NEED DESPERATE HELP, HELP, HELP - Our GS went after my husbnd

[YvonneGlen]

I don't know what to do... I am helpless at the moment. We are in the middle of training with one of your colleagues and everything has been going well. Bacchus was making a lot progress and so was I. I don't know what happened tonight. But I heard some comotion downstairs in our basement. My husband went to let in Bacchus. I heard some muffled words but did not think anything of it.

My husband came into our bedroom and said that Bacchus growled at him. Before that bacchus walked into our bedroom and laid down on his bed at the foot our our bed. At that point Bacchus got up from his bed and all my husband did was look at him and he lungged at him. THankfully there wa a pillow next to his feet and bacchus got the pillow instead of my husband. I was literally standing on top of our bed...Reprimanding Bacchus to back down. At which point he did. I then ordered Bacchus to follow me and put him downstairs.

I will NOT TOLERATE THIS BEHAVIOR and have no other recourse. My husband does not trust him now and has shown fear to him.

I am devastated as we had such high hopes for his rehabilitation. I need to get him out of our home now. I need advice on what to do. I know it's late and am hoping that there is someone who is out there monitoring from Mike's team...

[YvonneGlen]

We have gone over the events. This is what happened in order as we remember them.

1. Glen let Bacchus in from outside.
2. Glen was switching the lights off and heard Bacchus was munching on something in the laundry room
3. Went into laundry and tried taking out the dryer sheet from his mouth he was chewing on. My husband made a comment to him that he was stupid dog and that you're going to choke on it. He did not yell but inflection in voice changed
4. Bacchus dropped it.
5. Walked upstairs where Bacchus followed my husband into kitchen.
6. My husband went into the fridge, turned off the lights and said to Bacchus, "what's up Bacchus" and he started grumbling. Glen instructed him Bacchus sit, which he compiled. He then to told him Bacchus down which he did immediately. Glen then pet him and he was still grumbling.
7. Glen instructed Bacchus free then my husband walked into make a pit stop.
8. (This is where I come in.) Bacchus came in bedroom and went to lay on his bed directly underneath me.
9. Bacchus was lying in his bed right. Moments later Glen walked in his ear were straight up.
10. Glen told me that he grumbled at me again...I said what (I was out of the loop on what happened in the laundry room and kitchen). Glen repeated what he said while extending his right arm with pointer finger out toward Bacchus while looking at him. That is when all hell broke loose and Bacchus lunged at him, showing teeth and attempted to bite Glen.
11. Glen purposely backed himself into night table and bed so Bacchus could not get at him and kept him in front of him. (on the left was our bed and on the right was the baby’s cradle) so there was nowhere for Bacchus to go. He told Bacchus it's ok boy, it's all right, calm down and did not raise his voice at all. In fact was very calm. But he kept on coming, lunging at him.
12. He grabbed a pillow putting it towards his jaw so Bacchus could not get Glen but the pillow.
13. At which point I instructed Bacchus No! and he complied but only for a few seconds and started back with the growling. I again said Bacchus No. I then walked around to get Bacchus out of the bedroom and told him Bacchus Come. (Growling had stopped to grumbling) He did not respond immediately. Once I left the bedroom and told Bacchus Come he responded.
14. He followed me downstairs and was fine with me.

I separated Glen and Bacchus all day. Glen did not want this and wanted Bacchus with us upstairs since it was his last night here. We spoke to our breeder today and they agreed to take him. But would not be able to work with him immediately until 24th and at which time he would be put in the garage in a kennel. Glen does not want that to happen to Bacchus. Bacchus nuzzled Glen’s arm for attention and Glen responded (I did tell Glen that that was not good as it was on Bacchus’ terms). He just wanted to see if he could pet him without reaction and has done so all day. Bacchus is acting like nothing ever happened.

I believe that this action is a perceived threat for Bacchus as this is not the only incident when he reacted to this specific hand gesture. (Glen repeated what he said while extending his right arm with pointer finger out toward Bacchus while looking at him.)

1. My brother in law gestured this way when Bacchus was started by our nephew and growled at hi being downstairs without him knowing. And Bacchus reacted the same way.
2. A couple of weeks ago with you when you handed me treats and extended your arm.
3. And now this with my husband, Glen

Can this hand gesture of pointing be a stressor for Bacchus? If so, why? It's not like is a rescue dog that has been abused. We raised him from a pup and never, ever used our hands on him. We are completely devastated, confused and don't know what to do.

We are entertaining the in house kennel training now. It's just unfortunately a lot of money and I don't know if we an swing it. But I don't know what other recourse we are going to have. No one is going to want an GS who has certain stressors, territorial agressive.

[Teresa]

Yvonne,

I understand your concern. Based on the details of the event, taking the dryer cloth out of Bacchus' mouth could definitely have been the trigger for this situation. Taking something out of a dog's mouth is "stealing" in the dogs opinion. It can definitely be seen by an aggressive dog as a challenge. And can make a non aggressive dog learn to guard objects. For future reference I recommend teaching "out" and "leave it". Which your trainer can help you with.

Reaching out or looking at and pointing to a dog ( Hands reaching above a dog's head) can definitely be a trigger as well. A dog does not have to suffer abuse in order for this to be so. All dogs perceive this as an assertive gesture, and for dogs with aggression it can stimulate an aggressive response. Sometimes ,without striking a dog, people will point and make eye contact when reprimanding their dog. This also can set the tone for their response to this gesture.

Managing this issue will be very important for safety. If your choice is to train him at home, you must be careful to avoid all such triggers. Your trainer will be best suited to help you work out a management plan, since he has all of his background history. In kennel may be a very good option for him based on your feelings about the event.

I apologize for the delay in response, but did not see this posting until this moment.

Best,
Teresa