My dog just went crazy, what should I do?

[Rocky Top Chick]

Please, please, please get professional medical help for the dog. I have a dog just like yours, and I did not want to get rid of him. I took him to a behaviorist and my DH and I had to change our habits and behavior. Rocky can be the sweetest dog ever, but has another side that is unpredictable. We NEVER let him around others and he is always within sight. We live on 20 acres so that one is easy. It has been a very hard 10 years and I would never take on a dog like that again. BTY we have no children. If he had been owned by anyone else, he would be dead. My thought process was that he was sent to me for a reason so we had to give him a chance.

 

[katrinag]

Just my 2 cents, it's a dog. The dog would go out to the woods and not come back. There are to many good dogs out there to put up with that crap.
No me no matter what kind of training or what have you there is ALWAYS the chance she'll do it again.
Not sure if you have kids or not or even neighbors. What if they walked up on her and they did that to them. You would have a lawsuit on your hands.
But like I said this is just my 2 cents. This is what we have done on our farm for years.
10 cents for a bullet is cheaper than an ER visit and being sued.

 

[chickNjake]

Thank you all so much!
every answer has been very helpful.
I don't think it's a food aggression problem because she sees the chickens more as puppies than anything edible. I think she was licking some of the blood though, but I think it was more of an over-protection deal than food. The chicken could have been dead when she found it too.

It's just not acceptable for her to have done this. I'll call some trainers, etc. tomorrow and see what they think.

It's hard for me to accept that it happened, we've had her for all her life, and we do the things on the dog whisperer, we make sure to pretend to eat everything before she does and make her sit. It's very unlike her.

She is a guard dog, but she's a barking bluff.
we don't ever have kids younger that my 14 y/o brother around her.

I've never had the slightest thought of her being aggressive, and I'd like to think it was a one-time event, but I know that isn't the way to look at it.

I know I shouldn't have ran away, I knew it at the time. But I decided, rather quickly, that a bad dog was better than a bad face. There was no getting the prize away. she made that pretty clear.

Again, thank you everyone for your kind, helpful replies!

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
There is your problem. For three years she has been challenging your authority and winning at the domination game.

No dog should ever be allowed to bite you, not even in play. Not even a puppy. When my GP puppy jumps up on me, I step on her feet. If she bites me, I pin her on her back and then ignore her. I am the alpha, and that is the way it is.

 

[redhen]

You have a big problem on your hands..any dog that turns on its owner is very high risk. Please get professional help.
I noticed you said she jumps on you and play bites..
baaad...shes not respecting you right there... so..this has been coming for a while now..but in little ways..so you didnt see it.
When she did that you should have stood your ground..and made her submit. never..ever run.

My dogs never, ever put their teeth on me...even in play..i dont allow it as a pup either..
when you feed her, MAKE her lie down..and wait until you give her her food. Thats just a small start...Good luck!

When my female Saint used to jump up and body slam us ..i finally took her to a Saint rescue lady to get advice, and she told me to put a prong collar on her with a 2 ft lead attached to it always..(the lead is so you can grab her easily when you need to..)
and when she jumpes at you..grab the lead and yank up and make her submit..DONT let go of that collar/lead until she submits..keep pressure on that collar until she stops fighting you......and tell her NO firmly and give her serious look.
I had to only keep it on her for 1 week.(i kid you not!)..she hasnt tried that crap in 2 yrs..
But yur dog has other issues as well..agression...not good.

 

[faykokoWV]

When our bull mastiff attacked our Yorkie we put him on 'lock down"
He was either in the crate or on the leash (even when sitting in the living room with us) for about three months. We kept him under our total control and he did absolutely nothing without our permission. No running, no playing. Long disiplined walks at a brisk pace. We even stood there holding the leash while he ate. After three months we gradually eased up, but if he showed any signs of aggression at all, back to the leash. We had finally got him behaving perfectly when he suddenly died (the vet never did find the cause of his death)

I would agreed with a trainer and if you can watch any episodes of the dog whisperer.

 

[schellie69]

I had a problem dog also not as big as yours but I watched Cesar and used his ideas and it helped a bunch I am still very cautious around others but when ever he shows any signs that he is getting aggressive I make him submit and stay that way when ever I have people over I make him submit so he knows that he is below them. I would check into a collar that gives you more control with her play biting and jumping up on you is her showing signs of dominance so I would never let her do that again I always believe that a dog can be saved and we should try and help correct the problems before we kill the dog (my opinion) Cesar has changed some very aggressive dogs so i figure that if You find a good trainer or someone to help You should be able to fix the problem also check with the vet and see if they know of anyone that can help I hope things work out for you and you can get your dogs problems worked out

 

[Wolf-Kim]

You need to get this animal under control IMMEDIATELY.

Do NOT make excuses for your dog. Get a professional trainer/behaviorist. Your untrained, nonlistening puppy, just became a full grown aggressive dog. This is a serious problem. People have been KILLED by their giant breed dogs doing things like this.

If I sound like I'm trying to scare you, it's because I am. This is a serious problem, you must bring in a professional.

You say the dog treats the poultry like puppies, it's a nice sentiment. But the behavior your dog was displaying was food aggression. She had a nice bloody treat and she wasn't going to let you take it from her.

Everything you've explained this dog doing, points to one thing. It views you and your family and subordinates. She is the dominant, and what she wants goes. This is a HUGE problem, I can't describe or put to words how serious this issue is. Bring in a professional ASAP or put the animal down. It's THAT serious.

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

I know this might sound weird but get someone to help you if you need it but pin her to the ground, just like other dog do it is a dominate thing. The alpha dog will always make the other dog lay down and roll over. Make sue so know you are boss make her do things she does not want to like let you eat first, and making her sit and stay, and walk only leash at a heal.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

Nothing in life is free, NILIF

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

You need to have a behaviorist work with you like jersey girl said.

You dog has no idea you are the boss.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

In the meantime do NOT do anything like roll or pin your dog to the ground. A crate wouldn't be a bad idea though.