Sudden Lunge, Grab, Bite Episodes

[MollyBellesMom]

Hi everyone, it's me again. Just a quick background, our rottie MollyBelle is 2 1/2 years old and we rescued her about 6 months ago. She is great, except has one particularly bad habit, I have to break. She will sometimes, with little warning, stare at me for a second, and start jumping up and down, growl/bark and try to grab my arm. She has succeeded in grabbing my arm, to the point, where I've at least had a mark or been bruised. Very unnerving, to say the least. I can't really figure out her triggers, sometimes I'll just walk in the room, she gets this look in her eye and then here we go. She's also at times done the quick stare and grabbed our little dog, Amy, in these types of modes, she doesn't bite down hard on her either, but again, I'd love to see this behavior stop all together. I think in part, she doesn't completely respect me and when she does this, I've tried not backing down and making her sit/lie down, but lately it's taking longer to get her to do this and the whole trying to dodge a bite is going on longer and longer. I also practice the NILIF motto with her. I do intend to get a professional to help, but til that's done, I hoped some of you out there might have some immediate advice on this. I think challenging her back and getting her to sit or leave it or stop, is only antagonizing her further. These episodes too seem less playful and more aggressive, each time they occur, so you can guess where my concern is. I've often heard redirecting can help, any suggestions? Thanks for listening.

[jlhnokc]

If she is grabbing and lunging at you and making contact with her teeth, she doesn't deserve to be off leash at all...Put a leash on her and as soon as you see that look in her eye, even before she has a chance to react, you redirect her to some commands...Also, what kind of exercise is she getting? This could be built up frusteration if she isn't getting enough physical and mental exercise and this is her outlet for it.

[tla0126]

Is she acting mad, or just super excited?

[fostermom]

Just managed to delete my post so I'll try again.
Without seeing the behavior, I can't tell for sure whether this is a play behavior..what I can tell you is your description sounds exactly like what my alpha male does. He's not interested in balls, or tug of war..but he LOVES to have me run around the yard, he chases, positions himself in front of me, eye-balls me and starts barking and either bounces up and down in place or makes mock "lunges" at me, making growly noises as he "lunges"..he NEVER makes contact and has figured out the clearances to a tee as he "misses" by fractions of an inch. He LOVES this..BUT will stop the instant I tell him to. (He also LOVES to be chased!!!)
He also likes to race down the steps ahead of the other dogs and grab at their necks as they go by (with zero bite pressure...again, just a mock grab)...the low ranking dog is a bit intimidated by this but the others just blow past him and ignore the behavior.
I'll leave it to others to try to interpret the behavior...but if I had to guess based on how Reno plays, I'd guess she's trying to enagage you in play. As to grabbing the other dog's neck...I do think with Reno there's a mix of play and asserting his alpha-niss in this behavior...I don't worry about either behavior as, again, he stops the moment I tell him to. He's also the self-appointed mother hen to the other dogs and cats, and an exceedingly "kind" dog so I don't view any of this as aggression.
If she isn't listening to you and escalating the behavior, I'd absolutely up the obedience so that she does comply when told...also maybe (as to jumping at you) I'd try ignoring the behavior...just like when a pup jumps on you...fold your arms, look up at the ceiling (maybe slightly turn your back) and IGNORE her...if she escalates the behavior too much (which she probably will to engage you...called an extinguishing bursty) leave the room or walk away...when it's no longer fun, she should stop. I'm sure others will have alternate suggestions to try also. I just wanted to give you some reassurance that this very well may be a play behavior. Best of luck.

[MollyBellesMom]

Originally Posted by tla0126

Is she acting mad, or just super excited?

Hard to tell because it's sometimes out of the blue, little warning. She seems to be getting mad though if I use it as a challenge and try to get her to back off and do her commands, sit or lie down, etc.

[MollyBellesMom]

I'm thinking the physical, mental challenge might be a key here, it usually occurs mid-day and I'm thinking boredom might play into this too.

Thanks for the replies so far, really appreciate the input.

[MollyBellesMom]

Thanks Fostermom, I appreciate your comments.

[moondog]

This sounds to me like a dog with energy she doesn't know what to do with, so is using it as best she knows how.....to engage you. This also sounds to me like a dog that is very much in need of more exercise and very much should be enrolled, like yesterday, in obedience classes that should continue for the next 2 years. If she doesn't get the direction she needs from you, nature will teach her.

[fostermom]

Forgot to add that I agree with everyone...she sounds uber-bored and is trying to invent some way to entertain herself...also a dog that needs her obedience bumped up..but not aggressive.

[EmmysMom]

I have to agree w/it sounds like attempting to engage in play. Emmy used to do this exact same thing when she was younger. Each time we would say outside, run her outside and let her run off her energy. Now that she is 6, she never initiates it in the house anymore. She goes outside, then crouches and gives us the eye - we know she needs a little run and we engage her outside. She sounds ferocious but she never touches us anymore and she loves this game, it is one of her favorites! Good luck w/your girl!

[webangel2b]

My Dixie is just like Emmy.

We chase/she chases - we have a great ole time. There are times when it seems like she's going to pounce but she never does. She's just playing and wanting to run off some energy.

[tla0126]

Beau will start doing this out of the blue too. It is ALWAYS when he wants to play. He will make this weird bark noise and jump up in the air. At this point, I will tug on a stuffed animal with him, or throw something for him to go get. Just like everyone else, it sounds like your pup wants to play. The biting is no good, so I would also suggest continuing in obedience classes.

[Jaidann]

From what you described, I'd say engagement for play. My Rottie use to do this without the biting part. She would slam her feet on the floor, bounce back and forth with a low, throaty type growl.

Since you rescued your girl, she probably never learned "No bite" or "No teeth" when she was little and that seems to be the difference.

I agree with everyone else, get her into obedience ASAP. This will help that behavior and keep her mentally stimulated.

[jlaack]

Regardless if the cause is excitement or that and a little edge, obedience classes are a must. We have a very excitable dog and we provide plenty of avenues for him to release his energy. However a command is a command. It needs to be followed even if he hasn't yet had decent exercise for the day. Since your girl is 2.5 yo she is more than capable of focusing in her hyper mode to your commands. Definitely enroll her in classes which will also give you an opportunity to discuss and perhaps display this behavior to receive an opinion by a trainer.

[SABELLESMOM]

I can understand how life gets busy, you love your kids, and your Cocker Spaniel. It's nice to see you've instituted NILF. Still, you got this dog in October. Since that time you've come here and been very grateful for ideas and comments from everyone. It leads me to believe you are sincere.

Remember? From the beginning people have told you how wise it would be to engage the dog's mind, thru formal classes like obedience, or even agility. It's been mentioned before that she's bored and needs more interesting interactive kinds of play: Like setting up dowels or a ladder on the ground and having her walk over them. It will help her concentrate on foot placement. Put a board first on the ground flat and later over a brick (teeter) and have her walk it. Or even teach her fetch. Poke some sticks in the ground and teach her to weave thru them. It's OK to use a long lead if you have no fenced area.

Her mind and body need to be active. She's bored. Perhaps some self amusing toys, too? Mine like those durable rubber footballs with the wiffle like holes in them. The answers are still the same. Classes, activity, redirecting, and mind engaging play...along with the NILF, which you've started. You might need to engage a behaviorist if you let this continue.