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Random biting from well behaved and submissive whippet

Revo

Sorry this question is a bit long. Here are the details about our dog:

-age 3 male whippet
-we've had him since he was 2 years old
-former owners got divorced and decided to give him up for adoption
-very well trained, obedient, kind
-submissive if tested (ie we can put him on his back, take his food, etc)
-is not free fed
-gets lots of exercise
-sleeps on the floor in another room

Here is our current issue:
-About 2 months ago, our dog was lying on a chair at my parent's house relaxing and my 8 year old cousin went over to pet him. He snapped at her and left a small cut on her cheek. No one saw if she had been bugging him or not so everyone said it wasn't his fault and let it go.

About a month ago, our dog was relaxing on the couch and my husband went to nudge him off of it. The dog turned and snapped at his face, breaking the skin around his eyebrow.

We took him to the vet to make sure it wasn't a medical issue. She checked and put pressure on all his joints, ligaments, checked his eyes, ears etc and found nothing. She suggested it may be dominance aggression and to try some beahvioral training and testing on him.

We stuck with the training. We never let him on the couch, we did not free feed him, he did not tug on his leash, he did not jump up, we went through doors and down stairs first, and he obeyed every command we gave. We tested him by bugging him while sleeping, putting him on his back in a submissive position, and tried repeating the same situations that lead to biting last time. He was totally fine.

But then, last night he was laying down on the floor. I went to gently nudge him and told him it was time to go outside for his bathroom break. He snapped back and tried to bite my foot but I moved it away in time. My husband saw this and told him to go downstairs. The dog didn't move and continued to bare his teeth. My husband told him again and the dog lunged up and bit him on the chin.

When I told the vet about this recent situation, she now thinks it may be either nerve damage or something wrong with his brain chemistry given that it is so random, he shows no other signs of dominance, and it is completely out of character for him, especially being a whippet.

We are now at the point where we need to consider euthanizing him because we have a baby on the way and will not have a dangerous dog in the house. We don't know about rehoming him because I do not want someone else to get hurt since this is so unpredictable. I don't want to leave him at a shelter because he may get scared and I'd rather have his last moments with us than in a strange kennel somewhere...

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Symptoms: Behavioral, Seizures & Fits

• Experienced Advisor Rosie Barclay says:

  April 02nd, 2008 at 02:38 PM

  Hi

  This is going to come as a bit of a shock for all those insisting on there being such thing as a "dominance" hierarchy system in dog society but we are now coming to realise that it probably does not exist. Your dog is not trying to get one over you and in fact has no concept of ranking systems. Anything you have been told that mentions the "Dominance" word may be misleading.

  However, this doesn’t solve the problem. For whatever reason Revo, when he is awoken, is reacting in the best way he can to cope with how he is feeling at the time. He reacts as if he was being threatened. Whether this is due to some sort of neurological disorder or he is a just a bit grumpy during this point in time we won't know. It might make him worse if he also learns that whilst he is asleep folk will "bug" him.

  It would be a wise move to simply leave him alone when he is asleep (let sleeping dogs lie). If he needs to be awoken then do it gently from a far and reward him for getting up. Be aware that he is likely to react like this during this period. There are certain medical disorders that may explain his behaviour and it's not the first time that I have come across this problem. It may help if your vet referred you to a practising behavioural vet. I just hope you are insured and they might be able to help if the problem is medical.

  If not ask advice from your nearest whippet rescue re-homing group and tell them exactly what has happened so at least they have full understanding why you wish to re-home and make sure it's a quiet one with no children. Don't worry he will probably settle better than you think.

  All the best

  Rosie Barclay

   

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  Good Dog? Bad Dog? By Rosie Barclay. This book concentrates on changing the traditional views of how we perceive and treat our dogs using what we have learned from scientific research so far. It starts at the beginning by looking at ways of how to chose and bring up a new puppy that may reduce the likelihood of future problems. It then goes on to cover different problems that commonly occur between owners and their maturing or adult dogs by discussing real case studies. TO BUY VISIT www.rosiebarclay.com

  

• User says:

  April 02nd, 2008 at 03:29 PM

  Thanks Rosie. I plan on contacting the breeder to see about some rescue organizations or any people he might know that can help commit to helping Revo with this issue. Just a note, he was never sleeping during any of these incidents. He was relaxed, but his eyes were open and he was aware that someone was coming up to him. Not sure if that makes any difference. Thanks again for the advice.

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• Experienced Advisor Rosie Barclay says:

  April 02nd, 2008 at 04:04 PM

  It's difficult to answer this without seeing Revo in this situation. Perhaps lying down makes the person approaching look bigger and more of a threat. Perhaps there was an incidence once associated with lying down. There is often some answer but we can't always see it.

  But don’t beat yourself up, these situations happen. The best way to teach Revo that you mean no threat is not to approach whilst he is lying down. After a while he might learn that you are not a threat and be able to relax more.

  All the best

  Rosie

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  Good Dog? Bad Dog?

  Good Dog? Bad Dog? By Rosie Barclay. This book concentrates on changing the traditional views of how we perceive and treat our dogs using what we have learned from scientific research so far. It starts at the beginning by looking at ways of how to chose and bring up a new puppy that may reduce the likelihood of future problems. It then goes on to cover different problems that commonly occur between owners and their maturing or adult dogs by discussing real case studies. TO BUY VISIT www.rosiebarclay.com