I really don’t like my boyfriends dog and I’m not really sure what to do about it?

[Anonymous]

I’m sure I’ll get hate for this but whatever I guess. The dog is “usually” fine and at times even lays with me but I can’t go near my boyfriend or she tries to bite me. I know how to handle dogs and train dogs and in a safe and responsible way we tried to introduce my dogs and his dog (before she tried to bite me). She tried to attack both of them so I will not let her near my dogs and keep them separated when she’s around. He sometimes brings her to my house when he comes over if he’s staying for a few days. This past weekend I had my dogs in my spare bedroom where they have their beds etc so they are safe from her. She tried to attack the door and when my boyfriend grabbed her she even turned around and bit him! When she’s around we can’t even play around or anything because she’ll try to bite me. I was laying in bed and he laid next to me and she jumped up and tried to bite me and when he grabbed her she bit him. I have a lot of experience with dogs and I just don’t understand her. She doesn’t display protective behavior she displays possessive behavior over him and he has no control. Especially since she bites him. I love dogs but I will not put my dogs at risk because of her. Not only is her behavior bad but she destroys shit. I love my boyfriend very much and I don’t want to say our relationship will only move forward based on his dog but I don’t see how we will ever be able to move forward. We’ll never be able to live together or have children (she tried to bite a child that came near him) until the dog is gone. She’s only 5 so she has years of life left (hopefully) and I would never make him get rid of her. He loves her. So I don't know what to do at this point. Does anyone have any advice? I could really use it. Thanks!

[abc3643]

Bribes

They work in the animal kingdom as well as the human world.

Psychology 101: behavior modification...

Use treats to "bribe" or, more specifically, get the dog to associate a treat with (good) behavior.
You want to go near your boyfriend when she is there?
Approach the boyfriend and offer her a treat as you do so.
Do this repeatedly over days and she will make the connection you are part of the pack and, in particular, associate you with something good...

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KEEP THIS IN MIND WITH ANIMALS (and that includes humans):

Really, when you think about it, when you repeatedly share (*) food with another being, what you are really saying is two things:
1. I am not trying to kill you.
2. I am helping to keep you alive.

These are enormous statements from an evolutionary perspective and, when you do that repeatedly, the connection is made that you are an ally and not a threat. You become something that they want in their life.

========
(*) I wrote "repeatedly share" do differentiate the offering (which is different from sharing) of food to be used as bait to make a kill like in fishing or hunting.
If the animal sees you eat and you give them a portion of the same thing, that's sharing and that's the stronger statement. Doing this repeatedly reinforces that this is not a bait/kill situation.

[ImalwaysrightOK]

I think you need to tell him everything you said here. How can you ever be open or display affection or goof around with him if you have a dog attacking you? He either needs to have the dog trained not to be aggressive or to get rid of it.

[DryGermanGuy]

Throw the dog on its back and grab it by its throat. Basically do what an angry superior dog in the pack would do.

[Asker]

What’s crazy is my boyfriend has done that so many times and she will calm down but she’ll turn around and do the same behavior all over again.

[boggboss]

See about going to a trainer to help with rhe dogs behaviour

[Sparkie460]

That dog needs a professional trainer. It's the only way you will get that dogs behavior to change