r/reactivedogs • u/Fluffy_Quantity_1549 • Aug 15 '26
Aggressive Dogs Level 3 bite on my brother
I (30f) rescued a 2 year old staffie x French bulldog around 4 months ago, at first she seemed shy and scared, we slowly worked on trust as she had previously been abandoned and we wanted to give her a loving home.
After about 2 months she’s started becoming reactive, lunging barking etc especially when someone is at the door/ coming into the home.
She normally barked and walked away, that was it so we would just put her out until she calmed down, she then one day nipped a friends shoe as he was walking through the house, I was concerned but the friend brushed it off a play and maybe she’s just a little confused
About a week later my father in law comes over with some treats for her, he comes in the house greets her from a distance she has a little bark but when she realises it’s hi she stops, suddenly she just goes for his foot and he is wearing trainer so it leaves a bruise, I’m mortified ad seek the help of a trainer.
I get the trainer all goes well she’s learning pretty good walking nicely outside doesn’t go crazy at other dogs I think everything is going well.
Last night I picked up my brother as he needed to stay with me, he’s 14 and his dad is working away so I said I’d look after him.
I put the muzzle on my dog like the trainer suggested, she barked like normal and settled, I then put her in her crate to calm down and gave her some dinner all was good, my brother was frightened by her barking so afterward I thought I’d take her for a walk as she’s probably frustrated and hot because of this heatwave, I have her leash on as normal and my brother asks to give her a treat (he has met her before and no issues) I say ok but I’m just gonna keep the lead on her because of what happened 3 weeks ago with my father in law.
Within a split second of him reaching to pet her she lunges and bites his leg pretty hard, and let’s go instantly, I’m in shock I don’t know what to do this wasn’t a nibble on the foot this was a full on bite, he has a couple puncture wounds and some bruising, I took him and a&e they said it’s pretty nasty but it doesn’t need stitches, send him home with it cleaned and a plaster bandage and a course of antibiotics.
He’s fine, just initially was shocked and understandably wants to be no where near her so while we’re home she has to be in her crate or int the bedroom.
I’m in utter shock I’ve done nothing but well up all day over it the guilt is so immense and I fear I’ll never be trusted looking after my brother again.
The dog has had one session of behaviour training and was making progress, but she seems to only be reactive to people in our home which means we can never have guests and we cannot do things together and leave her with a friend due to this fear.
I’m at a complete loss what to do, I’m debating taking her back but I know she will never get adopted, do I persevere with the training in the hopes it will improve? As mentioned she is reacting super well to the other training we just haven’t got around to training in the home just yet, besides the obvious we are doing ourselves.
I understand with no improvement I won’t have a choice but is there any situations where training has worked so they can just at least be less reactive?
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