Okay so here goes. Firstly can I ask that any feedback be gentle as I feel like a right failure and really low as it is at the moment
. Lets just say, Kane's even had me in tears (behind closed doors!).
As many of you will be aware I have had a few issues with the old puppy biting, Kane being ill and then the incident with the boys we spoke about recently.
Previously Judy and German kindly offered their advice re correcting the biting behaviour with the scruff shaking. To be honest, I didn't do it right from the beginning as I was worried about hurting him however, have kindly again been coached by German on how to do this correctly.
So, basically situation is that Kane seems fine when its just me and him but as soon as my daughter is around (or boyfriend for that matter) he starts uncontrollably biting. I'm on sofa, he doesn't jump up - either of them or both on sofa, he jumps up.
He seems to try to bully my daughter, keeps jumping up on her, biting her trainers, pulling her trousers or just plainly tries to nip her. I correct this and maybe sometimes he can sense my anger as at the end of the day, she is my flesh and blood and although she's 8, she's my baby so maternal protection instincts kick in here.
Anyway, after speaking with German following an incident I had between Kane and my little one I decided that was it, need to do the scruff shaking and do it RIGHT. Kianna (my daughter) comes home today from the childminder, all is okay for about 20 minutes and then Kane starts with the jumping up at her and nipping, I tell him a firm 'no' try to re-direct his biting with toys (which by the way, he never ever plays with them or seems at all interested in them) and tried what the vet told me by giving him another command (i.e. sit, lie down) and he continues to 'bully' my daughter. Scruff shaking happens (and it is right as German said, make sure he yelps or cries out - and he does). So Kane stops during this process, I release grip and he lunges for my daughter and tries to bite her on her leg. Again, same process happens, he still lunges for my daughter (but I'm the one correcting him?) so I figure, he daren't do it to me hence him picking on the little one so I send her up to play in her room so I can calm him down. He starts on me. Process happens however, this time my daughter was not around he came running to me, jumped up and bit me clean on my thigh. Lets just say, I didn't realise how bad until I saw the blood coming through my jeans. He then tried to go for me again so I got him by the scruff of the neck. His teeth were baring, he started growling, biting, barking, yelping, everything at the same time, then stopped, I released and that was it, he jumped up and tried to bite me in the face (in fact he managed to scratch me across my lips and cheek).
What have I done wrong? I had to coax him to the kitchen where his crate is, threw a few treats down (as I didn't want him to relate his crate/kitchen area as punishment) and then shut him in the kitchen.
He has never reacted this badly to corrections although, I;ve never really used any form of force on him.
After this incident it finally dawned on me - I don't want to give up on him but I just cannot jeopardise my daughters welfare. I told my daughter that if this continues I'm sorry but I'll have no choice but to find another home for him as SHE is my priority. She cried bc she loves him to bits, I cried bc I do to and feel like I've failed completely somewhere and that it is all my fault. I've let my little one down, Kane down and myself down. What do I do?
I couldn't bear to give him up as he means so much to me and has given me a lease of life I never thought I'd ever have. I suppose I need him more then he needs me. And I feel so guilty thinking about giving him up after reading how so many of you have lost your loved ones through no fault of your own and here I am, not being able to deal with some puppy biting.
I'm so worried bc of his behaviour, his constant sickness and the fact that everyone else seems to nip this in the bud really quickly and easily without the issues that I am having.
I keep reminding myself that he is only a puppy but he is growing rapidly and I don't want to end up in a confrontation with a full grown boy.
Also, today is the first time that he has also demonstrated any form of food/treat aggression to.
PLEASE HELP ME! I do take him to obedience classes, twice daily walks and play with him (which is the only time he seems interested in his toys).
What have I done or am I doing wrong? Even at this moment, I am crying at the thought of the worst........
Eva