On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 10:13:39 -0700 (PDT), Ian Gendreau
wrote:

We have a 6 year old English Black Lab. She's a fantastic dog, warm
and friendly around people and other dogs she knows. However, in the
last 6 months or so, she's all of a sudden started biting!

Define "biting." Did any break the skin?

Did anything of particular interest happen about 6 months ago? To the
dog, to your family, etc.

It's happened 4 times to people we've had over. The people were basically
strangers to her. And each time she was fine with them, until they
turned their back on her, then she nips them in the back of the leg.

Always in the back of the leg? Are we talking ankle here, or calf?

Always strangers?

Yesterday we had friends over. She greeted them, they pet her, they
watched TV with us for a while. She was fine. She laid down, wasn't
agitated, just slept. All of a sudden, one of them gets up and walks
away and she got up and bit the back of his leg. How do I stop this
behavior?

Well, it's highly unusual for a dog to start biting at the age of 6
years (especially a Lab), so a trip to the vet, to rule out any kind
of medical problem (e.g. a hearing problem, pain, etc.), would be a
good place to start.

I want to train her, but if it's a good friend we know, she
doesn't do this.

Why wouldn't you want to obedience train her anyway?

For example, if she were obedience trained, you could simply use a
down-stay (e.g., out of any high-traffic lanes) to prevent her from
"biting" anyone when company's around.

Besides, if she were obedience trained, she'd more clearly understand
her place in your "pack."

And I can't as someone she doesn't know to "come on
over and help us teach our dog how not to bite you"!

That's exactly what profssional trainers get paid to do, Ian.

We're mortified
that our sweet little lab might bite the wrong person. Any thoughts
are greatly appreciated...

1. Have a vet examine her first.
2. In the short-term, when company comes over, keep her in her crate,
on a tether, in another room, etc. Don't allow this behavior to become
reinforced. Better safe than sorry, right?
3. Arrange for a knowledgeable trainer/behaviorist to come over to
your house and assess your dog's basic behavior. It really can't be
done over the internet.

--
Handsome Jack Morrison

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