PSA courtesy of Highland Piper’s Pistol

[Ron Atkinson]

I am sorry you are having difficulty with biting, that's a hard one but not impossible.
My Dewey was an abused rescue, who had a brain injury before he came to me. One minute he was fine, the next he would nail you good. He ended up living his life with an indoor lead on 100% of the time so we could control him and not get bit.
To make them I took a 6 foot lead, cut off the handle and had my wife bind the end with her sewing machine. Cutting off the handle kept him from getting stuck some where, while the lead allowed us to control him while minimizing the opportunity of getting bit.
The other tip to keep in mind, once he bit into my hand, to minimize the damage to you, don't pull away push in instead, it made him gag a little and he would release his pressure allowing me to get my hand free with minimal damage to me.
I highly recommend the indoor lead and hope you never ever need to use the second one.
I kept trying through out his life, but my trainer never gave up on him. we took level 1 obedience classes 9 times and he never graduated to level 2 because we agreed he needed a lead on at all times. But he had fun and didn't disrupt her class so she allowed us to continue.
Best of luck, and don't give up, you will figure out his trigger.

 

[Watson's Mom]

I am sorry you are having difficulty with biting, that's a hard one but not impossible.
My Dewey was an abused rescue, who had a brain injury before he came to me. One minute he was fine, the next he would nail you good. He ended up living his life with an indoor lead on 100% of the time so we could control him and not get bit.
To make them I took a 6 foot lead, cut off the handle and had my wife bind the end with her sewing machine. Cutting off the handle kept him from getting stuck some where, while the lead allowed us to control him while minimizing the opportunity of getting bit.
The other tip to keep in mind, once he bit into my hand, to minimize the damage to you, don't pull away push in instead, it made him gag a little and he would release his pressure allowing me to get my hand free with minimal damage to me.
I highly recommend the indoor lead and hope you never ever need to use the second one.
I kept trying through out his life, but my trainer never gave up on him. we took level 1 obedience classes 9 times and he never graduated to level 2 because we agreed he needed a lead on at all times. But he had fun and didn't disrupt her class so she allowed us to continue.
Best of luck, and don't give up, you will figure out his trigger.

Figure out her trigger?

Her triggers:
The cat, the basement stairs, me walking down the basement stairs, me walking past the basement stairs, the sun, the wind, the birds outside, me looking out the window, me walking near the window, me watering my plants, me feeding my geckos, me cooking dinner, me cleaning up dinner, the vacuum, the broom, and the candlestick maker.

The list goes on and on. Sitting on the couch. Walking near the couch.

She is difficult to live with and I’m frustrated that this behaviorist touts that she’s the best in the region but yet only serves the immediate area of a single city. Not even so much as a willingness to charge an out of area fee or travel surcharge or whatever you want to call it.

 

[Calliesmom]

Figure out her trigger?

Her triggers:
The cat, the basement stairs, me walking down the basement stairs, me walking past the basement stairs, the sun, the wind, the birds outside, me looking out the window, me walking near the window, me watering my plants, me feeding my geckos, me cooking dinner, me cleaning up dinner, the vacuum, the broom, and the candlestick maker.

The list goes on and on. Sitting on the couch. Walking near the couch.

She is difficult to live with and I’m frustrated that this behaviorist touts that she’s the best in the region but yet only serves the immediate area of a single city. Not even so much as a willingness to charge an out of area fee or travel surcharge or whatever you want to call it.

that is very discouraging that the behaviorist in your area won't even try........
I lived somewhere where there were two that I had to choose which office to go to but where I am now....... nobody.......
the behaviorist did help my dog (non sheltie) who had separation anxiety but nothing like what you are dealing with...
would you consider an animal communicator? Chris has used one that she highly recommends....

 

[Ron Atkinson]

By trigger, I mean what sets off or what clue is given just before an event is about to happen.In my Dewey's case his eyes would change and almost go blank. She might give you a clue position of the ears, tail etc. It helped my wife and I live with him.

I was told by my Vet and a few others to return him to where I got him but I am of the camp once a family member always a family member He lived til he was 12 years old

 

[Watson's Mom]

By trigger, I mean what sets off or what clue is given just before an event is about to happen.In my Dewey's case his eyes would change and almost go blank. She might give you a clue position of the ears, tail etc. It helped my wife and I live with him.

I was told by my Vet and a few others to return him to where I got him but I am of the camp once a family member always a family member He lived til he was 12 years old

Oh no. She can and will go from dead asleep to full on whirling meltdown.

I’m with you in her being my responsibility now. The only other place she would conceivably go is back to her breeder. But, when she’s not in full on meltdown mode, she’s a sweet little thing so that’s not really something I would want to consider anyway.

 

[Watson's Mom]

that is very discouraging that the behaviorist in your area won't even try........
I lived somewhere where there were two that I had to choose which office to go to but where I am now....... nobody.......
the behaviorist did help my dog (non sheltie) who had separation anxiety but nothing like what you are dealing with...
would you consider an animal communicator? Chris has used one that she highly recommends....

The list themselves as being in the same town as our vet’s office… it’s only an hour drive.

I emailed the regular trainer we’ve been working with who pretty much gave up on her to see if she has any suggestions.

I have a vet appointment with Roxy on Tuesday, I’ll ask them then if they have any other suggestions.

she’s hard to live with and will be impossible to travel with. And impossible to board because she’s nervous of other dogs on the one local boarding place puts them all in day care during the day. The other one I would trust is at our vets office but they are consistently booked. I suspect they also put them all in day care as well.

There are no dog sitters in the area; I’ve already tried to find someone through the local trainer and the local kennel club not that I’d trust her with just anyone staying here with the way she is at the moment. Especially with the newest biting development.

 

[trini]

Darci, have you considered having Piper evaluated out by a neurologist...just to rule out any possible brain issue? I am so sorry you are dealing with this.
Trini

 

[Watson's Mom]

Triggered apparently by nearly everything in life except the propane cannons going off across the road hazing birds at the airport. And yes- we’re outside for it.

I’ve told my… guide if you will… into the world of deer tracking that I will likely only do day searches because I won’t be shooting anyone’s deer for them since Piper is the way she is. Who knows now.

 

[Watson's Mom]

Darci, have you considered having Piper evaluated out by a neurologist...just to rule out any possible brain issue? I am so sorry you are dealing with this.
Trini

I haven’t but I would not be opposed to any exams that might help. I seriously have the most expensive pets .

Watson and his bills after getting attacked by that a-hole pitbull.

Roxy and her overnight at the E-vet when she found some lilies-of-the-valley and I learned that even though they aren’t true lilies, they are super toxic.

Petey my cancer cat and his $2k exploratory surgery only to find out it was lymphoma (I got him from 6 months estimated time left to putting him down 29 months later though so.. worth it) the receptionist checking us out after that one blanched and was worried they doctor hadn’t called to discuss the cost yet.

It’s only money right? I can go to work and make more of it and it’s well spent if I can help her though.

I do have a ten year old orange cat though who is in the condition of a two year old. Including his teeth. And apparently orange cats are prone to dental issues like our shelties are. So, hey…. There’s that.

 

[Ann]

I'm sorry to hear about Piper and the trainer, Darci. That's a shame...a good trainer can work wonders. We just sent my son's Berner to a trainer for 3 weeks and he's a different dog. I'm not sure where you are, but some trainers who won't travel offer in-house training like that. I got her name from my vet. Some rescue organizations will have the names of in-house trainers too, just be sure to check references and facilities if you're sending a dog to stay with them.

Failing that, another suggestion I'd offer is to check out the courses on Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. They do numerous courses on helping reactive dogs that you can sign up for and take on your computer, with help from excellent instructors and other people in the class. I've taken several courses from them, one I did for anxious dogs for Flurry, and the techniques really helped me.
Here's a link to their site.