Oh thats awful for you
Im new but had to say that its a horrible position to be in and I have something similar with my familys Akita years ago....she was great untill she got to about 3yrs old and then challenged us lots.
Same kind of things with biting because she was taking over beds/sofas etc. Luckily for us Akitas seem to have their emotions written boldly on their tail....if she was getting defensive at all her tail would drop (very noticable when its usually held high) and she would go very still....so maybe look out for these signs in Jake in the future.
The way we resolved it was go go back to puppy basics with her and we stopped letting her get her own way by supervising her more than we had been....everytime she tried to get on the bed/sofa she was gently pushed away and rewarded with a toy when she settled on the floor or in her own bed. Like the others have said using a training line would be great to as you can remove him from the area he is taking over from a distance and remember being consistant will be the most important thing. Our Akita (Indy) eventually worked out she wasnt allowed to control things and we could then invite her up for a cuddle on our terms so she didnt miss out.
I think the main thing we realised was that everything had to be on our terms not her deciding she wanted attention/food/sofa etc.....she could have all those things but when we decided it was the right time.
If Jakes problems arent something the vet can help with then try and talk to a behaviourist to find a method of training that you feel comfortable with or some books maybe.
I feel really sad for you that this has happened .....Indy upset us all for a while and my Mum never fully trusted her again which was sad as she turned out to be a loving and calm dog once she was sure of the rules.

I hope you can find some answers that will help you and that this doesnt happen again ....wishing you loads of luck with him

Hi Lauren first take a deep breath and calm down..xxx
May I make a number of observations as someone outside looking on ?
Firstly I can't say I am at all surprised by the events for a number of reasons . As I have said to you previously in another thread I think Jake has a bacterial infection and may be feeling ill. If I am correct this has been going on since November when the infection started. I sent pictures of another dog with what I think may be a similar condition and if Jake still has the symptoms displayed in the previous thread I would insist on further investigation by your vet (like swabs and cultures)

So firstly there is a distinct possibility Jake is not well and may be in pain..

Now to the other things..
Lauren I am not criticising your actions or trying to preach to you in any way, just making observations which may help you and others.
It is easy to get things out of proportion when you are scared and upset. Also you have had a number of 'problems' of late which will have contributed to a general air of tension, Jake will have picked up on this. Add to this his not being well.

With older dogs who have been well trained using positive methods, have learnt to trust an owner, have no fear (and have been taught bite inhibition for just such an occasion) these situations rarely arise.

All is not lost you can with a little care retrieve the situation, I will post about this separately or the post will become to long ...

Some good advice so far Lozzi. All I will say is keep a house line on him, keep some treats nearby and try to stay positive. Jake is at that horrid stage at the moment and personally I think he is challenging you. Furniture needs to be out of bounds now and everything Jake gets he should earn by doing something YOU ask him first eg. sit, down etc. then he will learn that good things come from you when he gives you the correct behaviour. Good luck with Jake, and remember he is an adolescent dog of unknown breeding, possibly a combination of some challenging breeds. Remember to take each day as it comes and stay calm with him. Good luck hun, remember we are all here for you both!

The dog had this condition before, he didnt attack. He gave no warning, a growl, raising his lip etc.. would of been a warning, he attacked WITHOUT warning, its not acceptable.

From what I understand this is an ongoing thing -he has not had the condition before - he still has the same thing.

Warnings like growling and lifting lips are not the only warnings dogs give - Body tension (especially ears and lips), eyes as well - as I am sure you know.

The dog did not bite until she physically lent over (after she had told him and tapped him) and picked him up, which leads me to believe he gave warning. Unfortunately it was one the the OP either did not recognise or chose to ignore.

My interpretation of what was written was that there was warning - if someone had been explaining this situation to me I would have expected a bite or snap would follow.
However - I wasn't there.

I quite Honestly cant see why she would want to pick him up If any of my dogs are being naughty picking them up is the last thing i would do, Id just lead them out , not saying anything ,by their collar & treating them like theyve rolled in Fox poo.

Awww hun,

I hope your feeling a bit better now. Dont feel guilty about doing what you did, you only did that so that he wouldnt bite you anymore. Never ever feel guilty about that.

Theres some obvious training issues that need to be addressed as well as his health problems. Theres a lot of advice on here so i dont see the need to re-write what has been written.

Keep us updated on how Jake is doing

Hi Lozzi, I'm sorry about what happened, but you have been given some great advice here, and I also think that a house training line would help you.

I don't think that you know, but in 2008 I was given a bull terrier, who was a nightmare for his bull headed stubborness, and I brought a house line for him, this one to be precise but in black http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/item...se-line---dogs
(I let someone else use it after him, but I think they still have it, so if you want me to I can ask them, and send it to you, although it will probally be monday that I can send it if you want, the other training things that I used for him I think I've allready given away, but you'll be welcome to this if you want it)

Punch had this on from when he got out of his crate in the morning, to when he went back into it at night (apart from on walks), and it may sound excesive, but it worked, he was a nightmare for going places that he wasn't allowed, time after time, inculding trying to get into a oven that was on but the training line allowed me to move him out of the way without any confrontation, as I could just pick it up and move him away like you would with a lead, and he would just then think well ok then, but to start with when I used this I didn't really talk to him until I got him somewhere else, I would just pick it up, move him, and take him somewhere less dangerous and give him a chew or something, then I would reward him for that, I also used it as he had a habit of running through children, and I could stop him before he did (although he did head butt my little brother upon meeting him).

Anyway I wish you all the best with Jake, and if your intrested in the house line just pm me, and I'll ask the other people about it and send it when I can.

Post 32 continued ...
Lauren I can only suggest to you what I would do in your situation to limit the damage with Jake who is after all only a puppy.

First see the health thread, get Jake thoroughly checked out by the vet. Do not let your Boyfriend examine him, this is the vets job. Your BF may accidentally cause pain and make things worse.
..stop being scared of Jake, he is a puppy looking to you for guidance, your fear will make things worse, behave as you would normally,
..avoid confrontational situations , close doors and don't allow Jake on the beds. If he sneaks on don't punish him or touch him at all but do as previously suggested encourage him off with a toy or treat in a happy voice then when he comes praise and reward the wanted behaviour, or slip a lead on and call him off for a walk. Just calling him now is pointless if he thinks you may punish him.

Try to rebuild the trust with Jake by praising him whenever he does something right. Be careful with cuddles if he may be in pain.

Do more training with Jake to rebuild the bond between you and to reinforce that coming to you is a pleasurable experience. This is one way I teach a puppy to come to me every time....
I start with throwing a piece of chicken a distance away and when the puppy goes to pick it up show it another piece.
As it comes toward me ( and only then) I add the word come so it learns to associated approaching me and the word with good things. I also give lots of praise and the treat when the puppy reaches me.

I do this exercises sometimes using toys instead of treats over and over every day so I am constantly reinforcing the wanted behaviour. After the behaviour is firmly established I give the treats randomly but always give lots of praise

Lauren try to take a step back and not to get things out of proportion, if you stay calm and 'lighten up' a bit things may look a little different. Jake is still a puppy and needs patient guidence not punishment and force.
(sorry having to rush this a bit, hope it makes sense)

thanks, I think im going to get an appointment at a different vet to the normal one, coz I wasn’t happy with them when I took him there last week so want a second opinion from a different vet.

Thanks, yeah he has lost the fur around his eyes, its all red and he has a few wee sores around his eyes and mouth and his ears look very painful too. the vet thinks it is a mite but im not sure… I hadn’t thought about him maybe not being able to hear as well… that’s a good point. He has been in pain though, he randomly whines and tries to itch it a lot. Plus, around his eyes keeps bleeding.

We usually do close the bedroom door, but they sometimes forget and when the kids are here (my niece and nephew are around a lot) its difficult coz they always open it.

Im trying to be normal with him, my dad let him out his crate this morning while I was still asleep and I got woken by jake pawing at me. then when I opened my eyes, he came and snuggled up next to me, and gave me a few wee licks.

Thanks emma, its so so not like my boy… he never does anything like this. I think it must be coz of his eyes and ears coz its just so out of character and although he can be a first class pest on walks, his behaviour in the house is usually so much better than this. He really is so well behaved… yeah he gets into things he shouldn’t, but he does usually listen when told what to do, whether it be ‘drop’, ‘leave, ‘come’ etc.

thanks, I think I will have to stop him going on my bed, he just usually listens when told to get down so has never been a problem before.

Thanks, maybe that’s what it is with him, his ears could be making him feel a bit funny and disorientated… I just cant think what else it could be, coz although he pushes the boundaries on walks he doesn’t in the house, and earlier on that night he went on the couch twice, and as soon as I said down, he got off them.

Thanks, I don’t think he is pushing the boundaries either, he does on walks but his behaviour in the house is great and he usually listens so well in the house. I think it must be his eyes and ears, he must be in pain and getting fed up with it now.

thanks, yeah you can lose trust. I am trying to be normal with him but I feel so wary and cautious. Jake has never ever done this, even when food or bones have been taken off him… he doesn’t growl (he did once to my niece but never to anyone else and we worked on it and now he doesn’t with her either) or tense up or anything… so it really isn’t like him at all…