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Lab mix, 10 months old, bit me on face when I went to add some extra food? Scared me...can I trust him again? Please comments, advise...Thanks

>>Lab mix, 10 months old, bit me on face when I went to add some extra food? Scared me...can I trust him again? Please comments, advise...Thanks

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When a dog bites, you need to have him medically evaluated (hip dysplasia is a huge problem in Labs, and heavily exercised Labs are having an epidemic of blown knee ligaments), since pain often causes aggression with no signs that the average dog owner will notice of the pain.

After that, a dog involved in something like this needs to be evaluated in person by a veterinary behavior specialist. This is a veterinarian who is board-certified in the specialty of behavior, and your regular veterinarian can help you find the nearest one. The veterinary behavior specialist can evaluate your dog's temperament and advise you of the risks and your options. A regular dog trainer or non-veterinary behavior specialist is not the person to consult about this, because they are not held to the standards of education and ethics that a veterinarian is. Veterinarians have to be licensed, have malpractice insurance and other stuff, whereas trainers and non-veterinary behavior specialists can just call themselves that and start taking customers.

I have an article on Food Guarding at the link below my signature that can help you, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH. You need an expert in person for a case like this, and quickly.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

ThankYou for your reply to my message.
Just a few things I want to say is that while your advise about a Vet and a behavior specialist is a good idea, we live 30 miles about the Arctic Circle and the vet only comes here every 6 months. And a behavior specialist has never known to be here.....
Can a dog as young as 10 months have hip problems.? This is not a dog excersized so much that his knees would give him problems either. Your article on Food Guarding was a good one and hope that will help. Thank You.

>>ThankYou for your reply to my message.
>>Just a few things I want to say is that while your advise about a Vet and a behavior specialist is a good idea, we live 30 miles about the Arctic Circle and the vet only comes here every 6 months. And a behavior specialist has never known to be here.....
>>Can a dog as young as 10 months have hip problems.? This is not a dog excersized so much that his knees would give him problems either. Your article on Food Guarding was a good one and hope that will help. Thank You.

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Oh yes indeed, a dog that age or younger can have hip problems. Can also have an ear infection or other medical problem causing defensiveness (read the article on Defensive Dog Behavior at that same link, and Changes in Behavior with Physical Causes, and Pain...). Can also have elbow dysplasia, panosteitis is common in large dogs that age (especially big males and dogs growing extra fast due to very early neuter), and knee injury can happen in an instant, due to jumping up to catch a ball and landing on just the hind legs, or slipping on the ice, as two examples. I'd schedule x-rays in advance for the vet's next trip. You need to know a Lab's hip status.

You're brave! We've had kind of a fad in my area of people living out in more rural areas, and some of my friends and family have moved outside the cities. I don't even want to be where there are no leash laws and street lights, much less no vets. Eeeek!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47