My sweet Bully just bit me

Submitted by MattandRoxie on April 25, 2015 - 11:00pm

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Hey guys,

Been quite awhile since I posted but I am at a bit of a loss. My 5 year old bulldog Roxie just nipped me pretty bad. (Drew some blood)

Let me explain the situation. We were lying in bed with my 3 week old daughter who she has been laying in front of everywhere we put her since she was born. A box fell over and spooked the heck out of her. I went to grab her to bring her into the living room and she snapped at me. Got me pretty good. She would not let me go near her. Only my wife could get near her to remove her from the room.

She has always been attached to me (i am her main caregiver) but obviously since my kids were born she guards them very closely.

I need to see how she is in the morning but she left rather peacefully when my wife removed her. I can only think that she thought i was the source of the incredibly loud noise and just went into protect mode but for the first time since Ive had her (since she was 10 weeks old) I am concerned. Especially with 2 smlsmall children around.

Any input would be awesome.

Thanks so much,

Matt

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Hi Matt, no answer here...

Submitted by AmyandSophia on April 26, 2015 - 7:43am.

But it is good to see you on the board. I hope Lynn asking sees this post, she will have some good advice for you I'm sure. Until then, remember that your bully is trying to protect your child, which is a good thing, but you do need to make sure you are the boss and not the bully! Best of luck, this will be resolved I bet.

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Amy and Sophia

it sounds like she got scared and...

Submitted by Kathy Chester N... on April 26, 2015 - 11:53am.

went after the first thing available to her (you). Hopefully it was a one time incident. I woud keep her off the bed and furniture and let her know you are the boss.

I am sure you already know,

Submitted by LynnKing on April 26, 2015 - 1:46pm.

that you never ever leave children and dogs unsupervised. Never! When you can't supervise, they have to be separated.

Without having any extensive info on past/present behaviors, my guess is that it was a startle reflex. Have you ever seen videos of human statues standing on a sidewalk. They will reach out and touch someone walking by, some people jump back/scream/run etc., but then there is the guy that lands a punch. We all have different responses in different situations depending on our mood, lack of sleep, how much we are concentrating on something, dogs are no different.

I hope all is back to normal.

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Lynn King CPDT-KA

Thanks guys,She was herself

Submitted by MattandRoxie on April 26, 2015 - 6:55pm.

Thanks guys,

She was herself today. No one was unsupervised at all and this is the first time shes ever done something like that. It seemed apparant that she was protecting the baby but I will make sure I look for further behavior.

Matt

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Glad that all is back to normal.

Submitted by LynnKing on April 27, 2015 - 8:28am.

Take care and give Roxie a hug from me

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Lynn King CPDT-KA

sigh

Submitted by MattandRoxie on April 28, 2015 - 7:57am.

She snuck in our room this morning when my wife was going to the bathroom abd laid down in front of the babys cradle. When my wife went to grab her she snapped at her also. (Didnt get her)

Whats my next step here? She never has this behavior with my older daughter.

Is there a specific type of training / trainer i should be looking into?

Thanks,

Matt

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She is resource guarding.

Submitted by AmyandSophia on April 28, 2015 - 8:41am.

You have to get on top of the chain of command in your house and become the leader, or she will continue her behavior:-(. Lynn will be on later I bet and will give you great information!!

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Amy and Sophia

thanks

Submitted by MattandRoxie on April 28, 2015 - 8:59am.

I look forward to see what she has to say. I have always done that but with 2 babies within the last 2 years I have probably given her more free reign that I should have. (We are also in a new home, which cant be helping the situation). It's pretty identifiable behavior I think and will do what needs to be done to correct it.

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I think you may want to contact a trainer

Submitted by LynnKing on April 29, 2015 - 12:45pm.

Someone that will come to your home so that they can observe you, your family and Roxie. Quite often, owners misinterpret behaviors. That includes me, owners have emotions/history connected with the dog. A trainer wants to know history of any behaviors, actions/reactions, your actions and reactions etc. with no prejudice.

Go to the APDT.com site. There they list trainers by location. If you have any questions, contact me and I will try to help find someone for you.

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Lynn King CPDT-KA