Freckles, nobody is slagging you off here. You're not a bad dog owner. Quite the opposite. You acted well and with confidence when you were grabbed and you're making a serious effort to get some help for Kixi. Good on you. Very much so. Good on you.

It's always a bit of a wreck when a large, powerful dog with a natural protective instinct receives no training, or worse, bad training (I have been at the wrong end of that) but it is possible to turn it around. It will take time and patience and I completely agree that we can't give you very good concrete advice over the internet-- you'll need to consult someone skilled who can see your particular dog. I'm glad you came here for advice and sorry if you feel put upon.

We can't tell you how to train her, all we can do is give you ideas on how to be safe. We can't see what is happening, we can't see how dangerous the situation is and we can't tell you how to solve this. You need someone who understands the breed, has experience with both the breed and problem and doesn't use pack theory to solve problems. We're to look has already been put up on this thread.

I think people are bothered the dog might seriously injure YOU as much as anything. I do now remember the history a bit anyway but isn't this the same dog who bit your brother or someone who 'stared' at her in your house? Or am I thinking of another dog altogether?

But anyway the same advice has been given all the time - you do need to get a qualified specialist in the field to assess your dog and help you with behaviour issues (if they can).

If you don't take the advice and keep returning to say the dog is still biting - I'm a bit puzzled about what you expect people to say any different to what they said before.

If the dog wasn't biting I would not be saying PTS I am not having a go at you at all, I am worried what could happen to you ! and anyone else that he bites.

I am pretty sure a dog that bites is not a happy dog, this sometimes cannot be fixed. I have had biters and one was nervous aggressive (obviously a nervous dog isn't happy) only place he never bit was at home where he felt safe, the other protected me he was always looking for dangers so again not exactly happy. But difference between mine and yours is neither ever even growled at me and both were small enough for me to keep everyone safe, if necessary I could pick them up and hold them away from everyone.

The shear size and that your dog is biting you scares me to think what could happen, I really don't want you to be coming here to tell us something far worse has happened in the future.

You have I think done your best and I am not saying you have not just sometimes things are not fixable.

Hi Amanda I can't imagine why anyone would want to shout at you for trying to do your best for your dog and of course we don't know all your circumstance. However I think it is important to take into account your previous posts and having done this I would not suggest that you attempt to train this dog or to handle this situation on your own.

I can only repeat what Wysiwyg posted, in my opinion you won't get any better advice

I can see where you're coming from Freckles I'd have a hard time giving up on the dog too, but you do need help as you've run out of ideas as what to do for the best. I'd contact the person Wysiwyg suggested the expert on Mastiff breeds and discuss the situation in full with them and work out where you go from here. Dogs biting is a very emotive subject and when you say she bit your arm you didn't say whether or not she drew blood or did she just grip your arm and hold on? I used to foster a male Dobie who when frightened/unsure of himself used to bite my hand, and while it hurt it never broke the skin, although frequently left me with bruises, I also believed it was never his intention to hurt me (which helps). Could you not put a dog gate between the lounge and hall preventing her accessing the front door?

I don't think anybody could possibly accuse you of being a bad dog owner given all that you have done for this dog - you've done your absolute best and when things haven't gone right you've come on here and sought advice. TBH it does seem like she was making progress as it's quite a while since you posted anything.

It's obvious to me that you've become attached to her and having her PTS would be very distressing. I know it would be for me. There are alternatives and they have to be rigorously applied given that you and/or your partner could be prosecuted if she attacked anyone else.

My one is not good with other dogs at all and for me it's about being one-step ahead of him all the time - exhausting but I couldn't live with myself if he attacked and injured another dog - psychologically or physically. Touch wood he's very good with humans. In your case it is about being one step ahead of your girl - maybe teaching her to go to a crate when the doorbell rings. I know that sounds like a gigantic step to get her to do - but I'm always amazed what I can get my dog to do if taught correctly.

Hi All

Im sorry if i came across angry or rude in my last post. I just felt that i was being got at. Whenever I have posted on here it has been for help. I know this is a serious situation that is why I am seeking help. The last time she bit me I needed to go to A&E as I had a whole in my arm. The nurse said is was quite deep & I had to have anti- biotics & steri strips & a sling. I have to say this has frightened me greatly. However to get to the point, I now have a behaviourist coming & next Monday & will be our 6th session. She has been doing great & I have been so pleased with her. Then on Thursday of this week we practised with someone knocking on the door I was OK with this as we have done it before. Well.....unfortunately when i tried to put her in her bed she bit me on the arm again. Thank god she didn't break to skin but I am bruised up arm again. The trainer then got someone else on door so he could see what happens. As she heard the knock i did what he told me to do, but no she bit me again. I dont get it!

I have changed my thinking to Dog, not human. I have been reading up on Wolves as he suggested as he works with the dog being very similar to the wolf. Even if we muzzle her it (in my eyes) makes her worse. She then jumps up as she knows she can't use her teeth.

Not really sure what to do. When she grabs me its very much like rough play, tug of work on my arm/cardigan. I'm finding this very stressful now & even though I beleive this therapist has down some good, I am wondering if something is going on inside that we dont know about.

I still have not ruled out PTS but my partner & his son both said no they didn't want that. I have tried to explain what she is like when she does it & that it is not their arm that is slowing getting battered all the time. I dont want her put to sleep, I definately am not rehoming her as I would be scared who she would end up with & how they would treat her. So part of me thinks being PTS would be best option. I do think if she ever got me on the floor when she is biting me what the hell would happen. It is not enjoyable owning her. I have had 4x dogs in total, a Collie X & JRT who have sadly gone to Rainbow Bridge & at the moment I have Kixi & a JRT. I have never had any problems with any of my dogs before & Im wondering if Kixi can be helped or should I do the deed?

Stop "putting" her in another room if you are getting hold of her collar to do it, to her you are being aggressive and she is defending herself.

A friend has the same problem with her dog, she has made a big improvement then discovered her dog has thyroid problems. She asked and paid for a full blood test, she didn't do it, she did the small one and something else. My friend told her she wanted what she paid for and gave her information that Jean Dodds gave her. This. vet told her Jean Dodds didn't know what she was talking about. She changed her vet, has been on Thyroxin for 2 weeks and there is an improvement. It won't do any harm to have a full thyroid test and send them to Jean Dodds who is a vet and specialises in thyroid problems.

Just a point dogs are no closer to wolves than we are to apes, we don't treat our children as apes to teach them.

Hi Amanda, I am sorry things have not improved as you would have wished .
I don't know if you followed the original advice to consult a vet and to obtain a referral to a member of the APBC, maybe not.
I would run a mile from anyone who suggested my dog was similar to a wolf, that is like saying humans still behave like cavemen and totally disregards centuries of evolution.Neither does it take into account your dogs past experiences.
Muzzles may have a place in certain situations, they can also make a fearful dog more fearful because they remove a dogs means to defend itself.
If this was my dog I would not be doing anything which might make it more fearful/defensive. Instead I would aim to habituate it to situations which resulted in unwanted behaviour.

Because of the nature of this situation I will not comment further other than to say I would still be seeking a referral to someone who can understand the dogs issues.

ETA

Amanda I have just been reading back over the previous history/threads and note you were originally seeking help two years ago .
Each time mistakes were made in handling this dog's issues and people got it wrong the problems may have been reinforced

This is something I would rarely say but sometimes if a dog is beyond the control of its owner and becomes a danger to people there are worse things for a dog than being PTS .