How can you stop a dog from attacking?

[GG1957]

My boyfriend's mother's dog attacks when I leave the room.  The dog barks, and growls, and charges at me.  All of that was scary enough but this past weekend, the dog actually bit the back of my leg as I was leaving.  
I think it is some sort of separation anxiety because the dog is fine when I walk in the room.

[TwoBitsMom]

Hmmmm....my sister had a Jack Russell.....he was a biter....unfortunately he bit the wrong person, and the dog had to be destroyed.  
I sure hope you can find a way for him to stop biting.
Best Wishes and Good Luck with the training.

[ginger899]

Oh Jack Russells! I know them of old. That little dog is terrier twice over, with a good dollop of incorrigible JRT in there!
I used to have one. He was a dear basically very good dog, but he was an absolute little devil with peoples' feet! It was actually very funny, but neither dh nor myself really understood how to work with a dog in those days, and unfortunately, every time he did the "hover over feet with teeth bared, then swoop in and harass those feet" thing I used to laugh at him! In a dark sort of way it was so terribly funny....
He never caused any real bites or injuries, his teeth would just graze by, but that may have been more by luck than good judgement. For doing this very bad-dog-thing (or bad owner not knowing what to do with dog-thing!) - he was receiving attention!  So the habit got reinforced in a negative way.
There was one visitor to our house who never showed up without steel toe-cap boots on......
My dh wore socks about the house, whereas I always wore boots of one kind or another. Needless to say dh got a bit miffed about this foot-attack situation. We tried to re-train our dog, but unfortunately the damage was done. It was never possible to completely shake him of this habit.
Simply because we hadn't a clue how to handle it, and kept reinforcing the "bad" behaviour with responses that kept telling our dog it was OK to do this!!
You see, dogs take their cues from us. If they get either fun and laughter, or just allowed to continue in what they are doing, because of our ineptitude, that's a thumbs-up for a dog.
They do have to be really shown in a firm but fair way, that it isn't OK.

[GG1957]

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter of the attacking dog.  No, Casey is not part boxer...she is a small mixed-breed dog, part wired haired Terrier, part Jack Russell.

[GG1957]

Thanks for your input Ginger.  So far, my boyfriend's mom's only attempt at preventing an attack to happen again is to confine the dog in another room before I leave.  I'm just afraid the dog will bite someone who will sue the owners.  The only good news is, my bite is healing well with no infection.

[TwoBitsMom]

Ginger is right...the dog is hunting you...he sees you as his prey.
It is exactly what my boxer does...or should I say TRIES to do...to our guests.  
She will let people that she knows in the house, but she goes after them when they try to leave.
At first,I would make sure that my guests clearly state when they are leaving, and then we would restrain the dog......we would make her sit, as calmly as possible...while she watched the guest leave...we tell her how good she is being, and then once the guest had left, we would give her a milkbone. I am at the point now, that when my guest is leaving...I ask the dog if she is going to be good....she will follow me to the place where I keep her treats, and the guest can leave ...without an 80 pound boxer on their heels...!  However...if I do not restrain her, or ask her if she is going to be good....she will immediately try to go after who ever is leaving.....So we have to be very consistent with our training. I have no idea how an experienced dog trainer would handle this type of behavior, but it seems to be working for us.
Boxers where originally breed to be big game hunters...in order to take down their game,they use their powerful jaws and instinctively grab onto the fleeing animals legs, and not let go.....Is your boyfriends mothers dog part boxer....?     ( just curious )  At any rate, it is the owners responsibility to not only control her dog, but teach it some manners as well...if she won't...somebody needs to....!  Maybe your boyfriend can help you with this matter ?
Best of luck....and watch your backside....Connie

[ginger899]

It's not separation anxiety. It's chasing you.Hunting you.  Herding you. Putting you where HE wants you to be.
I am not a behaviour specialist by any manner of means. But I simply would not stand for this. That dog needs to be put in his place.
He needs to be trained by his owners. They should not allow their dog to behave like this to guests or family.
But you can help. When you stand up, give the dog a distinct order to sit -stay-lie down. Catch him right in the act of following you or shooting after you as you leave the room, Immediately turn and stand your ground saying a firm "Hey!" (don't shout, just say this firmly... remember you mean it) "Down! Wait!" Wait until he lies down, then do the same again. You have to say and do this with authority but not worry, not anger, and certainly not fear of any kind.
Don't take any notice of whether the owner likes or doesn't like you giving their dog orders. You take charge of the situation.

That's only my ideas based on results I've had with slightly wayward dogs. But I've found it to work. Hopefully someone with real dog behaviour experience will comment too.