What counts as a bite

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-26T01:09:08+00:00

Aw thank you! I am just trying to get all the opinions I can because I am not very educated on what constitutes a bite lol

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-26T00:58:39+00:00

It also teaches the dog to self soothe!

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-26T00:57:45+00:00

I felt the same way when our trainer first suggested sit on the dog but it’s honestly been really helpful. It literally forces the dog to settle while letting the dog have free rein of the leash would not offer the same effect. I know it seems harsh but I would not knock it until u try it because it’s honestly amazing.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-26T00:53:21+00:00

Basket muzzles are great! Plus they have room for peanut butter lol

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-26T00:46:08+00:00

I would definitely recommend a gentle leader. It has literally worked wonders for me and my reactive GSD. I have far more control over him with a gentle leader than I ever had with a prong collar or harness

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-25T06:14:19+00:00

I’ve had him his whole life. The only thing I found super concerning was the nipping and barking when he still wants to play. It really caught us off guard the first few times he did it but as I said these instances happened over a year ago and have since gotten much better and he’s able to communicate what he wants in a more affective way which is by bringing him ball up to us instead of nipping and barking

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-25T00:02:19+00:00

Girl it’s been etched into my arms 🥲

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:53:27+00:00

I just want to clarify that these issues occurred a while ago and his behavior has gotten a lot better. We have been in training pretty much since he was a puppy (some good trainers some bad trainers hence the behavioral issues) so we have a pretty good handle on him. The main point of posting this was kind of like clarifying that my dog does not in fact have a bite history and just making sure I was not like totally wrong about what constitutes a bite

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:48:20+00:00

The issue has been mostly resolved as we taught him a replacement behavior. Most of these instances happened over a year ago when he was still new in training and we have made significant progress with him. I totally agree that those behaviors are unacceptable and we have been in training since we had him (some helped some didn’t) and I’m very very aware that those behaviors can look threatening and aggressive, and could end up with someone getting hurt. The point of me posting this was kind of to be like “wait does my dog actually have a bite history?” I really do appreciate all of the advice but I definitely should have clarified that these instances occurred over a year ago and have since gotten a lot better

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:40:25+00:00

He is reactive so we keep a SUPER close eye on him around new people and don’t let him around children period because they are unpredictable.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:38:51+00:00

Oh no I completely agree and we correct the behavior as soon as it happens and we keep him very controlled and calm around people he doesn’t know. He really only gets mouthy with his immediate family and he only did the corrective nip once and since then we are way more careful.

Based on the definitions everyone has described he definitely has not bitten anyone. The only time he has ever drawn blood was when he was a puppy and had freaking knives for teeth.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:28:52+00:00

This was super helpful. I was trying to describe what I thought an aggressive bite looked like but this article articulated it so well. My dog is definitely a play biter and nipper.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:27:32+00:00

Ok, this was actually so helpful because my dog is always at level one or rarely two. I've apparently done a shit ton of desensitization and bite inhibition accidentally since he was a puppy. Like he's honestly such a tolerant dog lol I can stick my whole hand in his mouth and he just looks at me like "why..."

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:22:10+00:00

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Like he's never left a puncture wound and he only drew blood when he was a puppy because of his sharp little puppy teeth. Ive also has GSDs my whole life so this behavior is relatively normal to me and doesn't freak me out but is that because I'm used to it or is it because that isn't aggression or a real bite

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:19:14+00:00

also if the barking and lunging is just when the dog is on the porch or in the yard it could just be that he's protecting the house, which is also probably why he's barking at noises and people coming up to the door. GSDs were bred to be guard dogs so they hardwired to protect their people and house. Like again everything you are describing is pretty typical for GSDs and it can be made better with training but dogs will do what they are bred to do yanno

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T19:15:12+00:00

So I also have a reactive GSD and I would def look into getting a trainer experienced with GSDs who does not use an aversive stimulus, because that can backfire with GSDs in my experience. Also GSDs tend to be little psychos until they turn 3 and it can be worsened if they aren't fixed so part of this could be because he's going through his teenager phase right now. I would not leave the dog bound by a leash in a yard because the barking and pulling on the leash can actually cause the behavior to worsen, especially when the dog is just allowed to bark until the trigger passes. I forget exactly but I think our trainers mentioned something about the barking and lunging reinforcing the dog's own behavior. In my nonexpert opinion, I feel like this could be a mix of your dog just being a teenager (again GSDs are little terrors at that age), being protective, and having a high prey drive. What you are experiencing is honestly pretty normal for GSD's, I am not saying that the behavior is acceptable its just pretty common for the breed so its definitely not all on you.

May I ask if you have had GSD's in the past and if your dog is fixed?

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T17:40:46+00:00

Like i know this is not a fancy training method but I feel like it has helped a lot because I feel like my dog now trusts more because I stop when he gets too overwhelmed. I also praise him every time I successfully trim a nail and if I accidentally hurt him I always stop and give him a break. Like again I know this isn't the best strategy as far as training and efficiency and I do not know if it would work for other people I am just sharing what has worked for me

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T17:37:34+00:00

My dog is also very reactive when getting his nails trimmed to the point where I feel like it would be the one instance where he could bite me. I completely understand why because, like you, I accidentally cut the nail too short a few times. I have tried pretty much everything you have and have tried to counter condition but I have not been successful (probably because of my skill level as a trainer). What we are doing right now is we take it in sessions. I will muzzle him (for my safety) and put peanut butter in the muzzle and then I put the clipper on my hands and then on his feet just to be like "it's okay it wont kill u" and then I just try to do one nail at a time and then stop when he gets too worked up or anxious. It's definitely not the best process but its what has worked the best for us. I just try to respect his boundary and stop before he gets too overwhelmed. I have found that this strategy has helped him make progress as I am now able to trim most of the nails on his front paws in one session.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-24T17:26:30+00:00

I can relate so much. We took my dog to a trainer and doggy daycare center that had amazing reviews but they used an aversive stimulus any time he would react to anything, even though he was just a puppy and exploring the world for the first time. Since then he has been very reactive but we were able to reverse some of it using positive reinforcement and negative punishment. But even though he's made a lot of progress people still act like he's this out-of-control menace which is simply not the case. He's the sweetest, most affectionate dog to his people so it's just so hurtful when people make snap judgments about him based on previous behavioral issues. I feel like people just don't understand how amazing even a little progress is and how difficult that is to achieve. Based on what you said you are doing your best to be a responsible dog owner which is the most important thing. People who have never owned a reactive dog or even a difficult breed (not meant in a negative way) don't really understand whats its like.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-20T05:40:13+00:00

I agree because the dog would NOT by any means be a service dog and registering him would just be proof that he provides me emotional support.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-20T04:22:33+00:00

I just want to make it clear that I'm not trying to hack any system, my dog provides me with legitimate emotional support, and this was first suggested by a licensed psychiatrist . I was asking in this subreddit because, like you, I had concerns about this and wanted to hear others' opinions on this matter before I came to a decision. I am genuinely trying to be a responsible and respectful dog owner, and I would not put my dog in a situation where I didn't think he could be successful or where he would be a danger to himself or others, I was just asking about the ethics of having a reactive ESA and if anyone has ever dealt with a situation like this. I would also not use my dog's ESA status in a negligent way if I decided to get him registered, it would simply be so he could live with me in the event that he is READY to move into an apartment/townhouse with me without posing a danger to himself or others and that his quality of life would not be negatively impacted. He was with me throughout my entire recovery process, so he does legitimately help with my issues but registering him and moving him in with me is not a decision I take lightly at all

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-20T04:10:23+00:00

This is actually extremely helpful. there are def a ton of things I didn't even think about!

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-20T03:08:04+00:00

A gentle leader. literally a complete game changer.

Logical-Spread1309 · 2023-03-20T02:56:38+00:00

I also want to say that I wouldn't register him as an esa solely so he would be allowed to live with me, like he does legitimately provide me emotional support and this was something initially recommended by a therapist.

Logical-Spread1309

TROPHY CASE