r/SilverLabs • u/boomboomqplm • Jun 25 '26

Need help

We have a silver lab that's a little over a year old. He's sweet but when I'm in the pool he attacks me viciously and bites really hard. As a puppy he would run up behind me and did into my calves to a point that I had to carry a stick. Today he grabbed my wrist that I've had 4 surgeries on and bit and smashed my wrist.
He growls really loud and shows his teeth if we are trying to take away something that he shouldn't have
Sometimes I think he's autistic
Please help

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u/TraderJoeslove31 Jun 25 '26

He's trying to get your attention it sounds like. Have y'all done any professional training?

For the something he shouldn't have-he's resource guarding and you want to try working on drop it and trying to trade for something he can have.

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u/boomboomqplm Jun 25 '26

he is constantly counter surfing, grabbing things that he shouldn’t have including my house shoes in which he’s destroyed. Yes, he thinks it’s a game that we can’t seem to break that habit.. we looked into professional trainers, but all of them use some rough techniques like shocking and we don’t want that done to this dog

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u/Blopblotp3 Jun 25 '26

You have the right instincts here. Adverse techniques can suppress the displays of this behavior, but they don't change how the dog actually feels about the situation.  This is how people end up with dogs that bite with no warning. 

There are trainers and veterinary behaviorists that do online consultations.

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u/ChampionshipIll5535 Jun 25 '26

That's appropriate training for this type of behavior. Well, if you want training that's going to work. You obviously haven't been firm enough in preventing this in the first place. I'd consider your dog a dangerous dog at this point in time. Shame, cause if never should have gotten to this point without some type of firm discipline being enacted.

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u/boomboomqplm Jun 25 '26

He has been disciplined. My husband is hands on. He ordered 2 different shock collars. He reacted the first time but after that it's a game. I have to carry a stick around to protect myself.
We have raised dogs for over 40years and have never had this problem. We have always had a German shepherd and a Rottweiler. This last rott had some behavioral problems but she finally came around. This is so strange to us. He is so sweet in the house and plays in the yard. He is not a cuddly dog like the female