I think I need to vent more than anything.  My dog is driving me nuts.  Today I actually had the thot of giving her away to someone else. That thot killed me. I cannot do that.  I am not a person who thinks of dogs like that.  A dog is for life! (well the dogs life anyway.)

She is not happy and I am not happy. She whines, ALOT. She bites. She seems, never satisfied, ever. I have taken her to the vet for non stop whining, thinking she was sick and they cant find anything wrong with her. 

 I have written here before about her biting problem.  She has bitten me several times since then and a few other people as well.  Now everytime I think she's gotten better with people and loves up to new people, and months will go by, then she just bites, out of the blue. 

Last week some people were over and after I told my friend to leave her in her crate, because there were new people there. Usually I leave her in there for about 10-15 minutes when new people come over, and then she'll be really good for the rest of the night. Well, he let her out anyways and what do you know, she bit his freind on the face. He didnt believe that she bites because he had never seen her do it, and thot I was overreacting.

It has gotten to the point where I dont even want to trim her toenails, give her a bath or inspect her when injured.  She'll bite me!  Im actually starting to feel anger to her and I feel horrible.  Last night she was whining all night and I looked her over and she seems to have an inflamed nipple.  I dread even taking her to the vet because she flipps around and squeals like a hyena, and I can see their eyes rolling, thinking Im some horrible dog owner and its very, very embarrassing.

But----she'll let me pet her, and love on her, but even when doing that there is this little fear inside me that she'll turn around and bite. That I'll do something to piss her off.  It has totally taken away all the enthusiasm and fun out of dog ownership. 

I dont think its my training,  my other dog is a border collie and she is sweet as can be and no problems at all.  No whining or biting from her.  I had another dog before for 10 years who was very skittish but I was able to train him and he never bit. This is my first rat terrier, tho.

Im a college student and have no money for professional training right now, I will have to save my $ at this point for that grudging vet visit for the inflamed nipple. I know its not just the nipple either, this has been going on for a while.

I want to be a good owner to her.Truth is Im afraid of her.  I've never been a fan of parakeets or lizards or gerbils or anything that can bite you, and now I have a big thing that can (and does) bite me.  How can I get over my fear of her biting and build a good relationship again?  Any advice for me?  Im hurting pretty bad over this.

sorry for the rant.

Of course I don't hate you! But I would HIGHLY advise getting her spayed even if you have to take her to another vet. Hormones do crazy things and can affect your dog's behavior.

Your friend should never have let your dog out of the crate if you asked her not to. That was very inconsiderate of your friend to do so... and the person's face must have been close to the dog's face or else she would have been bitten somewhere other than her face. It sounds to me (I wasn't there so obviously this is an assumption)... that your friend totally disregarded your request... and totally invaded your dog's space. You should keep in mind that you are legally accountable in most situations for your dog's behavior, even though as far as I'm concerned from what you've said... your friend is at fault here. So... that's a done deal and hopefully a lesson learned, so let's move on to the bigger picture.

Remember that any dog can bite if provoked or if perceiving a threat. Something we don't perceive as a threat (such as a child running up to hug us) may well be percevied by your dog as a threat. Respect your dog's space. Dogs by nature defend their territories. Sticking your hand (or a visitor doing so) inside a dog's crate or a car window where a dog is sitting is not smart, as your dog might bite to protect his territory. When friends visit your house, introduce them to your dog and explain the house rules. Same goes for petsitters. If there is ANY question about how your dog will respond to visitors... make sure he's crated (sounds like you are doing this).

If you have a visitor you trust and who will work with you on this, have treats available (GOOD treats.. not commercial treats, but treats like chicken bits, hotdog bits, stringed cheese), and have your visitor walk over and open the crate door and walk away and back to the couch. The visitor will have the treat in his/her hand. Yoda will more than likely wander over to the person who has the treats. Have the person put the treat in the palm of an open hand, but do not extend the hand. Simply have them open their hand to where Yoda has to come get it. (maybe have the visitor just lay her hand on the couch next to her body with palm up and treat in palm). That's all for now. Once Yoda takes the treat... act as though she doesn't exist. In a few minutes have your visitor do this again... many times during the visit, but please ask your visitor not to make over the dog in any way at this point.

It would be good if you can, to do this from time to time with various people who you TRUST. This is teaching Yoda that visitors are ok and are not a threat to her.

You need to do this too. If she's sitting next to you on the couch, kinda play with her paws and give her yummy treats as you do so so her focus is not necessarily on what you are doing, but on the rewards she's getting for being good. Stroke her back... stroke her head... rub her ears... and give treats occasionally and praise her for allowing you to do this.

Sounds like some desensitizing is in order from what I'm gathering, and this is a great way to start.

And... her exercise needs to be more than "random".  She's more likely to behave if she is tired, so before you do the things I've suggested above, make sure she's tired.

Good luck to you, and please keep us posted!

Nora, thankyou, and my apologies for the delay in response.  I will definately try what you have recommended!!

Luckily, the guy who got bit was not mad at me, but (while laughing)yelled at my friend who let her out the crate.  Both guys totally heard me say "dont let her out" but my friend didnt believe she would bite because he's known her for months now and shes never bitten anyone.  The reason she hasnt tho is because I have developed my own sort of routine to keep her from biting newcomers, which involves use of her hatred of the crate and a little psychology. She actually loves the crate, chills there all the time out of her own free will, but hates the door to be closed.

What I do is this- people come to the door and she starts barking.  I tell her no and put her in the crate.  She just cant stand it that she cant get at those people she wants to bite or love on.  I leave her there for the first 10-15 minutes visitors are over.  At this point I intruct anyone (who doesnt alredy know) that shes a biter and to use caution if they decide to pet her, but that I feel its better they ignore her their first visit to my house.  Usually Yoda loves right up to people when I do this, and if she doesnt, it only takes that 1 time for her to meet someone and then next time she sees them she's thier friend for life. 

I know yer not supposed to use the cage as a punishment, but I swear this works for Yoda when I do it this way- & I would have to put her in thier anyway so she wouldnt charge at folks when they 1st come in the door. I have been doing this successfully for probably almost a year now, but obviously its more of a solution & not completely a cure since she bit dude on the nose!

Okay- so- I guess a better way to put this is, Yoda over two years has bitten 3 or 4 people, but over that time she's bitten  or snapped at ME way more than 3-4 times. I dont want her biting anyone, but I am more afraid of her biting me at this point, I guess.

Anyways, I bought her a muzzle yesterday, something that felt a little wierd, but I had to trim those toenails of hers!  I gave her plenty of turkey during and after the process, but its still took my husband holding her still to trim them!!! Im thinking as long as I can have some way to perform necessary care without fear of her biting me that will help alot in those regards. 

Im going to try putting it on her & rewarding her without always doing something she doesnt like while its on, too.

Excercise- yes,yes- you are so right it should be more than random.  Lately its been 4-5x a week I do the frisbee thing but some days I only take the collie out because she absolutely must have excercise at least once every day. In the summer we will certainly get tons of excercise because you cannot keep me indoors when its warm.  But in the winter you have to pry me out the house- I hate being cold...

anyways- so sorry for that xtra long reply!!! i just realized you dont need my life story here

thanks x1000000