sorry for the repost but i really need some help this is urgent please - Page 3

If he is truly unstable and aggressive, you may have no other option but to euthanize. That said, I would look into every possible cause and/or solution before making such a radical decision. It could very well be a health issue. Have blood work done, have his thyroid checked and have hip x-rays done for starters. It could VERY well be a trainng issue, as many have mentioned. It could be that neutering would help solve the problem. Neutering is NEVER a guarantee, but it does solve an aggression problem sometimes. My son's male French Mastiff started to show signs of aggression, although he was little younger than your dog. They got him neutered and it completely changed him (in a good way). He is very trust worthy now.  Please don't do anything extreme right now- for the sake of the dog, please rule out other causes. In the meantime, I would be very careful about letting this dog near your daughter and would get the help of a good professional trainer immediately.

I agree not to let him around your daughter.  You already stated she is afraid and if he's around her, he will know this and it may happen again.  I agree with having a vet check, eval and trainer, in that order.

I do NOT agree with the knee jerk reaction to put the dog down. I have been a professional trainer since 1999 and trained dogs all my life - so far only one dog had to be put down. Training is nearly always the answer. There are cases of genetically bad temperament but if that was the case I think it would have shown itself before this.

I concur, the dog needs x-rayed, if he reacted because his butt was pushed, he could have been in pain (not that I'm excusing the bite - but if his hips are really bad it will be easier and make more sense if he is ultimately put down). He is also at the adolescent age when dogs can act out.  And I further agree that the owner was wrong to let the dog make his own decisions about when to go into the crate, etc.   Best of luck to you, I know this is not an easy decision or situation.

Your family dog bit a member of your family?
I did not see what your response was, how did you correct the dog at that moment?

Did you jump on the dog and beat it to within an inch of it's life?   Because thats what I would have done.
Then I would decide weather to shoot it or not.

What happens when the dog bites a child that is not yours, perhaps a younger child and does far more than just break the skin?

I don't care what the reason or cause is, the dog crossed a line.    And you do not have what it takes to deal with it in my opinion.

I also do not believe in pawning your problem off on someone else.

It would be inhumane to send the dog to someone who would use the dog for biting and the idea of a family pet just went out the window. 

No vet check, no evaluation, neuter, or other nonsense,  just put the dog down.

It bit your daughter and whatever the reason it will do it again, possibly biting someone else and then you'll have real problems.

Use your head.

Just curious but has your dog had any vaccines recently? And if so which ones? What is the behavior of your dog right now. Did you notice anything behaviorally before he refused to go into his crate?

How serious are the bite marks? are they just lightly grazed on the surface or actual deep marks on her leg?

(The reason I ask about the vaccines is that some dogs have a temporary aggression issuses within an alotted time after a vaccine specifically rabies)

What you described seems to me like dominance issue, Your dog could consider your daughter as a sibling to challenge for a higher pack position, but if it's completely from left field.... try to figure out whats different.

I'm truly sorry this happened within your family, but i think the best way to proceed is to figure out why it happened. Someone in  your familly is going to have to go handle your pup and, run a few behavior experiments on him (in a controlled manner) Ie dog is leashed and/or muzzled. Ideally you  would do this with your daughter, but I wouldn't if she doesnt feel confident around your dog anymore. Consulting an animal behaviorist/trainer  who can see and interact with your dog is probably the best thing you can do right now.

Regardless of the cause however this is not the sort of thing that can be tolerated in the least.  Best of luck


Tasha

sounds like he is no longer a goofy pup and he didn't want to go in the crate.  She made him do it and he retailiated.  sounds like pack order isn't clear with this dog. 

you said he didn't want to go in his crate,  so you just left him and was going to get a treat?  you reward bad behavior?  he would go in the crate because I said so, when I said so.

What type of training has been done?

For those who think that there is no reason this could be related to a health issue, you are completely off base. A hormone imbalance can do extreme things to a dog's personality and temperament. Also, as VM said, if the dog has pain in the hind end area, it could react out of character. I must say, it doesn't sound like it is a pain issue, but you just don't know for sure until you firther investigate. To put a dog to sleep without knowing for certain that the aggression is not health related borders on being inhumane, not to mention impulsive, in my opinion.  

To the OP, this may sound like a strange question, but are both of this dog's testicles descended?

At 15 months he is probably coming into his own...  however, domestic dogs "come into their own" without attacking family members.  If they are sound.

I'd offer the dog to the local police and see if they are interested, however, most police K9s live in their handler's home and if they have children, this dog could be a danger.

Children get killed and seriously injured because PARENTS can't man up and put down an unsound dog.  It happens every day.  Excuses are made. Sadly, today's "entertainment TV dog trainers" talk much crap about "rehabilitation" when, of course, an unsound temperament is hardwired.

Management is EVERYTHING.  This dog could live perfectly safetly, of course, with the right owner.  Sound or unsound. However, for your home, or any other "normal family" this is an unsound dog. If he can't be placed in a useful police or military situation, I say man-up and make room for a dog with better temperament.  

to the people saying that it was "ok" since she pressed on his butt and that their dogs don't like it either:

I own my dog,  every part of their bodies belong to me, not them.  I am allowed to touch what I want.  They learn this from very early on.  and it saves alot of trouble and time when if ever, there is an injury and situation that requires me to go around their areas.  they understand what I say goes, whether they like it or not.  if they bite, like  twomoons stated, they would know they definitly made a mistake,  one that they would not want to make again.

you should be lord and god over your animals, being equal friends just does not cut it (dog whisperer is a JOKE! EVEN HIS WIFE WANTS OUT, LOL),  it doesn't work in the wild,  and shouldn't work in a family enviroment.

if this was my dog (mine would not have behaved like this to begin with), he would  experience a MAJOR life style change.  he would not get ANYTHING unless I deemed him worthy of getting it.  he would not get play time without earning it, no food without earning it, no water without earning it, infact I would remind him I am the only reason he is allowed to take a breath.  but thats just me.

I've only had 1 dog bite happen on my property in 25 years and it was with a rescued blue heeler bitch and a neighbor sticking his arm over my gate to unlatch it by himself without us being outside with him.