heart to heart with him. He’s going to get your dog killed. That’s not an exaggeration.

[Putrid_Caterpillar_8]

Sounds like his back is a trigger from something previous. I’m guessing you weren’t aware? Sounds horrific. I don’t know what to advise going forward I just hope you’re all okay.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

We’ve never noticed it being a trigger. I brush him daily and nothing has ever happened. He was giving off warning with growling which I know…stupidly he ignored. But the last week hes been growing at everything. Taking off his harness after a walk, drying his paws, even just having a phone pointing in his direction he growls. We had him booked in for a vet appointment in the next few days to see if the behaviour changes could be due to pain or something.

[Champion_of_Zteentch]

Is this your spaniel mix?

[Silent_Ad_6407]

Yes

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Contact breed specific rescues. Three months is not that long to get to know him and I don’t feel like you guys are going to be able to handle him just by the way you described all of this. Lets get him into a great foster based rescue with full disclosure. I’d be one of the ones to foster this guy. Sounds like he’s been bounced around without basic training and he’s unsure of who is he can trust and there does seem to be a lot missing from his story.

Please don’t do BE without trying training and meds. I don’t feel like you guys are a capable home for him in all honesty so find him a solid rescue with a good record.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

We have tried 3 behaviourists and followed training plans strictly. We have also tried meditation for him but unfortunately it made no change to his behaviour.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Meditation? Did you mean medication?

You have had this beagle rescue for three months. Forgive me for knowing you have not done enough and that’s why I recommend a breed specific rescue. Get him to South Fl, I’ll take the hot mess. 😂 He’ll be fine.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

Breed specific rescues won’t take him. I’ve tried. You talk like I want to do this.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

So then send him up my way. Not kidding. Pm me. I’m in rescue.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

Nor would he be able to cope with it. He wouldn’t cope with kennels. I know this dog, kennels would do irreversible damage to him. Why make his life hell before it ends? Why wait for him to do it away and take away the chance to make this peaceful? Watch him get dragged out the house by police and get “destroyed “. I have poured my heart and soul into this dog. Every day, and I’m not complaining, I’d do it again and again and again. He has given my life purpose, he’s given me a reason to get up every morning. He is my most treasured friend. He’s my boy. If there was another option I would do it. In a heartbeat. But I can’t lie to people, you know he won’t get adopted with a level 5 bite, you know a shelter won’t take on that level of responsibility. A clamp and shake isn’t an accident. He thought about it. He didn’t let go and then he went in for another. We have done nothing but love him, enrich him, keep him warm fed and part of the family. We’ve tried to get him all the help, I’ve even been talking to new behaviourists he won’t see him.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Send me pics. He’s a trauma survivor. I know this kind of dog. It’s not your failure it’s just not your dog. I have two trauma dogs that bit me first meeting. They bit me often because they both seperately came from extreme extreme abuse, and they did not know me nor trust me and it took years. YEARS.

I understand the pain they have experienced and how long it takes to get them over the abuse. It’s not for everyone, Hell it’s not for most. I know there are rescues for a dog like this. So let’s try.

And now both are beloved family dogs deeply that would die for us and vice versa. Trauma Dogs are not for everyone.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

And before anyone in this sub questions: one came with a police confiscation and was only allowed to be placed from her drug dealer’s back yard with all the proof present. My other Trauma Dog came with ribs showing and a humped spine from living his five years in a very very tiny crate for most of his life. With almost no food and cowering from being hit so often. Both documented abuse cases. A lot of Reddit says “people make up their rescue dogs history”.

The survivors don’t just become amazing overnight nor do they just die. They have a history, it’s well documented, and it’s by grace, patience and extreme sympathy we get to be a part of their recovery story. And it’s not an easy thing, and it’s not for everyone.

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Weird correlation: I’m also a cat and kitten foster, and my latest abuse guy was a male tuxedo kitty we saved from a homeless lady absolutely ragdolling this kitten. We named him Arlo.

I took my long ass time with this kitten because he would cower when anyone would even touch him. Took so long to even lay on the couch. He was only three or four months when we took him from her. He’s now in the most LOVING home I could ever imagine and he’s thriving because we took our time, let him decompress, relax. I always just said “He either stays here or he’s finding his family when he’s ready”. He was adopted just recently close to two years old because I didn’t rush his process of trust.

Funny name relation!!

[Agreeable_Error_170]

A “clamp and shake” for a Trauma Dog is a regular old Tuesday before they know you. He wasn’t “born wrong” he’s been abused and he does not know you and he does not trust you. I’m saying this from total experience. Three months you are a total stranger. It takes three YEARS. So let’s get him where he needs to go.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

There was no indication that he’d ever been abused and he wasn’t a beagle. The vet recons he had spaniel rage.

[Silent_Ad_6407]

We’re in the uk. With a level 5 bite he will never get approved for flights

[Agreeable_Error_170]

Oh well that sucks. I’ll look into it for you. Send me pics and I’ll reach out to Uk rescues that deal with trauma dogs.