I'm confused!!
Hello! I just recently got a Golden Retriver / Lab around a year old. Well I got got him from the Animal Shelter and brough him home. I did have him smell the place & get to know my family. He seem to do fine, later my oldest daughter sat my him to pet him but unfortunatly he bit her. Later I tried to put him in the kennel with just a gentle hand on the back of him he bit me as well. I am shocked of how he could have done this. Is / could there be a reason why he could have done this to us? I'm worried I have a 2 year old as well. I'm afraid to leave her alone. He also tried to bite my other dog. Now I am thinking of taking him back.
anyone know why??

First of all which is he, a Golden Retriever OR a Lab. These are two completely different breeds

I thought they were different breeds too but I must admit I am confused because after going on the guided search on Champdogs the other day their are breeders for Labrador Retrievers.  Are they a separate breed or not?

Hi Anna,

they are different breeds ;)  "Golden Retriever" and "Labrador Retriever" - I just assumed the poster was referring to a cross between the two :rolleyes:   I know some rescue centres that refer to dogs that simply "look" a little like a breed as being a specific one - GSDs and Staffies spring to mind.......

Regards, Teri :)

Thanks Teri for clarifying that for me I was a bit confused.

Anna, there are quite a few retriever breeds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers etc.  All are entirely seperate breeds.  There are many people who call yellow Labs Golden Labs (there is no such breed).  I was just curious whether this was a Golden Retriever or a Lab or maybe a Golden R x Lab.  I was not intending giving any advice as biting is so very rare in these breeds that my 1st port of call would be the vet, to rule out any painful injuries.

Actually just reading my post,it sounds very sharp and I apologise, it was just simple curiousity :)

Ooops Teri, me typing, you posting :D

Firstly, sorry to hear about the problems you are having with your rescue dog.  It's very difficult, almost impossible to give advice on temperament issues over the internet - particularly when biting is involved.  There could be so many reasons for this behaviour and without someone being able to assess the dog personally it could be dangerous to attempt to offer advice or even second guess as to why he is behaving this way.

Get back on to the shelter where you got him from and see if they can provide more info on his background before they took him on and also advise on his temperament as assessed by them.  It seems irresponsible that they would knowingly allow a dog with the propensity to bite to go to a family home :-( but then again perhaps this behaviour was not in evidence then.

You don't specify how long you've had the dog - he may have developed a health problem that needs treatment by a vet.  Please provide some more specific info if at all possible in case anyone can be of more assistance in the interim but I'd strongly recommend that you seek professional advice from the shelter and a vet a.s.a.p. before trying to tackle this issue.   In the interests of safety meantime, he should be kept away from your children.

Good luck, HTH, Teri :) 

Has he been checked out by a vet firstly as he may be in pain with an injury ?

Secondly what is his background ? Did the rescue centre not find out as if his background wasn't known then really they should have thought twice about rehoming with a family with very small children ? I would consider taking him back if nothing is physically wrong with him as he has bitten twice and is likely to do it again and you have young children, I wouldn't risk it !

Regards

Lucy