Op here. Thanks for all the considered responses. To the poster 15:26, the bite did break the skin but was quick and not terribly deep. Deep enough that it bled for several minutes but I didn’t need stitches or anything. We have not had a behaviorist but several qualified trainers. Well, minus one who I think told us incorrect info- but the others were good. There’s no way he can stay here- we are all walking on eggshells. He’s so unpredictable and won’t growl, will just lunge. He also attacks my other dog and those attacks have become quite vicious. Again, the underbite is what has prevented any major damage from happening. I’m not interested in any more training- I trust the ones we’ve had and the recommendations have been followed- he’s just still not behaving in a safe way. I keep him away from the kids-they don’t go near him and we put him in a pen to sleep. (They are 8 and 10 and understand the drill). We lock him up when anyone comes over. In fact, we’ve stopped having people over because it’s so stressful. I want to do right by this dog but no one can touch him but my husband- no one can walk near him when he’s sleeping- no one can play with him. Oddly, he’s way better with outsiders than with our family- he is a major fan of everyone except myself, the kids and our other dog. It’s bizarre

Anonymous wrote:OP you say you have had training but have you considered a behaviorist?

It sounds like dominating behavior and if he bit your hand as you say it smarted, but didn't break the skin, then that's different to a savage bite from an inherently aggressive dog.

One of the basic rules that was passed to me was not to approach the dog and pet him while he is laying down - you wait for him to come to you, and seek approval from you, before you pet him. It sounds like basic rules may need to be revisited, plus reinforced.

Everyone is quick to say put the dog down, and I think I may have agreed with that, earlier in this thread, but I don't know if you might have some other options.

OP has children in the home with this dog. It's already past time for this dog to be taken out of the home. OP should not keep trying and trying to retrain, revisit rules, reinforce as you want--the next sudden bite may be on a kid and not on a hand. Please don't give OP false hope. Up the thread, a trainer and many other experienced owners are all saying that OP has tried hard but it is time to give up. A behaviorist sounds good but this dog has already spent too long in a home with kids.

OP you say you have had training but have you considered a behaviorist?

It sounds like dominating behavior and if he bit your hand as you say it smarted, but didn't break the skin, then that's different to a savage bite from an inherently aggressive dog.

One of the basic rules that was passed to me was not to approach the dog and pet him while he is laying down - you wait for him to come to you, and seek approval from you, before you pet him. It sounds like basic rules may need to be revisited, plus reinforced.

Everyone is quick to say put the dog down, and I think I may have agreed with that, earlier in this thread, but I don't know if you might have some other options.

Trainer here

2 years old is when maturity sets in for many dogs, and hormones and brain issues come out to play. Neutering doesn't fix much in most cases. It's not surprising that 2 is when you started to see these issues. Just like in human beings, where mental illness often becomes apparent in late adolescence, it is the same in dogs.

All that to say it's likely nothing you did, and nothing you can do. You have tried trainers, drugs, vets. It sucks so much to be in this situation, but the safest, most humane thing to do is put the dog down. You cannot rehome it to anyone. Even if you weren't liable, surely you would feel terrible to learn that the dog had bit someone.

While you are determining your next steps, please keep the dog separate from your other dog and family members. Utilize x-pens, closed doors, and/or "crate and rotate" (what owners of dog aggressive breeds use).

OP, I'm involved with a dog rescue and am passionate about saving dogs. However, not all dogs can be saved. You need to get this dog out of your house before someone gets seriously hurt.

Have your husband take the dog to a reputable shelter (I respect Fairfax County Animal Shelter) and be honest about the situation. They will assess him and see if he can be rehomed. The answer may be that he cannot be rehabilitated.

OP,
I really hope the dog isn’t around your kids right now while you search for answers/ a home.
My heart hurts for pet owners that are in your situation. A while ago, someone told me this (after I got attacked by a dog and they had to put that dog down- I felt awful), and it’s true: It’s not fair for the dog, either, to not put him down. If the dog truly has a screw loose, he’ll attack/ bite again. And that’s not a life for any dog.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- no warning signs when I was bitten, I was petting him and he was fine and I did it one last time and he turned around and went after me. Not seriously- on my hand, and it stung, but not deep. And it’s one bite and he slinks off, he’s not trying to come at me over and over again. However, I do feel like I could have gotten more bites if not for the fact that he has a tremendous underbite and can’t really get purchase. He does growl if he is sleeping and we get too close so we really just try to leave him alone. It’s terrible, bc for his first two years with us he was the nicest, sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Right when he turned two was when the change started. And yes, he was neutered at 8 months of age. Our vet suggested a rescue but none of them will take him with his bite history and I don’t want to lie about that.

At adulthood these habits are established and ingrained. The dog does not want to be touched. This is no longer a pet.

OP, I understand your feeling that the dog bites due to stress and his home situation. However, you've tried valiantly to remedy this with training, medication and stress reduction.

No dog can live in a stress free home. No animal, no human, lives stress free and without contact with other animals and potential bite stressors.

I think you've done your best by this dog. Expecting someone else to risk bites brought on by stress is not going to happen. And that person doesn't have your attachment to this animal. Please see that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- no warning signs when I was bitten, I was petting him and he was fine and I did it one last time and he turned around and went after me. Not seriously- on my hand, and it stung, but not deep. And it’s one bite and he slinks off, he’s not trying to come at me over and over again. However, I do feel like I could have gotten more bites if not for the fact that he has a tremendous underbite and can’t really get purchase. He does growl if he is sleeping and we get too close so we really just try to leave him alone. It’s terrible, bc for his first two years with us he was the nicest, sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Right when he turned two was when the change started. And yes, he was neutered at 8 months of age. Our vet suggested a rescue but none of them will take him with his bite history and I don’t want to lie about that.

What changed at two years of age? Is this when you got the other dog??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- no warning signs when I was bitten, I was petting him and he was fine and I did it one last time and he turned around and went after me. Not seriously- on my hand, and it stung, but not deep. And it’s one bite and he slinks off, he’s not trying to come at me over and over again. However, I do feel like I could have gotten more bites if not for the fact that he has a tremendous underbite and can’t really get purchase. He does growl if he is sleeping and we get too close so we really just try to leave him alone. It’s terrible, bc for his first two years with us he was the nicest, sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Right when he turned two was when the change started. And yes, he was neutered at 8 months of age. Our vet suggested a rescue but none of them will take him with his bite history and I don’t want to lie about that.

What changed at two years of age? Is this when you got the other dog??

NP to say it doesn't matter--stop trying to figure it out, only because the situation is very serious if one figures it out incorrectly; there are no second chances here; the dog could go for your kid's face or something. OP, the dog has a screw loose and next time it won't be your hand. You say yourself, he wasn't provoked...just for no reason he bit you. There are thousands of sweet dogs in shelters who are going to be put down; I know as I have one. I understand that you are trying to do right by the dog but I wonder if you are also trying to not be a disloyal person, and don't want to see yourself as giving up on some creature and throwing them away, and that is also motivating you. But OP, at this point you are being disloyal to yourself and your family, and keeping the dog in your house is wrong.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- no warning signs when I was bitten, I was petting him and he was fine and I did it one last time and he turned around and went after me. Not seriously- on my hand, and it stung, but not deep. And it’s one bite and he slinks off, he’s not trying to come at me over and over again. However, I do feel like I could have gotten more bites if not for the fact that he has a tremendous underbite and can’t really get purchase. He does growl if he is sleeping and we get too close so we really just try to leave him alone. It’s terrible, bc for his first two years with us he was the nicest, sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Right when he turned two was when the change started. And yes, he was neutered at 8 months of age. Our vet suggested a rescue but none of them will take him with his bite history and I don’t want to lie about that.

What changed at two years of age? Is this when you got the other dog??

Anonymous wrote:I would join breed group on fb and ask around about this breeder. People will know if her dogs have issues and possibly how do deal with them and your whole situation. Ask for advice.

While you're doing that the dog stays in the household and is around the kids?
No, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Rescues will not accept a dog that has bitten due to liability issues. The most humane option would be to have the dog put to sleep.

This. OP, you've contacted breed specific organizations and if they won't take him, probably no one will. Those groups tend to do all they can to help the breeds they love and their refusal should be your signal to stop this. You have put in more than enough effort to rehome the dog. Now please take that effort and turn it immediately toward getting him put to sleep ASAP. The focus that is now on rehoming needs to be shifted onto getting him away from your children. Tomorrow. Yes, it's sad, but if he's socialized and still lunges and bites, you're not at fault; he's a biter, period, and that's what the breed groups are trying to tell you. The fact he doesn't lunge at your husband doesn't mean he won't lunge at or bite a single male owner. A bite on your hand last time could be a bite on a child next time, and there is NO way to predict when that might be (as you know from how you were bitten, when all seemed OK the preceding moment). I'm sorry.

I would join breed group on fb and ask around about this breeder. People will know if her dogs have issues and possibly how do deal with them and your whole situation. Ask for advice.

Rescues will not accept a dog that has bitten due to liability issues. The most humane option would be to have the dog put to sleep.

Thank you for your kind words. We have had an extensive medical workup performed and he is perfectly healthy, we even put him on Prozac. In fact our vet says he is the healthiest bulldog she has ever seen. We got him from a breeder when he was 12 weeks old, but the breeder won’t take responsibility as she says any personality or aggression issues could be the result of poor training or socialization. He has been fully socialized and trained so I don’t think it’s that, but I do think he may have a screw or two loose.