New Lab

We rescued a yellow lab, about the age of two, from a farm. For the most part he is a pretty good dog. Last night I took him for a ride and when we got back to the house, he wouldn't get out of the car. I reached for his collar to pull him out and he bit me. He bit me so hard my hand started to bleed. We have had him for about 3 months and this is the only major problem we have had with him. He doesn't bite unless he is in the car. You can take his food away or take a bone out of his mouth and he won't even nip. He is around young kids and has never harmed them. Where should I start on breaking the biting habit? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I think he associates this with some bad memories. Rather than having to reach into the car to get him, try climbing in back with him, love him up then say Come on lets go!! What about trying to just open the door and say, Let's Go, or We're Home and walking away, will he jump out and follow? This dog and others do not get bad behaviors by chance, humans create them! Gotta make it fun for the dog, and right now getting out of the vehicle is not and he feels threatened, that is why he lashes out! He has got in his mind that getting out means trouble and that is how dogs deal with it, if he could run but he can't, so he bites. Another idea is to use treats and then slowly wean him off by constant positive encouragement. Hope this helps. Remember a Lab can overcome anything, he is not just a dog but rather a LAB!!

You might not want to know how I would have handled that, and it don't involve a behaviorist. Absolutely something that cannot be tolerated!! It is odd though about the car. This happens every time? No other stimulus to cause it, like a bone, toy, etc??? Does the dog seem to get sick when in the car? I am always striving to understand dog behavior. Still there is no excuse for a bite, but understanding the why is important to me.

My thoughts are this...... Do you really want I take a chance that the dog might bite one of the kids??? He bit you hard enough to draw blood for something as simple as getting out of a vehicle. What else might set him off? Personally I wouldn't take any chances. By any chance do you know how he was treated on the farm you rescued him from? If your set on keeping him I would suggest taking him to a behaviorist and have them test him.